Experience an extraordinary Christmas adventure on the Antarctic Circle Christmas Expedition Micro Cruise by Air, an 11-day journey combining charter flights from Puerto Natales, Chile, with intimate exploration aboard the 36-guest expedition vessel Aureum. Beginning with a Patagonian asado and an overnight stay at Weskar Lodge, the expedition replaces the traditional Drake Passage crossing with approximately 2.5-hour flights to and from King George Island, allowing more time to discover the Antarctic Peninsula. With seven full days planned for exploration, travelers can encounter bustling penguin colonies, humpback whales, dramatic icebergs, and spectacular polar landscapes. Potential destinations include the South Shetland Islands, Gerlache Strait, Wilhelmina Bay, Paradise Bay, and Lemaire Channel, with an attempt to reach the Antarctic Circle at 66°33'S whenever conditions permit. Six senior polar guides, including dedicated photography expertise, lead flexible Zodiac excursions and landings, adapting each day to weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities. Departures are scheduled for December 2027 and December 2028, offering a remarkable opportunity to celebrate the holiday season in one of Earth's most remote wilderness regions.
Day by day
Cruise Includes
Accommodation aboard the MV Aureum in the selected cabin category.
Full-board dining throughout the expedition.
Tea, coffee, drinking water, and selected beverages with meals.
Daily cabin housekeeping service.
Guided Zodiac cruises and shore landings, subject to weather and ice conditions.
Expert expedition leadership and professional polar guides.
Educational lectures, presentations, and workshops.
Wildlife observation and photography guidance.
Complimentary use of rubber expedition boots during shore excursions.
Starlink Wi-Fi access, subject to availability in remote polar regions.
Access to onboard medical facilities and the expedition doctor (consultations and treatment may incur additional charges).
Applicable expedition permits, port charges, and operational fees.
Pre-departure information and assistance from the Secret Atlas team.
Charter flights between Puerto Natales and King George Island, Antarctica, in both directions.
Antarctic expedition aboard Aureum, accommodating a maximum of 36 guests.
Expedition guidance from six senior polar guides.
Dedicated photography guide as part of the guiding team.
Zodiac exploration using four Zodiacs.
Pre-Antarctic expedition briefings.
Patagonian asado at Weskar Lodge at the beginning of the expedition.
Final scheduled night at Weskar Lodge with farewell dinner.
Peace of Mind approach providing up to three additional nights of accommodation in Puerto Natales at no extra accommodation cost.
Cruise does not include
International and domestic flights unless specifically included in the selected itinerary.
Passport, visa, vaccination, and other entry-related expenses.
Mandatory comprehensive travel insurance, including medical evacuation coverage.
Additional hotel accommodation before or after the expedition unless expressly included.
Meals and transfers not specified in the confirmed itinerary.
Personal expenses, including laundry, telephone calls, and premium internet services.
Alcoholic beverages and bar purchases outside the included beverage service.
Personal clothing and expedition equipment not expressly provided.
Medical treatment, medication, evacuation, and repatriation expenses.
Excess baggage fees and additional luggage charges.
Optional activities, private excursions, and independent arrangements not included in the itinerary.
Gratuities for the ship's crew and expedition team.
Additional services not expressly included in the confirmed booking.
Highlights
Christmas in Antarctica: Celebrate the holiday season amid the extraordinary landscapes and wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Exclusive small-group expedition: Travel aboard Aureum with a maximum of 36 guests and six senior polar guides.
Antarctic Circle exploration: Attempt to reach latitude 66°33'S, depending on ice and weather conditions.
Fly-and-cruise convenience: Avoid the Drake Passage sea crossing with approximately 2.5-hour charter flights between Puerto Natales and King George Island.
Seven planned days of exploration: Discover Antarctic waterways, islands, bays, and wildlife habitats through a flexible expedition itinerary.
Remarkable wildlife encounters: Look for gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins, several seal species, and humpback and minke whales.
Zodiac adventures: Explore Antarctic waters and participate in permitted landings with four Zodiacs available for the group.
Photography opportunities: Receive guidance from a dedicated photography expert while capturing wildlife, icebergs, and Antarctic landscapes.
Potential sea ice landings: When conditions permit, walk on Antarctic sea ice among impressive ice formations.
Antarctic midsummer: Experience the extended daylight and active wildlife associated with December in Antarctica.
Activities
Sea Kayaking
Under full instruction from your sea kayaking guide, experience true tranquillity as you paddle through clinking ice floes and realise the enormity of the surrounding scenery. Look out for breaching whales, lounging seals and penguins zipping alongside your kayak. Some experience is required.
Ice Camping
Camp out on the ice and experience the silence which blankets the continent by night. This is your chance to completely connect with this ethereal ice world – wrap up warm and embrace the Antarctic elements.
Snowshoeing
Get a spring in your step when you slip on a pair of snowshoes in Antarctica. Enabling you to easily scale gentle slopes, this unique activity allows you to access hard to reach places and seek out the most impressive views.
Photography
Antarctic Circle Christmas Expedition Micro Cruise by Air
From USD 20995,00
