Explore in 11 Days the World’s Last Frontier, Patagonia & Antarctica, in Comfort and Style
Take the edge off your travels on this 11 day carefully tailored journey that takes you to the edge of the Earth. Leaving from Patagonia in Punta Arenas you travel to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula on the most remote and uninhabited continent on the planet offering a rare opportunity to experience a world defined entirely by ice, silence and raw natural power. By plane and by boat, you travel to untouched wilderness areas of glaciers, volcanic islands, penguin, seal and seabird colonies. Every day of the expedition brings new sights of this vast and beautiful continent and returns you to the comfort of your chosen expedition experience of Antarctica as it truly is: remote, wild and profoundly unforgettable.
What's included
Itinerary
Welcome to the capital of Chile, Santiago. On arrival at the airport your own private chauffeur will pick you up and drive you to your chosen hotel in the city. Once you have had a chance to relax and freshen up after your long haul flight to Chile, you have the option to walk around the city and explore by yourself or take the time to rest and get ready for the next day.
Today, your own private guide will be waiting for you in the lobby to start your walking tour of the historic old city. You will see La Moneda Palace, the Plaza de Armasion, the cathedral as well as many of the historic streets of the old town which are full of character and are very picturesque. The new part of the city is also very impressive, it is modern and has a lot to offer, it perfectly combines the old with the new. At the end of the day you will return to your hotel where you can spend the night in comfort.
The day will start with a transfer to the airport where you'll fly 3-4 hours to Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas is the southernmost gateway to Antarctica, where the winds of the Strait of Magellan carry stories of early explorers and maritime adventure. After meeting your private transfer that will bring you to your hotel, take your time to settle into and absorb the atmosphere of this remote Patagonian outpost. The rest of the day is at leisure, offering a gentle introduction to the edge of the world.
Board a specially designed flight across the Drake Passage to King George Island, where Antarctica begins to reveal itself in dramatic fashion. As you land among snow-covered peaks and scientific research stations, the stark beauty of the continent becomes immediately apparent. Explore the surroundings and begin your first encounters with this extraordinary polar environment.
Step into your first zodiac excursion as you navigate icy waters between the South Shetland Islands. Towering icebergs drift silently as you explore remote bays and glacial coastlines. The rawness of the landscape, combined with absolute silence broken only by cracking ice and distant wildlife, creates a powerful sense of discovery.
Continue deeper into the Antarctic Peninsula, where endless fields of ice stretch toward the horizon. Glaciers descend dramatically into the sea, while seals rest on floating ice platforms. This is a day defined by scale and stillness, where every direction reveals a landscape shaped entirely by nature’s most extreme forces.
Navigate by zodiac to remote islands inhabited by thriving penguin colonies. Chinstrap and Adélie penguins gather along volcanic shores, offering close-up encounters with some of Antarctica’s most iconic wildlife. Surrounding waters are alive with seabirds and seals, creating a vibrant ecosystem within the frozen expanse.
Explore further along the Antarctic coastline, where Antarctic terns glide above icy waters and seals rest along the shore. Each landing reveals new geological formations and thriving wildlife colonies, highlighting the surprising biodiversity of this extreme environment.
Today, it’s the end of your cruise to Antarctica. You take a ship that returns to King George Island. There you depart by air to Punta Arenas. After returning to Chile you will be transferred to your hotel to recollect and to get ready for the rest of your trip to explore more of Chile.
Your scenic drive to Puerto Natales in Chilean Patagonia takes approximately 3 hours from Punta Arenas. Initially, you will travel through fields of and past large numbers of sheep, occasionally seeing guanacos or rheas by the side of the road. As the bus makes its way towards Puerto Natales, the scenery changes dramatically and the views of the snow capped peaks of the Andes are stunning against the backdrop of the town. On arrival in Puerto Natales your guide will pick you up from the bus and transfer you to your overnight accommodation.
At scheduled time a National Park Services’ driver will pick you up at your Puerto Natales’ hotel in order to depart towards the Torres del Paine National Park. During your travel, you will cross through lakes, mountains and big rivers of the Patagonic region. After an hour, you arrive at the Milodón Cave Natural Monument. The cave system is of great archeological value and gives a unique insight into the lives of the first inhabitants of this continent and how they lived in this area.
This hike is one of the best in Patagonia and takes you to the base of the famous granite Torres del Paine. The demanding hike to Mirador las Torres/ Base las Torres is a spectacular experience, with one of the most spectacular views in Patagonia. Your guide will accompany you on the entire trail, giving you information on your surroundings, on all the natural attractions of the area and on the ecosystem of Patagonia.
Enjoy a final morning in Punta Arenas, where the Andes meet the sea and the spirit of exploration feels ever-present. After breakfast, your private transfer takes you to the airport for your onward journey, bringing your Antarctic and Patagonian adventure to a close.
