Antarctic Voyager

Overview

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A voyage across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula

Introduction

The essence of this ocean journey is to experience maritime Antarctica with its wealth of sea-life, wildlife and the amazing scenery painted on a blue and white canvas. You will combine the opportunity to walk inland, climb and photograph, with time taken to absorb, enjoy and experience nature at its finest. During this amazing 12-day voyage from the tip of South America, you will spend a week on the Peninsula, with time for several ascents of mountains, which can be made in short forays from the ship.

The plan is to spend 6 days in the Gerlache Strait and Lemaire Channel area, where you will attempt several mountains that require the use of ice axe, crampons and basic rope skills. The ascents are completed in half-day trips from the ship and although the glaciated terrain is potentially serious, the ascents are not of a technical nature.

Join us on Antarctic Voyager

• Experience Antarctica's maritime wildlife, sea-life and stunning scenery
• Trek inland and climb some non-technical viewpoints and peaks
• Cruise through the legendary Drake Passage
• Your ship, The Polar Pioneer, has a fine reputation for polar cruising
• Triple and twin berths with shared or private facilities available

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Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this trek on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

The Ship - The Polar Pioneer

The Polar Pioneer was built in Finland in 1985 as an ice-strengthened research ship, and for many years she plied the treacherous waters of the USSR's northern coast. She was refurbished in St Petersburg to provide comfortable accommodation for 54 passengers.

A combined bar/lounge/library area (stocked with a good collection of polar books) was also created by simple internal restructuring. This class of vessel has a fine reputation for polar expedition cruising, due to its strength, manoeuvrability and small number of cabins. The Russian captain and crew are among the most experienced ice navigators in the world and their enthusiasm is legendary. The spacious bridge is always open to you and the decks are ideal for viewing. The chefs are European or Australian and the dining room is attended by Russian stewardesses.

Cabin accommodation on board is based on 3 people sharing, with two lower bunks and one upper bunk, port-hole, wash basin, desk, couch and ample storage. Shower and toilet facilities are located conveniently just outside the cabins. If you wish, you can upgrade your Cabin to twin sharing, single and en-suite accommodation (please contact us for prices).

Polar Pioneer is not a luxury vessel as such, but it is a very popular ship for travel to the Polar Regions. The accommodation is simple yet comfortable and the meals are excellent, being wholesome and uncomplicated. A small fleet of inflatable Zodiacs with outboard motors enable you to travel from ship to shore.

Experience Required

Places on this trip are available for those who want to cruise down the Antarctic Peninsula with the opportunity to make landfall and climb some straightforward peaks, as well as those who simply want to look at the wildlife.
This cruise is graded T3 on a our trekking scale... read more about grades

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the trek or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Prices

The prices published on this website are from Punta Arenas for the least expensive (triple, shared facilities) berths on the Polar Pioneer. Availability of these berths is not guaranteed. Please contact us to discuss the type of berth you would prefer, their availability and we can then quote you a price.

Antarctic Voyager is offered in conjunction with our Australian partners, Aurora Expeditions. Our Sterling prices from the UK include international flights to Ushuaia via Buenos Aires, all transfers, hotel nights in Buenos Aires (x 1) and Ushuaia (x 2).

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign. We recommend that you read the FCO Travel Advice for Chile on the FCO Website.

What the price includes

• International flight from London to Ushuaia via Buenos Aires (unless 'land-only').
• UK airport taxes.
• 1 nights' hotel accommodation (twin sharing) in Buenos Aires on a bed and breakfast basis (unless 'land-only').
• 2 nights' hotel accommodation (twin sharing) in Ushuaia on a bed and breakfast basis (unless 'land-only').
• Mountaineering option.
• Accommodation and meals on the ship*.
• All transfers in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia (unless 'land-only').
• All costs for leaders and guides.
• Jagged Globe kitbag or lightweight fleece.

*Prices vary depending on size of cabin - please contact us for details.

