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Antarctica: Discovery & Learning Voyage | Plancius

Free Kayaking (one excursion) & Camping available on the 9 Jan 2026 departure ONLY

Subject to availability, capacity limits apply

Available until booked out or withdrawn

See additional T&Cs below*

11 Days
From £ 7,220

STYLE: Small Ship Expedition Cruise

Trip Code: ACTSAPS

DIFFICULTY RATING: 2 (Light Adventure)

Start: Ushuaia, Argentina

Finish: Ushuaia, Argentina

SHIP: Plancius

DestinationDestination

Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

DestinationDeparture Date

09/01/2026, 06/02/2026, 29/12/2026, 08/02/2027

MealsMeals

All Meals On Board The Ship

TransportTransport

Group Transfers On Disembarkation To The Airport 

TransportAccommodation

Cabin On Board Ship



Enquire Now
map

Included SightseeingIncluded Sightseeing

Daily Antarctica Excursions In Location, Zodiac Cruising, On Board Expert Lectures & Briefings By The Experienced Expedition Team

 

NOTE: Itinerary Is Subject To Change Depending On Weather & Ice Conditions 

OVERVIEW

Join us on board the newly refurbished M/V Plancius, journeying from Ushuaia, the most southern city in the world and to the Antarctic Peninsula over an 11 day expedition. The Plancius is a new generation of Antarctic vessels and will ensure your trip to Antarctica won't be forgotten.

 

Please Note: For 2026/27 Antarctic season departures Long Hikes are included in the cost of the trip, but subject to availability. 

Long Hikes:
Long walks in Antarctica are designed for small groups of up to 24 passengers, accompanied by at least two expedition staff with experience in this terrain. These walks offer an immersive experience in the pristine polar landscape, requiring participants to be prepared for up to six hours of hiking on semi-rough, rocky and snowy terrain with notable elevation changes. While the pace will be steady and manageable, the conditions can be demanding and change quickly. A good level of fitness and willingness to walk for extended periods are essential. The total duration will vary depending on site conditions and explore the untouched expanses of the Antarctic wilderness. For those who prefer not to join the long hikes, alternative activities or shore landings will be available during this time.

ITINERARY

Embarkation in Ushuaia

Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.

Crossing The Drake - Day 2 & 3

Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.

Antarctica - Day 4 to 7

Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands. Sites you may visit include:

Danco Island – Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be found nearby.

Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.

Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales.

South Shetland Islands

The volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often cloaked in mist, but they do offer subtle pleasures: There’s a wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and no small amount of fauna (gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels). In Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded caldera. Here you find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels – along with kelp gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. A good hike is a possibility in this fascinating and desolate volcanic landscape.

As an alternative, you may be able to engage in activities near Half Moon Island. Here chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul out onto the beach near Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific research station. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.

At Sea - Drake Passage - Day 9 & 10

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.

Disembarkation in Ushuaia

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

DOWNLOAD ITINERARY PDF

WHY CHOOSE THIS CRUISE?

  • You will embark your voyage in Ushuaia, the worlds southernmost town and a quaint experience, set in a backdrop of incredible mountains and full of rich history. 

  • You will encounter a variety of unique wildlife including seals, whales, penguins and a wide array of bird species, all within their natural habitat.

  • This Antarctic itinerary is easily combined with land-based experiences in South America, allowing you to experience two mysterious and dynamic continents in the one journey. 

Important Information

  • * FREE Kayaking (one excursion) & Camping

    Available on the 9 Jan 2026 departure ONLY
    Subject to availability, activities have maximum capacities
    Offer valid until spots filled or offer withdrawn
    This offer is valid for new bookings only
     

    Please Contact Us for the latest availability, pricing and details of your preferred voyage. Chimu Adventures are Antarctica Experts and we will endeavour to find you the perfect Antarctica expedition cruise to ensure you have an unforgettable adventure!

    NOTE: Pricing is subject to change, currency fluctuation and availability at the time of booking and may be varied without notice by us or any of the operators and partners we work with. It is only confirmed and guaranteed at the time of making a booking, agreeing to our terms and conditions and paying a deposit. 

  • Prices are based on per person, and may be based on quad/triple/twin share.

    Prices are correct at time of publishing but are subject to change at any time. 

    Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and ice conditions.*

    Diving is an optional activity. Experience with cold-water diving and dry-suit dives (at least 30) is a must!

    Please Note: For 2026/27 Antarctic season departures Long Hikes are included in the cost of the trip, but subject to availability. 

  • INCLUSIONS

    Cabin Accommodation on board MV Plancius
    All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
    All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
    Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
    Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes
    Group departure transfers in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation)
    All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
    Comprehensive pre-departure material
    Access to 1.5 GB of free internet connectivity per person, which resets every 24 hours. Supplementary vouchers available to purchase on onboard. Subject to satellite coverage

     

    EXCLUSIONS

    Airfares to/from disembarkation city 
    Visa & passport fees (if applicable)
    Travel insurance
    Beverages (other than tea & coffee)
    Meals ashore
    Personal expenses such as laundry & bar
    Gratuities for the crew (guidelines will be provided)
    Pre and post land arrangements 
    Government arrival or departure taxes (if applicable)
    Additional optional activities

  • 2 (Light Adventure)
  • Available upon request. Please contact us for more details. No single supplement will apply if willing to share in selected cabins. 

  • Departure Date, Fuel Surcharges, Cabin Category, Currency Fluctuations, Seasonality & Availability.

FROM PRICE INFORMATION

  • From Price is based on a Quad Cabin
  • Valid for 8 February 2027 Departure
  • Please enquire for solo cabin pricing


Please Contact Us for the latest availability, pricing and details of your preferred voyage. Chimu Adventures are Antarctica Experts and we will endeavour to find you the perfect Antarctica expedition cruise to ensure you have an unforgettable adventure!

NOTE: Pricing is subject to change, currency fluctuation and availability at the time of booking and may be varied without notice by us or any of the operators and partners we work with. It is only confirmed and guaranteed at the time of making a booking, agreeing to our terms and conditions and paying a deposit.