Day 1 – Arrive Buenos Aires
On arrival in the Argentine capital, you’ll be *met and transferred to your hotel in the cosmopolitan Palermo neighbourhood. Settle in before meeting your Host and fellow adventurers.
Commonly referred to as the most European city in South America, Buenos Aires is a clash of vast boulevards and Parisian-like cafes, vibrant street art and loud latin music. Few cities can match its’ unbridled energy; thriving, vibrant and full of charm – that’s how we’d describe Buenos Aires. Sun-bleached boulevards, fascinating neighborhoods, cutting-edge restaurants and sultry dancehalls set the stage for a festive expression of Argentine identity.
We will join in the bar, or around the pool, for a cocktail, so everyone can meet and we can go over the coming days before we have our first dinner together.
Overnight Accommodation: Home Hotel (or similar) (D / Welcome Drink + Dinner)
Day 2 – Buenos Aires
This morning, we delve deeper into Buenos Aires’ sights on a city tour.
We will visit the Recoleta Cemetery, where Argentinian icon, Eva Perón, rests; the Plaza de Mayo; the San Telmo neighborhood and La Boca which each add a layer to the city’s mystique. A walk along Caminito Street, with its brightly colored houses and diverse museums, offers easy-going cultural immersion.
We will have a traditional bodegon lunch before returning to the hotel for a rest and refresh.
This evening, we will head off on a quintessentially Argentina evening comprising of two of Argentina’s greatest passions – food and Tango. Our private transfer will pick us up and deliver us to the art-deco Faena Hotel for their famous Rojo Tango show. The venue, designed by Philippe Starck, blends classic elements with contemporary touches, evoking the sensuality and glamour of 1920s cabarets. Rojo Tango brings together the intensity of dance, the power of live music, and a world-class gastronomic experience. An intimate and sophisticated show of international calibre that transforms the history of tango into an unforgettable experience. Love, Passion, Madness, Gamour! It is all here.
Overnight Accommodation: Home Hotel (or similar) (B / L / Dinner and Show)
Day 3 – To Ushuaia
Today, after checking out, we transfer to the airport for our 3.5 hour flight to Ushuaia, the world’s most southerly city.
On arrival, we are transferred to our hotel and check-in.
Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa is located within the Cerro Alarkén Natural Reserve. Perched on a hill, providing stunning, secluded views of Ushuaia and the surrounding mountains, yet only a short (complimentary) shuttle ride from downtown. Snuggled into a native forest with panoramic views over the town, the bay, and Beagle Channel, the monolithic hotel is based on sustainable architecture with attributes of elegant decor. It has a striking and majestic interior warmth that defies its exterior design. Contemporary and sleek, you will be wowedd with the view to die for. And there is a 38 degree indoor swimming pool and a couple of hot tubs clinging to the cliff face in the crisp air.
If you wish to leave the hotel this afternoon, you could visit the Museo del Fin del Mundo (Museum of The End of The World) which showcases regional history, including indigenous artifacts, prison relics, and local fauna. You could also visit the Museo Marítimo (Maritime Museum of Ushuaia).
Ushuaia, known as the “End of the World,” is the southernmost city on Earth. Founded in 1884, it serves as the Antarctic gateway. The city is situated on the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, it is surrounded by the Martial Glacier range and the Beagle Channel, providing dramatic mountain-to-sea landscapes. Stats: it has a latitude of 54° south, more than 3,000 km from the city of Buenos Aires and 1,000 km from Antarctica.
Tonight, we will journey into town and eat at a local institution – Kalma Restó. Kalma offers a perfect blend of exquisite cuisine and breathtaking panoramic views. Led by chef Jorge Monopoli, the menu features an array of options that showcase the authentic flavors of Southern Patagonia.
Overnight Accommodation: Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa (B / D)
Day 4 – Ushuaia – Tierra National Park
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then we are picked up by our Private Van and we journey into into the jaw-dropping Torres del Paine National Park, touring its incredible landscapes with our local guide. This is a region where the mountains meet the sea, and the fresh water of rivers and lakes coexists with the marine coast.
This journey take us through the forest, along the coast of the Beagle Channel, and through the Ensenada and Lapataia bays. Along
the road, surrounded by lenga forests and peat bogs, we will reach Lake Acigami (formerly Lake Roca), a glacial lake framed by mountains and forests where it is possible to spot native birds. A few minutes from Lake Acigami, we will stop at the Alakush Visitor
Centre, where we can grab a coffee. The last leg of the excursion takes us to Lapataia Bay, after crossing the cormorant archipelago, peat bogs and visiting a beaver dam. In Lapataia Bay, in addition to the coastline rich in shellfish and mussels, we will find traces of the ancient
indigenous people who inhabited the region. There we will have time to walk along the footbridge, from which we can take photographs and enjoy the feeling of being at the end of the world.
