Antarctic Express: Fly South, Sail North — Self-Launched Edition
9 days · Antarctica
Exodus charges £12,700
No-markup version: ~£9,800 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Antarctica is one of the few destinations on Earth where truly independent travel is near-impossible — you must reach it via a licensed expedition vessel or chartered flight, and all landings on the continent are governed by IAATO regulations. That said, this self-launched version strips out the Exodus mark-up by booking directly with Antarctic expedition operators (e.g. Quark Expeditions, Aurora Expeditions, Poseidon Expeditions, or Chimu Adventures) rather than via a tour reseller. The fly-one-way/sail-one-way "Express" format is replicated: fly Punta Arenas → King George Island, then sail back across the Drake to Ushuaia on a smaller expedition vessel. All costs are per-person estimates in GBP based on booking the most affordable shared cabin (triple or quad berth) directly with an operator. Budget for a one-night hotel in Punta Arenas before departure, and onward flights from Ushuaia independently. Note: unlike most self-launched itineraries, the expedition ship cost is unavoidable — but direct booking typically saves 15–25% over reseller pricing.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile
Punta Arenas, Chile
Fly into Punta Arenas (PUQ) independently — connections typically route via Santiago (SCL) with LATAM or Sky Airline (~£150–250 from Santiago). Book a budget guesthouse or hostel in central Punta Arenas independently. Spend the day exploring the historic Plaza de Armas, the Museo Regional de Magallanes, and the famous Cementerio Municipal. Join your fellow expedition passengers for the operator's pre-departure briefing in the evening — when booking direct, this is usually held at a central hotel. Stock up on any last-minute gear at one of the outdoor shops on Av. Colón.
🚌Fly to Punta Arenas via Santiago. LATAM operates daily connections; budget ~£150–250 for the Santiago–Punta Arenas leg. Airport transfer to city centre by local taxi (~£8–12).
🛏Hostal Independencia or similar budget guesthouse in central Punta Arenas (~£35–50/night)
- →Explore Plaza de Armas and colonial architecture
- →Visit Museo Regional de Magallanes (free entry)
- →Browse Cementerio Municipal — a striking historic landmark
- →Attend expedition operator's pre-departure briefing
- →Stock up on snacks and supplies for the voyage
Fly Over the Drake Passage — Embark at King George Island
King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
Transfer to Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport for your chartered flight to Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Airport on King George Island — a roughly 2-hour flight over the Drake Passage. This flight is arranged through your expedition operator and is included in your expedition package (there is no independent alternative for this segment). Catch your first stunning aerial views of the Antarctic Peninsula. On arrival, enjoy free time to photograph the island landscape and visit the nearby Uruguayan and Chilean research stations before boarding your expedition vessel. Attend the safety briefing and your first Zodiac orientation session.
🚌Chartered flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (~2 hrs) — included in direct expedition booking. No independent alternative exists for this segment.
🛏Shared cabin aboard expedition vessel (e.g. Magellan Explorer, Greg Mortimer, or equivalent small expedition ship — triple/quad berth booked directly)
- →Chartered flight over the Drake Passage (included in expedition package)
- →First aerial views of the Antarctic continent
- →Photograph King George Island landscapes and research stations
- →Board expedition vessel and attend mandatory safety briefing
- →First Zodiac orientation cruise around King George Island
Antarctic Peninsula — Wildlife and Zodiac Landings Begin
Antarctic Peninsula
Your first full day in Antarctic waters. The expedition team — naturalists, glaciologists, and polar historians included in all reputable direct-booked expedition packages — will brief you on the day's landing plan, which adapts to weather and ice conditions. Expect your first Zodiac landing on the Peninsula, likely at sites such as Cuverville Island or Neko Harbour, home to vast gentoo penguin colonies. Watch penguins toboggan across snowfields, listen to the crack of calving glaciers, and look out for leopard seals hauled out on ice floes. Evening recap lecture from expedition staff on Antarctic wildlife.
🚌Expedition vessel sailing along the Antarctic Peninsula — included in package.
🛏Shared cabin aboard expedition vessel
- →Zodiac landing at a gentoo penguin colony (e.g. Cuverville Island or Neko Harbour)
- →Watch and photograph penguins, seals, and seabirds
- →Zodiac cruise among icebergs and brash ice
- →Evening expert lecture: Antarctic wildlife and ecology
- →On-deck whale spotting from the vessel
Deep into the Peninsula — Glaciers and Ice Channels
Lemaire Channel / Petermann Island area, Antarctic Peninsula
Today the ship navigates the breathtaking Lemaire Channel — often called 'Kodak Alley' for its towering, mirror-reflected cliffs of ice and rock. Land at Petermann Island, one of the southernmost points typically accessible on Peninsula voyages, where you may witness a calving glacier and spot Adélie penguins alongside gentoos. If conditions allow, a Zodiac cruise around Pléneau Island in search of fur seals and 'iceberg graveyards' is a highlight. Optional kayaking or paddleboarding excursions may be available at an additional charge (~£150–250 direct with the operator).
🚌Expedition vessel — included in package.
