Self-Launched Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent
11 days · Antarctic Peninsula
Exodus charges £15,100
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 places on earth where going fully independent isn't really possible — you must travel by expedition ship, and the Drake Passage crossing demands a licensed polar vessel. But you don't need to book through a premium operator like Exodus to get there. By booking directly with a dedicated Antarctic expedition company (such as Quark Expeditions, Oceanwide Expeditions, or Polar Latitudes), cutting out the tour operator markup, arranging your own Buenos Aires accommodation, and flying to Ushuaia independently rather than on a charter package, you can shave thousands off the cost. This self-launched version follows the same 11-day route — Buenos Aires → Ushuaia → Drake Passage → South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula → Drake Passage → Ushuaia → Buenos Aires — at a significantly reduced price. All cost estimates are approximate and per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fly into Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) and make your own way to a centrally located budget hotel or hostel in the Palermo or San Telmo neighbourhood — both are well-connected and full of great restaurants. Book your accommodation independently rather than through a tour operator package to save significantly. Spend the afternoon exploring the city: wander the colourful streets of La Boca, catch a tango show, or sample Buenos Aires' legendary steak scene. This is your last night of urban comfort before the ice.
🚌Airport transfer via Tienda León bus shuttle from EZE to city centre (~£5–8) or taxi (~£20–25)
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Palermo/San Telmo — e.g. Hostel Suites Palermo or similar (~£40–60/night for a private room)
- →Explore La Boca neighbourhood and Caminito street
- →Visit Plaza de Mayo and the Casa Rosada
- →Sample Argentine steak at a local parrilla
- →Explore the San Telmo antiques market if visiting on a Sunday
Fly to Ushuaia and Embark on Expedition Ship
Ushuaia, Argentina
Take an early morning commercial flight from Buenos Aires (AEP/Aeroparque or EZE) to Ushuaia (USH) — Aerolíneas Argentinas and LATAM both serve this route regularly. This replaces the expensive group charter flight included in operator packages and can be significantly cheaper if booked in advance. On arrival in Ushuaia — the world's southernmost city — explore the compact town centre: visit the Museo del Fin del Mundo, wander the waterfront, and grab lunch before your afternoon embarkation. Your expedition ship (booked directly with an operator such as Oceanwide Expeditions, Polar Latitudes, or Quark Expeditions) departs in the late afternoon, sailing along the breathtaking Beagle Channel.
🚌Commercial flight Buenos Aires to Ushuaia (~£80–130); taxi or shuttle to port (~£8)
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship (included in direct expedition booking)
- →Commercial flight Buenos Aires (AEP) to Ushuaia (USH) — book with Aerolíneas Argentinas or LATAM (~£80–130 if booked in advance)
- →Visit Museo del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Museum)
- →Walk the Ushuaia waterfront and harbour
- →Embark on your independently-booked Antarctic expedition ship
- →Sail the Beagle Channel at dusk
Crossing the Drake Passage — Northbound
Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is one of the most legendary stretches of ocean in the world — roughly 800km of open sea between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands. Conditions vary from eerily calm ('Drake Lake') to dramatically rolling ('Drake Shake'). Spend the day getting your sea legs, attending onboard lectures by expedition naturalists on Antarctic wildlife and glaciology, spotting albatrosses and petrels from the deck, and meeting your fellow travellers. All meals are included on the ship.
🚌Expedition ship crossing the Drake Passage
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship
- →Attend onboard naturalist lectures on Antarctic ecology and geology
- →Seabird spotting from the deck (albatross, petrels, skuas)
- →Orientation briefings and Zodiac safety drills with expedition team
- →Socialise with fellow passengers in the ship lounge
Crossing the Drake Passage — Approaching Antarctica
Drake Passage / Antarctic Convergence
As the ship crosses the Antarctic Convergence at around 60° south — a biological boundary where cold Antarctic waters meet warmer subantarctic seas — you'll notice a dramatic drop in temperature and a change in wildlife. The water takes on a deep blue-green hue. Continue attending expert presentations on history, biology, and glaciology to prepare for tomorrow's first landings. Keep your camera ready for your first iceberg sightings.
🚌Expedition ship
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship
- →Cross the Antarctic Convergence — a biological milestone
- →Attend expert presentations on Antarctic history and climate
- →First iceberg sightings — photograph from the deck
- →Equipment briefing and waterproof gear fitting for Zodiac excursions
South Shetland Islands — First Landings
South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
Welcome to Antarctica. Your first Zodiac landings in the South Shetland Islands are unforgettable — expect colonies of chinstrap and gentoo penguins, Weddell and fur seals hauled out on the beaches, and a vast, silent white landscape. Your expedition team will lead landings at carefully selected sites, which change depending on weather and wildlife activity. You may visit a scientific research station. Optional kayaking excursions (pre-bookable with the expedition operator) allow you to paddle silently among ice floes.
🚌Zodiac inflatable boat transfers to shore
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship
- →Zodiac landing at South Shetland Islands penguin colonies
- →Observe and photograph chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins
- →Optional sea kayaking among ice floes (book directly with expedition operator — ~£150–200 add-on)
- →Visit an Antarctic research station if permitted
- →Zodiac cruise along ice cliffs and glaciers
Antarctic Peninsula — Glaciated Bays and Channels
Antarctic Peninsula
Deep into the Antarctic Peninsula, every day brings a different landing site chosen by your expedition team based on ice and weather conditions. Hike across snow-covered ridges for panoramic views, cruise between icebergs by Zodiac, and watch for humpback and minke whales surfacing alongside the boat. The silence is punctuated only by the thunderous crack of calving glaciers. Your onboard naturalists provide context for everything you witness.
🚌Zodiac inflatable boat
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship
- →Guided landing hike across Antarctic landscape
- →Zodiac cruise through iceberg-filled bays
- →Whale watching — humpback, minke, and possibly orca
- →Leopard and crabeater seal spotting
- →Evening recap and naturalist presentation onboard
Antarctic Peninsula — Wildlife and Wilderness
Antarctic Peninsula
Another full day of exploration along the Peninsula, with two or three Zodiac excursions planned by the expedition team. The scale of Antarctica becomes truly apparent — tabular icebergs the size of city blocks, mountain ranges draped in glacier ice, and wildlife utterly unafraid of humans. Each landing site has a distinct character: rocky beaches crowded with penguin nurseries, sheltered coves perfect for Zodiac cruising, or wide bays where whales breach within metres of your boat.
🚌Zodiac inflatable boat
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship
- →Multiple Zodiac landings at varied Peninsula sites
- →Photography workshop with fellow travellers and naturalist guidance
- →Visit penguin rookery and observe chick-rearing behaviour
- →Polar plunge (optional dip in Antarctic waters — bragging rights included)
- →Evening storytelling and documentary screening onboard
Antarctic Peninsula — Final Explorations
Antarctic Peninsula
Your last full day in Antarctica. The expedition team will make the most of every hour, choosing landing sites and Zodiac cruises to give you a final sweep of the Peninsula's highlights. Take time to sit quietly on a hillside and absorb the sheer vastness and stillness of this place. As the ship turns north in the evening, the mood is reflective — Antarctica leaves a lasting impression on everyone who visits.
🚌Zodiac inflatable boat / expedition ship northbound
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship
- →Final Zodiac landings on the Antarctic Peninsula
- →Reflection time ashore — sit quietly in one of the world's last great wildernesses
- →Final wildlife sightings and photography
- →Farewell recap and celebration dinner onboard with expedition team
Return Drake Crossing — Day One
Drake Passage
The return Drake crossing gives you time to reflect on an extraordinary journey. Spend the day on deck watching for seabirds, attend final presentations from the expedition team on conservation and climate science, and swap stories and photos with fellow travellers. Many passengers find the return crossing more relaxed — you're no longer anxious about what's ahead, just savouring what you've experienced.
🚌Expedition ship northbound across Drake Passage
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship
- →Final seabird watching — albatross and petrel spotting
- →Attend conservation and climate science talks by expedition naturalists
- →Photo editing and journaling
- →Certificate ceremony — many operators present Antarctic expedition certificates
Return Drake Crossing — Day Two
Drake Passage / Approaching Ushuaia
The final day at sea. Cape Horn comes into view as the ship re-enters the Beagle Channel. Enjoy one last dinner with your expedition team and fellow travellers, pack your gear, and prepare for disembarkation tomorrow morning. The contrast with the world you're returning to will be striking.
🚌Expedition ship entering Beagle Channel
🛏Cabin aboard expedition ship
- →Cape Horn sighting from the deck
- →Farewell dinner with expedition team and fellow travellers
- →Pack and prepare for disembarkation
- →Final onboard socialising and memory-sharing
Disembark in Ushuaia, Fly to Buenos Aires
Ushuaia → Buenos Aires, Argentina
Disembark after breakfast in Ushuaia port. If time allows before your flight, visit Tierra del Fuego National Park — easily reachable by local bus or taxi from town (~£5–8) — for a final dose of Patagonian wilderness. Take your independently-booked commercial flight back to Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas Argentinas/LATAM, ~£80–130), where you can extend your trip or connect onward. Buenos Aires has excellent hostels and hotels at all price points if you want a few extra days in the city.
🚌Commercial flight Ushuaia to Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas Argentinas/LATAM, ~£80–130 booked in advance)
🛏Flight home or Buenos Aires accommodation if extending (budget hotel ~£40–60/night)
- →Disembark expedition ship after breakfast
- →Optional: visit Tierra del Fuego National Park by local bus (£5–8)
- →Commercial flight Ushuaia to Buenos Aires (~£80–130)
- →Optional: extend your trip in Buenos Aires — Recoleta, Palermo, and Tigre Delta all worth exploring
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£12,500 | £15,100 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,600 per person (17%) | |
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £12,500 per person for 11 days in Antarctic Peninsula. 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 £15,100 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 £2,600 (17%) per person.
How long is the Antarctic Peninsula trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Antarctic Peninsula.
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, 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?
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