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Sail the Drake Passage, the most storied ocean crossing in the world, with albatross for company. Then fly out of Antarctica, landing in Patagonia. The crossing is the point. The flight is the exit.
With 36 guests, six Senior Polar Guides, and four Zodiacs in the water at once, all guests reach the Peninsula together, with the time and space to go further.
This voyage combines what neither format alone can offer. The Drake Passage south from Ushuaia: two days at sea across open ocean, Cape Horn astern, wandering albatrosses tracing the swell, the continent building on the horizon. Four full days on the Antarctic Peninsula. Then a 2.5-hour charter flight from King George Island to Puerto Natales, arriving in Patagonia with a farewell night at Weskar Lodge rather than two more days at sea.
Somewhere around the second day, the water changes.
You cross the Antarctic Convergence, the line where warmer subantarctic water meets the cold, nutrient-dense Southern Ocean. Sea temperature drops several degrees within hours. The air sharpens. Bird numbers increase. It's the moment the ocean tells you you've reached Antarctic waters, well before the ship does.
Aureum's ice-class hull and fin stabilisers are built for this crossing specifically, sustained Southern Ocean swell, not sheltered coastal water. The result is a safer, steadier crossing.
Nine days total. The Drake Passage as an experience, not a delay. Patagonia as a landing, not a transit. 36 guests throughout.
Highlights
• Fly out of Antarctica. The return crossing is a 2.5-hour charter flight from King George Island to Puerto Natales. The expedition ends in Patagonia rather than back at the Drake: a different arrival, and a better one.
• 36 guests. Four Zodiacs, six senior polar guides, all in the water simultaneously, each responding independently to conditions.
• The Drake Passage, sailed. Two days south from Ushuaia across open ocean. Cape Horn in the wake. Wandering albatrosses on the wing above the swell. Aureum's fin stabilisers keep the crossing comfortable, the Southern Ocean does the rest.
• Four full days on the Peninsula. The Gerlache Strait, Lemaire Channel, Paradise Bay, Deception Island: the core of the Antarctic Peninsula's most extraordinary geography with time to move unhurried through it.
• Continental landing. For most guests, the moment that defines the voyage is stepping ashore on the seventh continent. The Peninsula receives you at micro-scale, 36 guests, all ashore at once, with no one waiting back on the ship and no schedule pulling you away.
• Wildlife of the Peninsula. Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adélie penguins. Leopard, Weddell, and crabeater seals. Humpback and minke whales in the channels. Petrels, skuas, and Antarctic terns overhead.
• Expert photography guidance. A dedicated photography guide is part of the guiding team on every departure, on hand to help you capture the wildlife, icescapes, and dramatic light of Antarctica.
• A farewell night at Weskar Lodge. Torres del Paine on the doorstep, a farewell dinner, time for the expedition to settle. Up to three additional nights at no extra cost if the return flight window shifts with the weather.
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Day 1 Ushuaia, Argentina
Arrival Day
Upon arrival in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost city in the world, you will be transferred to Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, Ushuaia's premier luxury resort.
Relax and enjoy the hotel's exceptional facilities, including the fitness centre, indoor swimming pool, indoor and outdoor relaxation pools, outdoor hot tubs, and pool bar. Alternatively, immerse yourself in Patagonia by exploring the scenic walking trails of the Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve.
A complimentary overnight stay at Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa is included as part of your expedition.
Airport transfer to the hotel is included.
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Day 2 Ushuaia, Argentina
Embarkation Day
Enjoy a leisurely morning to explore Ushuaia at your own pace. For ideas on what to see and do, please refer to our Ushuaia Handbook.
Embarkation takes place between 16:00 and 17:00, with a complimentary transfer provided from the hotel to the pier.
After mandatory safety briefings, join your fellow travellers for a welcome cocktail and dinner as Explorer Yacht Aureum departs through the Beagle Channel, marking the beginning of your expedition to Antarctica, with the legendary Drake Passage ahead.
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Days 3 - 4 Drake Passage
The Drake is where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet with nothing to slow them. Aureum's fin stabilisers hold the crossing steady; the programme on board holds your attention: polar science lectures, photography workshops, personal accounts from the expedition team.
Weather permitting, time on deck to watch wandering albatrosses trace the swell. The birds are large enough to be genuinely surprising at close range, and the guides know their species on sight.
The Antarctic Peninsula appears on the horizon toward the end of day three.
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Days 5 - 8 Antarctic Peninsula
Four full days on the Peninsula. Where we go is shaped by conditions and opportunity:
We often sail into the heart of the Antarctic Peninsula through the scenic Gerlache Strait, flanked by jagged peaks. With the aim to explore Wilhelmina Bay, Cuverville Island, Paradise Bay, Lemaire Channel, Deception Island, and the sites between them.
Leopard seals on ice floes. Gentoo and Chinstrap penguin colonies. Humpback whales surfacing in the channels. Glaciers calving into water that carries no traffic. And the moment that defines your voyage: landing on the continent and setting foot on Antarctica.
Possible locations: Cierva Cove, Trinity Island, Mikkelsen Harbour, Hydrurga Rocks, Hughes Bay, Wilhelmina Bay, Cuverville Island, Errera Channel, Neko Harbour, Paradise Bay, Almirante Brown Station, Dallman Bay, Melchior Islands, Neumayer Channel, Port Lockroy, Lemaire Channel, Half Moon Island, Yankee Harbour, Whalers Bay, Baily Head, Deception Island.
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Day 9 King George Island to Puerto Natales
If the flight window shifts, the expedition continues in Antarctica. There is no shortage of Peninsula to explore, and every additional day is unplanned time in one of the most extraordinary places on earth.
The final night is at Weskar Lodge in Puerto Natales: farewell dinner, the expedition settling, Torres del Paine in the distance.
Aircraft: BAE 146-200 / RJ-85 / RJ-100. Luggage allowance: 25kg checked, 5kg carry-on within standard size limitations.
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Day 10 Puerto Natales, Patagonia
Enjoy your last day in Puerto Natales, Chile
After your expedition, take the opportunity to explore Puerto Natales, the gateway to Chilean Patagonia—a frontier town with genuine character, exceptional local seafood, an unhurried pace, and an atmosphere entirely its own.
From here, discover nearby Torres del Paine National Park, part of the UNESCO Torres del Paine Biosphere Reserve, renowned for its granite towers, glaciers, turquoise lakes and remarkable wildlife.
Want to stay a little longer? Every Antarctica By Air expedition includes our Peace of Mind approach, with up to three additional nights in Puerto Natales at no extra accommodation cost.
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Please note:
Itineraries are subject to change.
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06 December, 2027 to 15 December, 2027
Two single cabins on Main Deck, starboard side, including cabins 219 and 221, each with a porthole. With a floor plan size of 12.5m² / 134.5 ft², the Classic Singles feature a single lower berth with an upper bunk for stowing gear, and an ensuite bathroom.
Low and central on the ship, it's a settled, private base to return to after a long day ashore. Ideal for solo travellers who'd rather have their own space than share a twin.
The Classic Twin sits on Main Deck, on port side, with a porthole window, double or twin beds, and an ensuite bathroom. Including cabins 218 and 220 at 17.5m² / 188.4 ft².
Available for two guests travelling together, a same gender share, or single occupancy at a supplement.
Low and central on the ship, it's one of the calmer places to rest. Well suited to guests who'd rather put their time into the ice than the cabin.
The Signature Twin sits on Upper Deck, including cabins 301, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314, on port and starboard, with a window looking out to sea. With a floor plan size of 18m² / 193.8 ft², the Signature Twin cabins feature a double bed or twin beds, ensuite bathroom, desk, and storage.
Available for two guests travelling together, a same gender share, or single occupancy at a supplement.
Comfortable, well-proportioned, and designed for two people who want space to move in it.
Six single cabins on Upper Deck, on starboard side, including cabins 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, and 315, each with a window. At 12.5m² / 134.5 ft², the Signature Single features a single bed, and an ensuite bathroom.
Solo explorers are not an afterthought on Aureum, with dedicated single cabins across two decks
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02 March, 2028 to 11 March, 2028
The Classic Twin sits on Main Deck, on port side, with a porthole window, double or twin beds, and an ensuite bathroom. Including cabins 218 and 220 at 17.5m² / 188.4 ft².
Available for two guests travelling together, a same gender share, or single occupancy at a supplement.
Low and central on the ship, it's one of the calmer places to rest. Well suited to guests who'd rather put their time into the ice than the cabin.
The Signature Twin sits on Upper Deck, including cabins 301, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314, on port and starboard, with a window looking out to sea. With a floor plan size of 18m² / 193.8 ft², the Signature Twin cabins feature a double bed or twin beds, ensuite bathroom, desk, and storage.
Available for two guests travelling together, a same gender share, or single occupancy at a supplement.
Comfortable, well-proportioned, and designed for two people who want space to move in it.
Two single cabins on Main Deck, starboard side, including cabins 219 and 221, each with a porthole. With a floor plan size of 12.5m² / 134.5 ft², the Classic Singles feature a single lower berth with an upper bunk for stowing gear, and an ensuite bathroom.
Low and central on the ship, it's a settled, private base to return to after a long day ashore. Ideal for solo travellers who'd rather have their own space than share a twin.
Six single cabins on Upper Deck, on starboard side, including cabins 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, and 315, each with a window. At 12.5m² / 134.5 ft², the Signature Single features a single bed, and an ensuite bathroom.
Solo explorers are not an afterthought on Aureum, with dedicated single cabins across two decks
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04 December, 2028 to 13 December, 2028
The Classic Twin sits on Main Deck, on port side, with a porthole window, double or twin beds, and an ensuite bathroom. Including cabins 218 and 220 at 17.5m² / 188.4 ft².
Available for two guests travelling together, a same gender share, or single occupancy at a supplement.
Low and central on the ship, it's one of the calmer places to rest. Well suited to guests who'd rather put their time into the ice than the cabin.
The Signature Twin sits on Upper Deck, including cabins 301, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314, on port and starboard, with a window looking out to sea. With a floor plan size of 18m² / 193.8 ft², the Signature Twin cabins feature a double bed or twin beds, ensuite bathroom, desk, and storage.
Available for two guests travelling together, a same gender share, or single occupancy at a supplement.
Comfortable, well-proportioned, and designed for two people who want space to move in it.
Two single cabins on Main Deck, starboard side, including cabins 219 and 221, each with a porthole. With a floor plan size of 12.5m² / 134.5 ft², the Classic Singles feature a single lower berth with an upper bunk for stowing gear, and an ensuite bathroom.
Low and central on the ship, it's a settled, private base to return to after a long day ashore. Ideal for solo travellers who'd rather have their own space than share a twin.
Six single cabins on Upper Deck, on starboard side, including cabins 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, and 315, each with a window. At 12.5m² / 134.5 ft², the Signature Single features a single bed, and an ensuite bathroom.
Solo explorers are not an afterthought on Aureum, with dedicated single cabins across two decks
Inclusions
• Expert Svalbard Expedition Leader
• Lectures on Svalbard
• Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
• Polar Bear protection guides for shore landings
• Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner + alcoholic drinks with evening meal)
• Bedding and towels
• Highly experienced Captain and Cook
• Rubber boots for shore landings
• Transfers from airport to hotel and to vessel for embarkation + vessel to airport/hotel after disembarkation
ANTARCTICA
• Expert Antarctica Expedition Guide Team
• Lectures on Antarctica
• Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
• Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner )
• Bedding and towels
• Highly experienced Captain and Cook
• Rubber boots for shore landings
Exclusions
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Any additional expenses such as museum entry