There is a tiny post office on stilts located in Tierra del Fuego National Park, and we’ll likely stop there. They sell postcards at the shop and you can buy postage to send a postcard right from the world’s kookiest tourist attraction. but don’t expect your postcard to arrive in a timely manner!
After an exciting day out, your evening is at leisure to prepare four upcoming adventure!
Overnight Accommodation: Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa (B / Picnic Lunch)
Day 5 – Board the St Helena
Our morning is free for last minute exploring or spa.
You will have free time for lunch in town and for any last minute purchases before we are transferred to the port for embarkation.
We make our way to the pier in the town centre by 3:30 pm for check-in, with embarkation beginning at 4:00 pm.
On boarding the expedition vessel in the afternoon, you’ll meet your crew and fellow travellers. You will be shown to your cabin and have some time to unpack and settle in before the official safety briefing and abandon ship drill. After settling in, the ship sets off along the picturesque Beagle Channel.
Relish your first evening at sea as the southernmost tip of South America disappears from view.
Overnight Accommodation: The St Helena (B / D)
Days 6-7 – Crossing the Drake Passage
Across the tempestuous waters of the Drake Passage, lies the frozen expanse of Antarctica. The experience of crossing the Drake is a right of passage for the brave explorers who make it down to Antarctica, a place that only a lucky few have set foot on, it intrigues and mystifies in equal measure. We start our Antarctic adventure with a crossing of the Drake, a vast stretch of open ocean that marks the Antarctic Convergence, where nutrient-rich waters sustain a vibrant ecosystem.
While at sea, attend expert-led talks on Antarctica’s history, wildlife, and geology. Head to the open decks or the bridge to spot albatrosses, petrels, and even whales. Adventure activities, including navigation workshops and safety briefings for kayaking and snowshoeing, will also be held.
By the end of Day 3, the first sighting of icebergs and snow-capped peaks will signal your arrival at the South Shetland Islands.
Overnight Accommodation: The St Helena (B / L / D)
Days 8-12 – Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula
For your next few days at sea, you’ll have just the icebergs, penguins, seals and whales for company. Antarctica is a fragile environment where conditions can change at any moment. We will spend each day heading onshore in the company of polar guides, before strapping on snowshoes or picking up a paddle to explore further. The core of the journey unfolds as you explore the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, with each day offering a blend of landings, zodiac cruises, and optional adventure activities.
Highlights Include:
*Kayaking Among Icebergs: Paddle through tranquil waters, drifting past seals resting on ice floes and penguins diving in for a swim.
*Penguin Colonies: Visit expansive rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adélie Penguins, watching their amusing behaviours as they care for their chicks or brave the frigid waters.
*Wildlife Encounters: Spot Weddell, crabeater, and leopard seals lounging on ice or hunting in the water, with Minke and humpback whales often seen feeding nearby.
With over 500 diverse landing sites along the Antarctic Peninsula, no two voyages are ever the same. Our expert team crafts each expedition based on conditions, weather, and opportunities for the most remarkable encounters. As passenger vessel traffic has increased in recent years, competition for landing sites has intensified—but our deep knowledge of this pristine region ensures you’ll embark on true exploratory journeys, venturing beyond the crowds.
We aim to have two daily landings in the Antarctic Peninsula using the fleet of 13 Zodiacs. Many of the locations we will visit are unique, and we need to have respect for the ecosystems we explore. Your expedition team will guide you on shore excursions and provide detailed information.
Guided by our experienced crew, you’ll navigate breathtaking ice-choked channels, witness towering glaciers, and encounter extraordinary wildlife in one of the most remote places on Earth.
Overnight Accommodation: The St Helena (B / L / D)
Day 13 – Farewell Landings
As the expedition heads back north, there’s an opportunity for a final landing or zodiac cruise. Weather and ice conditions permitting, explore destinations like Brown Bluff, where towering cliffs and an Adélie penguin colony await, or Paulet Island, home to historic sites and abundant wildlife.
Overnight Accommodation: The St Helena (B / L / D)
Day 14 – Drake Passage (Northbound)
Relive your adventures as you cross the Drake Passage, keeping an eye out for seabirds and whales along the way. Take part in final lectures or workshops, and enjoy a celebratory dinner with your fellow travellers as you reflect on the unforgettable journey.
Overnight Accommodation: The St Helena (B / L / D)
Day 15 – Ushuaia
Arrive back in Ushuaia in the early morning.
After breakfast, disembark – usually between 8:00 and 8:30 am – with cherished memories of an epic Antarctic expedition.
We have a transfer to the Ushuaia Airport for our flights back to Buenos Aires where this magical tour ends. (B)
