Antarctica Bridge: Luxury Fly Cruise

Itinerary

The listed trip dates only account for the days onboard the ship. However, this trip includes the following pre & post arrangements: 

• 1 pre-hotel night in Santiago, Chile 2 days prior to ‘Day 1’
• Charter flight from Santiago to Puerto Williams 1 day prior to ‘Day 1’
• 1 pre-hotel night in Puerto Williams 1 day prior to ‘Day 1’
• 1 post hotel night in Puerto Williams on Day 7
• Charter flight from Puerto Williams to Santiago 1 day after ‘Day 7’

Day 1: Fly from Puerto Williams, Chile to King George Island, Antarctica & Embarkation
Today, weather permitting, depart Puerto Williams on a private charter flight approximately 2 hours to King George Island. As the largest of all the South Shetland Island, King George is considered the gateway to Antarctica. At just 120 kilometres from the Antarctic Peninsula and the only airport in the South Shetlands, it is the connection between “real life” and “Antarctic life”. The island might be home to a few international scientists, but they are very much outnumbered by the diverse wildlife that considers King George Island rightfully theirs. Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins all commute to and from the Antarctic peninsula from the island, while Weddell and leopard seals are regular visitors and can be spotted either in the water or on the shore. The island was named after King George III after British explorer discovered it in 1819. Since then the island has been claimed by both Chile (1940) and Argentina (1943), but remains part of British Antarctic Territory. Upon arrival, take a short zodiac ride to embark the Silver Cloud, which will be waiting just offshore. 

Day 2: Antarctic Sound
While in Antarctica, zodiac excursions will be attempted daily and, if conditions permit, you’ll cruise amidst icebergs or step ashore to visit penguin rookeries and take in the incredible views. The Antarctic Sound will be one of your first encounters of this whitewash kingdom, located at the northerly tip of the Antarctic Peninsula – which sprawls up like a tentacle towards Tierra del Fuego, South America’s most southerly point, otherwise known as the ‘End of the World’. Taking its name from the first ship to brave the passageway between the peninsular and the Joinville Island groups back in 1902, the Sound is a raw, sensory assault of imposing iceberg slabs, broken away from the disintegrating Larsen Ice Shelf. Come face-to-face with stadium-sized islands of ice and meet the extraordinary birdlife that call this whitewash kingdom home. Watch on, as colonies of Gentoo penguins hop around, and cape petrels sweep overhead, as the continent’s unique wildlife thrives around you. If you’re planning your first venture into Antarctica, you’ll want to brush up on your photography skills in advance, to capture this unforgiving continent in all of its unrestrained glory.

Days 3-5: Antarctic Peninsula
Stretching up from the heart of the world’s southernmost continent, the Antarctic Peninsula lies a mere 620 mile from Tierra del Fuego and, for many, offers a spectacular first taste of the snow-blanketed landscapes and colossal ice sculptures, which make up Earth’s least-explored continent. Unseen by humans until 1820 – a blink of an eye ago in relative terms – this is an adventure sure to make your hairs stand on end, as you experience the thrill of the truly unknown and extraordinary. The vast peninsula is sprinkled with research bases, which are at the frontline of human scientific endeavour, pushing to study and understand this unique landscape, its exceptional wildlife, and the impact that humans are having on this pristine continent. Witness cathedral-sized icebergs up close, and blue-hued glaciers, slowly slipping from imposing locations like Hope Bay. Blanched mountain peaks cover the peninsula, and you’ll find thousands of adorable Adelie penguin pairs thriving undisturbed in this peninsula’s unique setting.

Day 6: South Shetland Islands
These islands offer extraordinary adventure in one of the most remote locations on earth. The triple peaks of Mount Foster tower above the archipelago, and you’ll feel your heart pumping a little quicker, as you sail into the core of Deception Island’s magnificent collapsed volcano caldera. Hike the luna landscapes within, and even dip into the improbably warm, geothermally-heated waters of Pendulum Cove. 

Day 7: Disembark at King George Island & Fly back to Puerto Williams, Chile
Today you will disembark the ship and take the included charter flight back over the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile (weather permitting). There is an included hotel night in Punta Arenas for all guests. 

Please note the itinerary and route map are only tentative outlines of what you may experience. No specific itinerary, routing or landing sites can be guaranteed in advance. Where the ship actually sails will depend on a lot of factors including, but not limited to, the weather & ice conditions and the captain & expedition leader. Every trip is different, which adds to the excitement of expedition cruising in the polar regions. Trips with flights to and/or from Antarctica have a higher risk of having a trip delay or interruption due to weather.