Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent

Days 1-2

Buenos Aires, Argentina (National Geographic Explorer & National Geographic Endurance) or Santiago (National Geographic Resolution)

Depart on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires (National Geographic Explorer; National Geographic Endurance) or Santiago (National Geographic Resolution). Settle into the Alvear Art Hotel (or similar, Explorer) or Alvear Icon (or similar, National Geographic Endurance) before setting out on a guided tour of the city’s Beaux-Arts palaces and parks. Visit Recoleta—the final resting place of Argentina's iconic first lady, Eva Perón—and enjoy a private visit to El Zanjon de Granados, one of the city’s premier museums.

Or check into the Mandarin Oriental (or similar, National Geographic Resolution) before our guided overview of this vibrant city backed by the inspiring Andes. Discover sites like the Plaza de Armas and get a feel for the mix of old and new that makes this city so great. This area is excellent for photos!

Meals Included: Lunch

Day 3

Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark

Fly southward to Ushuaia. Sandwiched between ice-mantled peaks and the frigid waters of Beagle Channel, this is a fittingly wild place to be known as “El Fin del Mundo” or “The End of the World.” Before departing, visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, clad in dense beech forest just as much of Antarctica was millions of years ago. Savor lunch onboard a private catamaran as you cruise the Channel, keeping an eye out for plump South American sea lions and sleek seabirds like the imperial cormorant. By day’s end, you’ll be comfortably on board your ship and ready to meet the White Continent.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 4-5

At Sea Crossing the Drake Passage

At times ferocious, at others flat calm, this legendary 500-mile-wide strait divides South America from the Antarctic Peninsula. Feel the excitement build as we begin the crossing, often accompanied by seabirds like the wandering albatross and—if luck allows—a pod of killer whales or rare dolphins. Get to know the ship and prepare for the adventures ahead. Visit the Bridge (ideal for wildlife spotting), relax with a massage, attend a talk on the unique biology of penguins. Or simply settle into a comfy chair in the observation lounge, looking out over the waves as you contemplate the history of this passage named for English privateer Francis Drake, but first discovered by Spanish navigator Francisco de Hoces.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Exploring Antarctica

Ice! It’s probably the very first thing most people think about when the topic of Antarctica comes up, and once you’re here it never disappoints. From icebergs the size of islands to the fragile, nearly invisible layers glistening on the surface where the sea has just begun to freeze, from near-vertical glaciers pouring down the slopes of every mountain to the endless landscapes of sea ice, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know it well: hiking, kayaking, and cruising in the Zodiacs through this frozen world.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7

Exploring Antarctica

Our sturdy Zodiac landing craft are really the heart and soul of our explorations in the Antarctic. These tough, stable little motorized boats maneuver easily through ice-choked waters, getting us ashore safely in even the most remote and challenging locations. And simply cruising in the Zodiacs is just as much fun. What’s around the next corner? A leopard seal relaxing on an ice floe or a chance to photograph an exquisite arched iceberg that no one has ever seen before? We never know until we get there, but it’s always a thrill.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8

Exploring Antarctica

Penguins, without any doubt, are the most popular residents of Antarctica, and we will have many chances to get to know them well. Their colonies are almost always close to the beach, so it’s very easy to get great photos. In the short Antarctic summer these amazing birds are always busy with the many tasks of breeding and raising their chicks, so every month brings something new. In November the adults are squabbling over the pebbles they use to build their nests. By late December the first chicks are tucked in under their parents, peeping out at the world. And in February the chicks have left their nests and are very active, learning to swim and getting ready to fend for themselves.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9

Exploring Antarctica

Everywhere we go in the Antarctic we’re surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images with our cameras. Whether we are cruising past spectacular glaciers in the ship, getting close to seals in the Zodiacs, or hiking around the penguin colonies, we are always in the company of a National Geographic photography expert and a certified photo instructor who share what they see and help us to perfect both the art and the technique of our own photography. The impossibly gorgeous blue in the heart of an iceberg, a penguin tenderly feeding its tiny chick or a glorious sunset over frozen ocean, shots like these surround us every day. Learning to capture these perfect moments is both a wonderful challenge and a huge thrill.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10

Exploring Antarctica

Exploring Antarctica also means simply relaxing and watching while our ship cruises through some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. Grab a cup of cocoa and a comfortable seat in the Observation Lounge, visit the officers on the Bridge, or just kick back in your cabin and watch for seals on ice or whales blowing in the distance. We'll make transits of world-famous passages like the Lemaire Channel and Antarctic Sound and go ashore on the continent itself, but we'll also visit equally amazing islands and places you haven't yet heard of!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 11-12

At Sea

Enjoy the ship’s amenities as the coast of Antarctica disappears from view. Round the southernmost tip of South America and see the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Take some time to go through your photos, or send a message home to friends and family. Celebrate your voyage at a farewell dinner on board.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 13-14

Disembark Ushuaia / Fly to Buenos Aires (Explorer, Endurance) or Santiago (Resolution) / Home

Today we disembark in Ushuaia. Fly by private charter flight to Buenos Aires or Santiago and connect with your overnight flight home.

IMPORTANT: Some departures may have a slightly modified itinerary. Please confirm departure and arrival cities with an Expedition Specialist before booking your flights.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch