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Remote Weddell Sea Explorer (incl. Helicopters)

From

US$22,150 per person

  • Dates

    Feb and Mar

  • Duration

    28 Days

  • Ships
    Ortelius
  • Embark

    Ushuaia, Argentina

  • Disembark

    Ushuaia, Argentina

Routes

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  • Depart

Route Information

Embark: Ushuaia, Argentina

Disembark: Ushuaia, Argentina

Destinations: South Georgia (Fortuna Bay, Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour, Grytviken), the South Sandwich Islands, Queen Maud Land and Neuschwabenland, the deep Weddell Sea (the Filchner-Ronne and Brunt Ice Shelves, the Luitpold Coast, Vahsel Bay and the Larsen Ice Shelf), and Elephant Island and the northern Antarctic Peninsula

Ship: Ortelius

Duration: 28 days

Day-by-day itinerary

Days 1 - 3 Ushuaia and the Scotia Sea

Embark at Ushuaia and sail the Beagle Channel, then cross the Antarctic Convergence into the Scotia Sea, the birdlife multiplying with every mile south.

Days 4 - 6 South Georgia

Three days among the greatest wildlife sites on Earth, from the king penguin beaches of Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour to Fortuna Bay and Shackleton's grave at Grytviken.

Days 7 - 9 The South Sandwich Islands

Passing south, the ship reaches the remote volcanic arc of the South Sandwich Islands, where landings are rarely possible but Zodiac cruises beneath smoking peaks and vast chinstrap colonies are unforgettable.

Days 10 - 14 Towards Queen Maud Land

Several days at sea and in the ice carry the ship towards Queen Maud Land and Neuschwabenland, a coast of towering ice cliffs at the very edge of the known expedition world, with helicopters ready to work when conditions allow.

Days 15 - 22 The deep Weddell Sea

The core of the voyage explores the inner Weddell Sea, ice permitting: the Brunt and Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelves, the Luitpold Coast, Vahsel Bay and the Larsen Ice Shelf. Helicopters may lift guests onto sea ice and shore where no Zodiac could go, among emperor penguins and seals, in a landscape almost no traveller ever sees.

Days 23 - 25 Elephant Island and the Peninsula

Working back north, the ship visits Elephant Island and Point Wild and the wildlife of the northern Peninsula and Antarctic Sound, with Snow Hill Island a possibility if the ice allows.

Days 26 - 27 The Drake Passage

The homeward crossing returns the ship to the great seabirds and time to absorb an extraordinary journey.

Day 28 Ushuaia

Disembark in Ushuaia after breakfast. A candid note: helicopter operations and every landing depend wholly on ice, sea and weather, no set flight time is guaranteed, and the deep Weddell may not open at all. The attempt itself is the expedition.

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.

    Dates & rates

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    • Dates
      Feb 7 - Mar 6, 2027
    • Start/End
      Ushuaia
    • Ship
      Ortelius
    • Price from (per person)
      US$22,150
      was US$27,700
    See cabins

    Quad Porthole

    • Guests

      4, Two upper + two lower berths

    • Size

      16m²

    • Deck

      3

    Price from (per person)

    US$22,150

    was US$27,700

    Twin Porthole

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      13.3-16m²

    • Deck

      3

    Price from (per person)

    US$27,550

    was US$34,450

    Triple Porthole

    • Guests

      3, 2 lower berths & 1 upper

    • Size

      12m²

    • Deck

      2

    Price from (per person)

    US$27,550

    was US$34,450

    Twin Window

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      12.1-14.3m²

    • Deck

      4

    Price from (per person)

    US$28,950

    was US$36,200

    Twin Deluxe

    • Guests

      2, Twin

    • Size

      19.4-21.3m²

    • Deck

      6

    Price from (per person)

    US$31,500

    was US$39,400

    Superior

    • Guests

      2, Double

    • Size

      21m²

    • Deck

      6

    Price from (per person)

    US$32,600

    was US$40,750

    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
    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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