Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake – Self-Launched Edition
8 days · Antarctic Peninsula & Punta Arenas
Exodus charges £17,000
No-markup version: ~£12,500 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Antarctica is one of the few destinations where a fully independent trip is genuinely difficult — expedition vessels, charter flights over the Drake Passage, and Zodiac landings require specialist operators with licensed polar crew. That said, you can still save significantly by booking a berth directly with an expedition company (rather than through a tour agent like Exodus), staying in budget accommodation in Punta Arenas on either end, and using independent transfers. This self-launched version follows the same fly-the-Drake itinerary — flying from Punta Arenas to King George Island, spending four days sailing the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, and flying back — but strips away the agent margin and replaces included hotel nights with Punta Arenas guesthouses. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Punta Arenas – Explore the Gateway to Antarctica
Punta Arenas, Chile
Fly into Punta Arenas (PUQ) — the most southerly city in Chilean Patagonia and the jumping-off point for Antarctic expeditions. Check in to a budget guesthouse or hostel in the city centre. Spend the afternoon exploring the Plaza de Armas, the impressive Cementerio Municipal (free entry), and the Museo Regional de Magallanes (~£2). Grab dinner at a local restaurant — try a classic centolla (king crab) or a hearty lamb dish. Pre-expedition briefing materials will be provided by your expedition operator ahead of tomorrow's embarkation. Arrive at the expedition operator's designated hotel meeting point by 3pm to register and collect your boarding documents.
🚌International flights to Punta Arenas (PUQ) not included — book independently. From the airport, take a taxi or remis (shared taxi) to the city centre (~£8–12).
🛏Hospedaje Independencia or similar central guesthouse/hostel in Punta Arenas (~£20–35/night)
- →Explore Plaza de Armas and city centre on foot
- →Visit Cementerio Municipal — a historic and atmospheric landmark, free entry
- →Museo Regional de Magallanes (~£2)
- →Dinner at a local Punta Arenas restaurant — try centolla (king crab)
- →Attend expedition operator pre-departure briefing
Charter Flight to King George Island – Board the Expedition Vessel
Punta Arenas → King George Island, South Shetland Islands
Check out of your guesthouse early and transfer to Punta Arenas airport for the charter flight to King George Island — a roughly 2-hour hop over the Drake Passage that bypasses the notoriously rough 2-day sea crossing. On King George Island, explore the Chilean Research Base (Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva) and the Russian Bellingshausen Station before transferring by Zodiac inflatable to your expedition vessel. The charter flight and ship boarding are included in your expedition cruise booking — see booking notes below. Welcome drinks and safety briefings onboard this evening.
🚌Charter flight included in expedition cruise booking. Airport transfer by shared shuttle or taxi (~£8).
🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in expedition cruise package)
- →Charter flight Punta Arenas → King George Island (~2 hours, included in expedition package)
- →Visit Chilean Research Station Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva
- →Visit Russian Bellingshausen Research Station
- →Zodiac transfer to expedition vessel
- →Onboard safety briefing and welcome dinner
Antarctic Peninsula – First Landings & Wildlife Encounters
South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula
Your first full day in Antarctic waters. The expedition team will brief you on safe landing protocols and wildlife guidelines. Expect your first Zodiac landing on a beach alive with Gentoo or Chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals. Onboard naturalist lecturers cover Antarctic geology, glaciology, and the extraordinary ecosystem. All meals are included on the ship. Weather and ice conditions dictate the programme — flexibility is key.
🚌Ship navigation — included in expedition cruise package.
🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in expedition cruise package)
- →Zodiac landing at a penguin rookery (Chinstrap or Gentoo colonies)
- →Wildlife spotting: leopard seals, crabeater seals, Weddell seals
- →Onboard lectures: Antarctic geology, glaciology, wildlife ecology
- →Whale watching from the ship deck
- →Photography briefing with expedition staff
Gerlache Strait & Petermann Island – Glaciers and History
Gerlache Strait & Petermann Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Sail the legendary Gerlache Strait, flanked by towering, glacier-capped peaks rising straight from an electric-blue sea. Zodiac landing at Petermann Island — one of the most scenic spots on the peninsula — where you may witness the explosive crack of a calving glacier and encounter a large Adélie penguin colony. The expedition team leads optional hikes to elevated viewpoints for panoramic views over the channel and surrounding ice. This is considered one of the most photogenic spots in Antarctica.
🚌Ship navigation and Zodiac launches — included in expedition cruise package.
🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in expedition cruise package)
- →Sailing the Gerlache Strait — glacier and mountain scenery
- →Zodiac landing at Petermann Island
- →Watch and listen for calving glaciers
- →Adélie penguin colony visit
- →Optional hike to elevated viewpoint above Petermann Island
- →Zodiac cruise among icebergs and ice floes
Neko Harbour & Port Lockroy – Penguins and a Historic Post Office
Neko Harbour & Port Lockroy, Antarctic Peninsula
Morning Zodiac landing at Neko Harbour on the Antarctic mainland — one of the few spots where you can set foot on the continental landmass itself (not just an island). Afternoon visit to Port Lockroy, a preserved British wartime base now operated as a museum and the world's most southerly post office. Browse the small gift shop, send a postcard home (they really do get delivered!), and scramble up to a high vantage point for sweeping views over the harbour. Gentoo penguins nest all around the buildings.
🚌Ship navigation and Zodiac launches — included in expedition cruise package.
🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in expedition cruise package)
- →Zodiac landing at Neko Harbour — set foot on the Antarctic continent
- →Visit Port Lockroy British Historic Base and Museum (free with landing)
- →Send a postcard from the world's most southerly post office (~£2 per stamp)
- →Gentoo penguin colony at Port Lockroy
- →Hike to elevated viewpoint above Port Lockroy for panoramic views
- →Onboard evening recap with expedition naturalists
Pleneau Island & Final Antarctic Excursions
Pleneau Island & surrounding waters, Antarctic Peninsula
The final full day in Antarctic waters. Morning Zodiac cruise around Pleneau Island — famous for its 'iceberg graveyard', where countless sculpted icebergs drift in shallow waters, often sheltering leopard seals and resting penguins. Afternoon activities depend on weather and ice conditions but may include a final penguin colony landing or a kayak excursion (pre-bookable add-on with most expedition operators, ~£150–200 extra). Evening farewell dinner onboard and presentation of any expedition photography or videos compiled by the crew.
🚌Ship navigation and Zodiac launches — included in expedition cruise package.
🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in expedition cruise package)
- →Zodiac cruise in Pleneau Island iceberg graveyard
- →Leopard seal and penguin spotting from Zodiacs
- →Optional sea kayaking among icebergs (pre-book directly with expedition operator, ~£150–200 extra)
- →Final Antarctic mainland or island landing (weather permitting)
- →Farewell expedition dinner onboard
- →Crew-produced photo/video recap presentation
Disembark King George Island – Charter Flight Back to Punta Arenas
King George Island → Punta Arenas, Chile
Disembark the expedition vessel at King George Island and transfer by Zodiac to the airstrip for your charter flight back to Punta Arenas (~2 hours). On arrival, transfer to your pre-booked guesthouse for a final night in the city. Treat yourself to a celebratory dinner — you've just experienced one of the world's last great wildernesses. The Sotito's or Mesita Grande restaurants are popular local options.
🚌Charter flight included in expedition cruise booking. Airport to city centre taxi or shared remis (~£8).
🛏Hospedaje Independencia or similar central guesthouse/hostel in Punta Arenas (~£20–35/night)
- →Zodiac transfer from ship to King George Island airstrip
- →Charter flight King George Island → Punta Arenas (~2 hours, included in expedition package)
- →Check in to Punta Arenas guesthouse
- →Celebratory dinner at a local Punta Arenas restaurant
Depart Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas, Chile
After a final breakfast at your guesthouse or a local café, you're free to continue independent travels in Chilean Patagonia — Torres del Paine National Park is approximately 3.5 hours away by bus — or transfer to Punta Arenas airport (PUQ) for your onward flight. Buses to Puerto Natales (gateway to Torres del Paine) depart regularly from the Punta Arenas bus terminal (~£10–15, 3–3.5 hours).
🚌Taxi or remis from city centre to Punta Arenas airport (~£8–12). Bus to Puerto Natales/Torres del Paine if extending (~£10–15).
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Breakfast at guesthouse or local café
- →Optional: extend trip to Torres del Paine National Park — bus to Puerto Natales (~£10–15, 3.5 hours)
- →Transfer to Punta Arenas airport for onward flights
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£12,500 | £17,000 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £4,500 per person (26%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£12,500
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake – Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £12,500 per person for 8 days in Antarctic Peninsula & Punta Arenas. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £17,000 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £12,500 — a saving of roughly £4,500 (26%) per person.
How long is the Antarctic Peninsula & Punta Arenas trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Antarctic Peninsula & Punta Arenas.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, slow-travel trip through Antarctic Peninsula & Punta Arenas, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.