Expedition Overview

Expedition Overview

SPECIAL OFFERS

2023 Polar Special Offer: Book 1 Trip, Get 1 for 20% Off

Book select departures of Journey to Antarctica and get 20% off one select departure of Land of the Polar Bears, Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland’s East Coast, Norwegian Discovery: A Voyage to Svalbard and the Northern Fjords, Legendary Northern Isles: Scotland, Faroes, and Iceland by Sea, Norway’s Fjords and Arctic Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland: A Voyage to the Edge of the Arctic Circle, Gateway to the Northwest Passage: Greenland and Canada, South Greenland Exploration at Sea: Fjords, Waterfalls and Fishing Villages, The Canadian Maritimes and Newfoundland, or Shores of the High Arctic Land for travel through February 2024. Valid for new bookings made by June 30, 2023, subject to availability on select departures. Not applicable on extensions or fourth guest travels free offer. Call for details.

Special Offer for Solo Travelers

Book by June 30, 2023 and we will waive the solo premium on solo cabins on select departures. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability. Call for details.

Available Departures
  • Nov 18-Dec 1, 2023
  • Nov 28-Dec 11, 2023
  • Dec 18-31, 2023
  • Experience Antarctica from every perspective using a range of exploration tools aboard the National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endurance, or National Geographic Resolution, including a remotely operated vehicle that captures footage of the ocean floor.
  • Explore alongside a team of biologists, geologists, and undersea specialists who offer insights and engaging presentations throughout the trip.
  • Get up close to icebergs, wildlife, and hard-to-reach places using our fleets of kayaks and Zodiacs.
  • Observe a range of penguin and whale species, as well as seals and seabirds, and photograph them alongside our onboard photo instructor and National Geographic photographer.

Itinerary

Itinerary

Discover the Antarctic Peninsula, where endless white mountains roll to the horizon and massive glaciers churn icebergs into the sea. Here, nature reigns: penguins teeter along the shore, seals loll on ice slabs, and humpbacks and orca whales break the water's surface. Traveling with a team of scientists aboard the state-of-the-art National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Resolution, or National Geographic Endurance encounter this otherworldly place close-up, gliding around enormous tabular icebergs by Zodiac or kayak, and walking along beaches peppered with penguins and seals.

This trip is operated in collaboration with Lindblad Expeditions.

Days 1-2: U.S./Buenos Aires, Argentina (OR SANTIAGO, CHILE)
View Photos

Depart on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires or Santiago. Settle into our hotel before heading out on an afternoon tour of the city. Gather tonight for a welcome reception.

Meals Included:Day 2 (Lunch)
Accommodations:Alvear Art Hotel/Alvear Icon Hotel
Day 3: Ushuaia, Argentina
View Photos

Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, and enjoy lunch and wildlife viewing on a catamaran cruise on the scenic Beagle Channel before embarking the ship.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations:

National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Resolution, or National Geographic Endurance for the entire voyage

Day 4: At Sea/Drake Passage
View Photos

Voyage across the legendary Drake Passage, and watch for whales and seabirds gliding alongside the ship. Enjoy talks from our onboard naturalists about the wildlife and geology that await us on the Antarctica Peninsula.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 5-10: Exploring Antarctica
View Photos

With extended daylight hours at this time of year, we make the most of our days, keeping a flexible schedule to take advantage of the unexpected—veering off course to watch orcas perform off the bow or enjoying an after-dinner Zodiac cruise. We anticipate opportunities to take walks ashore, explore by Zodiac or kayak, and experience close encounters with wildlife. Our route will be determined by the conditions and the ever-changing ice, and may include some of the locations indicated on the map shown here.

One day, we may take Zodiacs out to see towering icebergs at close range, walk a beach covered with bickering seals and penguins, or hike to a summit for a breathtaking view. The next, we may be kayaking amid glittering brash ice or along a cliffside rookery in search of blue-eyed shags. And the next, we might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through the pack ice.

As we encounter the volcanic isles and pristine bays of the peninsula, our team of experts will bring depth and insight to the experience, explaining the behaviors and interactions of different species, the geological and climatic forces that still shape Antarctica, the anatomy of a glacier, and even how to make beautiful photographs of the places we visit. Our undersea specialists capture images from the deep—revealing the hardy marine life beneath the ice—and our expedition leader is always on the lookout for the best way to experience everything Antarctica has to offer.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Daily
Days 11-12: At Sea
View Photos

Enjoy the ship’s amenities as the Antarctic coast disappears from view. Round the southernmost tip of South America, and see the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Celebrate our voyage at a farewell dinner on board.

Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Daily
Days 13-14: Ushuaia, Argentina/Buenos Aires or Santiago, Chile/U.S.
View Photos

Disembark in Ushuaia. After lunch fly to Buenos Aires or Santiago by private charter, and connect with your overnight flight home.

Meals Included:Day 13 (Breakfast, Lunch)