01 Dec 2026
Twin share
£14,395pp
Escorted tour
Antarctica Fly-Cruise: Skip the Drake from Punta Arenas – 8 Days
Fly over the Drake Passage and spend five nights exploring the Antarctic Peninsula by ship.
8 days
From £13,425
Tour overview
This 8-day expedition flies over the notorious Drake Passage instead of sailing it, saving days at sea. A charter flight takes you from Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia to King George Island, where you board a small ice-rated expedition ship for five nights. You also stay two nights in a hotel in Punta Arenas, and all meals on board are included, with beer and wine at dinner.
Each day the expedition team leads Zodiac cruises and shore landings around the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, weather and ice permitting, with lectures on board about the wildlife, ice and history.
Read more
Expect penguin colonies, seals, whales and towering icebergs, with possible visits to research stations and historic huts, before the flight back to Punta Arenas.
The physical rating is medium, as landings involve climbing in and out of Zodiacs. This expedition suits travellers who want to see Antarctica without the long sea crossing.
Trip highlights
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A charter flight over the Drake Passage (Day 2)
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The South Shetland Islands (Days 3–6)
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The Antarctic Peninsula (Days 3–6)
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Zodiac cruises among icebergs
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Penguins, seals and whales
Your route
3 stops from Punta Arenas to Petermann Island
- Punta Arenas Days 1 & 7–8
- King George Island Days 2 & 7
- Petermann Island Days 2–6
Why choose this tour
No Drake Passage crossing by sea. Antarctica in just over a week.
Best suited to
- Wildlife lovers
- Travellers prone to seasickness
- Photographers
- Bucket-list travellers
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Punta Arenas, Chile to Punta Arenas, Chile
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Day 1 · Punta Arenas Punta Arenas
Welcome to Patagonia.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Punta Arenas, King George Island King George Island
Fly to Antarctica and board the ship.
- Hotel
- Expedition ship
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 3 · South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula
Landings and Zodiac cruises.
- Hotel
- Expedition ship
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula
Penguins and ice.
- Hotel
- Expedition ship
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula
Whales and glaciers.
- Hotel
- Expedition ship
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · South Shetland Islands Antarctic Peninsula
A last day of landings.
- Hotel
- Expedition ship
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 · King George Island, Punta Arenas Punta Arenas
Fly back to Chile.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Punta Arenas Punta Arenas
The expedition ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Punta Arenas (1 night) Hotel
- Antarctic Peninsula (5 nights) Expedition ship
- Punta Arenas (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Charter flights Punta Arenas–King George Island–Punta Arenas
- Accommodation 2 hotel nights and 5 nights on board
- Meals 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners
- Beer and wine with dinner on board
- Daily Zodiac cruises and shore landings
- Lectures by the expedition team
Not included
- Flights to and from Punta Arenas
- Meals not included 1 lunch
- Optional activities such as kayaking
- Tips
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a fixed itinerary
- You want to cross the Antarctic Circle
- You are on a tight budget
- You want flights to Chile included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–8 · Lunch: Days 3–7 · Dinner: Days 1–7
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £13,425 per person, twin share, tour only. 15 upcoming departures.
06 Dec 2026
Twin share
£13,425pp
11 Feb 2027
Twin share
£18,895pp
16 Feb 2027
Twin share
£17,595pp
21 Feb 2027
Twin share
£18,395pp
09 Dec 2027
Twin share
£13,850pp
04 Jan 2028
Twin share
£16,400pp
09 Jan 2028
Twin share
£16,400pp
28 Jan 2028
Twin share
£16,400pp
12 Feb 2028
Twin share
£13,765pp
02 Dec 2028
Twin share
£19,295pp
07 Dec 2028
Twin share
£19,295pp
16 Jan 2029
Twin share
£19,295pp
04 Feb 2029
Twin share
£14,080pp
09 Feb 2029
Twin share
£14,080pp
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.
Do I need a visa for Antarctica?
No visa is needed for Antarctica; UK citizens can visit Chile visa-free for up to 90 days.
What is a fly-cruise?
You fly from Punta Arenas to King George Island and board the ship there, avoiding two days at sea each way.
What if the flight is delayed by weather?
Flights depend on conditions in Antarctica, so the timing can change; the team adjusts the itinerary.
Which meals are included?
All meals on board, a welcome dinner and hotel breakfasts.
Is insurance required?
Yes, with medical and emergency evacuation cover.
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