This classic Antarctica itinerary delivers prodigious tabular icebergs, sculptural bergs floating in pools of turquoise-blue melt water, mountains rising 9,000 feet straight up from the sea, penguins galore, abundant marine mammals and experiences such as cruising through the solemn majesty of the Lemaire Channel, among many more. Spend your days and nights in a rapture of discovery.
Our itineraries are for your inspiration. Please contact a travel advisor to customize this itinerary to fit your needs.
After a night of air travel, guests bound for the National Geographic
Explorer arrive in cosmopolitan Buenos
Aires, set on the Rio de la Plata, and check in at the
fine Sofitel Buenos Aires (or similar). In the
afternoon, get a guided overview of the city,
seeing its Beaux Arts palaces, grand boulevards and the famous balcony forever associated with
Eva Perón.
Guests bound for the National Geographic Orion
arrive today in Santiago. Check in at the fine Ritz
Carlton Hotel, centrally located in Santiago, and
take the morning to relax. Santiago is nearly
surrounded by the Andes, which form an inspiring
backdrop to your afternoon guided overview of this
vibrant city. Explore the Plaza de Armas, the
main square, and nearby Presidential Palace,
enjoying wonderful views from the many hills that
dot the city.
Fly by private charter to Ushuaia, Argentina. Guests headed for the National Geographic Explorer will travel from Buenos Aires, while guests of the National Geographic Orion will fly from Santiago.
This morning's charter flight will bring you over
Patagonia before landing in Ushuaia, the southernmost city
in the world. If the weather is fine, you'll have a chance to
view the spectacular mountains rising out of the Beagle
Channel as you enjoy lunch on a catamaran cruise. Then you'll embark the expedition ship and set sail.
You will have nearly 24 hours of daylight so a flexible schedule will help take advantage of the unexpected, such as seeing a 40-ton whale surface off the bow.
One day you may take a Zodiac foray amid towering icebergs under a bright sun, walk along the shoreline amid a huge penguin colony, hike to a summit for a breathtaking view or kayak along a cliffside rookery in search of blue-eyed shags. The next, you could have the thrill of watching the ship crunch through the pack ice, or step ashore to the cries of thousands of gentoo penguins. You’ll learn from experts how to identify penguins and get tips from a National Geographic photographer while watching those same penguins.
Back aboard,
the undersea specialist may present video from
that day’s dive — rare images taken up to 1,000 feet
below the surface using a remotely operated underwater vehicle. Lindblad's expert staff
will craft an expedition where you will learn more,
see more and experience more.
As we sail back to Ushuaia, an albatross or two
may join the avian escort of seabirds that cross the bow, and Lindblad's spotters will keep an eye out for
marine life. There’ll be plenty of time to enjoy a
wellness treatment, log some time in the gym or
catch up on the book you haven’t had a minute to
read. Talks from the staff will reflect on all you have
seen and learned.
After breakfast, we disembark in Ushuaia with
some time to explore before proceeding to the
airport and departing for home.
Contact a travel advisor to book your custom itinerary. Fill out the form or call (630) 734-4610.