Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition

Not only does this expedition include the most in-depth exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula, but it also offers the opportunity to venture farther south across the Antarctic Circle. As you head toward a milestone that few travelers reach, you’ll feel as if you’re in a world without borders, sailing across an endless stretch of sea dotted with ice.

Dramatic ice formations will ignite your imagination as you search the landscape for the wildlife that calls it home. Whether it’s humpback whales alongside the ship, a leopard seal diving beneath your Zodiac, penguins sliding off an iceberg into crystal waters, or a giant petrel soaring above cracking sea ice, you’ll experience a sensory overload in Antarctica like you’ve never felt before.

Date Duration Starting From Ship
Jan 14 2018, Feb 16 2018, Feb 19 2018, Feb 27 2018, Mar 2 2018 14 days $ 8,495.00 Sea Adventurer - 2017, Ocean Endeavour, Ocean Diamond
Tabs
  • Be one of the few travelers to venture to 66°33' S
  • Visit historic research stations in Marguerite Bay
  • Witness abundant Antarctic wildlife, including penguins, seals, whales and more
  • Experience western Peninsula highlights and visit iconic landing sites
  • Learn about Antarctica’s geology and wildlife from on-board lecturers and specialists
  • On select departures, arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the tango capital of the world, and let us take care of the rest of your journey

Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition (14 Days) PDF

Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition (14 Days) with flights from Buenos Aires PDF


Departs From
Ushuaia, Argentina

Day 1

The journey begins

Location: 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. Get active in the mountains or enjoy handcrafted chocolate at a café in town.

Explore

Location: Embarkation Day

As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon, you will begin your Antarctic journey, passing through the Beagle Channel. The channel opens up to the vastness of the Southern Ocean, where your next land sighting will be along the Antarctic Peninsula. Named after the famed ship on which Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel presents great photo opportunities to capture seabirds hovering overhead.

Day 2

Day 3-4

Explore

Location: Crossing the Drake Passage

The waters of the Drake Passage are unpredictable, so hope for clear skies and a calm ocean. You’ll have plenty of time to gaze out at the sea, get to know your fellow shipmates and chat with your Expedition Team.

You will spend this time preparing for the exciting days ahead, with numerous educational and informative lectures presented by your Expedition Team. You’ll learn about everything from safety procedures to the history of whaling in Antarctica.

Explore

Location: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

With the Drake Passage left in our wake, we make our approach to Antarctica. Get your cameras ready as the continent’s coastline makes its first appearance, signaling the start of your adventure in the realm of the Antarctic. You’ll see plentiful floating icebergs and be fixated on the ocean surface as curious whales spout and breach before your eyes.

As exciting as it can be from on board the ship, your true exploration occurs when you disembark and set foot on the White Continent. There are several potential landing sites that we may visit, including Neko Harbour, Orne Harbour or Paradise Harbour. Although weather dictates which specific landing sites we can visit, each one presents a new collection of wildlife and natural attractions.

Your days will be busy spotting wildlife and being mesmerized by the beauty of Antarctica. Watching penguins waddling on the beach and listening to the crackling and crumbling sounds of icebergs and glaciers will become your daily entertainment, while kayaking with whales and polar camping are optional activities available on select voyages (at an extra cost).

Day 5-7

Day 8-9

Explore

Location: Antarctic Circle

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is an impressive achievement, as most expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula do not reach this far south, which is officially noted at 66°33' S. If conditions allow us to cross this famed line, you and your shipmates will celebrate in style with a well-earned glass of champagne! Make a toast and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world visited by very few people.

Explore

Location: Northbound Along the Peninsula

By now, your knowledge of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins will be matched by your ability to differentiate between a leopard, fur or Weddell seal. Terms like bergy bits and pancake ice will seem normal, yet there are still many tales to be told. As you head north, Zodiac excursions will fill your days, and your Expedition Team will continue offering presentations while giving you time to reflect on everything you’ve experienced.

Day 10-11

Day 12-13

Explore

Location: Crossing the Drake Passage

As you recross the Drake, Antarctica fades away, leaving you with a collection of memories to last a lifetime. Excited conversations with your newfound friends will make the crossing fly by, regardless of weather and sea conditions. Your Expedition Team will round up its series of lectures as well, perhaps with a slideshow of the great landing sites and wildlife you’ve witnessed over the course of your voyage.

Explore

Location: Disembark in Ushuaia

Today you’ll say goodbye to your Expedition Team and fellow travelers, disembarking in the morning to catch your homeward flights.

Day 14

Location
Disembark in Ushuaia

Adventure Options

Every Quark Antarctic voyage includes great daily outdoor activities including Zodiac cruises, hiking and some also offer snowshoeing. The more discerning adrenaline junkie can also choose from a range of optional adventure activities, with varying exertion levels, to experience the 7th continent in a more personal way.

