Book select departures and receive complimentary round-trip economy international group airfare between MIA and Santiago, PLUS free charter flights. Complimentary airfare must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions, and in the case that Lindblad's group flight is not available at the time of booking, we reserve the right to issue a credit. Baggage fees may be additional. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability.
The most exhilarating adventure the planet offers
Antarctica may be at the end of the Earth, but we’ve been bringing guests here for decades— safely sharing all the wonders of this vast land and sea. Join us to experience the thrill of crunching through the sea ice aboard our fleet of three state-of-the-art expedition ships to see scores of penguins and whales. People come for the wildlife but fall in love with the ice: an entire museum of colossal and magical ice forms defying description. And you’ll get a front seat to the dashing history of the Heroic Age of Exploration. Armed with a flexible itinerary that allows us to go where conditions are best and wildlife is most active, we’ll experience all the splendor of Antarctica. Venture into channels and coves framed by towering peaks. Watch whales play off the bow; glide around enormous icebergs in Zodiacs; photograph penguin colonies with a National Geographic photographer; and hike, kayak, and even possibly cross-country ski in complete tranquility.
Explore the world’s last great wilderness in the company of a team of top naturalists celebrating Lindblad’s 50-plus years of expedition heritage
Hike on magnificent mountains and see huge glaciers, plus observe thousands of penguins: gentoos, Adelie, and chinstrap
Kayak in protected waters, paddling as penguins swim nearby
Zodiac cruise in ice-choked channels and land on distant shores to explore on foot
Early November departures offer the possibility to cross-country ski or snowshoe across the frozen sea ice, conditions permitting
You’ll get out on adventures every day we’re in Antarctica, sometimes twice a day—to walk ashore, kayak or Zodiac cruise among icebergs. Make the expedition as active as you choose, and each day join a different naturalist for more viewpoints. Plus, get top shots with the help of a National Geographic photographer.
U.S. / Buenos Aires, Argentina (National Geographic Explorer & National Geographic Endurance) or Santiago (National Geographic Resolution)
Depart on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires (Explorer or Endurance) or Santiago (Resolution). Settle into the Alvear Art Hotel (or similar, Explorer) or Alvear Icon (or similar, Endurance) before seeing the city’s Beaux-Arts palaces and the famous balcony associated with Eva Perón. Or check into the Mandarin Oriental (or similar, 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! (Day 2: L)
Day 3
Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark
Today we fly south to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, where we meet our ship. Ushuaia’s spectacular setting, between the jagged peaks of the Cordillera Darwin and the protected waters of the Beagle Channel, makes it an appropriately wild place to begin our journey to the White Continent and a great destination in its own right. While we’re there, we visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, where we can view a beautiful forest of southern beech, very much like those that covered Antarctica millions of years ago. Lunch will be served onboard a private catamaran while cruising the Beagle Channel, where we’ll be on the lookout for huge South American sea lions and birds like imperial cormorants. Residents of Ushuaia often call their small city ‘El Fin Del Mundo’, The End of the World, but for us, it’s just the beginning. (B,L,D)
Day 4
At Sea Crossing the Drake Passage
This 500-mile-wide strait between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most famous bodies of water in the world. Sometimes ferocious, sometimes flat calm, the Drake is always a fascinating place in its own right. This part of the journey is our best opportunity to see gorgeous seabirds like the wandering albatross, and we might be lucky enough to encounter killer whales or rare species of dolphins. This is also a day to get to know our ship and prepare for the adventures ahead. Visit the Bridge (a great place to spot wildlife), have a relaxing massage, attend a talk about the biology of the penguins you’ll soon be seeing, or settle into a comfy chair in the observation lounge, look out over the waves and reflect on the incredible history of this fabled passage. If it does get a little rough, just take a couple of nice naps; we’ll be in Antarctica before you know it. (B,L,D)
Day 5
Exploring Antarctica
The Antarctic Peninsula stretches over 800 miles from north to south, a spine of craggy peaks cut by dozens of deep fjords. It’s an enormous region with many different faces and ever-changing weather, which is what makes Lindblad Expeditions’ long experience here so important. Five decades of exploration has given us an unparalleled knowledge of the region, allowing us to stay flexible and respond to changing conditions, turn on a dime and select the optimal activity for each day. We plan to be out daily, exploring in our Zodiacs, hiking at penguin colonies, discovering remote bays, photographing wildlife, and learning fascinating details from the naturalists and other experts who accompany us on every excursion. (B,L,D)
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, frozen ocean stretching to the horizon in every direction, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know it up close and personal, hiking, kayaking and cruising in the Zodiacs through this frozen world. (B,L,D)
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. (B,L,D)
Day 8
Exploring Antarctica
Penguins, without any doubt, are the most popular residents of Antarctica, and we 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. (B,L,D)
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 an expert National Geographic photographer and a Lindblad 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. (B,L,D)
Day 10
Exploring Antarctica
Really 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 or 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 make transits of world-famous passages like the Lemaire Channel and Antarctic Sound and go ashore on the continent itself, but we also visit equally amazing islands and places that you’ve never heard of, yet! (B,L,D)
Day 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. Send a message home to friends and family saying: “Don’t want this to end!” And celebrate your voyage at a farewell dinner on board. (B,L,D)
Day 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. (Day 13: B,L)
IMPORTANT: Some departures may have a slightly modified itinerary. Please confirm departure and arrival cities with an Expedition Specialist before booking your flights.
