Time. Rough seas. There are many reasons to fly to Antarctica, skipping the customary sea crossing of the Drake Passage. This Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake cruise shaves up to 100 hours off your trip, flying directly from southern Chile to King George Island in the South Shetlands. This quick 3-hour flight crossing won’t reduce the scale of your adventure—you’ll first experience breathtaking aerial views then join the ship with camera ready to spot wildlife and ice while exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. Beaches dotted with leopard seals and penguins give way to icy plateaus with snowcapped mountains looming behind. Cruise in a Zodiac in search of whales, search the skies for seabirds and perhaps paddle amongst blue icebergs.

In addition to the main Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake itinerary that cruises over 8 days, there are 9- and 10-day options that cruise one way, either beginning or ending in Ushuaia, Argentina. There is also a longer 11-day option that includes the opportunity to cross the Antarctic Circle. Two small ships operate the itineraries: the 138-passenger Ocean Explorer and 178-guest World Voyager. The classy ambience and unique wellness amenities of World Voyager makes her departures an excellent option among our luxury Antarctica cruises.

Each departure includes up-close exploration on guided hikes, shore walks and small craft excursions. Optional activities (additional cost) include kayaking, one-time paddling excursions and stand-up paddleboarding. Find yourself in near-constant sunlight, flying high above the legendary Drake Passage. Some believe sailing the Drake is a rite of passage, but others enjoy the smooth 3-hour flight before setting foot on the 7th Continent.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Antarctic Circle Cruises, Antarctica cruises, trips to Antarctica, including even more Antarctica fly cruises.

Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake

Punta Arenas, ChilePunta Arenas, Chile

The 8-day Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake voyage begins and ends in Punta Arenas, Chile, with a charter flight to and from King George Island where guests embark and disembark the cruise to Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.

Route map of Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake Antarctica small ship air cruise, operating round-trip from Punta Arenas, Chile, with a charter flight to and from King George Island where guests embark and disembark the vessel to the Peninsula & South Shetland Islands.

Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populated city in southern Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and shops to keep you busy for days. By early afternoon, a representative will meet you at the official starting point hotel, where you’ll pick up your expedition gear, enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about preparing for your embarkation day.

ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel TBA
MEALS Dinner

Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will enable you to cross the legendary Drake Passage in only two hours, while far below, the ship will approach King George Island for your arrival. Your first glimpse of dramatic Antarctic landscapes will be from a unique perspective, as your plane descends onto the South Shetland Islands. After landing, make your way to the shore, before being transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula.

ACCOMMODATIONS Ocean Explorer, World Voyager
MEALS Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

There are few places in the world as evocative as Antarctica. The Antarctic Continent is indescribable and can only be fully appreciated through your own eyes. As your captain and expedition team keep a lookout for whales and seabirds, you’ll be alerted to any new sightings. Expert lecturers will also provide in-depth explanations of the geology, history and wildlife of the region, and presentations on photography to help you take memory-catching images

Even more exciting are the daily land excursions. Your first Zodiac landing is something you’ll never forget. Walking on a shore inhabited by thousands of penguins is the most intimate way to experience the unique wildlife of Antarctica. Each landing is different and is dependent on weather, but every day presents new sightings and photo opportunities, and it won’t be long before you can tell the difference between an Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins. You may take a Zodiac cruise in search of whales and icebergs one day, followed by a hike to a penguin rookery the next day.

From the booming sound of a calving glacier to the thrill of spotting apex predators like leopard seals and orcas in action, you’ll wake up early and welcome each day with a sense of adventure and a desire to explore during this unrivaled wilderness experience.. The expedition team will accompany you all along the way, providing insights into the places you visit.

ACCOMMODATIONS Ocean Explorer, World Voyager
MEALS Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After your week of exploration, say goodbye to your expedition team and disembark at King George Island. Your two-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, brings your adventure to an end. After your group transfer from the airport to the hotel, you are free to explore and enjoy an evening on your own, in the city or at the hotel, to reminisce about the sights and sounds of Antarctica.

ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel TBA
MEALS Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you are welcome to continue on your own travels or make your way to the Punta Arenas airport for your homeward flights.

ACCOMMODATIONS n/a
MEALS Breakfast

Included

Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping; all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board; complimentary select beer, wine and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner; complimentary basic WiFi; coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock; all shore landings per the daily program; leadership throughout the voyage by an experienced expedition leader; all Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program; formal and informal presentations by the expedition team and special guests as scheduled; a photographic journal documenting the expedition; waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings; an official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep; hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin; all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; all luggage handling aboard the ship; group transfer in Punta Arenas from the airport to the pre-expedition hotel on Day 1; one night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas, with breakfast; a briefing dinner on Day 1 in Punta Arenas; pre-expedition group transfer in Punta Arenas from the hotel to the airport; flights to and from Antarctica (King George Island); post-expedition group transfer in Punta Arenas from the airport to the hotel; one night’s post-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas, with breakfast.

