©dietmar.denger
credit:dietmar denger
©wim.van.passel
©nicolo.de.cata
©M.van.der.hulst
©jamie.scherbeijn
©erwin.vermeulen

Antarctica: Elephant Island, Weddell Sea and the Polar Circle

From

US$11,700 per person

  • Dates

    Mar

  • Duration

    15 Days

  • Ships
    Plancius
  • Embark

    Ushuaia, Argentina

  • Disembark

    Ushuaia, Argentina

Routes

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  • Depart

Route Information

Embark: Ushuaia, Argentina

Disembark: Ushuaia, Argentina

Destinations: Elephant Island and Point Wild, the northwest Weddell Sea (Erebus and Terror Gulf, Devil Island, Vega Island), the Antarctic Peninsula (the Orleans Strait, the Lemaire Channel, Petermann Island), Crystal Sound and Detaille Island across the Antarctic Circle, the Yalour and Melchior Islands, weather allowing.

Ships: Plancius

Duration: 15 days

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 Ushuaia

Embark in the afternoon at Ushuaia and sail down the Beagle Channel towards open water.

Days 2 - 3 The Drake Passage

Two days crossing the Drake, with seabirds at the stern and the ship passing into polar water at the Antarctic Convergence.

Day 4 Elephant Island

The ship reaches Elephant Island for a Zodiac cruise off Point Wild, where Shackleton’s men survived the winter of 1916, before entering the Weddell Sea.

Days 5 - 6 The Weddell Sea

Two days among the tabular icebergs of the northwest Weddell, with landings hoped for around the Erebus and Terror Gulf, Devil Island and Vega Island in a realm ruled entirely by its ice.

Days 7 - 12 The Peninsula and the Polar Circle

Turning west, the ship works the whale rich Orleans Strait and Mikkelsen Harbour, then south through the Lemaire Channel past Petermann Island and Port Charcot, and on across the Antarctic Circle into Crystal Sound, with the historic base on Detaille Island and the penguin colonies of the Yalour Islands among the highlights. A final call at the Melchior Islands rounds off the Antarctic days.

Days 13 - 14 The Drake Passage

The northward crossing returns the ship to the great seabirds and the expedition team’s final talks.

Day 15 Ushuaia

Disembark in Ushuaia after breakfast. Ice and weather set the programme throughout, and the expedition leader has the final say.

Activities

    Zodiac Cruising

    Aboard a sturdy inflatable, you sit just above the waterline as your guide noses among brash ice and towering bergs. It is the closest encounter with the polar world, seals hauled out nearby, a whale surfacing, the deep quiet broken only by cracking ice.

    Hiking

    Explore remote landscapes on foot, with guided hikes available for all ability levels—from relaxed walks to more challenging routes for experienced hikers.

    Polar Diving

    Descend beneath the ice into a hushed world of sea squirts, squat lobsters, dogfish, sea butterflies, and shrubby horsetails. Just a few of the residents you may encounter. Reserved for experienced dry-suit divers and led by specialist guides, it reveals the rarely seen life that thrives in these frigid, clear waters.

    Dates & rates

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    • Dates
      Mar 12 - Mar 26, 2027
    • Start/End
      Ushuaia
    • Ship
      Plancius
    • Price from (per person)
      US$11,700
    See cabins

    Quad Porthole

    • Guests

      4, Two upper + two lower berths

    • Size

      16m²

    • Deck

      3

    Price from (per person)

    US$11,700

    Twin Porthole

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      13.3-16m²

    • Deck

      3

    Price from (per person)

    US$14,350

    Triple Porthole

    • Guests

      3, 2 lower berths & 1 upper

    • Size

      12m²

    • Deck

      2

    Price from (per person)

    US$14,350

    Twin Window

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      12.1-14.3m²

    • Deck

      4

    Price from (per person)

    US$15,000

    Twin Deluxe

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      19.4-21.3m²

    • Deck

      6

    Price from (per person)

    US$16,550

    Superior

    • Guests

      2, Double

    • Size

      21m²

    • Deck

      6

    Price from (per person)

    US$17,400

    • Dates
      Feb 23 - Mar 8, 2028
    • Start/End
      Ushuaia
    • Ship
      Plancius
    • Price from (per person)
      US$12,750
    See cabins

    Quad Porthole

    • Guests

      4, Two upper + two lower berths

    • Size

      16m²

    • Deck

      3

    Price from (per person)

    US$12,750

    Triple Porthole

    • Guests

      3, 2 lower berths & 1 upper

    • Size

      12m²

    • Deck

      2

    Price from (per person)

    US$14,350

    Twin Porthole

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      13.3-16m²

    • Deck

      3

    Price from (per person)

    US$15,700

    Twin Window

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      12.1-14.3m²

    • Deck

      4

    Price from (per person)

    US$16,350

    Twin Deluxe

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      19.4-21.3m²

    • Deck

      6

    Price from (per person)

    US$18,250

    Superior

    • Guests

      2, Double

    • Size

      21m²

    • Deck

      6

    Price from (per person)

    US$19,000

    What's included

    Inclusions

    The voyage aboard the nominated expedition ship
    All meals on board, including snacks, tea and coffee
    All Zodiac shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage
    A programme of lectures by noted naturalists, led by experienced expedition staff
    Loan of waterproof expedition boots and snowshoes
    Luggage transfer to the ship on embarkation day in Ushuaia, and group transfer to the airport on disembarkation
    Service taxes and port charges
    Comprehensive pre departure materials
    Complimentary Wi-Fi allowance (1.5 GB of data per day) and a reusable water bottle

    Exclusions

    International and domestic flights
    Optional activities, including cold water diving
    Pre and post voyage arrangements and meals ashore
    Passport, visa and government arrival and departure taxes
    Travel, baggage and cancellation insurance (strongly recommended)
    Laundry, bar and beverage charges, telecommunication charges and other items of a personal nature
    Gratuities for shipboard staff (guidelines provided)

    Contact us

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