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.
Available
December 2028
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
From
$20,516
Arrival
Dec 14, 2028
⚓ Punta Arenas
Duration
8 days
7 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 Punta Arenas, Chile
Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populated city in southern Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and shops to keep you busy for days. By early afternoon, a Quark Expeditions representative will meet you at the official starting point hotel, where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about preparing for your embarkation day.
Day 2 — Fly to King George Island and Embarkation
Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will enable you to cross the legendary Drake Passage in only two hours, while far below, the ship will approach King George Island for your arrival. Your first glimpse of dramatic Antarctic landscapes will be from a unique perspective, as your plane descends onto the South Shetland Islands. After landing, make your way to the shore, before being transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula!
Day 3 to 6 — Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
There are few places in the world as evocative as Antarctica. The Antarctic Continent is indescribable and can only be fully appreciated through your own eyes.As your Captain and Expedition Team keep a lookout for whales and seabirds, you’ll be alerted to any new sightings. Our team of expert presenters will deepen your experience with explanations of the glaciology, history and wildlife of the region, and presentations on photography to help you take memory- catching images.Even more exciting are your daily excursions. Your first Zodiac landing is something you’ll never forget! Walking on a shore inhabited by thousands of penguins is the most intimate way to experience the unique wildlife of Antarctica.Each landing is different and is dependent on weather, but every day presents new sightings and photo opportunities, and it won’t be long before you can tell the difference between Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins.You may take a Zodiac cruise in search of whales and icebergs one day, followed by a hike to a penguin rookery the next day. From the booming sound of a calving glacier to the thrill of spotting apex predators like leopard seals and orcas in action, you’ll wake up early and welcome each day with a sense of adventure and a desire to explore during this unrivaled wilderness experience.Your Expedition Team will accompany you all along the way, providing insights into the places you visit.
Day 7 — Disembarkation and Fly to Punta Arenas
After your week of exploration, you’ll say goodbye to your Expedition Team and disembark at King George Island. Your two-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, brings your adventure to an end. After your group transfer to the hotel, you are free to explore and enjoy an evening on your own, in the city or at the hotel to reminisce about the sights and sounds of Antarctica.
Day 8 — Depart Punta Arenas
After breakfast, you are welcome to continue on your own travels or make your way to the Punta Arenas airport.
Activities
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
Included activitySpecialized 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
December 2028
Peak Season · 20h DaylightLong polar days, hatching penguin chicks, and peak summer activity across rookeries and bays.
Hatching Chicks
20h Sunlight
First Whales
Regions
Visited Regions
7 regions on this voyage
Drake Passage
Rite of Passage • Albatross Alley
King George Island
Fly-Cruise Hub • Multi-National Stations
South Shetland Islands
Volcanic Isles • Penguin Rookeries & Calderas
Antarctic Peninsula
Classic Antarctica • Towering Peaks & Wildlife
Lemaire Channel
Kodak Gap • Kilometer-High Glaciated Chasm
Anvers Island
Palmer Archipelago • Glacial Vistas & Palmer Station
Antarctic Circle
Deep South • 66°33′ S & Midnight Sun
Cabin offers
| Cabin | Occupancy | Price (per person) | Promo | Availability | Source | detail.action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Triple Suite
Best price
Two-room suite on Deck 6 designed for three guests, approximately 298 sq. ft. (27.7 sq. m; details row lists 296-299 sq. ft.), with two singles in the inner bedroom and a third bed in the outer room, plus a double-sized walkout balcony from the bedroom. Bed config: three twin beds. In your cabin
|
triple | $20,516 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Deluxe Veranda Forward
Located on Deck 4, approximately 182 sq. ft. (16.9 sq. m; details row lists 182-195 sq. ft.), with one double bed that can be configured into two singles and a floor-to-ceiling glass view opening to a walkout balcony. Desk and chair, TV, infotainment system, private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor. In your cabin
|
— | $23,081 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Veranda Stateroom
Located throughout the ship (Decks 4, 6, 7), approximately 208 sq. ft. (19.3 sq. m) per the page prose (details row lists 173-272 sq. ft.), with one double bed configurable as two singles and a floor-to-ceiling glass view opening to a walkout balcony; separate sitting area except cabins 609-615. Desk and chair, TV, private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor. In your cabin
|
— | $24,278 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Veranda Suite
Located on Decks 4 and 6, approximately 205 sq. ft. (19.2 sq. m; details row lists 200-205 sq. ft.), with one double bed configurable as two singles, separate sitting area with sofa-bed, and a floor-to-ceiling glass view opening to a walkout balcony. In your cabin
|
— | $25,817 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Studio Single
Designed for one, located on Deck 3, approximately 166 sq. ft. (15.4 sq. m) per the page prose (details row lists 146-186 sq. ft.), with one double bed made up of two twin berths and a porthole view. Desk and chair, TV, private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor. In your cabin
|
single | $33,769 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Penthouse Suite
Unique two-room suite on Deck 7, approximately 269 sq. ft. (25.0 sq. m), with a double bed (configurable as two singles) in the inner bedroom, sofa-bed sitting area, walk-out double-sized balcony from either room, two TVs and an additional powder room. In your cabin
|
— | $35,650 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Studio Veranda Single
Designed for one, a unique cabin on Deck 7, approximately 162 sq. ft. (15.1 sq. m), with one twin bed and a floor-to-ceiling glass view opening to a generous walkout balcony. TV, infotainment system, private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor. In your cabin
|
single | $36,505 | Pay in full at time of booking & Save 5% | available | Quark Expeditions | View at operator |
Owners Suite
Palatial two-room apartment of approximately 443 sq. ft. (41.2 sq. m) on Deck 7, the highest cabin level, with a large private veranda, master bedroom, living room, dining area and two large master bathrooms. Bed config: one double bed made up of two twin berths, plus fold-out sofa bed. In your cabin
|
— | $38,129 | 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.