🛏Shared cabin aboard expedition vessel
- →Navigate the spectacular Lemaire Channel
- →Zodiac landing at Petermann Island — Adélie and gentoo penguin colonies
- →Witness calving glacier activity
- →Zodiac cruise around Pléneau Island for seals and sculptural icebergs
- →Optional sea kayaking among icebergs (book directly with operator, ~£150–250 surcharge)
South Shetland Islands — Deception Island and Research Stations
South Shetland Islands
The ship heads to the South Shetland Islands, likely stopping at Deception Island — a flooded volcanic caldera with a dramatic history as a whaling station and British research base. Walk through the eerie ruins of Whalers Bay, and if conditions allow, take a swim in the geothermally-warmed waters of Pendulum Cove (a bucket-list Antarctic experience). Alternatively, visit Half Moon Island or Aitcho Island for more penguin and fur seal encounters. Evening presentation from the expedition historian on the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration.
🚌Expedition vessel — included in package.
🛏Shared cabin aboard expedition vessel
- →Land at Deception Island — explore Whalers Bay ruins
- →Optional geothermal swim at Pendulum Cove (bring a swimsuit!)
- →Zodiac cruise inside the volcanic caldera
- →Alternative landing at Half Moon Island or Aitcho Island
- →Evening lecture: Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration
Final Peninsula Landings — Mailing a Postcard from Antarctica
Port Lockroy / Paradise Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
A highlight for many Antarctic travellers: visiting Port Lockroy, a restored British research station and museum on Goudier Island, home to a functioning post office — mail a postcard from the bottom of the world (stamps and cards available on site, ~£3–5). The resident gentoo penguin colony here is exceptionally habituated to human presence and makes for extraordinary photography. In the afternoon, land at Paradise Bay on the Antarctic Continent itself — a true milestone. The ship's expedition team wraps up remaining landings as you begin heading north.
🚌Expedition vessel — included in package.
🛏Shared cabin aboard expedition vessel
- →Visit Port Lockroy — UK Antarctic Heritage Trust museum and post office
- →Mail a postcard from Antarctica (stamps ~£3–5)
- →Photograph habituated gentoo penguins at Goudier Island
- →Land at Paradise Bay on the Antarctic Continent
- →Zodiac cruise in Paradise Bay among ice sculptures and blue glaciers
Crossing the Drake Passage — Northbound
Drake Passage
The Drake Passage crossing begins — two days of open ocean sailing between Antarctica and Cape Horn. Conditions can range from the famed 'Drake Lake' (calm) to the 'Drake Shake' (rough) — pack sea-sickness medication just in case (buy before departure; Stugeron or Scopolamine patches recommended). Spend the day on the bridge with expedition naturalists spotting wandering albatrosses, petrels, and prions. Attend final recap presentations from the expedition team covering marine biology, glaciology, and polar history. Work on editing your photos and connecting with fellow travellers.
🚌Expedition vessel crossing the Drake Passage — included in package.
🛏Shared cabin aboard expedition vessel
- →On-deck seabird spotting — wandering albatross, cape petrels, prions
- →Attend final expedition team presentations (marine biology, glaciology)
- →Visit the ship's bridge for navigation insights
- →Photo editing and journalling session
- →Browse the ship's library and recaps board
Drake Passage — Cape Horn Waters
Drake Passage / Cape Horn
A second day on the Drake as the ship approaches South American waters. If routing allows, the captain may navigate close to Cape Horn — the southernmost tip of South America and one of the most notorious stretches of ocean in the world. Watch for humpback and minke whales, which are often spotted in these waters. The expedition team hosts a farewell dinner and certificates are presented to all passengers who crossed the Antarctic Circle or completed the Drake Passage. Begin planning your onward journey from Ushuaia.
🚌Expedition vessel — included in package.
🛏Shared cabin aboard expedition vessel
- →Possible scenic sailing past Cape Horn
- →Whale spotting — humpback and minke whales common in Drake waters
- →Farewell dinner and Drake Passage crossing certificate presentation
- →Q&A session with expedition naturalists
- →Plan onward travel from Ushuaia (buses to Punta Arenas, flights to Buenos Aires)
Disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina
Ushuaia, Argentina
The ship docks in Ushuaia — the world's southernmost city — in the morning. Disembark after breakfast and customs/immigration formalities. If time allows before onward flights, explore Ushuaia's excellent Museo del Fin del Mundo, grab a celebratory craft beer at Cervecería Beagle, or walk the waterfront Costanera. Onward options: domestic flights to Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas Argentinas, ~£100–180) depart multiple times daily from Malvinas Argentinas Airport (USH), or take the cross-border bus back to Punta Arenas (~£30–40, ~5 hrs). Book these independently well in advance — Ushuaia flights sell out fast in peak season.
🚌Fly Ushuaia (USH) to Buenos Aires (EZE/AEP) with Aerolíneas Argentinas or JetSMART (~£100–180), or take a cross-border bus to Punta Arenas (~£30–40). Book independently in advance.
🛏Disembark day — book an Ushuaia hostel independently if extending stay (e.g. Freestyle Hostel, ~£25–40/night)
- →Disembark the expedition vessel and clear Argentine customs
- →Visit Museo del Fin del Mundo — world's southernmost museum
- →Walk the Ushuaia waterfront Costanera
- →Celebratory craft beer at Cervecería Beagle or El Náutico
- →Depart independently: fly to Buenos Aires (~£100–180) or bus to Punta Arenas (~£30–40)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£9,800 | £12,700 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,900 per person (23%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£9,800
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 Antarctic Express: Fly South, Sail North — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £9,800 per person for 9 days in Antarctica. 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 £12,700 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £9,800 — a saving of roughly £2,900 (23%) per person.
How long is the Antarctica trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Antarctica.
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 Antarctica, 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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