Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake

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enquire now 8 Days From NZD $19,913 pp twinshare
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Answer the call of Antarctica by flying over the notorious Drake Passage by charter plane to land at King George Island before exploring the Antarctic Peninsula by ship. In just 8 adventure-packed days, you’ll experience rewarding shore visits and Zodiac cruises, marvel at intimate wildlife encounters, explore historic sites and make the most of your landmark visit to the 7th Continent. Select from a range of adventure options and onboard activities that match your personal interests and make your expedition uniquely yours.

Highlights

  • Experience the fastest, most direct way to Antarctica
  • Fly over the Drake Passage
  • Marvel at all the Antarctic Peninsula highlights
  • Enjoy on-board lectures and educational presentations from polar specialists

Itinerary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1 Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile

Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populated city in southern Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and shops to keep you busy for days. By early afternoon, a Quark Expeditions® representative will meet you at the official starting point hotel, where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about preparing for your embarkation day.

Day 2 Fly to King George Island and Embarkation

Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will have you crossing the legendary Drake Passage in only two hours. Far below, the ship will approach King George Island for your arrival. Your first glimpse of dramatic Antarctic landscapes will be from a unique perspective, as your plane descends for landing in the South Shetland Islands. After landing, stretch your legs with a one-mile (1.6 km) walk to the shore, before being transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula!

Days 3 to 6 Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

There are few places in the world as evocative as Antarctica. As your ship approaches the White Continent, you may be overcome by feelings of excitement and awe. Antarctica is indescribable and can only be fully appreciated through your own eyes. As your Captain and Expedition Team keep a lookout for whales and seabirds, you’ll be alerted to any new sightings. Our team of expert presenters will deepen your experience with explanations of the glaciology, history and wildlife of the region. Even more exciting are your daily excursions. Your first Zodiac landing is something you’ll never forget! Walking on a beach dotted with penguins is the most intimate way to experience the unique wildlife of Antarctica. Each landing is different and is dependent on weather, but every day presents new sightings and photo opportunities, and it won’t be long before you can tell the difference between an Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguin. You may take a Zodiac cruise in search of whales and icebergs one day, followed by a hike to a penguin rookery the next day. From the booming sound of a calving glacier to the thrill of spotting apex predators like leopard seals and orcas in action, you’ll wake up early and welcome each day with a sense of adventure and a desire to explore during this unrivaled travel experience. Your Expedition Team will accompany you all along the way, providing insights into the places you visit.

Day 8 Disembarkation and Fly to Punta Arenas

After your week of exploration, you’ll say goodbye to your Expedition Team and disembark at King George Island. Your two-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, brings your adventure to an end. After your group transfer to the hotel, you are free to explore and enjoy an evening on your own, in the city or at the hotel to reminisce about the sights and sounds of Antarctica.

Please Note:

Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a voyage. There are nearly 200 recognized sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands and the places mentioned above may be changed to others equally as interesting.

Ship Information 

Ocean Adventurer

Vessel Type: Comfortable Expedition

Length: 90 metres

Passenger Capacity: 118

Built / refurbished: 1975 / 1998 / 2017 – re-named to the Ocean Adventurer in June 2017

Ocean Adventurer is designed to carry 132 travelers in comfort to the most remote corners of the world. Originally built in Yugoslavia in 1976, this nimble, ice-strengthened ship has become a passenger favourite over the years and underwent refurbishments in 1999 and 2002 with the most significant being in 2017.

With the latest rounds of refurbishments guests will enjoy:

• A refreshed, contemporary new look and feel throughout the ship.

• The addition of six new twin cabins and three new suites.

• All existing cabins will be furnished with all new soft furnishings and brand new bathrooms.

• Main common areas such as the Lounge and Dining Room will be remodeled as well as the Bar.

• Major technical enhancements – include two new Rolls Royce engines, which will significantly increase fuel efficiency and minimized carbon footprint.

Optional Extras

Optional Tours & Excursions Available. Please Contact Us for More Details.

Stand-up Paddleboarding

Stand-up Paddleboarding, popularly known as SUPing, originated in Hawaii. Quark Expeditions is the first company to bring this watersport all the way to Antarctica.

Sea Kayaking

Positioning yourself in the seat of a kayak is one of the most intimate ways travelers can connect with the polar regions—at water level, up close, where you can touch and feel every polar sensation imaginable. The Sea Kayak Program enables a small group of like-minded individuals to forge bonds as they explore fjords, glacial faces or mazes of sea ice.

Paddling Excursion

Every sweep of the paddle as your craft glides through the pristine polar waters creates an incredible soundtrack: the jostle of glacial ice, the lapping of waves against the rocky shore, the perpetual drip from your paddle, the call of seabirds, and the occasional splash as wildlife break the surface of the water.

Inclusions

• Voyage in selected cabin category
• Rubber boots for use throughout the voyage
• Expedition Parka to keep
• Experience Expedition leader and team
• All shore landings and zodiac cruises as specified in the itinerary
• All meals while on board the ship
• Soft Drinks, Juice, Tea and Coffee while on board the ship
• Beer and Wine with dinner
• Lectures and presentations on board held by Expedition team and guest speakers as scheduled
• Photographic journal of the expedtion
• Luggage handling on board the ship
• Emergency Evacuation insurance up to a maximum of USD$500,000.00 per person
• All port charges/taxes
• A group arrival transfer in Punta Arenas from airport to pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
• One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
• A briefing dinner on Day 1 in Punta Arenas
• A pre-expedition group transfer in Punta Arenas from the hotel to the airport
• Flights to and from King George Island
• A post-expedition group transfer in Punta Arenas from the airport to the hotel
• One night’s post-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast

Exclusions

• International and Domestic airfares unless specified
• Passport and Visa costs if applicable
• Meals ashore unless specified
• Travel insurance including cancellation insurance
• Mandatory waterproof pants – required for zodiac cruises and landings
• Any items of a personal nature including medical costs incurred on board
• Phone and Internet charges incurred on board
• Gratuities
• Transfers other than those specified in inclusions
• Pre and post voyage accommodation unless stated in the itinerary
• Optional excursions (Eg kayaking where available)

 

 

WE-2023

Images courtesy of WildEarthTravel

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