©rolf.stange
©erwin.vermeulen
©erwin.vermeulen
©andrew.peacock
©dietmar.denger
©dietmar.denger
©franco.banfi

Bellingshausen Sea, Peter I Island and Ellsworth Land (incl. Helicopters)

From

US$19,700 per person

  • Dates

    Jan

  • Duration

    25 Days

  • Ships
    Ortelius
  • Embark

    Ushuaia, Argentina

  • Disembark

    Ushuaia, Argentina

Routes

Swipe to view more

  • Depart

Route Information

Embark: Ushuaia, Argentina

Disembark: Ushuaia, Argentina

Destinations: The Antarctic Peninsula (Charlotte Bay, Cuverville and Danco Islands), across the Antarctic Circle (Crystal Sound, Detaille, Pourquoi Pas, Horseshoe and Stonington Islands), Marguerite Bay, the Bellingshausen Sea and Ellsworth Land (Ronne Entrance), and Peter I Island

Ship: Ortelius

Duration: 25 days

Day-by-day itinerary

Days 1 - 3 Ushuaia and the Drake Passage

Embark at Ushuaia and sail the Beagle Channel, then cross the Drake into polar water, the birdlife building as the ship nears the continent.

Days 4 - 7 The Antarctic Peninsula

The classic Peninsula opens the voyage, with landings and Zodiac cruises hoped for around Charlotte Bay, Cuverville and Danco Islands and Flandres Bay, among gentoo colonies, feeding whales and glacier scenery.

Days 8 - 14 Across the Circle to Marguerite Bay

The ship pushes south across the Antarctic Circle into Crystal Sound, past the historic bases of Detaille, Horseshoe and Stonington Islands, and on into Marguerite Bay, a magnificent, seldom visited bay ringed by mountains and ice.

Days 15 - 18 The Bellingshausen Sea and Ellsworth Land

Beyond Marguerite Bay the ship enters the pack ice of the Bellingshausen Sea and the coast of Ellsworth Land towards the Ronne Entrance, a true frontier where helicopters extend the reach of the expedition.

Days 19 - 20 Peter I Island

The great goal of the voyage is Peter I Island, an isolated volcanic island wrapped in fog and swell. When a rare calm window opens, helicopters attempt a landing on a rock that only a handful of people have ever stood on.

Days 21 - 24 The return

The long passage north, by way of the pack ice and the Drake, is a time for whales, seabirds and reflection on an extraordinary route.

Day 25 Ushuaia

Disembark in Ushuaia after breakfast. Everything on this voyage, and a landing on Peter I Island above all, depends wholly on ice, sea and weather; the attempt is never guaranteed, and that is what makes it exceptional.

Activities

    Helicopter Flights

    Ortelius is one of few expedition ships with its own helipad and hangar. On select itineraries, scenic flights lift you over pack ice impassable by Zodiac, opening access to remote emperor penguin colonies and vast tabular bergs. Every passenger is given a window seat — a rare, sweeping perspective on the frozen continent.

    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

    Swipe to view more

    • Dates
      Jan 14 - Feb 7, 2027
    • Start/End
      Ushuaia
    • Ship
      Ortelius
    • Price from (per person)
      US$19,700
      was US$24,600
    See cabins

    Quad Porthole

    • Guests

      4, Two upper + two lower berths

    • Size

      16m²

    • Deck

      3

    Price from (per person)

    US$19,700

    was US$24,600

    Triple Porthole

    • Guests

      3, 2 lower berths & 1 upper

    • Size

      12m²

    • Deck

      2

    Price from (per person)

    US$22,075

    was US$27,625

    Twin Porthole

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      13.3-16m²

    • Deck

      3

    Price from (per person)

    US$24,500

    was US$30,650

    Twin Window

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      12.1-14.3m²

    • Deck

      4

    Price from (per person)

    US$25,700

    was US$32,150

    Twin Deluxe

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      19.4-21.3m²

    • Deck

      6

    Price from (per person)

    US$28,000

    was US$35,000

    Superior

    • Guests

      2, Double

    • Size

      21m²

    • Deck

      6

    Price from (per person)

    US$29,000

    was US$36,250

    What's included

    Inclusions

    The voyage aboard the nominated expedition ship
    Ship to shore helicopter transfers (no specific amount of helicopter time guaranteed)
    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

    Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

    Get in touch