Voyage Overview
A quick trip to the Antarctic Peninsula for those short on time.
By flying across the Drake Passage in at least one direction combined with a compacted time in the Antarctic Peninsula, the Antarctic Explorer Express voyage is tailored for travelers seeking a quick adventure to the frozen continent. Enjoy Zodiac excursions to explore rugged coastlines, where unexpected appearances from curious whales is known to occur.
Trip Details
Duration: 9 Days
Ship: Douglas Mawson, Premium Ship, 130 Guests
Start: Ushuaia, Argentina
End: Punta Arenas, Chile
Highlights:
- 3 planned days in Antarctica
- Witness extraordinary wildlife including fledging penguin chicks.
- Zodiac cruise in secluded bays and quiet coves filled with brash ice and photograph enormous glaciers and spectacularly shaped icebergs in various shades of blue.
- Keep a close watch for the tail fluke of whales as they take a deep dive, see porpoising penguins ice seals such as Weddell and crabeater seals hauled out on ice floes.
- Observe skuas patrolling penguin colonies preying on vulnerable juveniles.
Trip Itinerary Overview:
Day 1: Arrive Ushuaia
Day 2: Embarkation
Days 3-4: Drake Passage Crossing
Days 5-7: Antarctic Peninsula
Day 8: Disembarkation & Fly from King George Island to Punta Arenas, Chile
Day 9: Depart Punta Arenas
Tour Dates
- October 2026 to March 2027
| Dates | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
Jan 7 – Jan 15, 2027 (9 days) | Available | view pricing chart |
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Ushuaia
Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to make your way to your hotel. This afternoon, visit the hospitality desk to collect your luggage tags, and confirm if you wish to join our Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise (sea lion island) tomorrow. The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.
Day 2: Embarkation
This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Those wishing to join our Lake Escondido tour today, please meet in the hotel after breakfast. This tour offers us an unforgettable panoramic drive through big valleys of glacial origin, evergreen and deciduous forests, waterfalls and rivers, in the vastness of the Andes Mountain Range. We will leave Ushuaia city to the northeast of Tierra del Fuego, driving through peat bog valleys to reach Garibaldi Pass, only accessible by a winding road that will take us to a panoramic point. From here we will have amazing panoramic views of Lake Escondido and, if weather conditions allow, of Fagnano Lake. We will start our descent towards the northeast to reach Fagnano Lake’s shore where we will visit a local ranch. After appreciating the landscape, you will have the chance to enjoy the typical Fuegian Lamb barbecue. Enjoy some free time there before returning to Ushuaia for ship embarkation.
Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby in the afternoon to be transferred to the pier for embarkation. Once onboard, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.
Days 3-4: Drake Passage Crossing
As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.
Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following our vessel. As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment. You can also enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, wellness centre or the relaxing in one of the observation lounges.
Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on the afternoon of day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.
Days 5-7: Antarctic Peninsula
It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.
Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.
While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting!
In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
Day 8: Fly King George Island to Punta Arenas, Chile
As we approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to farewell Antarctica and our amazing adventure before boarding our flight (approximately one hour forty-five minutes) to Punta Arenas, Chile. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We hope you become ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here. On arrival at the Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to our group hotel. Accommodation in Punta Arenas: Hotel Cabo de Hornos or Hotel Dreams. Note: King George Island is located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. We apologise in advance for any possible delays.
Day 9: Depart Punta Arenas
After breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow travellers as we continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature (breakfast included). A transfer to the airport is included in the voyage fare. Note: Should your flight not proceed due to local conditions; you will remain on the ship until it is deemed achievable to return to Punta Arenas. Refer to the terms and conditions for further details.
In the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage you to adopt a flexible and adventurous attitude when joining our voyages. This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond our control. Trips with flights to and/or from Antarctica have a higher risk of having a trip delay or interruption due to weather.
Trips & Rates
Please note, rates are Per Person in USD
Availability & prices are subject to change at anytime
Jan 7 – Jan 15, 2027 (9 days)
| Start: | Ushuaia, Argentina |
| End: | Punta Arenas, Chile |
| Cabin Category | Aurora Stateroom Triple | Aurora Stateroom Twin | Aurora Stateroom Superior | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Balcony Stateroom Superior | Junior Suite | Captain’s Suite | Aurora Stateroom Single | Balcony Stateroom A Single | Aurora Stateroom Superior Single |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person Price in USD | $15,895 | $16,395 | $17,295 | $17,795 | $18,695 | $20,095 | $21,995 | $26,195 | $29,995 | $19,195 | $20,095 | $21,095 |
| Discount | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | |||
| Discounted Per Person Price | $13,511 | $13,936 | $14,701 | $15,126 | $15,891 | $17,081 | $18,696 | $22,266 | $25,496 | $19,195 | $20,095 | $21,095 |
| Availability | Open | Limited | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Limited | Limited | Full | Open |
Single Travelers:
- Can book a dedicated single cabin in Aurora Stateroom Single, Solo Balcony Stateroom A or Aurora Stateroom Superior Single at the prices shown above.
- If willing to share a cabin, we can match you with another or other passengers of the same gender to avoid a single supplement.
- Single occupancy price is 1.5x the per person share price
Adventure Options
- Kayaking Program: $1,745/person on Epic Antarctica and Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula voyages. $1,330/person on Mawson’s Antarctica and Ross Sea Odyssey voyages. Requires previous kayaking experience and an intermediate paddling level.
Voyage Ship
Douglas Mawson
Setting sail in 2025, the new state-of-the-art ship, the Douglas Mawson, is the last in a line of purpose-built vessels that have redefined small ship expedition cruising. Named after the legendary Australian geologist and explorer, the new small ship embodies Mawson’s pioneering spirit and is designed for global discovery. Featuring the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® and purpose-built with enhanced sustainability features, it takes on average 154 adventurers to the world’s wildest places in smooth, quiet comfort. It boasts our most extensive range of cabins yet, including a range of single cabins.
Douglas Mawson Cabins & Deck Plan – photos are renderings
Captain’s Suite
DECK 4
The largest of all the suites on the Douglas Mawson with a preferred low, mid-ship location. The Captain’s Suite features a large lounge area, balcony, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite. Additional amenities include 1 free pair of binoculars per suite, free stocked mini bar (replenished as needed), 1 free bottle of champagne and gratuities included. Cabin square footage includes balcony.
487 sq. ft. (45.22 m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Junior Suite
DECK 7
The four Junior Suites are located on deck 7 and offer quick access to some of the ships most popular public spaces including the bridge, observation lounge, sun deck, gym & sauna. These spacious suites have a separate lounge area and balcony. The included mini bar is stocked once only, not replenished. Cabin square footage includes balcony.
446 – 451 sq. ft. (41.47 – 41.87m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Balcony Stateroom Superior
DECK 4
DECK 6
Balcony Stateroom Superior cabins feature floor to ceiling windows, a balcony, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area. Some of these cabins are equipped with wheelchair accessible bathrooms. Cabin square footage includes balcony.
299 – 390 sq. ft. (27.77 – 36.27m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Balcony Stateroom Category A
DECK 4
DECK 6
The 25 Balcony Stateroom A cabins are the most abundant on board. These cabins are located in preferred positions on Deck 4 and 6 which provides easy access between Decks via the internal stairs or elevator. There are 4 dedicated Solo Balcony Stateroom A cabins (#407, 409, 410 & 412) available with no single supplements. Pricing based on full brochure fare. See pricing grid for details. Cabin square footage includes balcony.
248 – 288 sq. ft. (23.07 – 26.77 m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Balcony Stateroom Category B
DECK 4
DECK 6
The 17 Balcony Stateroom B Cabins are located at the fore and aft of Deck 4 & 6. Many are fitted with interconnecting features making them great for families or groups. Cabin square footage includes balcony.
238 – 269 sq. ft. (22.07 – 24.97 m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Balcony Stateroom Category C
DECK 4
DECK 6
The 15 Balcony Stateroom C cabins are the most economical balcony stateroom, fitted with all the necessities and comfortable for up to 2 people. These cabins either have the most forward or aft location or are mid-ship with a smaller cabin size. Cabin square footage includes balcony.
227 – 268 sq. ft. (21 – 24.87 m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Aurora Stateroom Superior
DECK 7
The six Aurora Stateroom Superior Staterooms are located high on the ship with easy access to the outdoor deck space. The cabins feature floor to ceiling windows creating a French balcony feel, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area.
150 – 174 sq. ft. (13.97 – 16.17m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Aurora Stateroom Twin
DECK 3
The lowest priced twin/double occupancy cabin on the Douglas Mawson featuring a porthole window, desk area and private en-suites. There are just 2 Aurora Stateroom Twin cabins on the ship so they typically fill up far in advance.
165 – 172 sq. ft. (15.37 – 15.97m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Aurora Stateroom Triple
DECK 3
The two Aurora Stateroom Triple cabins are for a group of 3 traveling together or solo passengers looking for a low priced share cabin. Cabins feature a porthole and private en-suites.
243 sq. ft. (22.57 m2)
3
3 single
Aurora Stateroom Superior Single
DECK 3
DECK 7
Douglas Mawson has four Aurora Stateroom Superior Single cabins featuring a porthole and private en-suites.
Deck 3: 163 sq. ft. (15.18m2); Deck 7: 118 sq. ft. (10.97m2)
1
1 single
Aurora Stateroom Single
DECK 3
The two Aurora Stateroom Single cabins are the smallest and lowest priced solo cabin featuring a porthole and private en-suite.
106 sq. ft. (9.85m2)
1
1 single
Inclusions/Exclusions
Inclusions:
- All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Ushuaia on Day 1.
- Lake Escondido Tour in Ushuaia, on Day 2.
- Charter flight King George Island to Punta Arenas on Day 8.
- One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Punta Arenas on Day 8.
- Onboard accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
- All meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks & juices during voyage.
- Beer and house wine with dinner.
- Captain’s Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
- All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
- Educational lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team.
- Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consultation).
- One 3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
- Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
- Comprehensive pre-departure information.
- Port surcharges, permits and landing fees.
- Wi-Fi – Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection can be unreliable.
Exclusions:
- International or domestic flights – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Transfers – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Airport arrival or departure taxes.
- Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
- Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
- Hotel accommodation and meals – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges.
- All items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages (outside of dinner service), gratuities, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses or phone charges.
Note: A $15 USD per person per day gratuity for the crew is automatically added to your onboard account. It is at your discretion if you would like to remove the tip (or adjust the amount) when you settle your bill. It is not necessary to tip the expedition team members. This gratuity amount is included for suites as part of their ‘Suite Benefits’.
Solo Travelers
An expedition cruise to the Polar regions is a fantastic trip for solo travelers. On most ships, there is the option to share a cabin with another guest of the same gender to keep the pricing down. Solo occupancy cabins are also an option for guests who prefer to have their own space. Please reach out for more information and pricing for solo travelers.
