Camping
Optional activitiesRoll out your bivouac bag directly onto the snow beneath the southern heavens, falling asleep to the rumble of distant calving glaciers and calling gentoo penguins.
Available
January 2028
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent
From
$16,230
Arrival
Jan 18, 2028
⚓ Ushuaia
Duration
11 days
10 nights
Ice class
1A+, PC6
Dual-rated: Finnish-Swedish 1A/1A+ and Polar Class 6 for navigating medium first-year polar ice.
Year built
2021
Day by day
Route:
Itinerary and landing sites are indicative and subject to change based on weather, sea ice, and wildlife conditions.
Day 1 — Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina
You will begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port town at the tip of South America. This Argentine town is an ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Enjoy the mountains or sample handcrafted chocolate at a café in town.
Day 2 — Embark
Embarkation will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will sail down the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart—the next time you see land, you’ll be on the world’s most southern continent!
Day 3 & 4 — Crossing the Drake Passage
Your days at sea are filled with presentations led by your Expedition Team on photography, wildlife, glaciology, and history. In between presentations, spend time on deck looking for wildlife, or chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar.
Day 5 to 8 — South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
The most common reaction upon reaching the 7th Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every time we visit Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other—creating a unique, personal experience.Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore glaciated bays, channels and landing sites. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research station or consorting with chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins, all of which can be found here. Keep an eye out for Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals as well as curious whales, such as humpbacks, minkes, or perhaps orcas while on a Zodiac cruise. Each excursion will present a new array of creatures to fascinate you and keep your camera busy.Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier.Every day will be different, having been carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.
Day 9 & 10 — Crossing the Drake Passage
The journey back across the Drake Passage provides final opportunities to enjoy the crisp Antarctic air Spend time on the deck, watching for seabirds and scouting for whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team and celebrate the experiences shared exploring Antarctica.
Day 11 — Disembark in Ushuaia
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning, which allows for you to continue your adventure onward or catch your flights home.
Activities
Helicopter & flightseeing
Included activitySoar above colossal tabular bergs and inland ice sheets to land on untouched glaciers and reach inaccessible colonies like Snow Hill Island's emperor penguins.
Hiking & snowshoeing
Included activityCrunch through pristine snow up glaciated ridges and volcanic vantage points for breathtaking 360° panoramas over iceberg-choked straits and penguin rookeries.
Kayaking & paddling
Optional activitiesPaddle in near-silence through mirror-calm glacial bays, drifting alongside iridescent ice sculptures and listening to the deep exhales of surfacing humpback whales.
Photography
Optional activitiesSpecialized workshops and excursions guided by professional polar photographers to capture the ethereal midnight sun, dynamic wildlife action, and sculpted blue ice.
Polar plunge
Included activityTake the leap of a lifetime directly into near-freezing Antarctic waters from a Zodiac, ship gangway, or geothermal black beach for the ultimate polar badge of honor.
Zodiac cruising
Included activityNavigate deep into shallow coves, iceberg labyrinths, and alongside sheer glacier fronts where ships cannot reach, observing leopard seals lounging on floating floes.
Expedition Overview
Operator
Quark Expeditions
Polar SpecialistQuark Expeditions operates dedicated polar expedition voyages to the White Continent with seasoned expedition teams.
Month
January 2028
High Summer · Playful ChicksWarmest temperatures, fluffy penguin chicks forming crèches, and surging whale arrivals.
Playful Chicks
Whale Watching
Warmest Weather
Regions
Visited Regions
4 regions on this voyage
Drake Passage
Rite of Passage • Albatross Alley
South Shetland Islands
Volcanic Isles • Penguin Rookeries & Calderas
Anvers Island
Palmer Archipelago • Glacial Vistas & Palmer Station
Lemaire Channel
Kodak Gap • Kilometer-High Glaciated Chasm
Cabin offers
| Cabin | Occupancy | Price (per person) | Promo | Availability | Source | detail.action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Explorer Triple
Best price
Located on Deck 3, and approximately 285 sq. ft. (26.5 m2), with a picture window; for groups of three or solo guests sharing with like-minded travelers of the same gender. Bed config: 3 single beds, two of which can be converted to a double bed.
In your cabin
|
triple | $16,230 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Explorer Suite
Located on Deck 3, and approximately 285 sq. ft. (26.5 m2). These entry-level twin suites maximize interior living space with a picture window; perfect for people traveling together or solo guests looking to share. Bed config: 1 double or 2 single beds.
In your cabin
|
— | $18,895 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Balcony Suite
Located on Decks 4 and 6, with approximately 226 sq. ft. (21 m2) of indoor living space, and a 52 sq. ft. (4.8 m2) balcony, this entry-level balcony suite is one of the largest available on a ship of this class. This suite is perfect for guests who are looking for both indoor and outdoor living spaces. Bed config: 1 double or 2 single beds.
In your cabin
|
— | $20,591 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Deluxe Balcony Suite
Located on Decks 4 and 6, with approximately 299 sq. ft. (27.8 m2) of indoor living space, and a 70 sq. ft. (6.5 m2) balcony. This suite is perfect for guests wanting a larger living space, full bathroom, and a substantial balcony. Bed config: 1 double or 2 single beds.
In your cabin
|
— | $24,144 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Terrace Suite
Located centrally on Deck 6, with approximately 350 sq. ft. (32.5 m2) of indoor living space and a 100 sq. ft. (9.3 m2) extra-wide balcony, the largest balconies on the ship. Bed config: 1 double or 2 single beds.
In your cabin
|
— | $25,032 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Penthouse Suite
The only suite category located on Deck 7, with approximately 369 sq. ft. (34.3 m2) of indoor living space and a 67 sq. ft. (6.2 m2) balcony, offering unobstructed polar views and easy access to the wellness centre. Bed config: 1 double or 2 single beds.
In your cabin
|
— | $26,728 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Solo Panorama
Located on Deck 6, approximately 132 sq. ft. (12.3 m2); the only solo suites with floor-to-ceiling windows on any ship in its class. Bed config: 1 twin.
In your cabin
|
single | $28,343 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | sold out | Quark Expeditions | |
Owner's Suite
Located on Deck 6, with approximately 446 sq. ft. (41.4 m2) of indoor living space and a 46.3 sq. ft. (4.3 m2) balcony; a large suite with private bedroom, full bathroom, powder room and two separate living spaces. Bed config: 1 double or 2 single beds.
In your cabin
|
— | $32,865 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Ultra Suite
Located on Deck 6, with approximately 563 sq. ft. (52.3 m2) of interior living space and a 46 sq. ft. (4.3 m2) balcony; the ship's largest and most luxurious suite with private bedroom, walk-in closets and powder room. Bed config: 1 double or 2 single beds.
In your cabin
|
— | $36,418 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Prices are captured from operator websites and may change — the operator's site is authoritative. Captured Sep 3, 2026 06:38 UTC.
Getting ready for this voyage?
Everything worth bringing on an Antarctic expedition — an interactive checklist you can tick off as you pack, keep as a personal link and download as a PDF.
Wildlife on this route
Wildlife
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.
Wildlife
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.
Wildlife
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.
Wildlife
Wandering Albatross
The snowy albatross, better known as the wandering albatross, has the widest wingspan of any living bird alive today. Watch for it riding the wind for hours behind the ship without a single wingbeat.