What the price does not include

• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Visa fees.
• Bar bills and laundry.
• Travel insurance.
• Lunch and evening meals in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.
• Optional trips.
• Tips.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 - 2:	Fly to Ushuaia via Buenos Aires Overnight hotel in Ushuaia.
Day 3:	Ushuaia Embark Polar Pioneer in the afternoon.
Day 4 - 5:	Cross the Drake Passage Some of you will approach this historic crossing with more than a little trepidation. But despite its reputation, there are many times when the Drake Passage resembles a lake, with lazy southern ocean swells rolling under the keel. On the other hand we have sometimes encountered rough crossings with large waves. The size of the waves and the force of the gale will take on gigantic proportions when related around the fire back home.
Day 6 - 11:	On the Peninsula A host of choices is now open to us and depending on the ice and weather conditions the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula is ours to explore. Drawing on the wealth of experience of the crew and guides, you will make the best use of prevailing weather and ice conditions. A sample of some of the places where you might visit are as follows: Hannah Point, Livingston Island A unique landing place on the Peninsula. A tiny toe of land that is literally alive with wildlife. Here you will find two species of penguins breeding, Chinstraps and Gentoo. Sometimes there are a few vagrant Macaroni penguins nesting as well. It is not uncommon to find wallows of elephant seal that are 60 beasts strong. On the ridgeline Giant Petrels are nesting. The vegetation consists of mosses, lichens and the only grass species that grows in Antarctica. All this set in a stunning position, underneath long black scree slopes, at the foot of the mountains and glaciers of Livingston Island. Half Moon Island A wildlife rich island, tucked into a neat bay at the eastern end of Livingston Island. On a clear day the glaciers and mountains of Livingston Island dominate the scene. There is a large Chinstrap penguin rookery tucked in between basaltic turrets coloured by yellow and orange lichens. Gulls nest on these turrets and you often see fur seals and elephant seals hauled out on the pebble beaches. At one extremity of the island there is a large colony of nesting Blue-eyed Shags. At the other, a small Argentine scientific station conducts research on the penguin colony and ecology of the surrounding waterways. Deception Island Visiting Deception Island is like making a journey to the moon. You enter the volcanic crater, on board the ship, through the narrow opening of Neptune's Bellows. Inside is an unworldly scene, virtually devoid of life. Glaciers flow down from the edge of the crater, littered by black volcanic ash. You can explore the lifeless remains of a derelict whaling station and a vacant British base or climb to the rim of the crater. Steam rises from the shore indicating that the water is actually warm enough for a swim, for those who dare. Outside the crater, if conditions allow, you will land at the enormous Chinstrap penguin rookery that featured in David Attenborough's Life in the Freezer series. Paradise Harbour Magnificent peaks and spectacular glaciers surround this protected bay. Rocky cliffs provide perfect nesting sites for blue-eyed shags, terns and gulls. The serenity of Paradise Harbour envelops you once the sound of the anchor dropping fades from your ears. This is a haven for whales and sometimes you meet humpbacks and minkes as you explore the bay in Zodiacs. Imagine being so close to a whale that when he surfaces to blow, the fishy spray of his exhalation momentarily blurs your vision. You cannot find words to describe this experience. Lemaire Channel If the ice conditions allow, standing on the bow of Polar Pioneer and quietly moving through the narrow Lemaire Channel will be one of the highlights of our voyage. Cliffs tower 700 metres directly above the ship. The water is so still that perfect reflections are mirrored on the surface. Gigantic icebergs often clog the channel, creating interesting navigation challenges for the captain and crew and may even obstruct our passage. At the southern end of the channel there are many, many fine peaks for climbing such as Mount Scott and Mount Mill.
Day 12 - 13:	Re-cross the Drake Passage Time to head back to Argentinia's Tierra del Fuego. Recrossing the Southern Ocean you can revel in the graceful flight of the albatross again.
Day 14:	Beagle Channel, depart Ushuaia During the early morning you cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia. If you have arranged your own flights, you can depart for home in the afternoon. Otherwise, overnight in Ushuaia (with flights package from UK).
Day 15:	Fly to Buenos Aires Today you transfer to the airport for your flight to London, via Buenos Aires. You will have the evening free to dine out, and perhaps visit one of the city's renowned tango shows.
Day 16:	Depart Buenos Aires
Day 17:	Arrive London

Photos & Videos

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Reports & Reviews

First Trek: Feb 2000
Total: 10 trips

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• “An amazing amount was crammed into only a fortnight - some climbing, wildlife, scenery and history - fantastic” DD, (Somerset)
• “It was brilliant. I had hoped it would be good, but it was much more than that.” BM
• “This is the trip to take a non-climbing partner on.” RC
• “As a non-climber, this was a brilliant expedition for me to accompany my husband.” JC
• “An awesome blend of climbing, wildlife and Antarctic science and history.” JR
• 1 more review »

• “An amazing trip to one of the most incredible places on earth.” GM

Leader Reports

• Antarctic Voyager - 6 to 21 Dec '11
  “It’s a month already since the Antarctic trip, been home for Christmas and Hogmanay and to ease into a New Year, with time to reflect and consider the highs and lows of 2011; fitting that it is exactly 100 years since the highs and...”
  report added 23/Jan/12
• Antarctic Climber 2009 expeditions
  “What an unusual, spectacular and fantastic month that has just been! Two "Antarctic Climber" trips back-to-back, this was my own first opportunity to visit the Antarctic. I was expecting this one to actually be a bit of a holiday...”
  report added 29/Jan/10
• Antarctic Climber 6 – 22 Dec '08
  “Independently Keith & Gerrit made their own way out to Ushuaia, where we all met up before boarding the Polar Pioneer, our ship and base for the next 12 days. Today, Ushuaia enjoyed glorious sunshine with great views both...”
  report added 22/Dec/08
• Antarctica Climber 26 Nov – 10th Dec '08
  “After meeting up with Rob & Roger, we made a swift transition from the UK, through Madrid & onto BA. After an eight hour stop over and a city in 30°C heat, it was onto Ushuaia with its low cloud base, rain and temperatures...”
  report added 12/Dec/08
• Antarctic Climber - 26 Nov to 11 Dec '06
  “In all my forty plus years of climbing in different regions of the world, the Antarctic climbing trip is hard to beat. A unique experience that offers close encounters with wildlife and sailing through the most beautiful and...”
  report added 20/Dec/06
• 2 more reports »

• Antarctic Climber - 5 December to 20 December 2001
  “Our second Antarctic Climber this year took place in December. Six climbers joined Steve Bell on the Polar Pioneer, an excellent ship manned by Russian crew and Australian cooks, doctor, lecturers and bar staff. The ship was our...”
  report added 28/Dec/01
• Antarctic Climber - 26 February to 15 March 2001
  “The 2000-2001 Antarctic climbing season was relatively quiet, at least in terms of first ascents and new routes. Suprisingly, Dronning Maud Land saw two groups active, making some first ascents and repeating a number of established...”
  report added 07/May/01