Classic Antarctica air-cruise, 8 days with Magellan Discoverer
Tour code AKSR0118. Adventure Tour. 8 days, 3 cities.
Punta Arenas (1 night), King George Island (1 night), Antarctic Peninsula (4 nights), Punta Arenas (1 night), Punta Arenas
Starts in Chile. Ends at Chile. Tour in English & Hindi.
From $19,994 per person, twin sharing. Next departure 11 November 2026.
Highlights
- Skip the Drake Passage, Punta Arenas
- Daily Zodiac landings, Antarctic Peninsula
- Penguins, seals and whales, South Shetland Islands
- Boutique expedition ship, Antarctica
- All meals included on board, Antarctica
- Icebergs and ice-filled fjords, Antarctic Peninsula
Day by day
Day 1: Arrival in Punta Arenas and welcome dinner
Punta Arenas
Sights: Punta Arenas, Explorers House, Strait of Magellan
Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile, where our team meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Check in before 2 pm at Explorers House for your voyage briefing. In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner featuring a regional Patagonian menu and meet your fellow travelers.
Hotel: Cabo de Hornos hotel, Punta Arenas (or similar)
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Chartered flight to King George Island
Punta Arenas, King George Island
Sights: King George Island, Frei Station, Bellingshausen Station, South Shetland Islands
After an early transfer to the airport, board a two-hour chartered flight across the Drake Passage to King George Island. Step out into the clear Antarctic air, pass the Chilean and Russian research stations and board a Zodiac that carries you to your expedition ship. Settle into your cabin and begin the voyage.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, dinner and lunch
Day 3: Exploring the South Shetland Islands
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: South Shetland Islands, Zodiac landings, penguin colonies, seabirds
Begin the first full day of exploration, cruising among ice-filled fjords with the expedition team choosing the day's landings based on weather and wildlife. Go ashore by Zodiac with polar guides and spot penguins, seals and seabirds. Return to the ship for lectures, meals and views from the lounge.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Zodiac landings along the Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: Antarctic Peninsula, icebergs, glaciers, humpback whales
Continue south, cruising past towering icebergs and glacier faces. Daily Zodiac outings bring you close to the shore and the ice, with chances to see humpback and minke whales from the water. Each evening on board features a recap and briefing for the next day.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Antarctic Sound and Gerlache Strait
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: Antarctic Sound, Gerlache Strait, tabular icebergs, Adelie penguins
Weather allowing, the ship enters the Antarctic Sound or the Gerlache Strait, two of the most dramatic waterways on the Peninsula. Expect huge tabular icebergs, Adelie and chinstrap penguin colonies, and more landings by Zodiac. Evenings on board include talks from the expedition team.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Final day of Antarctic exploration
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: Penola Strait, ice-filled fjords, Weddell seals, orcas
The final full day on the Peninsula brings a last round of landings and ship cruising, often in the Penola Strait. Take in the quiet of the ice one more time, with the expedition team on hand to spot Weddell seals and orcas. The ship then turns north for the return.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica Overnight in: Antarctic Peninsula (on board)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Return flight to Punta Arenas
King George Island, Punta Arenas
Sights: King George Island, Punta Arenas
Return to King George Island and bid farewell to Antarctica. Board the chartered flight back to Punta Arenas, where our team transfers you to your hotel for the night. Dinner is on your own, giving you time to enjoy the town at your own pace.
Hotel: Cabo de Hornos hotel, Punta Arenas (or similar)
Meals: Lunch, breakfast and dinner
Day 8: Departure from Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas
Sights: Punta Arenas airport
After breakfast, we transfer you to Punta Arenas airport for your onward flight home or to your next destination. Safe travels, and thank you for traveling with Akshar.Included meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
What is included
Hotels and stays
- Hotel stays as listed in the itinerary, twin sharing.
- One night at Cabo de Hornos hotel in Punta Arenas, or similar, on arrival day, with breakfast
- One night at Cabo de Hornos hotel in Punta Arenas, or similar, on the return flight day, with breakfast
- Five nights on board the expedition vessel, cabin as per selected category, twin or single occupancy
Meals
- Daily breakfast at the hotel (replaced by onboard full board)
- Daily buffet breakfast and lunch on board the ship
- Three-course dinner on board the ship with a choice of main course
- Welcome dinner at Explorers House in Punta Arenas on day 1
- Wine, beer, juice and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board
- Coffee, tea, chocolate, cappuccino, water and snacks on board throughout the voyage
Coach and ground transport
- Travel by private air-conditioned coach as per the itinerary.
