Fly
to Antarctica
Air Cruise - Fly / Sail
Trips to Antarctica, Adventure Travel With Cool Antarctica and Antarctica Travels
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Regions:
Antarctic Peninsula |
South Georgia |
South Shetland Islands |
Falkland Islands |
Arctic
Typical fly-cruise trips, please
contact us for availability
8 - 11 days -
Fly both ways from Punta Arenas, Chile
6 - 12 days
- Fly one way, sail the other
17 days -
Fly to the Falkland Islands, sail back across the Drake Passage
Flights
to AntarcticaAn increasingly popular way to visit Antarctica is the Fly-Cruise option whereby passengers board a charter flight in Tierra del Fuego and fly to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands in about two hours where they then board their ship. This avoids the traditional way of getting to and from Antarctica by ship which takes about two days each way to cross the Drake Passage.
The return journey can be the same, or there the possibility of making one leg by air and the other by sea. Either fly down and sail back or sail down and fly back. The South American airport for the journey/s is Punta Arenas in Chile while the seaport is Ushuaia in Argentina.
Fly-cruises voyage around the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible regions of Antarctica, where spectacular scenery abounds as well as all kinds of Antarctic wildlife, penguins, whales, seals and all manner of other sea-birds. There are many opportunities for landings ashore to visit wildlife colonies and walk amongst spectacular landscapes, you can expect daily landings once in Antarctica.
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A variety of trips of varying durations make it more likely you will find the perfect combination of date, length and ship. Many cruises provide optional camping ashore for a night and/or kayaking.
You arrive in Antarctica at the airstrip of the Chilean Presidente Frei station on King George Island, the largest island of the South Shetlands group. This is part of the Scotia arc 75 miles (120 kilometers) to the north east of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is the unofficial capital of Antarctica in that it has ten national research stations and a semi-permanent population of about 500 people largely on the small ice-free area of the Fildes Peninsula at the south-west tip of the island.
The population is described as semi-permanent in that it is fairly steady at 500, though people come and go quite frequently, spending from a few months to a year or two. It is the only place in Antarctica with something like a normal human population, Presidente Frei station has families living there and even a small school.
King George Island is also home to a Russian Orthodox church with its own priest and the world's most southerly lighthouse. It is the site of an annual Antarctic Marathon.
Sample Fly-Cruise Trips
to Antarctica for 2023 - 2024
prices $4,995 - $26,395 - approx. 50 departures
| Trip |
Antarctica Peninsula Classic Air-Cruise |
Antarctic Express Air-Cruise |
|---|---|---|
| Ship/s | Ocean Nova, World Explorer, Magellan Explorer | |
| Days | 8 | |
| Pax | 67 / 130 / 100 | |
| Notes | Fly
/ Fly Fly South / Fly North |
* Prices are based per person, the lowest price is usually for triple occupancy in a basic cabin, the highest for double occupancy in the best available suite.
Options may be at additional cost and are usually booked when the cruise is booked - it may be too late once the cruise has started.
contact our travel partners who will help you find the best cruise for your requirements
Fly-cruise v Cruise-only Trip to Antarctica
- Avoid crossing the Drake Passage by
ship - this can be a very rough crossing
which for some may prevent going to Antarctica at
all if sea-sickness is a problem.
- Time saving - two sailings across the Drake Passage saves about 4 days in all meaning that is possible to go to Antarctica without spending so much time travelling, either a shorter trip, or more time spent there.
- You don't get to cross the Drake Passage
- there is something special about arriving in Antarctica
by ship where the weather and ice change slowly
over a longer period, spotting albatrosses following
the ship, the first ice-bergs, the first penguins
and seals porpoising alongside.
- Delays to your trip - While no Antarctica Fly and Cruise departure has yet been cancelled due to weather conditions, some departures have experienced delays of up to three days. The current estimate is that the chances of delay are in the range of 5-10%. Ships can operate in conditions in Antarctica that leave aircraft grounded.
It is important that prospective participants understand that weather conditions could impact the operation. Should weather delay a departure, contingency plans will be put into operation. There is also the possibility of the return leg being delayed so flexibility should be allowed when returning home. We are not responsible for any itinerary changes.
Getting There & Getting Home:
A tight time-schedule connection with an Antarctic expedition is not recommended. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that a flexible air ticket be held for your journey home. In addition, we strongly advise against booking a departing flight on the same day as the return flight from Antarctica.
The Aircraft:
Usually used are 70 passenger BAE 146-200 manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace and equipped with 4 turbofan Honeywell engines. It is a high-wing aircraft with very short runway requirements which makes it particularly suited for this kind of destination. It is operated by Aerovias DAP, which has more than 20 years of experience of flying in Patagonia and Antarctica. Substitute aircraft however may be used as necessary.
Luggage Weight Restriction:
Due to the limited carrying capacity of the aircraft, participants in the Antarctica Fly and Cruise programs can only carry 20 kg/44 lb of personal luggage, including carry-on. This weight restriction is enforced strictly. Note that hand luggage will be weighed as well as checked baggage. Soft sided luggage is recommended. Some ships will loan heavy and bulky items such as waterproof boots, check with your ship as to what is provided.
Included:
Accommodations onboard ship, in accordance with cabin chosen. Often a one night hotel stay both pre and post flight to Antarctica with transfers are provided, check with your tour operator as to what is included for your particular trip.
Not included:
Airfare to/from Punta Arenas, Chile, visa and/or passport expenses, arrival and departure taxes, if applicable, transfers, lodging and meals other than those offered in the program, mandatory evacuation insurance, recommended travel insurance, personal expenses, such as laundry service, telephone calls, use of Internet or other means of communication, etc. gratuity to ship's crew at the end of the voyage.
Contingency Plans:
Some departures in the past have experienced delays. Based on past experience, the estimated chance of delay is very low, in the range of 5-10%. Still, it is important that prospective participants understand that weather conditions could impact the operation. Travelers are responsible for any expenses associated with the rescheduling of airline tickets or onward travel plans. Should weather delay a departure, a Contingency Plan will be put into operation. In the unlikely event that the flight from Antarctica cannot operate due to unfavorable conditions, whether at point of origin and/or at the destination, a contingency plan applies.
Return Flight: (Flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas) In case the return flight to Punta Arenas is moved forward, passengers will disembark the ship and fly to Punta Arenas up to one day earlier than indicated in the itinerary. On arrival, accommodation will be provided. All other inclusions will remain per the original itinerary. In case of a delay on the return flight to Punta Arenas from Antarctica, passengers onboard the ship will continue cruising to nearby places until the return flight to Punta Arenas is authorized. Full board and all excursions are included. No refund will be extended for any reason whatsoever.
Contact me about my trip to Antarctica!
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and an Antarctic Expert will contact you
Departures from late October to late March
Our partner company, Antarctica Travels, passionately help people to reach their ultimate destination.
All enquiries will be answered from our office in Patagonia, Argentina.
Dozens of trips - unique combinations of ship + itinerary
Choice of ships - 67 to 199 passenger capacity
$5,500 to $43,995
6 to 23 days
Please note - we cannot help directly to find employment in Antarctica, please do not use this form to request any other information than for Antarctic tourist trips
Picture credits: Slider top page: Houses in Port Stanley picture courtesy of Alex Petrenko used under CC BY SA 3.0 licence / Aircraft on the ground picture courtesy of LBM1948, used under CC BY SA 4.0 licence.