Quark Antarctic Express Fly South Cruise North - 10 days | Polar Frontiers

Credit Acacia Johnson

Credit David Merron

Credit David Merron

Credit Sam Edmonds

Credit David Merron

Credit Michelle Sole

Credit Acacia Johnson

Credit David Merron

Antarctic Express Fly South Cruise North

From

AU$18,730 ^{per person}

Dates

Dec , Jan , Feb and Mar
Duration

10 Days
Ships
Ocean Explorer World Voyager
Embark

King George Island, Antarctica
Disembark

Punta Arenas, Chile

Routes
Activities
Dates & rates
What's included

Routes

Depart

Route Information

Embark: King George Island, Antarctica

Disembark: Ushuaia, Argentina

Destinations: Punta Arenas, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, Ushuaia

Ships: Ocean Explorer

Duration: 10 days

Additional Information: 1 night in Punta Arenas and flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island included.

Depart

Route Information

Embark: Ushuaia, Argentina

Disembark: King George Island, Antarctica

Destinations: Ushuaia, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, Punta Arenas

Ships: Ocean Explorer

Duration: 10 days

Additional Information: 1 night in Punta Arenas and flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas included.

Day-to-day itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile

Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populous city in southern Patagonia. Should you arrive early, you will find numerous museums, restaurants, and shops to explore. By early afternoon, a representative from Quark Expeditions will greet you at the official starting point hotel, where you will enjoy a welcome dinner and receive a briefing on the preparations for your embarkation day.

Day 2 Fly to King George Island and Embarkation

Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica allows you to cross the legendary Drake Passage in just two hours. Meanwhile, your ship will be making its way to King George Island for your arrival. Your first view of the stunning Antarctic landscapes will be from a unique vantage point as your plane descends into the South Shetland Islands. After landing, head to the shore and transfer by Zodiac to your ship, ready to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula!

Days 3 - 6 South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

As your Antarctic voyage begins, you'll feel like you've arrived on another planet, with the pristine landscapes and dramatic environments unlike anything else on Earth. From the vessel, you can observe whales swimming and feeding in nutrient-rich waters and spot penguins frolicking and leaping onto ice floes. Equally awe-inspiring are the towering snow-covered mountains and massive glaciers of the Peninsula, which will be your playground for the next few days. Every Zodiac excursion and landing offers new sights, sounds, and experiences. Some landings may be as serene as sitting on a beach, photographing curious gentoo penguins. Other landings might provide thrilling panoramic views of the Antarctic continent as you hike atop a hill. You might witness a glacier calving into the sea at Petermann Island or take a Zodiac cruise around Pleneau Island in search of fur and elephant seals. Even everyday activities, like mailing a postcard, become extraordinary in Antarctica. While weather and sea conditions dictate which landings are possible, the Expedition Team will ensure that each day of your Antarctic adventure is unforgettable.

Days 7 - 8 Crossing the Drake Passage

Crossing the Drake Passage is a rite of passage for any Antarctic adventurer, marking the conclusion of your journey. Regardless of sea conditions, you'll be well-prepared, having developed your sea legs over the previous four days. While the journey home has commenced, the wildlife spotting continues. The Expedition Team will be on deck and on the ship’s bridge to assist you in spotting the majestic wandering albatross and various whale species, including minke and humpback. When you're not looking at photos and reminiscing about the past days, the Expedition Team will wrap up their series of engaging presentations on marine biology, polar history, and glaciology.

Day 9 Disembark and overnight in Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. Transfer to your hotel for the night, explore the town on your own to shop, sightsee and sample some Argentinian cuisine.

Day 10 Depart Ushuaia

Today you are free to make your way to the airport for departure, or extend your stay in Ushuaia.

Day 1 Arrive in Ushuaia

This quaint city at the southernmost tip of South America is your gateway to Antarctica. The city itself provides a wide range of jewellery shops, cafés, gear shops and restaurants to explore before your voyage. Outside the city, snow-capped mountains and hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park offer ample adventure activities if you enjoy exploring nature.

Day 2 Embark from Ushuaia

You will embark in the afternoon today, with a journey through the picturesque Beagle Channel. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled and be out on deck, as the channel is home to a wide variety of wildlife including seabirds and seals. Rainbows are common here too, creating a great photographic opportunity to kick off the start to your Antarctic adventure.

Days 3 - 4 Crossing the Drake Passage

The Drake Passage, known for its unpredictability, offers an adventure all on its own. With expert onboard staff and leaders ensuring your comfort, you'll have ample time to enjoy the ocean, photograph seabirds flying around the ship, and connect with your Expedition Team and fellow travellers.