- Zodiac transfers between the ship and shore on every landing
Tour manager and guides
- Akshar tour manager throughout the tour.
- Local English-speaking guides at the main sights.
- Expedition team and polar guides on board throughout the voyage
- Onboard lectures and educational presentations by the expedition team
Sightseeing and entry fees
- Entry fees for the sights listed in the day plan.
- All guided shore excursions and Zodiac landings in Antarctica as per the voyage plan
- IAATO passenger fee
Flights and visa
- Round-trip chartered flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island
Other
- Access to onboard app and standard internet (premium internet for Penthouse Suite on Magellan Explorer and Grand Veranda Suite on Magellan Discoverer)
What is not included
Meals
- Meals not listed under Inclusions.
- Drinks with meals.
Flights and visa
- Any airport arrival or departure taxes, if applicable
- Visa fees for Chile, Argentina or United Kingdom (South Georgia), where required
- Visa fees for Chile, Argentina or United Kingdom (South Georgia), where required
- International flights to Punta Arenas and return
Travel insurance
- Travel insurance.
Tips and gratuities
- Tips for the tour manager, guide and driver.
- Gratuities for the expedition team, crew and guides
Personal expenses
- Laundry, telephone and room service.
- Anything not listed under Inclusions.
Optional tours
- Kayak add-on program, 995 USD per person, bookable in advance
Departures
- 11 November 2026 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $19,994 per person@endif
- 11 January 2027 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $19,994 per person@endif
- 26 January 2027 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $19,994 per person@endif
- 12 February 2027 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $19,994 per person@endif
- 27 November 2027 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $19,994 per person@endif
- 7 December 2027 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $19,994 per person@endif
- 27 December 2027 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $19,994 per person@endif
- 29 February 2028 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $19,994 per person@endif
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for an Antarctica tour?
Eight days is enough for a full Antarctica fly-cruise. You spend one night in Punta Arenas on arrival, fly two hours to Antarctica, cruise the Peninsula for five nights with daily Zodiac landings, and return to Punta Arenas for a final night before flying home.
Is the Antarctica air-cruise suitable for seniors?
Yes. The fly-cruise format skips the two-day Drake Passage crossing, which is the hardest part of a traditional Antarctica cruise for many older travelers. Landings are optional, cabins have private bathrooms, and the ship has a medical clinic on board.
What is included in the Antarctica tour package?
Two hotel nights in Punta Arenas with breakfast, the round-trip chartered flight to King George Island, five nights on board the expedition vessel, all onboard meals with wine, beer and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner, all guided shore excursions and Zodiac landings, group transfers in Punta Arenas, and the loan of waterproof boots.
What is not included in the Antarctica fly-cruise?
International flights to Punta Arenas, Chile, personal travel and medical insurance, tips for the expedition team and crew, bar drinks beyond those included with meals, dinner in Punta Arenas on the return day, and any Chile, Argentina or UK visa fees that apply to your passport.
When is the best time to go to Antarctica?
The Antarctic season runs from November to early March. November and March are quieter with pristine ice and fewer visitors. December and January bring long daylight and active wildlife including penguin chicks. February is prime time for whales.
Do you need a visa for Antarctica?
Antarctica itself has no visa requirement. US passport holders do not need a tourist visa for short visits to Chile. If your voyage adds South Georgia or you transit through Argentina, confirm the visa rules for your passport with us before booking.
Need to know
- Meals on arrival and departure days depend on flight times. If your flight lands early in the morning or leaves late in the evening, Akshar Travels will arrange the meals for that day.
- If a sight is closed on the day it is scheduled, we will replace it with a comparable sight on the same tour.
- Hotel check-in is usually 3:00 pm and check-out is usually 12:00 noon. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability and may carry a charge.
- Baggage on domestic and internal flights follows the airline's own policy and weight limits, which are often lower than on your international flight. Please pack to the lowest allowance on your tour. Excess baggage fees are charged by the airline and paid by the guest.
- Guests must check in at Explorers House in Punta Arenas before 2 pm on day 1 for a mandatory briefing on Antarctic visitor guidelines.
- Weather and sea conditions shape the daily plan. The expedition team selects landing sites each day and the exact route may change.
- Dinner in Punta Arenas on return day (day 7) is not included. Guests are free to dine on their own.
Cancellation policy
- 50 days or more before departure: 30%
- 21 to 49 days before departure: 50%
- 20 days or less before departure: 100%