Antarctica | Drake Passage (South America) | South Shetland Islands (Antarctica) | Ushuaia (Argentina)
The following are Antarctica Classic tour dates available from G Adventures. Select a bonus offer graphic to view its details, including its terms.
Arrive in Ushuaia at any time. Arrival transfer included. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the world's most southerly city.
There will be a welcome desk in the lobby of the start hotel that will provide more specific information on the Expedition and your upcoming adventure.Please note that the first night in Ushuaia is on twin share basis. If you're travelling solo or have an odd number of travellers in your group and have not purchased a private cabin, you will be paired with another solo traveller of the same gender.
Included arrival transfer.
Enjoy a free morning in Ushuaia. Do any last minute shopping, explore the town, or visit the surrounding countryside. Embarkation on the Expedition begins in the afternoon at the port in Ushuaia. Enjoy the evening sailing through the Beagle Channel.
Opt to visit the magnificent Tierra del Fuego National Park today before boarding the ship.
Expedition travel can be full of surprises! While it is our intention of adhere to the itinerary described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. On the first day onboard, the Expedition Leader will give an expedition overview outlining what the specific plans are for the trip.
Explore the city, do some shopping or take an optional excursion and enjoy lunch ashore.
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
In the afternoon, join your fellow passengers to take your group transfer and begin your journey on the Expedition. Please refer to your welcome letter or the joining instructions posted in the lobby of the start hotel. Make sure you have your passport handy as you are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
The adventure begins with an 1000km (800mi) crossing of the passage named in honour of the 16th-century English sea captain and privateer, Sir Francis Drake. Take in daily lectures from the expedition team and keep an eye out for the first sightings of icebergs, whales and albatross following in the Expedition's wake.
The Expedition is at home in this part of the Southern Ocean, known for the unimpeded never ending fetch of the winds that encircle the Antarctic.As the Expedition crosses the passage there will be time to become acquainted with the ship and frequent the common areas that include the lounge, dining hall, library and lecture hall where we meet our guides, ship's crew and expedition staff.Begin lectures and information sessions to learn the extraordinary human and natural history of the Antarctic region
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on everything from local wildlife to geology to history. The Expedition has one of the highest ratios of expedition team members to guests - with one expert for every ten guests there is always someone on hand to answer questions and provide greater insight and appreciation of the world at its extremes. The expedition team is comprised of professional and highly skilled historians, marine biologists, and naturalists who offer keen insight and a unique personal perspective to each and every adventure.
Spend time out on deck and keep an eye out for sea birds and whales that live in these fertile waters. Wandering, Black-browed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Prion's and Cap Petrels are among some of the species of seabirds that may follow the Expedition on the journey towards Antarctica.
Experience some of the most unique wildlife viewing and inspiring scenery in the world while setting foot on the Antarctic continent. Attempt two shore landings per day (weather permitting) and encounter Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguin rookeries, Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, and orca, humpback and minke whales in the cold Antarctic waters. During the voyage, learn about the peninsula's remarkable history.
This is what we've all been waiting for - a chance to explore step foot on the Great White Continent! Over the next 4 days the Expedition will navigate southwards making stops in the South Shetland Islands then through the Bransfield Strait and to the Antarctic Peninsula. Our goal is to attempt two excursions per day while navigating through the area but the itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions.During the voyage, learn about some of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world.
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Hop into one of the Expedition's 14 Zodiacs and take the quick, safe trip from the ship to the shore to encounter the awe-inspiring wilderness of Antarctica. Thanks to the performance of these boats in remote conditions, quick trips to shore are easily accomplished. Get up close to towering icebergs, glaciers and amazing wildlife. Depending on weather conditions these excursions will hopefully happen daily.
Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on everything from local wildlife to geology to history. The Expedition has one of the highest ratios of expedition team members to guests - with one expert for every ten guests there is always someone on hand to answer questions and provide greater insight and appreciation of the world at its extremes. The expedition team is comprised of professional and highly skilled historians, marine biologists, and naturalists who offer keen insight and a unique personal perspective to each and every adventure.
Learn about the Expedition's current location, daily announcements, landing site-specific information as well as recaps of the previous day at a quick daily briefing.
Begin the journey north to the home port of Ushuaia. Review the highlights of the Antarctic experience with the lecturers and staff. Keep sharp eyes on the observation deck for some last-minute whale sightings.
Leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. In between bird watching and whale watching and enjoying some final lectures by the expedition staff, this is a chance to relax and review the adventures of the past week before returning to Ushuaia. Remember, the best way to experience the wildlife of the Drake Passage is to be on deck keeping a look out for Albatross, Prions, and Whales!
Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on everything from local wildlife to geology to history. The Expedition has one of the highest ratios of expedition team members to guests - with one expert for every ten guests there is always someone on hand to answer questions and provide greater insight and appreciation of the world at its extremes. The expedition team is comprised of professional and highly skilled historians, marine biologists, and naturalists who offer keen insight and a unique personal perspective to each and every adventure.
Not too big, not too little, our 128-passenger polar expedition ship is just right.
Disembark the Expedition after breakfast.
In the morning upon completion you will disembarkation in Ushuaia. Passengers will receive a complimentary transfer to either the airport or a central location where luggage can be stored.For those on morning flights, a transfer will bring them directly to Ushuaia airport (USH). The rest of the passengers will be transferred to the luggage storage point and given time to explore the city. These passengers should then return to retrieve their luggage and board a second transfer to Ushuaia airport in the afternoon, depending on their flight times. Please note that the transfer times are subject to change according to flight schedules.
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Select a destination below to to view the hotel(s) included by G Adventures in their Antarctica Classic tour:
Av. Maipu 505
Tierra del Fuego
Ushuaia, Argentina-9410
G Adventures is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Antarctica Classic tour:
Max 134 aboard the Expedition
9 nts aboard theExpedition. 1 nt hotel in Ushuaia, on a twin share basis. Arrival and departure transfers. Zodiac excursions with our expert expedition team. Lectures and educational programs. Waterproof boots supplied for USA sizes 4 - 16. Expedition parka.
Set foot on Antarctica - the world's least-visited continent, watch majestic albatross soar by the ship while crossing the Drake Passage, opt to brave the chill of a polar plunge, witness immense icebergs and magnificent glaciers, have your questions answered by Antarctica experts
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your CEO, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
G Adventures is offering the following optional activities at an additional cost, subject to availability:
Ushuaia- Tierra del Fuego National Park VisitSouth Shetland Islands- Polar Plunge
Twin-share hotel (1 nt), aboard the Expedition in quad-, triple-, twin-share cabins, or suites (all with en suite bathrooms and porthole or window, 9 nts). Please note that all cabins consist of twin-size berths and are ocean-facing. Suites have one queen-size bed.
10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners
Onboard our expedition ships you’ll find a diversity of gourmet international cuisines prepared and catered by professional chefs; all meals are included in the price of your expedition. Dining is casual, tables are unassigned and the dining room is capable of seating the entire passenger compliment at one time. There is always a selection of different meals available, and vegetarians will find plenty of options. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice, please advise us at time of confirmation. Coffee, tea and water are all provided free of charge. All other beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic are not included and can be purchased in the dining room, pub or the lounge.
One expedition team member per 10 guests.
A carefully chosen team will lead our voyage. Our expedition ships boast an international team of professional naturalists and lecturers. Their goal is to provide an informed and balanced interpretation of the destination, accomplished through stimulating lectures, day-to-day briefings, and informal discussions. Your lecturers and Expedition Leader will cover all aspects of the voyage including ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment, as well as practical things like photography. The expedition staff work conscientiously with you on deck and in the field, improving your observational skills to allow you to experience all that the destination has to offer. Their strong sense of ethics and ecological knowledge make for stimulating and mindful conversation whether onshore or at the dinner table. The Expedition Staff will pilot the Zodiac landing craft used for shore landings and Zodiac cruises; they are experienced drivers who operate the Zodiacs in a responsible manner.
Expedition, Zodiac, private bus, walking.
Minimum age of 10 years for this trip.
While you are on board the Expedition, we know that keeping in touch with your family and friends is important to you. We want to ensure you have the tools available to keep you connected in some of the most remote regions of the world. The Expedition is equipped with Starlink internet system which offers reliable connection in all the places we visit and that allows our travellers to stay connected with the purchase of personal data credit. Travellers are encouraged to use any Wi-Fi enabled device to connect to our network, which is available throughout the ship, or they can use the computers located on deck 4. Satellite phone service is available upon request.
