22 Nov 2026
Twin share
£8,458pp
Single from £15,388
Escorted tour
Antarctic Peninsula Expedition Cruise from Ushuaia – 12 Days
Cross the Drake Passage to the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula for daily Zodiac landings among penguins, seals and icebergs.
12 days
From £8,458
Tour overview
This 12-day expedition cruise is the classic way to reach Antarctica, sailing from Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina across the Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. You sail aboard Ocean Victory, a modern expedition ship built for polar waters, with a stabilising X-bow, an ice-class hull, cabins with views (most with private balconies), observation decks, hydraulic viewing platforms near the waterline and two outdoor hot tubs. An expedition team of naturalists, historians and guides leads landings and lectures. The voyage includes one hotel night in Ushuaia, ten nights on board with all meals, and transfers in Ushuaia. The ship carries up to around 180 passengers, and landings take place in smaller groups.
After a night in Ushuaia, a compact town beneath the snowy Andes, you board the ship in the afternoon and sail along the Beagle Channel. Two days crossing the Drake Passage, one of the world's most famous stretches of ocean, are filled with lectures on the wildlife, history and geology of the far south, and with watching for albatrosses and petrels following the ship.
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Five days follow among the South Shetland Islands and along the Antarctic Peninsula. Weather and ice permitting, there are Zodiac cruises and shore landings each day, bringing you close to colonies of gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, seals resting on ice floes and whales feeding in the channels. Towering glaciers, ice cliffs and drifting icebergs make the landscapes truly memorable, and you can join a Citizen Science programme, helping researchers by recording observations, and take a polar plunge into the icy water if you dare.
The ship then recrosses the Drake Passage, reaching the calm waters of the Beagle Channel before arriving back in Ushuaia, with a transfer to the airport or town.
The physical rating is medium, as Zodiac landings involve climbing in and out of small boats and walking on snow and uneven ground. The Drake Passage can be rough. This voyage suits travellers with a lifelong dream of seeing Antarctica, with the comfort of a modern ship. Travel insurance with polar evacuation cover is essential.
Trip highlights
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Sailing the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia (Day 2)
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Crossing the Drake Passage with expert lectures (Days 3–4)
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Zodiac landings in the South Shetland Islands (Days 5–6)
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Penguin colonies, seals and whales on the Antarctic Peninsula (Days 7–9)
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Glaciers, ice cliffs and icebergs
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A Citizen Science programme and a polar plunge
Your route
3 stops from Ushuaia to South Shetland Islands
- Ushuaia Days 1–2 & 12
- Antarctic Peninsula Days 3–11
- South Shetland Islands Day 5
Why choose this tour
The classic Antarctic voyage on a modern polar ship, with most cabins having balconies. Daily landings and Zodiac cruises led by an experienced expedition team.
Best suited to
- Travellers with a dream of seeing Antarctica
- Wildlife photographers
- Nature lovers interested in penguins and whales
- Travellers who want a comfortable small expedition ship
Day-by-day itinerary
12 days from Ushuaia, Argentina to Ushuaia, Argentina
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Day 1 · Ushuaia Arrive in Ushuaia
Transfer from the airport to your hotel and meet your fellow travellers in the evening.
- Hotel
- Comfortable hotel
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Day 2 · Ushuaia, Beagle Channel Board the ship
A free morning in Ushuaia, then board the ship and sail along the Beagle Channel.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 3 · Drake Passage Drake Passage
Cross the Drake Passage, with lectures and seabirds following the ship.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Drake Passage Drake Passage
A second day at sea, with your first icebergs as you approach the South Shetlands.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · South Shetland Islands South Shetland Islands
Zodiac cruises and landings among penguin colonies and volcanic landscapes.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · South Shetland Islands South Shetland Islands
More landings and Zodiac cruises, weather and ice permitting.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula
Explore the channels of the Antarctic Peninsula by Zodiac, watching for whales and seals.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 8 · Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula
Landings near glaciers and penguin colonies, with the chance of a polar plunge.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 9 · Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula
A final day of exploration among the ice.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 10 · Drake Passage Drake Passage
Begin the journey north across the Drake Passage.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 11 · Beagle Channel Drake Passage
Reach the calm waters of the Beagle Channel.
- Hotel
- Ocean Victory
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 12 · Ushuaia Arrive back in Ushuaia
Leave the ship after breakfast, with a transfer to the airport or town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Ushuaia (1 night) Comfortable hotel
- At sea (10 nights) Ocean Victory expedition ship
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 1 hotel night in Ushuaia and 10 nights on board
- Meals 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 10 dinners
- Expedition cruise aboard Ocean Victory
- Daily Zodiac cruises and shore landings, weather permitting
- Expert-led lectures, the Citizen Science programme and a polar plunge
- Airport, hotel and port transfers in Ushuaia
- Expedition team throughout
Not included
- Flights to and from Ushuaia
- Drinks other than tea and coffee
- Optional activities such as kayaking
- Tips, travel insurance with polar cover and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You get seasick easily — the Drake Passage can be rough
- You want a fixed itinerary — landings depend on weather and ice
- You want a budget trip — polar voyages are expensive
- You want flights to Ushuaia included — they are not
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £8,458 per person, twin share, tour only. 7 upcoming departures.
02 Dec 2026
Twin share
£8,525pp
Single from £16,880
12 Dec 2026
Twin share
£9,282pp
Single from £16,927
16 Feb 2027
Twin share
£9,330pp
Single from £20,720
07 Nov 2027
Twin share
£9,665pp
Single from £17,625
26 Nov 2027
Twin share
£9,537pp
Single from £17,392
01 Mar 2028
Twin share
£9,473pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
When does the voyage run?
During the Antarctic summer, from November to March. Early season brings pristine snow, mid-season penguin chicks and later whales.
Will I get seasick?
The Drake Passage can be rough. The ship is built for these waters, and the crew can advise on seasickness remedies.
What wildlife will we see?
Gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, seals and seabirds are common, and whales are often seen. Sightings cannot be guaranteed.
What should I pack?
Warm, waterproof layers, gloves, a hat and sunglasses. Ask a specialist whether expedition boots and jackets are provided on your departure.
Is the itinerary fixed?
No. The expedition leader decides each day's landings according to weather and ice.
How many passengers are on board?
Up to about 180, with landings in smaller groups to protect the environment.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary