ACTIVITY LEVEL: Medium

Fly and Cruise to Antarctica

Join Us for this Once-In-A-Lifetime Trip!

"The one thing you’ll never regret spending money or time on is a great experience."

                                                                                  ~ Bobby "Axe" Axelrod

This trip is one worth saving for and should be at or near the top of everyone's bucket list who enjoys travel.

• Trip Duration and Accommodation:
  
  • 8-day, 7-night adventure in Antarctica.
  • Two nights in Punta Arenas, Chile (nights 1 and 7).
  • Five nights aboard the Ocean Nova (nights 2 - 6).

• Expedition Overview:
  
  • Popular Fly & Cruise itinerary to Antarctica.
  • Flight arrival in Antarctica, followed by sailing between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

• Natural Wonders:
  
  • Marvel at ice-filled fjords and spectacular iceberg formations.
  • Spot wildlife such as penguins, seals, orcas, and whales.

• Activities and Experiences:
  
  • Daily excursions include hiking and Zodiac cruising.
  • Optional activities like kayaking and snow shoeing (extra fee required).
  • Unique experiences such as the polar plunge.
  • Educational onboard presentations enhancing the journey.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO TO GET AN IDEA 

OF WHAT YOU'LL SEE AND EXPERIENCE ON THIS TRIP

ALL GROUP TIPS ARE INCLUDED

SAVE 4+ DAYS...

FLY ACROSS THE DRAKE PASSAGE!

Departure is limited to just 12 participants.  Single rooms are strictly limited.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When off the ship, you’ll want to wear good, sturdy walking boots specifically made for Antarctic conditions, and those will be provided during the trip.

Throughout this adventure, you’ll be getting on and off the ship to board Zodiacs to take you to land, and of course, there’s snow, ice, water, gravel, dirt, and other conditions that require excellent footwear.

If you are even slightly unsure of your walking capability in these conditions it’s HIGHLY recommended that you use a quality set of telescoping walking sticks (these will be provided).

MORE IMPORTANT DETAILS

About Your Flights

Only after having been given the go-ahead by Continental DRIFTER® (CD) administrators, please arrange your flight to Punta Arenas, Chile (PUQ) to allow you to arrive at the hotel by 2 pm local time (this is mandatory). All participants will have an airport transfer included on arrival that will take them directly to the hotel where you'll meet your hosts.  The next day, you'll fly down to Antarctica.

Regarding Your Flight Home

In order to take into account any flight delays due to weather, flights home should be arranged to leave PUQ as late as possible on the final tour date and your airport transfer will be included (please don’t make any non-refundable travel arrangements until given the go-ahead by CD administrators).

You can certainly choose to stay over in this area or move on to other parts of the region to enjoy the many other things to do (we may be able to assist) or transfer on your own to other parts of Chile and South America to continue your adventure, but please arrange these additional services on your own.

We wish you safe travels and happy memories of what will surely be an unforgettable trip!

"Great trip, highly recommended!"

~ Sharon B. (Antarctica)

“Flying was a great alternative to at least 4 days of sailing across open seas. The 3 days that we did actually get off the ship and on to shore were exceptional with diverse locations that created really good photographic opportunities, and multiple interesting landings. L

The ship staff laid things out on shore really well, in advance of the guests’ arriving, and they offered good alternate services like snow-shoeing and kayaking. 

The comparatively small size of the ship was its greatest asset. In the days we did get off the boat we got much more up close and personal than visitors on much bigger cruise ships - a much more immersive Antarctic experience. And we never had to wait in the lines or shifts that are common on large cruise lines. 

For someone who really wants to experience Antarctica, this approach is a much better alternative.”

~ Keith S. (Antarctica)

“Thanks for being a fantastic group leader.  I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to Antarctica.”

~ N.S. (Antarctica)

“Traveling to the 7th Continent with Continental Drifter was the trip of a lifetime. My wife spent 10 years persuading me to go to Antarctica and I'm happy to say that I am glad we took the plunge. What we saw and experienced there can hardly be put into words. Simply an amazing experience!!!”

~ Mark K. (Antarctica, Tuscany, India)

“I had an amazing time in Antarctica. One of the best things about Ralph and his tours is that each location and local tour provider is thoroughly vetted for the best travel experience…all the expedition staff throughout the trip were knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, and in the end, you felt like a special guest. I highly recommend this trip.”  

~ Patrick M. (Antarctica, Cambodia, Spain, France, Armenia & Georgia, others)

“This was the travel experience of a lifetime! …every aspect of the trip met or exceeded my expectations! Because we were a small group (about 50 people), we were able to do a large number of on-land expeditions, which most travelers to Antarctica don’t get to experience. Also, flying there (rather than wasting 2 days each way traveling across the rough Drake Strait) was a tremendous benefit! Yes, the trip was pricey, but definitely worth the money when you compare apples to apples!”  

~ Matthew E. (Antarctica, Romania)

Unlike most other trips to Antarctica you may have seen, it’s very important to note that this trip does NOT require an additional 4+ days (roundtrip) to sail through the notoriously rough Drake Passage in the Southern Ocean. All participants will FLY from Punta Arenas, Chile, to the continent of Antarctica to meet the ship, and this flight is included in your fee.

It’s also worth noting that you’re going to experience this incredible destination on a 67-passenger boat, which is relatively small and intimate by most standards, and yet this former icebreaker is big enough to get all participants safely through this remote part of the world, and so it’s perfect for this adventure.  

See photos of the ship and its cabins.

Of course, Mother Nature governs Antarctica and weather controls all on the harshest continent on Earth. This is why our Tour Operator has the best Contingency Plan in the industry, guided by consistency, transparency, and fairness, offering value and comfort should the weather delay the expedition.

Participants on this trip should know that the overall activity level can be considered Moderate to Strenuous.  There will be a fair amount of walking on snow, ice, gravel, wet ground, mud, shallow water, and other unfavorable walking conditions, so using a quality set of Walking Poles is highly recommended.

Those having difficulty walking or getting on and off an inflatable Zodiac a number of times each day should reach out to me in order to get more information about what to expect on this adventure.

Our main goal is the absolute safety of our guests.

For the more adventurous types you can also choose to add a sea kayaking package to your trip for an additional fee of $895 per person, and this includes instruction, training, and all equipment throughout your journey so you can plan to go as much as possible and as conditions and landing points allow.  Because this is a very special skill and participants will be trained by highly skilled personnel, kayaking packages are not shareable or transferrable to anyone other than the original registrant.

For a fee of $85 per person/per excursion, you can choose to join a group of up to 12 other adventurous participants for a hiking and snowshoeing experience that will take you to vantage points on the continent that other guests won’t be able to see.  Registration will be available on board the ship.

Please ask for more details should this interest you.

Please note that if we don't get 12 passengers for this trip it's possible Ralph will not be able to join the group.  That said, all participants will still go and will be taken care of very well by the local staff and ship's crew.

All aspects of this itinerary are subject to change.  We ask that you remain flexible, as there are often circumstances beyond our control and modifications may be necessary.

Most meals are included and B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, and D = Dinner

Continental DRIFTER® Experiences' Terms & Conditions can be found at the link.