Book by October 31, 2022, on select departures for free economy group airfare between Miami/Buenos Aires (or Santiago). Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability.
BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS
Special Offers
Save 10% on any consecutive journeys taken on board one of our expedition ships. This savings is applicable on voyage fares only, and are not valid on extensions or airfare.
BRINGING THE KIDS
Special Offers
We believe sharing an expedition with your kids or grandkids is a life-enhancing experience. So take $500 off for each child under the age of 18.
TRAVELING AS A GROUP
Special Offers
Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more people. Take advantage of these great savings, while enjoying traveling with your friends and family. This savings is applicable to voyage fares only, and is not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from our regular policies.
COMBINING OFFERS
Special Offers
Certain offers may be combinable, up to two savings opportunities, except where noted otherwise. For example, travel with a group of 8 or more on back-to-back expeditions, and take advantage of both savings.
POLAR OFFER: TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES & SAVE!
Special Offers
Book select departures of these voyages: Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent; Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands; South Georgia and the Falklands; Coastal Wonders of Norway, the Faroe Islands & Iceland; Iceland & Greenland: Edge of the Arctic; Wild Greenland Escape in combination for travel between January 2022 - March 2023 and receive 20% off your second departure. Valid for new bookings made by October 31, 2022, subject to availability on select departures, not applicable on extensions or 4th Guest Travels Free offer. Call for details.
Iguazú Falls Post Voyage Extension for Explorer and Endurance
Iguazú Falls Post Voyage Extension for Explorer and Endurance
Post-trip
3 Days
From
$3,290 per person
Taller than Niagara, Iguazú Falls is also twice as wide, with 275 cascades spread in a horseshoe shape over nearly 2 miles of the Iguazú River. Situated in Iguazú National Park in northeastern Argentina, this natural sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage site owing to its beautiful landscapes and subtropical forest, with 450 species of birds, including toucans and parrots, and butterflies, orchids, and endangered jaguars.
Note: On select National Geographic Endurance departures this may run as a pre-voyage extension. Please call for details.
Almost home. Land is in sight as we complete our crossing of the Drake Passage and draw within view of Cape Horn. As sunrise begins to illuminate the clouds, we see the blinking light of the Cabo de Hornos lighthouse. Expedition leader Lucho tells us about the poignant albatross sculpture dedicated to lost mariners and reads us the associated poem in Spanish and English. We are sailing in sheltered waters now, and the sea has reached the balmy temperature of more than 7° C. The seabirds we have learned to recognize in the open ocean–albatrosses, petrels, and prions–are now joined by others, such as imperial shags from Patagonia. Fur seals are once again frolicking near the ship. With formalities complete, there is time for a last series of presentations from our expedition staff, including: a lively account of the world-defining voyage of Ferdinand Magellan by naturalist Madalena Patacho, intriguing ‘Behind the Scenes’ insights into the life of an undersea specialist from Brett Garner, and more about the famous Endurance expedition under the leadership of Sir Ernest Shackleton. After making time for some excellent afternoon Swedish pancakes, we sailed the remaining stretch along the Beagle Channel and came at last to port in Ushuaia. We gathered in the lounge for farewell cocktails with our captain. We celebrated the wonders we experienced over the last ten days, the good friends we traveled with and with whom we shared our discovery of the Antarctic, and the glorious land of Antarctica–the seascapes, history, and wildlife. Where will we travel next? Photo caption: An avian harbinger of the coming day. Photo by Steve Backus
Our morning began as we approached Hannah Point at the east end of Walker Bay on Livingston Island in the South Shetlands. We landed groups at Hannah Point, where we saw colonies of chinstrap and gentoo penguins, as well as several groups of elephant seals. At Walker Bay, we found a “wallow” of elephant seals in the process of molting their fur. We also found a site that had several plant fossils dating back to the time when the Antarctic was still connected to the Andes Mountains. Right beside the fossil specimens, we found the two flowering plant species endemic to Antarctica, Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort. After leaving Hannah Point and Walker Bay, we made our way over to the spectacular Charity Glacier at the edge of False Bay. We cruised by the glacier and then made our way to Deception Island. Deception Island is an active volcano that most recently erupted in 1970. We made our landing by Baily Head, an eroded volcanic ash cone that forms the entrance to a large colony of chinstrap penguins. Tens of thousands of penguins spread out around a volcanic amphitheater. Our expedition day finished with a ship cruise into the entrance of the Deception Island caldera–Neptune’s Bellows–created by a cataclysmic eruption 4,000 years ago. We also saw the remains of the only Antarctic land-based whaling station in Whaler’s Bay.