Exclusions

International airfare; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above; meals ashore unless otherwise specified; baggage, cancellation, interruption, evacuation and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended; excess-baggage fees on international flights; mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned; laundry, bar, massage services, premium WiFi and other personal charges unless specified; phone charges; additional overnight accommodation; optional adventure activities; transfer from the hotel to the airport at the end of the expedition; voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew; arrival and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated.

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 25% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 150 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 120 days – 25% of total trip cost
119 to 90 days – 75% of total trip cost
89 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake adventure begins and ends in Punta Arenas, Chile, (PUQ). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Plan flights to arrive to Punta Arenas with enough time to check into the hotel by 1:00pm. An arrival transfer from the airport to the hotel on Day 1 is included, as are group transfers in conjunction with the charter flights to and from Antarctica. However, a departure transfer from the hotel to the Punta Arenas airport on the final day is not included. Plan flights to depart Punta Arenas anytime on the final day. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

The flight to Antarctica is expected to depart after breakfast from Punta Arenas for King George Island on Day 2 of the itinerary. Although the flight is scheduled to depart at 9:00am, there is significant variability based on weather conditions. Be prepared to depart the hotel for the airport on the group transfer at any time.

Upon arrival at Frei Base airfield on King George Island, travelers are required to walk approximately 1 mile to the vessel mooring (20-30 minutes). Checked luggage will be transferred to the vessel by staff. If you think that you will not be able to walk this distance, then please inform your Adventure Specialist.

There is a strict luggage limit of 33 lbs (15 kg) checked luggage (one bag) and 11 lbs (5 kg) cabin baggage (one bag) on the flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island. Should you have additional luggage, it can be stored at the hotel in Punta Arenas. There is no option to pay for additional luggage.

Activities

Various optional activities may be available on your Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake cruise, for guests aged 16 and older. Per-person prices for the 2026-27 & 2027-28 seasons: kayaking $1,995; stand-up paddleboarding $295. One-time paddling excursions are available for $395 per person, per outing, for those who want something less in-depth than the full sea kayaking program; no experience is necessary. Each departure’s first paddling excursion may be pre-booked and all subsequent outings are booked on the ship. Please contact AdventureSmith to reserve activity space with your booking.

Room Configuration

Select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy with a single supplement fee. Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a triple or twin-shared cabin, where you will be matched with a person of the same gender. If the other cabin berth goes unsold, you will be guaranteed the double rate. Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at 1.7x (2x for Premium cabins) the per-person listed rate in select cabins based upon availability. Premium Cabins are as follows:
Ocean Explorer: Grand & Royal Veranda Stateroom; Studio Veranda Single; Explorer, Junior & Owner’s Suite
World Voyager: Superior Suite, Deluxe Suite & Owner’s Suite

Families & Children

At date of embarkation, a minimum age restriction of 9 years and minimum height and weight requirements (weight of 64lbs or 29kg and 48 in. or 1.2 m. tall) must be met. Children under 16 years of age must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times and may not participate in adventure options.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of your participation in this expedition that you shall have comprehensive medical insurance in place which is sufficient to cover all medical risks and exposure, including emergency medical and evacuation coverage. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but highly recommended. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditions, wildlife encountered and the captain’s discretion. Flights to and from Antarctica operate based on weather conditions. While historically only a minority of flights have experienced a delay, be prepared for that possibility by reading this trip’s Contingency Plan. Flexibility is the key to the success of any Antarctica expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Contingency Plan

In the unlikely event that the flight to Antarctica cannot take place on the scheduled day due to unfavorable weather conditions, a Contingency Plan, included in the cost of your expedition, will apply. The primary goal of the plan is to provide an engaging and comfortable travel experience while adapting to the weather. A change in the flight schedule can impact travel to Antarctica or return back to Punta Arenas, and the plan includes a range of activities determined by the circumstances. Additionally, the Contingency Plan offers financial protection by providing an opportunity to rebook or a refund should weather conditions prevent you from reaching Antarctica. Please read the full Contingency Plan and contact your Adventure Specialist for further clarification.

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Choose the Small Ship that Fits Your Travel Style

The Ocean Explorer offers refined spaces, a relaxed atmosphere, state-of-the-art technology, a design optimized for smooth and efficient cruising, an elevator servicing all decks, and a private balcony in most cabins. Come aboard this polar ship for amenities like Jacuzzis and a sauna, plus tenured guides.

Expedition Ship 138 GUESTS 342 FEET

The hybrid-electric World Voyager pairs polished spaces with expansive wellness amenities and a Science Hub for researchers and citizen scientists alike. Come aboard for a well-rounded polar expedition, complete with activity gear and engaging guides.

Expedition Ship 168 GUESTS 413 FEET

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