Depart
Camping
Spend a night ashore under the vast polar sky, swapping the ship's comfort for the profound stillness of the ice. With minimal equipment and a guide's careful briefing, it is a memorable immersion in the silence and scale of Antarctica.
OEX Weddell Sea Basecamp – 13 days
Routes
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Depart
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Route Information
Embark: Ushuaia, Argentina
Disembark: Ushuaia, Argentina
Destinations: The Antarctic Sound and Iceberg Alley, Brown Bluff, Devil Island, Herbert Sound and the Erebus and Terror Gulf, Vega Island, the northwest Weddell Sea, the northern Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.
Ships: Hondius, Ortelius
Duration: 13 days
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Ushuaia
Board in the afternoon at Ushuaia and sail down the Beagle Channel towards the open sea.
Days 2 - 3 The Drake Passage
Two days crossing the Drake, the birdlife changing as the ship passes the Antarctic Convergence, and the activity teams briefing kayakers, campers and climbers for the days ahead.
Days 4 - 10 Basecamp in the Weddell Sea
Seven days as a base for adventure among the tabular icebergs of the Antarctic Sound and the northwest Weddell Sea. The ship opens its full menu of included activities, kayaking among the floes, snowshoe hikes and guided soft climb mountaineering ashore, a night camping on the ice and a photography workshop throughout, all according to weather and ice. Between them, Zodiac cruises and landings visit the vast Adelie colonies of Brown Bluff and Devil Island and explore Herbert Sound and the Erebus and Terror Gulf off Vega Island.
Days 11 - 12 The Drake Passage
The seabirds of the southbound crossing rejoin the ship for the passage home after the intensity of the ice.
Day 13 Ushuaia
Disembark in Ushuaia after breakfast. Ice and weather set the programme throughout, and the expedition leader makes the final call each day under IAATO rules.
Activities
Sea Kayaking
Paddle quiet inlets away from the ship, threading between ice floes. Guided in small groups, it offers an intimate, water-level perspective on the coastline and its wildlife, well suited to reasonably fit guests seeking time on the water.
Snowshoeing
Strap on snowshoes to cross terrain that would otherwise be impassable, following your guide across firm snowfields and gentle ridges. The pace is steady and the focus is on the landscape — its silence, its tracks, and the wildlife that shares it.
Hiking
Explore remote landscapes on foot, with guided hikes available for all ability levels—from relaxed walks to more challenging routes for experienced hikers.
Mountaineering
Rope up with qualified guides to ascend snow slopes and modest peaks, taking in views few ever see. Suited to active guests with a head for effort, the climbs are matched to ability and conditions, rewarding the work with sweeping vistas across ice and ocean.
Photo Workshop
Sharpen your eye alongside an onboard photographer, from composing icebergs to capturing wildlife in fading light. Sessions blend practical fieldwork with deck-side guidance, helping you return home with images that do justice to what you have seen.
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.
Dates & rates
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DatesFeb 15 - Feb 27, 2028
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Start/EndUshuaia
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ShipOrtelius
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Price from (per person)US$12,650
Quad Porthole
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Guests
4, Two upper + two lower berths
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Size
16m²
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Deck
3
Price from (per person)
US$12,650
Triple Porthole
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Guests
3, 2 lower berths & 1 upper
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Size
12m²
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Deck
2
Price from (per person)
US$14,250
Twin Porthole
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Guests
2, Twin
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Size
13.3-16m²
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Deck
3
Price from (per person)
US$15,500
Twin Window
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Guests
2, Twin
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Size
12.1-14.3m²
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Deck
4
Price from (per person)
US$16,250
Twin Deluxe
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Guests
2, Twin
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Size
19.4-21.3m²
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Deck
6
Price from (per person)
US$17,950
Superior
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Guests
2, Double
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Size
21m²
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Deck
6
Price from (per person)
US$18,800
What's included
Inclusions
The voyage aboard the nominated expedition ship
All offered adventure activities: camping, kayaking, snowshoeing and hiking, mountaineering and the photo workshop, free of charge
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)