Summary
Join expedition cruise pioneers Heritage Expeditions on an 11 or 12-day authentic expedition cruise exploring the wild, pristine beauty of Antarctica and the South Shetland Islands. Delving deep into the frozen wilderness of Antarctica, this extraordinary voyage will transport you to a world like no other, exploring some of the most isolated and breathtaking landscapes on Earth, where wildlife thrives, and history abounds. This is one of the best Antarctica cruises and Antarctic Peninsula cruises available, and widely regarded as one of the best Antarctica expedition cruise itineraries on offer today. (Note: voyages departing 22 November and 2 December are 12 days, while 12 December and 10 January departures are 11 days.)
Travelling with Heritage Expeditions, the world's most experienced Southern Ocean operators, you will benefit from our more than 35 years of experience exploring Antarctica. Travel is aboard the ice-strengthened Heritage Discoverer, crewed by some of the world's most experienced officers and sailors, and supported by an industry-leading, passionate and knowledgeable expedition team. It is a true small ship Antarctica cruise, backed by one of the most trusted names in Antarctica cruise line history.
Your adventure begins in the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia, known as the 'end of the world'. Wave goodbye to the rugged beauty of Patagonia before we sail through the Antarctic Convergence; expect to see an increase in whale activity along with a wealth of birdlife feeding in these nutrient-rich waters. The perfect starting point for any Antarctica cruise from Ushuaia.
Crossing the legendary Drake Passage cements your place among the mariners who have navigated these famous waters, before arriving in Antarctica. A rite of passage for any Drake Passage cruise. Here we have 4 or 5 days, each with more than 20-hours of daylight to maximise our Antarctica expedition as we explore the surreal, unrestrained beauty of the Frozen Continent.
The South Shetland Islands offer an incredible warm-up before stepping on the White Continent. There is much to see and do here, and we will be maximising every opportunity in true Heritage Expeditions' style, exploring iconic sights and sites, making it a highlight of any South Shetland Islands cruise.
Our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season when wildlife is at its most active. Our adventure includes iconic highlights, penguin rookeries, towering glaciers and secluded beaches, all while being dwarfed by nature, surrounded by diverse wildlife and following in the footsteps of heroic explorers. An unforgettable Antarctic Peninsula wildlife cruise experience, and one of the best Antarctica penguin cruise itineraries available.
There are many ways to explore this otherworldly paradise, and we will make full use of our time here, with daily landings, hikes, Zodiac excursions and ship cruises all part of our adventure. Every Zodiac cruise Antarctica offers is different, and ours are led by some of the most experienced guides in the business.
Gaze in awe at glaciers, icebergs and towering peaks in constantly changing light, ideal for photographers wanting to capture the beauty of this expansive region, or for those wishing to soak it all in from the deck, observation lounge and your stateroom or suite during the long hours of daylight.
Join Heritage Expeditions on our incomparable Antarctic Peninsula Cruise, including the South Shetland Islands, and experience the raw beauty, remarkable wildlife and timeless history exploring the wild and remote reaches of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
This voyage includes the option to join sea kayaking excursions with an expert guide. Kayaking around the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a wide array of habitats beyond the reach of our Zodiacs. A rare Antarctica cruise kayaking opportunity not to be missed.
Please Note: HD271212 & HD280110 are 11 days and spend one day less in Antarctica.
Itinerary & Map
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and...
Full description
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and...
Full description
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and...
Full description
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and...
Full description
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and...
Full description
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and...
Full descriptionUshuaia
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).
Dates & prices
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Departs
Mon 22 Nov 2027
from £10,650 pp
Enquire now Call 020 7590 0610Per person, based on two sharing, cruise only. Updated daily and confirmed when you book.