Fly across the notorious Drake Passage to King George Island where you board your ship and start your Antarctic expedition cruise. This is the most comfortable way to reach Antarctica, ideal if you want to see the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula in a short period of time.
Fly & Cruise voyages offer an enormous advantage over regular expedition cruises by optimizing the time needed to travel to a remote place like Antarctica. By expedition ship, it will take you 2 days to reach the Antarctic Peninsula, by airplane only a few hours! It allows you to enjoy the best part of your experience, whilst avoiding the longer and sometimes uncomfortable crossing of the mythical Drake Passage.
Once on board, your expedition ship will take you along the mesmerizing Antarctic coastline, in search of suitable locations to set foot on land. Zodiacs are used for transferring you ashore and for taking you ocean-level cruising to reach those isolated sites that are inaccessible for larger ships. Endless glaciers, giant icebergs and snow-capped mountains dominate the landscape. You will be able to land directly onto the cobble and ice-strewn beaches that you will encounter along the Antarctic Peninsula. The expedition team will guide you on these outings, providing you with an up-close and personal experience of Antarctic nature.
Sample itinerary
The itinerary of a Fly & Cruise Antarctica voyage is never fixed. Weather conditions might require adjustments to flight departures to avoid protracted delays. Activities may variate during your voyage and we have no control over the wildlife.
The starting and ending points of Antarctic Fly & Cruise voyages vary depending on the ship and departure date you choose. Some itineraries include flights both ways (Fly-Fly), while others combine a flight in one direction with a sea voyage to or from Ushuaia (Fly-Sail or Sail-Fly). Specific travel details will be confirmed based on your selected itinerary.
DAY 1 & 2 | Start of you Fly & Cruise Antarctica
Upon arrival at Punta Arenas airport, members of the expedition team will be there to welcome you and arrange your transfer to the hotel. Before your departure to Antarctica, all guests will gather for an important briefing covering visitor guidelines and flight instructions. This is also a great opportunity to meet your fellow expedition travelers and ask any final questions to the expedition team.
Flight to King George Island
After a night in Punta Arenas, you’ll board a flight to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands. The journey takes approximately two hours. Upon landing, you’ll walk about 2 km (1.25 miles), passing the Chilean Frei Base and the Russian Bellingshausen Base. At the shoreline, zodiacs will be waiting to transfer you to your expedition ship, your gateway to exploring the Antarctic Peninsula.
DAY 3 - 6 | Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula
Your expedition will take you through the South Shetland Islands and along the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, with the goal of making one or two outings each day. These may include shore landings and zodiac cruises, depending on weather and ice conditions. Between excursions, you can enjoy informative lectures on Antarctic wildlife, nature, and history, or simply relax in the warm comfort of your ship. Every voyage is unique, and while we aim to visit as many remarkable sites as possible, specific landing locations cannot be guaranteed.
Zodiac cruises offer a thrilling way to explore Antarctica’s fjords and icy bays, like a safari on water. Keep watch for orca, humpback and minke whales, as well as crabeater, elephant, and even leopard seals. These waters are rich with life, and every outing holds the promise of unforgettable wildlife encounters.
On land, ice-free areas are often home to penguin colonies. Penguins prefer higher ground for nesting and create well-worn “penguin highways” between the sea and their rookeries. You may encounter gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins, along with seals resting on the beaches. The sounds and smells of these bustling penguin colonies will leave everlasting memories.
If conditions allow, your ship may navigate through narrow Antarctic channels, where the water can be so still it mirrors the surrounding mountains. An awe-inspiring sight that captures the serene beauty of the polar landscape.
The Antarctic Peninsula offers countless places to explore, and while no two voyages are the same, each day brings new opportunities to discover the magic of this remote and untouched world.
DAY 7 - 8 | Return flight from Antarctica to Chile
Every great adventure eventually comes to an end. The ship will return to King George Island for your disembarkation and flight back to Chile. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas there will be a transfer to bring you to your hotel for the night. After breakfast the next day, a transfer will be arranged to Punta Arenas airport for your flight home.
Impression



Dates & Rates
All prices are per person. Please contact us for more details and availability.
Prices
All prices are per person and depending on availability. Please contact us for more details.
Prior to Embarkation
- Transfer from airport in Punta Arenas (PUQ) to group hotel (providing you arrive on Day 1 of the itinerary, and we have your confirmed air itinerary at least 15 days prior to departure)
- One pre-voyage hotel night with dinner and breakfast at Hotel Cabo de Hornos in Punta Arenas. Occupancy at the hotel is the same as you have booked for the voyage – single, twin/double, or triple. If you are traveling solo, unless you have paid the single rate for your voyage, please expect that you will be sharing a room at the hotel with another solo traveler of the same gender
- Voyage/Antarctic introductory program prior to departure to Antarctica (biosecurity checks, IAATO, and Zodiac briefings, etc.)
- Transfer from Hotel Cabo de Hornos to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ)
- Charter flight from Punta Arenas (PUQ) to King George Island, Antarctica (TNM)
- Ground services and transfers to Ocean Nova in Antarctica
On Board
- Shipboard accommodations and meals
- “Welcome” and “Farewell” receptions with sparkling wine and soft drinks
- Beer/Soft Drinks at Lunch
- Beer/Wine/Soft Drinks at Dinner
- Coffee/Tea/Cocoa 24 hours a day
- 500MB WiFi card for use on your personal devices
- Expedition jacket – yours to keep
- A pair of loaner boots for use during the voyage
- All scheduled landings and excursions
- Citizen Science program
- Photography Coach available throughout the voyage
- Participation in the Polar Plunge
- Access to our onboard medical clinics
- Access to our onboard gym
- All port and landing fees
- Digital Voyage Log
Post Disembarkation
- Group transfer from ship to King George Island (TNM)
- Charter flight from King George Island, Antarctica (TNM) to Punta Arenas (PUQ)
- Group transfer from Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Hotel Cabo de Hornos
- Two post-voyage hotel nights, including breakfast and dinner
- Full-day excursion to Estancia Olga Teresa on the first day after arrival from Antarctica to Punta Arenas
- Any airfare or travel expenses associated with arrival or departure other than those specified above.
- Flights between Santiago de Chile (SCL) and Punta Arenas (PUQ).
- Pre- or post-voyage expenses in Punta Arenas other than those specified above.
- Travel insurance; medical insurance; evacuation coverage.
- Laundry and personal expenses incurred on board, except as listed in inclusions.
- Any other alcohol and soft drinks, except as listed in inclusions
- Onboard communication charges such as outgoing phone calls or WiFi, except as listed above
- Staff/crew gratuities.
Would you like some more information?
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FAQ
A Fly & Cruise expedition, also called ‘Air Cruise’, allows you to skip the two-day sea crossing of the Drake Passage by flying directly to King George Island, where you board your expedition ship. This saves time and avoids potentially rough seas.
It depends on the itinerary. Some voyages include flights both ways (Fly-Fly), while others combine a flight in one direction with a sea voyage to or from Ushuaia (Fly-Sail or Sail-Fly). The route depends on the ship and departure date you choose.
Most Fly & Cruise voyages begin in Punta Arenas, Chile. Some itineraries may start or end in Ushuaia, Argentina. Exact logistics depend on the ship and departure date or your choice.
Flights to King George Island are operated using a specially equipped BAE-146 (or similar) aircraft. This type of high-wing jet is well-suited for Antarctic conditions, with short runway capabilities and a proven track record in remote environments.
As with any expedition to Antarctica, no landing sites can be guaranteed. Each voyage is unique and shaped by weather and ice conditions. The expedition team will choose the best possible sites for exploration each day.