This trip is assigned a Physical Rating of 2. It is accessible to most fitness levels and for those able to do extended walks and light hiking on various terrain. It is important to note that for landings in Antarctica we use Zodiacs and wet beach landings in what sometimes can be extreme environments. This will require you to be able to safely navigate ice and snow on uneven ground, to lift your leg over the side of a Zodiac and push yourself up, walk on wet, rocky beaches and stand throughout the landing with no place to sit. Our expedition team is there to assist you if needed but having good mobility is important for your safety and enjoyment. Please also note that the Expedition does not have an elevator and thus staircases must be used to move between decks, and depending on the weather the ship can sometimes find itself navigating rough and choppy sea conditions. For visual examples of the zodiac landings and activities please refer to the Excursions image gallery on the Expedition landing page here.
Documents:o Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)o Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)o Passport (required) (With photocopies)o Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)o Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)Expedition:o Binoculars (highly recommended)o Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)o Credit cards (Please note the Expedition is cashless and only accepts credit cards for payment.)o Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)o Drybag (To protect your camera and belongings on Zodiac landings)o Ear plugso First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)o Flashlight/torch (Recommended for Antarctic camping)o Fleece jacket or warm layero Fleece top/sweatero Footwear (good gripping) (Please note that open toed shoes are not allowed in public spaces on the Expedition.)o Hato Long pants/jeanso Moisturizer/lip balmo Moneybelto Motion sickness tabletso Outlet adapter (Electricity onboard is 220AC electrical outlets, with European 2 pin round holes, as well as 110-volt shaving sockets in the bathroom for electric razors only.)o Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)o Scarf (Or neck warmer.)o Shirts/t-shirtso Sleepwearo Sunblock (Antarctica is a desert!)o Sunglasseso Swimwearo Thermal base layero Thermal underwearo Toiletries (Shampoo and shower gel are provided aboard the Expedition.)o Walking poles (if desired)o Warm hato Warm waterproof gloveso Watch and alarm clocko Waterproof pants (Mandatory for all Zodiac landings)o Wool/Heavy socksHealth & Safety:o Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)o Hand sanitizero Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)Note: Waterproof pants are mandatory for Zodiac excursions.
Waterproof pants are mandatory for Zodiac excursions.
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. Aboard the Expedition, laundry is available to be serviced by our shipboard team at an additional charge.
OUR COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL IN ANTARCTICAAs a leader in Sustainable Tourism, we are committed to ensuring that all of our marine expeditions operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. All expeditions aboard the expedition ship meet and exceed all environmental regulations and protocols in the regions that we visit.The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) G Adventures holds Full Membership Status with IAATO (the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators), an organisation that advocates, promotes and ensures safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. All operations aboard our ship adhere to IAATO’s strict rules, regulations and guidelines for operating in Antarctica. The world has witnessed an increase in highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks, leading to the tragic deaths of hundreds of thousands of seabirds, including seals and sea lions globally. IAATO is deeply concerned about the heightened risk of HPAI reaching Antarctica and consequently, rigorous measures have been put in place. We kindly request that you visit the expedition guidelines page to carefully review the documents located there, which will help you to adequately prepare and act in line with these essential guidelines for your upcoming journey.Staff & Crew:Our crew and expedition team act as stewards of the environment and are well versed in the strict environmental protocols on board and on land. All of our travellers are thoroughly briefed in these protocols before being allowed to participate in excursions and are always supervised by our team when on shore.4-Stroke Outboard Engines:In an effort to drastically reduce environmental pollutants 4-stroke outboard engines have been installed on all of our zodiacs. Our 4-stroke outboard motors use less fuel and produce less noise pollution than 2-stroke engines. Since there is no mixing of oil and gas the exhaust is intrinsically much cleaner and friendlier to the environment.Planeterra FoundationThrough our commitment to responsible tourism we have developed the Planeterra Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports local community projects and international charities around the world. Sea Chart Auction:At the end of each Antarctica departure, the Captain’s Sea Chart is auctioned and all proceeds are donated to international organisations through Planeterra. Our end goal is to minimise the potential negative impact of tourism in the areas we operate while maximising the positive impact of instilling a widened understanding and appreciation of these regions. During our voyages, we ask all our passengers that they see their visit to these areas as a privilege and that they share their newfound knowledge and experiences with others when they return home. We also hope that by bringing people to these regions that they continue to act as ambassadors and stewards of these areas.