Antarctica yacht charter itinerary

You will arrive by plane to this last outpost of South America, known to some as the ‘End of the World’, and prepare for setting off on your Antarctica yacht charter the following morning. Stop by the Maritime Museum to learn more about the sailors who have undertaken this journey before you, on far less luxurious vessels, of course!

You will head into the vast open waters of the Southern Ocean through the Drake Passage. Albatross and whales might accompany you for some of the journey, as they migrate between the continents. The days will grow longer as you head closer to the South Pole in the height of summer.

At the northernmost point of Antarctica, these abundant islands are rich in wildlife who make the most of this first or last area of land for hundreds of kilometres. Walk among the noisy penguin colonies, or watch the seals as they lazy in the sunshine. There are many groups of scientists based here who research the unique ecosystems of Antarctica.

This fascinating island is the remnants of a volcanic explosion (known as a caldera) from the 1970s. The C-shaped island has a protected bay in which to anchor, from which you can take a tender ashore and explore the once-busy whaling stations and meet the local chinstrap penguins. For a unique experience, dig a hole in the black sand and take a warm bath in the volcanic-heated water.

There are ‘bergs aplenty in the Antarctic Sound, also known as Iceberg Alley, drifting north from the Weddell Sea. On the northern fringes of the Weddell Sea, keep an eye out for ice floes carrying a cargo of emperor penguins, particularly the juveniles which are hatched at nearby Snow Hill Island.

To the west of the Antarctic Peninsula, cruise the many islands and channels that make up this other-worldly region. Visit colonies of gentoo penguin then jump into the tender or in a kayak for a tour of the remarkable bays and harbours that contain skyscraper-height ice cliffs and bright-blue glaciers that calve directly into the sea alongside you.

If sea-ice and weather conditions permit, your Antarctic yacht charter will continue south towards the Antarctic Circle, which is crossed at Crystal Sound at 66˚33’S. The abandoned British base on Detaille Island is a fascinating step back in time to when it was last inhabited in the 1950s.

Between Adelaide Island and the Tyndall Mountains list ‘The Gullet’, a narrow passage with dramatic mountain scenery flanked by icy waters. If you have time and conditions allow, a visit to Marguerite Bay is richly rewarded by elephant seal colonies and the eerie Bourgeois Fjord.

With your tour of the Antarctic Peninsula and beyond drawn to a close, you will head back north on the 600-nautical mile crossing through the Drake Passage to Ushuaia and a flight home.