  • Camping
  • Kayaking
  • Photography
  • Snowshoeing
  • Stand-Up Paddleboarding
  • Walking/Hiking

Not very many people have the opportunity to say they’ve camped on the 7th Continent. This is one of the best ways to experience Antarctica in a more intimate manner, and take your expedition to the next level.

Camping is available on most Antarctic voyages and has a limited number of spots. All equipment, guides and instructions are provided by Quark.

Pricing subject to change based on season. Please proceed to checkout or contact a Polar Travel Adviser for more details.

Pre- and Post-Trip Options

Extend Your Stay

Getting to the Antarctic can be just as much fun as being there. Quark offers multiple travel packages that enable you to see more of the world before and after your Antarctic adventure.

Buenos Aires

Savour a spectacular bottle of Malbec with fine Argentine steak, explore street art in colourful San Telmo or experience the world-class shopping on Avenida Florida. Discover the elegant beauty of Buenos Aires, a city that melds European charm with the frenzied pace of Latin life. This package includes a guided tour of the city’s impressive highlights, from the quaint, cobbled plazas to its most sophisticated neighbourhoods. In the evening, you will enjoy a spectacular dinner and tango show with a live orchestra. Please contact a Quark Polar Travel Adviser for pricing.

Easter Island

Take a five-hour flight from Santiago to Easter Island, one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands. A single massive (extinct) volcano rising over 10,000 feet from the Pacific Ocean floor, Easter Island is famous for its enormous statues carved from the tough stone of the Rano Raraku, the island’s volcano. Your package includes tours of the statues, tombs and volcanoes of the island. This luxurious package offers guests three nights’ accommodation at Explora Rapa Nui, where all meals, daily explorations and drinks are included.

Iguazú

One of the great natural wonders of the world, the grandeur of Iguazú Falls includes over 274 cascades spread over nearly two miles of the Iguazú River. Learn about the history, flora and fauna of the National Park, and the waterfalls. Experience the spectacular views and the thundering sounds of the waterfalls, located in the midst of 890 square miles of nature reserve. The National Park has easily walkable footpaths which will give you incredible access to the numerous waterfalls. Enjoy one of the true wonders of the natural world.

Santiago

After an amazing day touring the national capital, you will head to Chile’s garden city by the sea, Viña del Mar for a lunch overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Your driver will then head through the Casablanca Valley to Valparaiso, Chile’s best known seaside resort, for a visit to the old town, a UNESCO World heritage Site.

Antarctica Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (10 Days)

THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on board
  • All shore landings per the daily program
  • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
  • An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
  • Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • A hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • Comprehensive predeparture materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$500,000 per person I
  • Group transfer in Ushuaia from the airport to the pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
  • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Ushuaia, with breakfast
  • Group transfer from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day
  • Group transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from the ship to the local airport

Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (10-day) with flights from Buenos Aires

THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on board
  • All shore landings per the daily program
  • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
  • An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
  • Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • A hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • Comprehensive predeparture materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$500,000 per person
*BUENOS AIRES TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDES:
  • One night’s hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires, with breakfast
  • Group transfer from the hotel to the airport in Buenos Aires
  • Charter flight from the Buenos Aires international airport to Ushuaia, and return
  • Group transfer from the Ushuaia airport to the ship, and return
  • Combined airport transfer and express bus tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park after disembarkation Package cost: $950

Note: Baggage allowance on charter flights is 44 lbs (20 kg) checked and 11 lbs (5 kg) carry-on.

Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (11-day)

THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on board
  • All shore landings per the daily program
  • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
  • An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
  • Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • A hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • Comprehensive predeparture materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$500,000 per person
  • Group transfer in Ushuaia from the airport to the pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
  • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Ushuaia, with breakfast
  • Group transfer from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day
  • Group transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from the ship to the local airport

Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (11-day) with flights from Buenos Aires

THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on board
  • All shore landings per the daily program
  • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
  • An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
  • Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • A hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • Comprehensive predeparture materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$500,000 per person
*BUENOS AIRES TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDES:
  • One night’s hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires, with breakfast
  • Group transfer from the hotel to the airport in Buenos Aires
  • Charter flight from the Buenos Aires international airport to Ushuaia, and return
  • Group transfer from the Ushuaia airport to the ship, and return
  • Combined airport transfer and express bus tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park after disembarkation Package cost: $950

Note: Baggage allowance on charter flights is 44 lbs (20 kg) checked and 11 lbs (5 kg) carry-on.

Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (12-day)

THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board
  • Beer and wine during dinner
  • All shore landings per the daily program
  • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • Photography guide on Expedition Team
  • Waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
  • An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
  • Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • A hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • Comprehensive predeparture materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • All gratuities
  • Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum benefit of US$500,000 per person
  • Group transfer in Ushuaia from the airport to the pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
  • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Ushuaia, with breakfast
  • Group transfer from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day
  • Group transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from the ship to the local airport
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