For nearly a week now, we explored the uninhabited expanse of the White Continent, including towering glaciers and abundant wildlife. There was virtually
no sign of human life along the way, save for the scattered research station.
Today, we continued our voyage into the Weddell Sea towards James Ross Island
and Snow Hill Island to explore the human stories of the region and tales of
early expeditions. Our morning began at James Ross, a relatively uncharted island. Ice
crowds its shores, cutting off accessibility for much of the year. Hikes and
Zodiac tours offered views of unique geology and of Snow Hill Island, our
afternoon destination, across the way. There, we visited the historic hut from
the 1902 Swedish expedition led by Otto Nordenskjöld. We learned about the
team’s true saga of survival from historian Carol Knott. The afternoon’s polar plunge followed by a sunset cruise through a
maze of tabular icebergs in Iceberg Alley topped off an amazing day. It was a
perfect send off from the peninsula as we begin to make our way north toward
the Shetland Islands and a final day of adventure.
Another adventurous start to the day as we boarded Zodiacs and zipped across to Tah Head. We were hoping to visit the Adelie penguin colony. Unfortunately, we were too late, as they had all left for the Southern Ocean. What we did find was a large number of male Antarctic fur seals, many of which showed their displeasure at us for being on their patch. There was also no shortage of skuas–both brown and south polar–cleaning up the scraps left by the breeding Adelie colony. Meanwhile, many guests took advantage of the calm conditions and kayaked around the bay. They enjoyed great views of fur seals at play in the water and closely observed the penguins that remained on the shoreline, completing their molt. After lunch, Martin gave his penguin presentation before we headed on Zodiacs toward Heroina Island, part of the Danger Island group. One of the largest colonies of Adelie penguins breeds on the island. There were still numerous Adelie penguins, and as we circumnavigated the island in Zodiacs, we witnessed several leopard seals patrolling the waters and looking for a penguin meal. We spotted many birds, such as giant petrels, Cape petrels, and Wilson’s storm petrels picking off the remains of the many penguins who did not survive the breeding season. It was a wonderful Zodiac cruise. Guests returned to the ship on a high, having enjoyed firsthand views of the life and death dramas of the natural world.
Half an hour earlier than expected this morning, our expedition leader’s call came over the PA system: “Good morning, good morning! Killer whales! Get up!” So we did. From the outer decks, we observed a large group of little type B killer whales, perhaps 20 individuals. We see this type of whale most often, and it is always a thrill. From their dorsal fins, we distinguished adult males, females, and youngsters. Also called orcas, these whales are actually large dolphins. They eat a variety of prey, including penguins. When we spotted a dense group of porpoising gentoos nearby, we wondered if the hunt was on. Instead, we saw something even more interesting. Two of the orcas swam up to an iceberg and then rubbed up against it. It seemed clear they were there for a good scratch. The turquoise colors from the ice made a beautiful contrast to the whales’ black, grey, and white coloring. After breakfast, we had another surprise. At the head of Wilhelmina Bay, we found a stretch of shore-fast sea ice that was very thick, even this late in the season. The captain and expedition leader gave the go ahead, and we shuttled everyone to the ice for a walk. It is always a memorable experience to stand on the ice, surrounded by glaciers, especially when it comes as a surprise to everyone. It was a great reason to rearrange the day’s plan. We cruised north for the afternoon, heading to the northern part of the peninsula and the Weddell Sea. We enjoyed a couple of presentations along the way. By recap time, the light was spectacular. After a few days of winds and clouds, the long, golden, crisp light—unique to the polar regions—came as an extra special gift.
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