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Antarctic Peninsula: The Pure Expedition (Ocean Victory)
Adventure into waters teeming with icebergs and land on shores scattered with penguins
This 10-day expedition takes you to the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Take to the water in Zodiacs and kayaks, visiting active scientific bases, historic landing sites and scenic bays where you can see elephant and fur seals. Observe colonies of chinstrap and gentoo penguins on rocky island shores and learn the geology behind how these landscapes were formed by volcanic activity. From your ship – the Ocean Victory – look through your binoculars to search for whales breaching and seabirds flying overhead. Play your part by participating in the Citizen Science program on board and maybe even opt to camp under the stars to feel even closer to this remarkable landscape.
No reviews yetTrip code: GXMP
Start: Ushuaia, Argentina
End: Ushuaia, Argentina
- Duration
- 10 days
- Group size
- 1 to 175
- Minimum age
- 8 years old
- Style
- Comfort
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Polar, Wildlife
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Where you’ll stay
Ocean Victory
Expedition • 184 passengers
Purpose-built for polar exploration, the Ocean Victory takes you across icy oceans like never before. This next-generation ship features a signature X-Bow design, adding stability and safety during the voyage, while onboard comforts provide a high-end experience. Its superior Ice Class 1A and Polar Class 6 capabilities allow for deeper exploration across the remote polar regions. Throughout the expedition, enjoy the amenities of a wellness centre, complete with a spa and gym, two Jacuzzis with panoramic views, plus a selection of cabins, most offering private balconies.
Ocean Victory
Expedition • 184 passengers
Purpose-built for polar exploration, the Ocean Victory takes you across icy oceans like never before. This next-generation ship features a signature X-Bow design, adding stability and safety during the voyage, while onboard comforts provide a high-end experience. Its superior Ice Class 1A and Polar Class 6 capabilities allow for deeper exploration across the remote polar regions. Throughout the expedition, enjoy the amenities of a wellness centre, complete with a spa and gym, two Jacuzzis with panoramic views, plus a selection of cabins, most offering private balconies.
Why you'll love this trip
- Immerse yourself in the best of Antarctica’s history, landscapes and wildlife. Visit active scientific bases and historic landing sites and learn from your expert Expedition Team during educational talks on board.
- Visit some of the most stunning bays and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula. Cross the famed Drake Passage and visit the South Shetland Islands, where ruins of historic scientific research bases and expedition huts still stand.
- Look out for elephant and fur seals, the mighty humpback whale, chinstrap and gentoo penguins and seabirds like the Antarctic tern and wandering albatross.
- Venture out on two Zodiac excursions per day, taking in the scenery as you cruise among colossal glaciers and icebergs.
- Participate in Citizen Science projects, contributing to vital research into Antarctic ecosystems and how they’re being impacted by climate change.
Itinerary
Welcome to Ushuaia – the gateway to Antarctica! You’ll be transferred from the airport to the port to board your ship, the Ocean Victory. When you’ve boarded, you’ll meet your Expedition Team and settle into your cabin. Have a safety and orientation meeting, then sit down with your fellow travellers and the captain for a welcome dinner and toast to the start of your Antarctic adventure!
Accommodation
- Expedition Cruise Ship (1 night)
Meals
- Dinner
Special information
The complimentary airport transfer is only valid if you arrive in Ushuaia on Day 1 of the trip.
Over two days, you’ll cross the infamous Drake Passage. This body of water separates the tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands. As you sail, your Expedition Team will share their expert knowledge with you, preparing you for your Antarctic journey that lies just ahead. You can also take part in the Citizen Science program, where you can contribute to the recording and understanding of polar ecosystems and how they’re being impacted by climate change. Join the crew on deck for some wildlife spotting, keeping your binoculars handy for plenty of seabird-watching – albatross, petrels and prions are all likely sights in this passage. Keep an eye out for breaching whales, too! Feel the temperature drop as you cross the Antarctic Convergence, officially making your way into Antarctic waters.
Accommodation
- Expedition Cruise Ship (2 nights)
Meals
- Breakfast (2)
- Lunch (2)
- Dinner (2)
Explore the diverse landscapes of the South Shetland Islands. Over thousands of years, volcanic activity has shaped the geology of this archipelago, sculpting mountains and glaciers that are home to an array of wildlife. Colonies of chinstrap and gentoo penguins gather on the icy plains, and elephant and fur seals doze on the rocky shoreline. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a whale on the horizon. Traverse the landscape like a true adventurer, exploring the islands on foot and getting out onto the water in Zodiacs and kayaks to wind between icebergs and get better vantage points of the wildlife.
Accommodation
- Expedition Cruise Ship (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Experience all that the icy wilderness of Antarctica has to offer over three adventure-filled days. Heading out on approximately two excursions per day (depending on conditions), you’ll visit scenic bays and look out for wildlife both at sea and along the rugged coastline. Make your way through iceberg-rich channels and waters teeming with wildlife, looking out for penguins, seals, orcas, humpback whales and seabirds like the Antarctic tern, skua and wandering albatross. You'll also visit active scientific bases and historic landing sites. For a truly unforgettable experience, you can opt in to a night of camping under the stars. Your expert Expedition Team will maximise your opportunities for exploration depending on wind, sea and ice conditions, so embrace the spontaneity – it’s all part of a true Antarctic adventure!
Accommodation
- Expedition Cruise Ship (3 nights)
Meals
- Breakfast (3)
- Lunch (3)
- Dinner (3)
Leave Antarctica behind and start to make your way back north, crossing the Drake Passage once more. Gather with your fellow travellers and the Expedition Team to celebrate the incredible adventure you’ve shared with a slideshow of moments captured from the trip, a photography contest and one last celebratory meal together. Here’s to the adventure of a lifetime!
