Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

Compact Antarctica

Chile,Antarctica

Starting from between £13,310 to £21,255 per person for 12 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • Fly from Chile to Antarctica, avoiding the choppy Drake Passage crossing
  • Spend six days on board a luxury expedition vessel with dedicated scientist guides
  • Spend time in and around Santiago, enjoying Chilean wine and culture
For those who want to see the southernmost continent on earth, but don't have the annual leave for the traditional three-week trip, we have put together a compact trip, including six days on board an expedition vessel bookended by time in Chile.
Glacier - Antarctica © Droits reservés
Glacier - Antarctica © Droits reservés
Antarctica © Olivier Romano
Antarctica © Olivier Romano
Horses - Argentina © Droits reservés
Horses - Argentina © Droits reservés
Road of Chile © Alix Pardo
Road of Chile © Alix Pardo
Santiago - Chile © Alix Pardo
Santiago - Chile © Alix Pardo
Santiago - Chile © Alix Pardo
Santiago - Chile © Alix Pardo
Countryside - Australia © Droits reservés
Countryside - Australia © Droits reservés
Place Islas Malvinas - Ushuaïa - Antarctica © LMspencer/stock.adobe.com
Place Islas Malvinas - Ushuaïa - Antarctica © LMspencer/stock.adobe.com
Whale in Antarctica © David Jallaud/stock.adobe.com
Whale in Antarctica © David Jallaud/stock.adobe.com
Sunset on the Antarctic Ocean - Antarctica © Droits reservés
Sunset on the Antarctic Ocean - Antarctica © Droits reservés

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Your direct flight to Chile will leave London late evening and takes 14-and-a-half hours so pack the iPad stocked up with the latest box sets.

Your flight lands mid-morning, and once you have cleared customs and collected your luggage one of our team on the ground will meet you for a one-hour private transfer to your hotel in the heart of vineyards. Once you have settled in, we recommend getting out in the fresh air and wandering around the grounds of your hotel, which will also help ward off jet lag. This evening enjoy some excellent Chilean cuisine and fine wines at the hotel.

After an early breakfast this morning, you will make your way to the estate's stables. Here, you will meet your expert guides, a huaso (Chilean cowboy) and, most importantly, your mount for the morning's ride. You will ride through the vines and the surround valley to an elevated lookout point, spotting native flora and fauna along the way.

Early this morning you will be privately transferred to the airport for your three-and-a-half-hour flight to Punta Arenas, the start point of your Antarctic adventure. Once you arrive, you will be privately transferred to your hotel for the night before a briefing where the expedition team will fill you in the voyage and the essential guidelines for visitors to the white desert. This evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers.

This morning, you will make your way to your special expedition plane for the two-hour flight to King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands. Breath deep as the first hit of Antarctic air fills your lungs, and soak it all in. From here, you will be taken to your expedition vessel by RIB dinghy to begin your cruise.

For the next four days your captain will expertly pilot your ship along ice-filled fjords and along the coast line of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Every day, you will leave the expedition vessel and make landfall in the dinghies, always accompanied by your expert guides. While no journey to Antarctica is the same and excursions cannot be guaranteed, you will visit spots which show off the best of the Antarctic environment. These include enormous glaciers and ice shelves as well as penguin colonies and beaches covered with elephant seals. Every evening, you will enjoy lectures and presentations from the experts on board, as well as the spectacular views from the ship's lounge.

Today you will return to King George Island, where you will board the return flight to Punta Arenas. One of our team on the ground will privately transfer you to your hotel for the night, after which we recommend going for a walk before dinner and getting used to being back on dry land.

This morning you will be privately transferred to the airport in good time for your three-and-a-half-hour flight to Santiago. Bags collected, one of our team on the ground will meet you for a 25-minute transfer to your hotel. Once you have settled in and freshened up, we recommend getting out and exploring the Chilean capital. Our local Concierge is on hand to recommend their favourite places to eat and drink in this fun city.

Before your flight this afternoon, you will enjoy a tour of Santiago, taking in the city's highlights and most important historical sites. You will drop in on the Presidential Palace, and the Mercado Central, one of Chile's largest fresh seafood markets. You tour will also include visits to some of the lesser-known barrios (neighbourhoods), including Republica and Concha y Toro, where Chilean high society have their city homes. After lunch you will be privately transferred to the airport (your bags will already be in the car) in good time for your overnight flight to London.

Your 14-and-a-half hour flight will land mid-morning.

Why visit Antarctica with Original Travel ?

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Antarctica

  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • 100% carbon absorption

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A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £13,310 to £21,255 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £17,005 per person.

100% tailor-made holidays

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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday

Personalisation

We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities

Our Services

All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges