South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari

18 Days

Starting at $19,037

World Explorer, Premium Ship 172 Passengers

Ushuaia, Argentina

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Voyage Overview

This itinerary is one of the fastest way to get to the seldom visited South Georgia Island while also setting foot on the 7th continent.

As we set sail, photograph massive albatross and beautiful pintado petrels as they swoop and soar around the ship, guiding us toward South Georgia. Beaches teeming with king penguins and elephant seals greet us on this fabled island, where we’ll pay our respects to famed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Antarctica awaits, with its soaring peaks and staggering expanse. Go further into the Antarctic sea on a Zodiac, experience the rugged peninsula from a sea kayak, undertake an exhilarating hike up a sparkling glacier, or share an endearingly comical moment with an inquisitive gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguin. In these ways and countless others, Antarctica will amaze, surprise and delight.

Trip Details

Tour Dates

  • October 2025 to March 2026
DatesAvailability
Feb 1 – Feb 18, 2026 (18 days)
Very Limited

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina
You will begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port at the tip of South America. It’s the ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Get active in the mountains or enjoy handcrafted chocolate at a café in town.

Day 2: Embark
Embarkation will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will sail down the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart!

Days 3 to 6: At Sea
There are many activities to keep you engaged while you are at sea. Learn to identify seabirds that glide alongside the ship, or attend dynamic presentations by your Expedition Team. You will be prepped on safety procedures for Zodiac cruises and shore landings, and also be given instructions for getting the most out of your optional sea kayaking adventures (extra cost), a truly intimate way to experience Antarctica.

If conditions are right, the first indication that you are approaching South Georgia is the sight of birds around a group of rocky spires called Shag Rocks. Have your binoculars and cameras ready to capture these rocky spires rising out of the icy ocean waters. Shags and prions often rest here, and due to nutrient rich upwellings around the rocks it can be a good place to keep a lookout for whales.

Days 7 to 9: South Georgia
After enjoying South Georgia from a distance, we’ll head toward its numerous beaches to find a bay for your first excursion. Landing sites are varied, largely determined by the weather conditions of your voyage. The sites you visit will provide you with wildlife encounters unrivaled anywhere else on Earth.

South Georgia is one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world for sub-Antarctic wildlife, with beaches blanketed with penguins and seals. It won’t take you long to realize that you are in a birder’s paradise, as burrowing seabirds, albatross and petrels can be seen in abundance. You’ll find that South Georgia, once a popular base for whalers and sealers, is also scattered with abandoned relics and evidence of human activity from centuries gone by. Your Expedition Team will help bring those days to life while you visit old whaling stations and enjoy presentations on the South Georgia of then and now.

One of the most significant sites you will visit on the island is Grytviken. This settlement is one of the first whaling stations established in sub-Antarctic waters. Grytviken possesses a special appeal largely because it’s the site of the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, one of the most famous Antarctic explorers.

Days 10 and 11: At Sea
Say goodbye to the king penguins as you leave for your next destination: Antarctica! Your days at sea are filled with presentations and workshops led by your Expedition Team, who will prepare you for the wildlife and landscapes that will surround you upon your arrival on the 7th Continent.

Days 12 to 15: Antarctic Peninsula
The most common reaction upon reaching Antarctica is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is hard to put into words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will discover a land of extremes. One moment you’ll be overcome with a feeling of complete isolation and silence, and the next moment you’ll be inspired by nature as a calving glacier crashes into a brilliant blue sea or a curious penguin waddles by to observe you.

Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each excursion, whether you are Zodiac cruising, visiting a historical site or observing penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins are found here, along with Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals. Keep a lookout for Antarctic whales, such as minkes, while on a Zodiac cruise. Eachday and each excursion will present a new array of creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy.

As exciting as the Zodiac excursions and landings are, perhaps you’ll treat yourself to an extra-special Antarctic experience by booking an optional paddling excursion (at an extra cost) or cast reason aside and jump into Antarctic waters for the Polar Plunge!

Days 16 and 17: Crossing the Drake Passage
After more than a dozen days of unique wildlife encounters and remarkable landscapes, your journey home begins. Crossing the Drake is your unofficial rite of passage. Spend time on deck watching for seabirds and whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team, or simply relax and reminisce about your experiences.

Day 18: Disembark in Ushuaia
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning, which allows you to continue your adventure onward or catch your flights home.

EXPEDITION SPIRIT: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, ice and weather to guide the route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you may experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. By the same token, wildlife encounters as described are expected, but not guaranteed. Your Expedition Team will use their considerable experience to seek out wildlife in known habitats, but the presence of any particular species of bird or marine wildlife is not guaranteed.