Days 5 - 8 Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands

Day 9 Disembark on King George Island, Fly Punta Arenas

With only the Drake Passage ahead, disembark and enjoy a little time on King George Island before flying off to Punta Arenas, Chile. On arrival in Punta Arenas, transfer from the airport to your hotel, where you are free to explore and enjoy a final dinner out.

Day 10 Depart Punta Arenas

Depart at your leisure today.

Activities

Credit David Merron

Hiking

Hiking in polar regions offers unique, immersive experiences across tundra, snow, and beaches, with organized hikes ranging from short wildlife visits to longer excursions, guided by experts.

Credit David Merron

Polar Plunge

This rite of passage, scheduled once per voyage, offers you the chance to jump safely into the bracing polar waters under the watchful eye of our trained staff.

Optional Extra

Credit Acacia Johnson

Sea Kayaking

Kayaking offers adventurous travellers a unique, intimate connection to the Antarctic wilderness, allowing exploration of the mazes sea ice and glaciers while forging bonds with fellow explorers at water level.

Optional Extra

Credit Quark:Michelle Sole

Paddling Excursion

The Paddle Excursion Program offers sit-on-top, two-person inflatable kayaks for a unique, intimate experience exploring unforgettable Antarctic locations from a different perspective

Optional Extra

Credit Michelle Sole

Stand-up Paddleboarding

Experience a unique view of Antarctica with stand-up paddleboarding in small groups, exploring calm bays and harbours under good weather conditions, guided by a support Zodiac.

credit:davidmerron

Zodiac Cruising

Zodiacs take you places that ships can’t access, allowing you to reach remote shorelines, explore shallow inlets and search for unique wildlife.

Credit Acacia Johnson

Presentations

Enjoy daily chats with and presentations by our world-class onboard polar experts—expedition guides, specialists, photography guides and other special guests who will introduce you to the fascinating history, biology, ornithology, glaciology and geology of the region, and much, much more.

Dates & rates

Pricing is dynamic and fluctuates with availability.

Dates

Dec 11 - Dec 19, 2026
Start/End

Punta Arenas, Chile / Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ship

World Voyager
Price from (per person)

AU$24,040

was AU$25,255

Dates

Nov 24 - Dec 3, 2026
Start/End

Buenos Aires, Argentina / Punta Arenas, Chile
Ship

World Voyager
Price from (per person)

AU$26,420

was AU$27,745

Infinity Suite

Guests

2, Queen/Twin
Size

25m²
Deck

5,6

Price from (per person)

AU$26,420

was AU$27,745

Limited

Veranda Suite

Guests

2, Queen/Twin
Size

20m²
Deck

5,6

Price from (per person)

AU$27,655

was AU$29,045

Superior Suite

Guests

2, Queen/Twin
Size

19-25m²
Deck

5,6

Price from (per person)

AU$35,540

was AU$37,345

Limited

Deluxe Suite

Guests

2, Queen/Twin
Size

32m²
Deck

5

Price from (per person)

AU$38,295

was AU$40,245

Owner's Suite

Guests

2, Queen/Twin
Size

34m²
Deck

5,6

Price from (per person)

AU$40,765

was AU$42,845

Dates

Feb 3 - Feb 11, 2027
Start/End

Punta Arenas, Chile / Ushuaia, Argentina
Ship

Ocean Explorer
Price from (per person)

AU$38,246

was AU$42,495

Triple Suite

Guests

3, 3 Single beds
Size

27.7m²
Deck

6

Price from (per person)

AU$23,666

was AU$26,295

Deluxe Veranda Forward

Guests

2, Queen/Twin
Size

16.9m²
Deck

4

Price from (per person)

AU$26,546

was AU$29,495

Veranda Statesroom

Guests

2, Queen/Twin + sofa bed
Size

19.2m²
Deck

4,6,7

Price from (per person)

AU$27,806

was AU$30,895

Veranda Suite

Guests

2, Queen/Twin + sofa bed
Size

19.2m²
Deck

4,6

Price from (per person)

AU$29,606

was AU$32,895

Limited

Single Studio

Guests

1, Queen
Size

15.4m²
Deck

3

Price from (per person)

AU$38,246

was AU$42,495

Penthouse Suite

Guests

2, Queen/Twin + sofa bed
Size

25m²
Deck

7

Price from (per person)

AU$40,406

was AU$44,895

Junior Suite

Guests

2, Queen/Twin + sofa bed
Size

27.7m²
Deck

6

Price from (per person)

AU$41,281

was AU$48,045

Studio Veranda Single

Guests

1, Single bed
Size

15.1m²
Deck

3

Price from (per person)

AU$41,396

was AU$45,995