English
Master Expedition Route · 11 days 1 upcoming departure

Exploring Antarctica's Spring

Polar Latitudes · 11 days · Ushuaia → Buenos Aires

Exploring Antarctica's Spring — Key Facts At a Glance
Operator Polar Latitudes
Available departures 1 1 available of 2 scheduled
Typical duration 11 days · Ushuaia → Buenos Aires
Price range (per person, USD) $10,195 – $39,435
ships Ocean Albatros
Prices last verified 48-hour verification methodology

Upcoming departures — Exploring Antarctica's Spring

Departure Ship Duration Availability From Action
Nov 4, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026 Ocean Albatros · 175 guests 11 days Sold out —
Nov 13, 2026 – Nov 23, 2026 Best price Ocean Albatros · 175 guests 11 days Available
$10,195

Day by day

Route 5 waypoints

Itinerary and landing sites are indicative and subject to change based on weather, sea ice, and wildlife conditions.

Daily schedule
DAY 1 Arrive and Explore in Ushuaia

After a friendly welcome at the airport, we'll transfer you to one of our partnered premium hotel resorts nestled in the breathtaking Patagonian nature, where you can take some time to unwind or go explore the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. Our optional evening briefing is your opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.

DAY 2 All Aboard!

Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring the shops in Ushuaia, before our mid-afternoon escort to the ship. Our Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and our Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!

DAYS 3–4 Drake Passage

Join our Polar Experts as they share their vast knowledge of Antarctica, from its enchanting wildlife to its bold history. Participate in our pioneering Citizen Science program or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching glimpses of rarely seen wildlife. Keep your binoculars handy to identify the many seabirds that escort our ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctica’s waters and noticeably cooler temperatures.

DAY 5 South Shetland Islands

Over time, the volcanic activity of the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. Here, you can expect a rugged display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife returning to their busy daily activity after the long winter break. Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins will be a common sight, and it’s not uncommon to share the water’s edge with Elephant and Fur seals. Whales are often spotted as well. So, we’ll settle into our Zodiacs and spend most of our day exploring, perhaps stopping for a walk along the black sands of Deception Island. Whether on land or sea, in a Zodiac or kayak, be prepared for a fully immersive introduction to this incomparable part of the world.

DAYS 6–8 Antarctica in the Spring

Welcome to Antarctica in all its springtime glory. Untouched. Pristine. Getting busy. For the next three days, prepare to be amazed as we observe numerous species of penguins coming ashore and getting acquainted, building nests, and tending their eggs. Marvel at the winter sea ice that mantles these frigid seas, feast your eyes on glorious icebergs beginning the springtime march, and, as always, be on the lookout for seals and whales in the water. At day’s end, take in the miraculous sunsets that are a special treat this time of year. Visits to active scientific bases and historic landing sites may also be on the agenda

DAYS 9–10 Drake Passage

We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage. We have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and a final meal together.

DAY 11 Ushuaia Disembarkation

With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.

Ships operating this itinerary

Ocean Albatros

Ocean Albatros

175 guests 2-group rotation Ice class: PC6 Polar Class 6: Summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice; premier modern polar standard. Built 2023
Vessel profile →

Activities

3

3 optional add-ons

Polar adventure guide
Optional add-on from $350

Kayaking & paddling

Paddle in near-silence through mirror-calm glacial bays, drifting alongside iridescent ice sculptures and listening to the deep exhales of surfacing humpback whales.

Water & Ice 2 options
Optional add-on from $150

Hiking & snowshoeing

Crunch through pristine snow up glaciated ridges and volcanic vantage points for breathtaking 360° panoramas over iceberg-choked straits and penguin rookeries.

Land & Alpine
Optional add-on

Photography

Specialized workshops and excursions guided by professional polar photographers to capture the ethereal midnight sun, dynamic wildlife action, and sculpted blue ice.

Specialty

Visited Regions

3
Polar destination guide
United States · All-Inclusive Expedition

Polar Latitudes

Polar Latitudes operates dedicated polar expedition voyages to Antarctica with experienced expedition teams.

IAATO Member 4 ships 19 itineraries
Fleet & all routes →

More Antarctic itineraries by Polar Latitudes

6
Fleet & all routes

Wildlife on this route

Penguins

Emperor Penguins

The world's largest penguin breeds only in Antarctica's brutal winter. A rare and unforgettable sight.

Penguins

Gentoo Penguin

A stocky, orange-billed penguin of the genus Pygoscelis, closest kin to the Adélie and Chinstrap. Its loud, trumpeting call, delivered with head thrown back, carries across the shoreline colonies where expedition landings are made.

Whales & Dolphins

Humpback Whale

A 14–17 metre baleen whale known for breaching and long pectoral fins, often seen feeding on krill in loose groups along the ice edge.

Whales & Dolphins

Orca

Black and white apex predator instantly recognizable by its pale eye patches, the orca is the largest of the dolphins and one of the ocean's most capable hunters. Sightings often involve a tight-knit family pod working the ice edge together.