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14 Day Highlights Of Antarctica Expedition

A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.

Escorted Type
Partially Escorted

This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5

 

Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.

 

As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.

Pace
Balanced

For the true explorer, expedition small-ship cruising is the best way to get off the beaten track.This experience is not just about the ship’s creature comforts but very much the destination, its nature and wildlife. Daily shore excursions by Zodiac inflatable boats allow you to step onshore and explore. A world-class, expert expedition team will help you discover each exciting destination. Onboard you’ll enjoy informative and educational lectures. These trips will be a mix of fully guided or self-guided depending on your chosen package. There’s a land touring component with shared sightseeing and transfers.

Cruise Style
Expedition
346 people have travelled to this destination

✓ Incredible sightseeing including an in-depth exploration of Antarctica to discover the icy continent with a world-class expedition team, and time in glamorous Buenos Aires after the cruise
✓ Return South America charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
✓ 10-night Antarctica cruise with expedition leaders Hurtigruten on board the MS Fridtjof Nansen in a Polar Outside (RR) cabin, upgrades available
✓ 3 nights in 4-star accommodation in Buenos Aires
✓ Breakfast daily, 9 lunches, 10 dinners and drinks package on Hurtigruten cruise
✓ Zodiac landings, shore excursions and guiding and lecturing by a world-class expedition team
✓ Complimentary WiFi onboard, wind and water-resistant jacket to keep, no gratuities expected

What we love about this tour

Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.

Itinerary

Hotel
Emperador Hotel Buenos Aires or Similar

On arrival at Buenos Aires international airport make your own way to your hotel.

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

This morning you will be transferred to the airport to take an early flight to Ushuaia. On arrival you will be collected and transferred to board your expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen. Settle into your cabin and familiarise yourself with the ship. 

Tonight, we kick off our journey with a welcome dinner.

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Prepare yourself for Antarctica as we cross the infamous Drake Passage, and trust us – it will take your breath away! Take it all in onboard MS Fridtjof Nansen with her two-storey panorama lounge over the bow, with wall-to-wall windows bathing the room in natural light and providing extraordinary views.

Remainder of your day is at leisure.

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is another day at sea as your ship makes its way to the Antarctic Peninsula. Relax and enjoy your ship’s facilities, or join one of the lectures conducted throughout the day.

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Welcome to one of the most remote areas on Earth! 

There have been spectacular photo opportunities so far, but Antarctica is in an entirely different category. Go ashore by Zodiac boat to explore the breathtaking Antarctic scenery and get close to penguins and seals. You will feel like a real explorer from the moment you set foot on the endless expanse of snow and ice and from the deck there will be ample opportunities to see whales. 

Over the next six days we’ll be making various landings in different locations throughout the peninsula. Enjoy close encounters with wildlife and glaciers, and visit old whaling stations and its relics. Trust us when we say that every second of this journey has something new to offer. 

One of the highlights of the South Shetlands is Deception Island. When we sail into the natural harbor of this volcanic island, you will see an abandoned whaling station known as Hektor and a derelict British base. 

Over the course of the next few days we’ll also visit Wilhelmina Bay, Paradise Harbor and other remote locations. Join gatherings where the various members of the expedition team recount the day’s activities, make presentations, and discuss the next day’s plan. These gatherings are great opportunities to share experiences and mingle with your fellow explorers.

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Another day in Antarctic waters learning about the natural flora and fauna, joining Zodiac landings and various activities (weather depending).

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Another day in Antarctic waters learning about the natural flora and fauna, joining Zodiac landings and joining various activities (weather depending).

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Another day in Antarctic waters learning about the natural flora and fauna, joining Zodiac landings and joining various activities (weather depending).

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Another day in Antarctic waters learning about the natural flora and fauna, joining Zodiac landings and joining various activities (weather depending).

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After exploring this exhilarating continent, we set course back to civilisation. Spend the day at sea recapping your experiences with fellow explorers, or just relaxing on deck.

Hotel
MS Fridtjof Nansen or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is another day at sea as your ship makes its way back to South America. Relax and enjoy your ship's facilities, or join one of the lectures conducted throughout the day.

Hotel
Dazzler San Martin or Similar
Meals
Breakfast

Sadly, our Antarctic adventure comes to an end, as It is time to say goodbye to the crew and all your new friends when we reach Ushuaia. We transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. On arrival at the airport you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Hotel
Dazzler San Martin or Similar
Meals
Breakfast

Enjoy a day in Buenos Aires, the bustling capital of Argentina. Spend the evening at your leisure and discover `Paris of South America´ for yourself on a warm spring or summer day.

Meals
Breakfast

Today, you will be transferred to Buenos Aires International Airport for your scheduled flight home. We hope you enjoyed your journey to Antarctica with us!

Inclusions

  • Return South America charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
  • 10-night Antarctica expedition cruise onboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen or MS Roald Amundsen (500 people max). 
  • On board accommodation on Polar Outside Window cabin (RS). Note: RS cabins are only available in double configuration. If you require twin bedding please upgrade to RR or higher. See Cabin Bedding & Upgrades.
  • Complimentary wind- and water-resistant jacket to keep
  • Landings with small Zodiac boats and activities onboard and ashore
  • Free WiFi onboard for all guests
  • 3 nights 4-star accommodation in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires
  • Daily breakfast, 9 lunches and 10 dinners including beer, wine, soft drink and mineral water with meals on Hurtigruten cruise

  • Buenos Aires - Undertake a city tour of this colourful capital, known as the ‘Paris of Latin America’
  • Ushuaia - Travel to the city nicknamed the 'End of the World'
  • Drake Passage - Cross the famous body of water on your journey towards Antarctica
  • Antarctica - Experience awe-inspiring glaciers, ice-filled bays and a host of wildlife
  • Antarctic Peninsula - Set foot on the Antarctic Peninsula and meet penguins and elephant seals up-close
  • South Shetland Islands - Land on these remote islands and visit whaling stations and scientific facilities

For detailed information on your ship, click HERE.