Accommodation
- Expedition Cruise Ship (2 nights)
Meals
- Breakfast (2)
- Lunch (2)
- Dinner (2)
This morning, it’s time to disembark the ship as your Antarctic expedition comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay in Ushuaia, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
What's included
Accommodation
- Expedition cruise ship (9 nights)
Meals
25
- 8 breakfasts
- 8 lunches
- 9 dinners
Transport
- Expedition cruise ship
- zodiac
Destinations
- Antarctica
- At sea - Drake Passage
- South Shetland Islands
- Antarctic Peninsula
- Argentina
Flights to and from trip
Flights to and from the trip need to be booked separately from your trip, but if you'd like, we can help arrange them for you.
Request a flight quote when you book or contact us to talk through options.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- The Ocean Victory is an ice-strengthened ship – large, sturdy and suited to the unpredictable Antarctic waters. Some people may experience seasickness in occasional rough seas. We have a doctor on board should you need assistance. Over-the-counter seasickness medication is usually an easy fix.
- Temperatures in the Antarctic can get very cold, but it also can get surprisingly warm when the sun comes out. We recommend dressing in layers when you journey outside. We’ll loan you waterproof boots that are sturdy and warm and provide you with a waterproof jacket that is yours to keep. Please see the Essential Trip Information for a packing list.
- Depending on the weather, you’ll be travelling in a Zodiac boat quite regularly to explore the areas and search for wildlife. It can get cold and wet on the Zodiac, so make sure you dress appropriately and keep your camera safe and dry. A fair level of mobility is needed for wet and dry landings from the boat, as well as on steep terrain, snow and other uneven surfaces. Elevators may be closed in rough seas, requiring the use of stairs for meals, presentations and activities.
- The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure and, although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially in such a remote area like the Antarctic. There are nearly 200 recognised sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands – the places mentioned in the itinerary may need to be changed to other locations, which are just as interesting and beautiful!
- We may be confined to the ship during rough weather, but there are plenty of onboard resources and activities. The ship’s library and educational lectures are ideal ways to stay entertained, while the gym will keep you fresh for when the weather clears.
Your voyage is on board the Ocean Victory ship.
SPECIAL BOOKING CONDITIONS
This voyage is operated by our Polar partner Polar Latitudes. You are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the voyage cost per person per Cruise for your booking to be confirmed. If your booking is made within 120 days of the departure date, then the full amount is payable at the time of booking. Please refer to the "booking conditions" on our website under Polar Latitudes.
ADVENTURE OPTIONS
A range of Paid Adventure Options is available on selected voyages, subject to availability. Your sales agent can assist with availability and pricing.
• Discover Kayaking - One-off excursion available on all voyages. Pre-book via your booking agent and then pay for the activity once onboard the ship.
• Camping - One-off excursion available on selected voyages. Pre-book via your booking agent and then pay for the activity once onboard the ship.
• Immersive Kayaking - Designed for experienced paddlers, Immersive Kayaking is a full-voyage program that maximizes your time on the water. Pre-book and prepay via your booking agent. A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required at time of booking and final payment due 120 days prior to your voyage departure.
• Photography program - Designed for travellers who want to capture the essence of their journey through the lens. Guided by an experienced photography expert, you’ll receive tips and hands-on guidance to refine your skills. Pre-book and prepay via your booking agent. A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required at time of booking and final payment due 120 days prior to your voyage departure.
Visa information is provided by Sherpa, a third-party. The "Add connection" feature shows transit visa requirements only and does not include full entry visa needs. Please note, additional service fees apply if you choose to purchase a visa through Sherpa.
Travel and visa requirements
Expedition cruise ship (9 nights)
The Ocean Victory is a modern Ship, built for the Polar Regions. The sister ship of Ocean Albatros, Ocean Victory boasts the same strikingly unconventional profile as its sibling. It’s a look that reflects decades of Polar learning and design refinement, resulting in a vessel ideally suited for the challenges and opportunities of this unique part of the world. From its uber-stable X-Bow to its heated mudroom and four exterior doors that will get you out and exploring quickly and safely, this is the ship Antarctica – and every would-be explorer – have been waiting for.
The futuristic X-Bow design of the Ocean Victory is more than just eye-catching. It’s also designed for total comfort and safety in even the roughest seas. And its superior Ice Class 1A and Polar Class 6 mean it can push through deeper ice and deliver access to ever more remote and elusive areas. Onboard, spacious rooms, everywhere visibility, and seamless access to zodiacs (and the adventures to follow) all join forces to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience that will exceed your highest expectations.
The Ocean Victory is designed to keep Antarctica and the Arctic in full view, no matter where you are on the ship. Every stateroom provides a generous view, and most include private balconies. A variety of observation decks are accessible from multiple indoor locations. Two hydraulic platforms can be lowered to offer unprecedented near-water-level views (and rare photographic opportunities). Even the two outdoor Jacuzzis provide 360 views of the mesmerizing landscape that surrounds you.
Ushuaia Port
Ushuaia
ARGENTINA
Description
Your ship is scheduled to arrive at the pier in Ushuaia usually between 7am and 8am. Once the ship is docked, you will bid farewell to the expedition team and shipmates before completing your disembarkation. The process takes about an hour. Weather conditions can always change our arrival times and airline schedule changes have also known to occur in Argentina. Please book your hlight home from Ushuaia to depart as late in the day as possible or at a date after your expedition. If you have booked a flight to depart before noon on the date that your expedition ends, you will be at risk of missing your flight.
Dates and prices
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