Trips & Rates

Please note, rates are Per Person in USD

Availability & prices are subject to change at anytime

Voyage Season: Oct 2025 – Mar 2026 April – September 2026 Oct 2026 – Mar 2027 Oct 2027 – Mar 2028
Cabin Type:
Occupancy:
Cabin Category
Triple
Infinity Suite
Veranda Suite
Superior Suite
Deluxe Suite
Owner’s Suite
Per Person Price in USD$27,195$31,995$31,995$41,595$44,795$47,995
Discount
Save 30%
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Discounted Per Person Price$19,037 $22,397 $22,397 $29,117 $31,357 $33,597
AvailabilityLimitedOpenLimitedOpenLimitedLimited

Single Travelers:

  • Can book into a share cabin in the following categories: Triple, Infinity Suite & Veranda Suite
  • Can book a twin cabin at solo occupancy at 1.7x the per person share price in Infinity & Veranda Suites and 2x the per person price for all higher categories

Adventure Options:

  • Kayaking (full program, multiple paddles): $1,995/person – requires experience
  • Paddling (one-time): $395/person
  • Stand-Up Paddleboarding: $295/person
  • Camping: $495/person

Cabins & Deck Plan

World Explorer - Owners Suite

Owner’s Suite

A large two room suite with a bedroom, separate sitting area and a 110 sq. ft. (10 sq. m) walk-out balcony, accessible from both rooms. The sitting area features a sofa, refrigerator, TV and state of the art “infotainment” system. The private bathroom has a shower, dual vanity, and bathtub.

355 sq ft. (33 m2)

1-2

1 double or 2 single

World Explorer - Deluxe Suite

Deluxe Suite

Deluxe Suites are equipped with a bedroom, separate sitting area, a 110 sq. ft. (10 sq. m) walk-out balcony and a private bathroom with shower. The sitting area features a sofa, double closets, refrigerator, TV and state of the art “infotainment” system. There are just 2 Deluxe Suites onboard World Explorer.

334 sq ft. (31 m2)

1-2

1 double or 2 single

World Explorer - Superior Suite

Superior Suite

The four Superior Suites feature a bedroom, separate sitting area, 110 sq. ft. (10 sq. m) walk-out balcony and private bathroom with a shower. The sitting area are equipped with a sofa, walk-in closet, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system.

278 sq ft. (26 m2)

1-2

1 double or 2 single

World Explorer - Veranda Suite

Veranda Suite

The most abundant cabin category on World Explorer. Veranda Suites feature a 55 sq. ft. (5 sq. m) walk-out balcony, sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower.

215 sq ft. (20 m2)

1-2

1 double or 2 single

World Explorer - Infinity Suite

Infinity Suite

Infinity Suites are located in the aft on decks 5 & 6 and feature a floor-to-ceiling glass French balcony, a sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower.

270 sq ft. (25 m2)

1-2

1 double or 2 single

Triple Suite

For a small group of 3 traveling together or solo travelers looking to share a cabin with other passengers of the same gender. Cabins feature a 55 sq. ft. (5 sq. m) walk-out balcony, separate combo sitting area/bedroom with a sofa bed and additional closet, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower.

242 sq ft. (22.5 m2)

3

1 double or 2 single + sofa bed

Inclusions/Exclusions

Inclusions: 

  • Leadership throughout your voyage by experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities
  • An official expedition parka to keep
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
  • All shore landings as per the daily program
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage. Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals
  • Free beer, standard wines, spirits, and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting your expedition
  • A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
  • Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Group arrival transfer in Ushuaia from airport to pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
  • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Ushuaia 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.)
  • Group transfer from hotel to ship on embarkation day
  • Group departure transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from ship to local airport or to luggage storage facility
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi service on one device permitting basic Internet browsing, email, posting on social media and voice applications. (Premium packages are available for more data intensive applications.)

Exclusions: 

  • International airfare
  • Passport and applicable visa expenses
  • Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned
  • Meals unless otherwise specified
  • Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended
  • Excess-baggage fees on international flights and domestic flights
  • Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac landing and cruising excursions, or any other gear not mentioned
  • Laundry, bar, spa services and other personal charges, unless specified
  • Phone and Internet charges (connectivity may vary by location)
  • Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for expedition staff and shipboard crew
  • Additional overnight accommodation
  • Arrival and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated
  • Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities

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.

Photographer shooting a beautiful landscape in Antarctica