9N Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Flights 
Breakfast 
Hotel 
Sightseeing 
Transfers 
Wi-Fi The Antarctica Expedition Cruise by Cholan Tours is a once-in-a-lifetime journey to the most pristine and least explored continent on Earth. Beginning in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, this expedition takes you deep into the Southern Ocean toward the legendary White Continent, an environment shaped by ice, silence, and extraordinary wildlife.
After sailing through the scenic Beagle Channel, the voyage crosses the historic Drake Passage, named after Sir Francis Drake. This dramatic stretch of ocean marks the Antarctic Convergence, where cold polar waters meet warmer northern seas, creating one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet.
Along the way, guests enjoy expert lectures, wildlife spotting, and access to the ship’s open bridge for navigation insights and whale watching.
The heart of the journey unfolds in the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, regions renowned for vast penguin rookeries, seal-dominated beaches, towering glaciers, and iceberg-filled channels. Daily Zodiac excursions and shore landings allow close encounters with Adelie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguins, Weddell and leopard seals, and, with luck, humpback and orca whales.
You sail through some of Antarctica’s most beautiful waterways, including the Gerlache Strait, Neumayer Channel, and the iconic Lemaire Channel, often described as the most photogenic passage in the polar regions. Each day brings new landings and discoveries, guided by experienced expedition leaders and naturalists.
Designed for curious travellers, photographers, and nature lovers, this expedition balances adventure with comfort, learning with exploration, and delivers a truly transformative polar experience that few will ever witness.
This itinerary lets you explore the beauty of Ushuaia, the Beagle Channel, the Drake Passage, the South Shetland Islands, and Deception Island. Along with this, you also explore King George Island, the Antarctic Peninsula, Paradise Bay, Paulet Island, the Lemaire Channel, Zodiac landings, penguin colonies, seals, whales, and polar waterways.
Your Antarctic adventure begins in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. In the afternoon, embark on your expedition cruise and meet the experienced expedition and lecture team. After settling into your cabin, the ship sails through the historic Beagle Channel and scenic Mackinlay Pass, offering stunning views of rugged landscapes and calm waters as the journey south officially begins.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Today marks the beginning of the legendary Drake Passage crossing. Named after Sir Francis Drake, this stretch of ocean is both historic and biologically rich. Expedition lecturers guide you on deck to identify seabirds such as albatrosses and petrels that soar effortlessly over the waves, while onboard talks introduce Antarctic wildlife and the history of exploration.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
As the voyage continues, the Antarctic Convergence becomes evident through changing sea conditions and wildlife activity. The ship’s open bridge policy allows guests to join officers on the bridge, learn about navigation, and watch for whales. Later in the day, the first icebergs and snow-capped peaks signal arrival at the South Shetland Islands, where your initial penguin and seal encounters may begin.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Exploration of the South Shetland Islands begins. Vast penguin rookeries, fur seals, and elephant seals dominate the beaches. Sailing into Deception Island’s flooded volcanic caldera is a breathtaking experience, offering a rare glimpse into Antarctica’s geological forces and remarkable wildlife.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Today features landings at wildlife-rich islands such as King George Island and Livingston Island. Observe Adelie and Chinstrap penguins, Antarctic terns, blue-eyed cormorants, and scientific research stations representing multiple nations. Elephant seals and Gentoo penguins are frequently spotted along the shores.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Sailing along the Antarctic Peninsula reveals dramatic landscapes of snow-covered mountains, glaciers, and icy waterways. The region’s exploration history comes alive as you visit potential landing sites such as Neko Harbour or Portal Point. Wildlife sightings may include seals resting on ice floes and whales surfacing nearby.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Today, it offers some of the most scenic sailing routes, including the Gerlache Strait, Neumayer Channel, and the famed Lemaire Channel, narrow passages flanked by towering glaciers. Zodiac landings may take you to Paradise Bay or Paulet Island, home to massive Adelie penguin colonies and historic expedition remnants.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
The ship begins its northbound crossing of the Drake Passage. Join naturalists on deck for the final wildlife spotting and attend the concluding lectures. This day provides time to relax, reflect, and absorb the magnitude of the Antarctic experience as seabirds and whales accompany the vessel northward.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Your final full day at sea offers peaceful sailing toward Ushuaia. Enjoy panoramic ocean views, review photographs, share stories with fellow explorers, and attend farewell briefings that summarise the expedition’s highlights and discoveries.
Overnight Stay: Onboard Antarctica Expedition Cruise