  • Personal Questionnaire - This form must be received by Hurtigruten at least 8 weeks prior to your voyage departure.
  • Medical Certificate - If applicable, the cruise Medical Certificate is to be completed and approved by your personal physician not more than 8 weeks before your departure date. The completed forms must be presented to the ship’s doctor upon boarding. Boarding will be denied if part III of the Medical Certificate is not approved by your personal physician. Even if the forms have been duly submitted and approved by your personal physician, the ship’s doctor and the captain reserve the right to deny the boarding of guests who do not seem to be sufficiently fit for travel.

Bedding on board the cruise is restricted to the following configurations.
If you wish to upgrade your cabin, the following amounts are payable in addition to the package price prior to travel:
 
  • Arctic Superior Balcony cabin (XT): from $2,828 per person, twin share (single $4,100) *Great for wildlife photography* Arctic Superior class cabins are comfortable and roomy accommodation and have balconies. They have flexible sleeping arrangements (double or twin), TV and ensuite and other features make this one of our most popular categories. Twin and double share available. 

  • Suite cabin (ME): from $5,545 per person, twin share (single NOT AVAILABLE) *Great for wildlife photography* Suites feature private balcony, top-high decks, ensuite, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofabed, TV, minibar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker. They have flexible sleeping arrangements (double or twin). Enjoy free access to the upscale Lindstrom restaurant for breakfast and dinner.

Please select this option to indicate your upgrade preference. Refer to pricing shown in the Cruise Details & Upgrades. Once your upgrade has been confirmed, the additional amount will be added to your invoice and payable with your final payment. 

Cabin Upgrades and prices are subject to availability upon booking. Please note your upgrade option as a special request when booking and our team will be in touch with a confirmed quote. If we are unable to confirm your request, we will quote alternative options.

Essential Information

Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.

Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.

Instalment Schedule:

  1. At the time of booking pay a $99.00 deposit per person.
  2. Pay a 1st installment of $3,500.00 per person within 5 days.
  3. Pay a 2nd installment of $2,800.00 per person within 90 days.
  4. You will then be invoiced for final payment 120 days prior to departure.

Please note that if you have selected a cabin upgrade or are booking a single cabin, your first installment will differ from your initial invoice.  At the time of confirmation we will adjust your invoice accordingly to ensure we collect the correct amount in order to secure your booking with our supplier.

Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
 
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
 
This particular tour is categorised as a “3”.
 
Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
 
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
 
However, no gratuities expected on cruise.
 
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.
 
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $4,576.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
 
Note: Single cabins SOLD OUT for 02 December 2023 departure
 
Triple Share
Not available.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.

Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.

Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.

Visas may be required.

Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.

Group Size
2-500  people.
 
Trip Style - Expedition Cruise
These trips are for the true explorer. Expedition small ship cruising is the best way to get off-the-beaten-track and see some of the world's most unspoilt and remote destinations. The experience on an expedition cruise is very different from that of a conventional, larger cruise ship. The focus is not about the ship’s creature comforts but very much about about the destination, it’s nature and wildlife.
 
Daily shore excursions by zodiac inflatable boats allow you to step on to shore in the world's most remote locations where few have ever been before. These trips will be a mix of fully guided or self-guided depending on your chosen package, on board your small ship you'll have an expert expedition team giving you informative lectures and educational lectures in many different scientific fields.
 
Children
Children must be 12 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.

This package is sold as land only, however you do have the option of adding domestic & international airfares to your booking. Simply click on’ book now’, and under upgrades ,  you will be asked “Would you like us to contact you around our flight service?”. By selecting this option Inspiring Vacations will contact you to discuss adding flights to your chosen destination. We can then assist with turning your booking into a flight inclusive package.

Upon completing the purchase of your package and fulfilling the following booking requirements, you will be granted access to our flight portal via your Traveller Hub.

  • 1st installment or full payment has been made
  • Your booking is within 11 months of departure
  • Your booking is labeled as ‘confirmed’ in Traveller Hub

Once these criteria have been met, access will be made available to you via Traveller Hub to book your flights via our flight portal.

The following requests are able to be processed through the online flight portal:

  • Airline Preferences - You may wish to fly with a particular airline
  • Cabin Preferences - These include upgrading to premium economy or business class
  • Extensions (start and end cities must remain the same) - You may request to extend your stay pre or post tour.

The online flight portal is unable to process the following requests and you must book these yourself independently:

  • Stopovers - Is where you might want to stop in transit for a certain amount of days prior to your tour or after your tour.
  • One way flights
  • Different start or end city to the tour - you may not amend the arrival or departure city of your itinerary. 
  • Around the world tickets  - Is when a ticket includes multiple stops in different continents.
  • Return home to a different city from the one you departed.
  • Frequent Flyer point redemption - Is when an airline allows you to redeem points to pay for your flights or upgrade your ticket.  

Online check-in 

Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.

  • International Airfares
  • Visas
  • Travel insurance (compulsory)
  • Tipping
  • Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Optional activities
  • Personal expenses

Click HERE for more information on weather in Antarctica.

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