Polar Circle air-cruise, 10 days reaching the Antarctic Circle
Tour code AKSR0119. Adventure Tour. 10 days, 3 cities.
Punta Arenas (1 night), King George Island (1 night), Antarctic Peninsula (6 nights), Punta Arenas (1 night), Punta Arenas
Starts in Punta Arenas, Chile. Ends at Punta Arenas, Chile. Tour in English.
From $37,244 per person, twin sharing. Next departure 13 February 2027.
Highlights
- Aim for the Antarctic Circle, Crystal Sound
- Skip the Drake Passage, Punta Arenas
- Seven nights on the ice, Antarctic Peninsula
- Penguins, seals and whales, South Shetland Islands
- Lemaire Channel passage, 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 the voyage briefing. In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner featuring a regional Patagonian menu.
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
Transfer to the airport and board a two-hour chartered flight to King George Island. Step out into the Antarctic air, cross to the shore and board a Zodiac to your expedition ship. Settle in and begin the voyage.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: South Shetland Islands and first landings
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: South Shetland Islands, chinstrap penguins, seabirds
Begin the first full day of exploration with Zodiac landings in the South Shetland Islands. Walk ashore with polar guides and watch chinstrap and gentoo penguin colonies at work. Evenings on board include a briefing for the next day's plan.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Gerlache Strait and glacier views
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: Gerlache Strait, icebergs, glaciers, humpback whales
Cruise the Gerlache Strait past massive glaciers and tabular icebergs, with Zodiac outings to the ice and shore. Whale sightings are common here in summer. The ship pushes further south as conditions allow.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Penola Strait and Lemaire Channel
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: Penola Strait, Lemaire Channel, Adelie penguins, Weddell seals
Weather allowing, transit the Lemaire Channel and enter the Penola Strait. Expect Adelie penguin colonies, Weddell seals and the dramatic ice walls that define this stretch of the Peninsula.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Attempting the Antarctic Circle
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: Crystal Sound, Antarctic Circle at 66° south pack ice
This is the day the ship aims for 66° south, pushing into Crystal Sound and the pack ice. The expedition team reads the ice and sets the route hour by hour. Crossing the Circle depends on conditions, and the attempt itself is the heart of this voyage.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, dinner and lunch
Day 7: Deep Antarctic exploration
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: Crystal Sound, ice floes, orcas, minke whales
Continue exploring the deep south, with Zodiac cruises among ice floes and more landings as weather and ice permit. Orcas and minke whales are often sighted in these waters.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Last day of Antarctic exploration
Antarctic Peninsula
Sights: Antarctic Peninsula, final Zodiac landings
Spend a final day on the Peninsula with one more round of landings and ship cruising. Take in the quiet of the ice and the last sightings before the ship turns north toward King George Island.
Hotel: Magellan Discoverer or Magellan Explorer, Antarctica
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Return flight to Punta Arenas
King George Island, Punta Arenas
Sights: King George Island, Punta Arenas
Say goodbye to Antarctica and board the chartered flight back to Punta Arenas. On arrival, we transfer you to your hotel for the night. Dinner is on your own.
Hotel: Cabo de Hornos hotel, Punta Arenas (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Day 10: Departure from Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas
Sights: Punta Arenas airport
After breakfast, transfer to Punta Arenas airport for your onward flight. Safe travels, and thank you for traveling with Akshar.
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
- Seven nights on board the expedition vessel, cabin as per selected category
Meals
- Daily breakfast at the hotel.
- Meals as listed in the day plan.
- Three-course dinner on board with a choice of main course
- Wine, beer, juice and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board
Coach and ground transport
- Group transfers between airport and hotel in Punta Arenas on arrival and departure days
- Zodiac transfers between 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
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 between Punta Arenas and King George Island
Other
- Onboard app access 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
- International flights to Punta Arenas and return
- Visa fees for Chile, Argentina or United Kingdom (South Georgia), where required
Travel insurance
- Travel insurance.
Tips and gratuities
- Tips for the tour manager, guide and driver.
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
- 13 February 2027 from Land Package@if(!empty($dep['price'])) - $37,244 per person@endif
Frequently asked questions
What is the Antarctic Circle cruise?
It is a ten-day Antarctica fly-cruise that aims to sail south of 66° south, into Crystal Sound and the deeper pack ice. The route and the exact day of the attempt depend on ice and weather, so the expedition team plans each day on the move.
Is reaching the Antarctic Circle guaranteed?
No. The Circle attempt is the goal of every departure, but ice and weather decide what the ship can do each day. Even when the Circle cannot be reached, the voyage still goes much further south than a standard eight-day Antarctica cruise.
What is included in the Polar Circle package?
Two hotel nights in Punta Arenas with breakfast, a welcome dinner, the round-trip chartered flight to King George Island, seven 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, and the loan of waterproof boots.
What is not included?
International flights to Punta Arenas, Chile, personal travel and medical insurance, tips for the expedition team and crew, bar drinks beyond those with meals, dinner in Punta Arenas on the return day, and any Chile, Argentina or UK visa fees.
How many days do you need in Antarctica for the Circle attempt?
Ten days is the standard length for a Polar Circle fly-cruise. The extra days over the classic eight-day Antarctica tour are what make the Circle attempt possible, with seven nights on the ship rather than five.
When does the Polar Circle cruise run?
These departures operate in February 2027, when the pack ice begins to loosen and the ship can push further south. The vendor currently offers two departures: February 5-14, 2027 on Magellan Discoverer and February 13-22, 2027 on Magellan Explorer.
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.
Cancellation policy
- 50 days or more before departure: 30%
- 21 to 49 days before departure: 50%
- 20 days or less before departure: 100%