Antarctic Peninsula Expedition Micro Cruise by Air & Sea
Sail the Drake Passage, the most storied ocean crossing in the world, with albatross for company. Then fly out of Antarctica, landing in Patagonia. The crossing is the point. The flight is the exit.
With 36 guests, six Senior Polar Guides, and four Zodiacs in the water at once, all guests reach the Peninsula together, with the time and space to go further.
This voyage combines what neither format alone can offer. The Drake Passage south from Ushuaia: two days at sea across open ocean, Cape Horn astern, wandering albatrosses tracing the swell, the continent building on the horizon. Four full days on the Antarctic Peninsula. Then a 2.5-hour charter flight from King George Island to Puerto Natales, arriving in Patagonia with a farewell night at Weskar Lodge rather than two more days at sea.
Somewhere around the second day, the water changes.
You cross the Antarctic Convergence, the line where warmer subantarctic water meets the cold, nutrient-dense Southern Ocean. Sea temperature drops several degrees within hours. The air sharpens. Bird numbers increase. It's the moment the ocean tells you you've reached Antarctic waters, well before the ship does.
Aureum's ice-class hull and fin stabilisers are built for this crossing specifically, sustained Southern Ocean swell, not sheltered coastal water. The result is a safer, steadier crossing.
Nine days total. The Drake Passage as an experience, not a delay. Patagonia as a landing, not a transit. 36 guests throughout.
Highlights
• Fly out of Antarctica. The return crossing is a 2.5-hour charter flight from King George Island to Puerto Natales. The expedition ends in Patagonia rather than back at the Drake: a different arrival, and a better one.
• 36 guests. Four Zodiacs, six senior polar guides, all in the water simultaneously, each responding independently to conditions.
• The Drake Passage, sailed. Two days south from Ushuaia across open ocean. Cape Horn in the wake. Wandering albatrosses on the wing above the swell. Aureum's fin stabilisers keep the crossing comfortable, the Southern Ocean does the rest.
• Four full days on the Peninsula. The Gerlache Strait, Lemaire Channel, Paradise Bay, Deception Island: the core of the Antarctic Peninsula's most extraordinary geography with time to move unhurried through it.
• Continental landing. For most guests, the moment that defines the voyage is stepping ashore on the seventh continent. The Peninsula receives you at micro-scale, 36 guests, all ashore at once, with no one waiting back on the ship and no schedule pulling you away.
• Wildlife of the Peninsula. Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adélie penguins. Leopard, Weddell, and crabeater seals. Humpback and minke whales in the channels. Petrels, skuas, and Antarctic terns overhead.
• Expert photography guidance. A dedicated photography guide is part of the guiding team on every departure, on hand to help you capture the wildlife, icescapes, and dramatic light of Antarctica.
• A farewell night at Weskar Lodge. Torres del Paine on the doorstep, a farewell dinner, time for the expedition to settle. Up to three additional nights at no extra cost if the return flight window shifts with the weather.
Arrival Day
Upon arrival in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost city in the world, you will be transferred to Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, Ushuaia's premier luxury resort.
Relax and enjoy the hotel's exceptional facilities, including the fitness centre, indoor swimming pool, indoor and outdoor relaxation pools, outdoor hot tubs, and pool bar. Alternatively, immerse yourself in Patagonia by exploring the scenic walking trails of the Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve.
A complimentary overnight stay at Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa is included as part of your expedition.
Airport transfer to the hotel is included.
Embarkation Day
Enjoy a leisurely morning to explore Ushuaia at your own pace. For ideas on what to see and do, please refer to our Ushuaia Handbook.
Embarkation takes place between 16:00 and 17:00, with a complimentary transfer provided from the hotel to the pier.
After mandatory safety briefings, join your fellow travellers for a welcome cocktail and dinner as Explorer Yacht Aureum departs through the Beagle Channel, marking the beginning of your expedition to Antarctica, with the legendary Drake Passage ahead.
The Drake is where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet with nothing to slow them. Aureum's fin stabilisers hold the crossing steady; the programme on board holds your attention: polar science lectures, photography workshops, personal accounts from the expedition team.
Weather permitting, time on deck to watch wandering albatrosses trace the swell. The birds are large enough to be genuinely surprising at close range, and the guides know their species on sight.
The Antarctic Peninsula appears on the horizon toward the end of day three.
Four full days on the Peninsula. Where we go is shaped by conditions and opportunity:
We often sail into the heart of the Antarctic Peninsula through the scenic Gerlache Strait, flanked by jagged peaks. With the aim to explore Wilhelmina Bay, Cuverville Island, Paradise Bay, Lemaire Channel, Deception Island, and the sites between them.
Leopard seals on ice floes. Gentoo and Chinstrap penguin colonies. Humpback whales surfacing in the channels. Glaciers calving into water that carries no traffic. And the moment that defines your voyage: landing on the continent and setting foot on Antarctica.
Possible locations: Cierva Cove, Trinity Island, Mikkelsen Harbour, Hydrurga Rocks, Hughes Bay, Wilhelmina Bay, Cuverville Island, Errera Channel, Neko Harbour, Paradise Bay, Almirante Brown Station, Dallman Bay, Melchior Islands, Neumayer Channel, Port Lockroy, Lemaire Channel, Half Moon Island, Yankee Harbour, Whalers Bay, Baily Head, Deception Island.
If the flight window shifts, the expedition continues in Antarctica. There is no shortage of Peninsula to explore, and every additional day is unplanned time in one of the most extraordinary places on earth.
The final night is at Weskar Lodge in Puerto Natales: farewell dinner, the expedition settling, Torres del Paine in the distance.
Aircraft: BAE 146-200 / RJ-85 / RJ-100. Luggage allowance: 25kg checked, 5kg carry-on within standard size limitations.
Enjoy your last day in Puerto Natales, Chile
After your expedition, take the opportunity to explore Puerto Natales, the gateway to Chilean Patagonia—a frontier town with genuine character, exceptional local seafood, an unhurried pace, and an atmosphere entirely its own.
From here, discover nearby Torres del Paine National Park, part of the UNESCO Torres del Paine Biosphere Reserve, renowned for its granite towers, glaciers, turquoise lakes and remarkable wildlife.
Want to stay a little longer? Every Antarctica By Air expedition includes our Peace of Mind approach, with up to three additional nights in Puerto Natales at no extra accommodation cost.
Itineraries are subject to change.
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Vessel Type: Ice-Class Small Ship
Length: 56 m
Passenger Capacity: 36
Aureum is a purpose-designed micro expedition vessel built to deliver an intimate and highly flexible Antarctic experience, carrying just 36 guests supported by 26 crew, including six senior polar guides. With an ice-class 1C rating, Polar Code compliance, hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and active fin stabilisers, the vessel combines expedition capability with comfort and reduced environmental impact. Four Zodiacs allow guests to move efficiently between ship and shore, while open decks, a forward observation deck and the bridge lounge provide exceptional vantage points for wildlife and photography. The open-door bridge also gives guests the opportunity to follow the expedition alongside the captain and guides as routes and conditions unfold.
Life aboard Aureum is designed around relaxation and connection after days of exploration. The intimate lounge and dining room provide welcoming spaces for briefings, lectures, meals and quiet downtime, while the wellness area on the top deck features a sauna, hot tub and gym. A dedicated mudroom and disembarkation platform make the transition from ship to shore straightforward, with space to prepare and store expedition gear. With a high proportion of single cabins, comfortable shared spaces and a small-group atmosphere throughout, Aureum offers a distinctive blend of premium service, expedition capability and genuine access to the polar environment.
Inclusions
SVALBARD
• Expert Svalbard Expedition Leader
• Lectures on Svalbard
• Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
• Polar Bear protection guides for shore landings
• Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner + alcoholic drinks with evening meal)
• Bedding and towels
• Highly experienced Captain and Cook
• Rubber boots for shore landings
• Transfers from airport to hotel and to vessel for embarkation + vessel to airport/hotel after disembarkation
ANTARCTICA
• Expert Antarctica Expedition Guide Team
• Lectures on Antarctica
• Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
• Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner )
• Bedding and towels
• Highly experienced Captain and Cook
• Rubber boots for shore landings
Exclusions
• Flights
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Any additional expenses such as museum entry
Small Ship Cruise
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