Trade traditional New Year's Eve celebrations for the extraordinary stillness of Antarctica on the Antarctic Circle New Year Expedition Micro Cruise by Air, an 11-day journey that brings together remote wilderness exploration, intimate group travel, and the remarkable light of the southern summer. Your adventure begins in Puerto Natales, Chile, with a stay at Weskar Lodge and a Patagonian welcome dinner before a private charter flight transports you to King George Island in approximately 2.5 hours, bypassing the Drake Passage sea crossing. From there, the purpose-designed expedition vessel Aureum becomes your home for an Antarctic voyage limited to 36 guests, supported by six senior polar guides, four Zodiacs, and dedicated photography expertise. The expedition plans seven full days of exploration across the Antarctic Peninsula, where potential destinations include the South Shetland Islands, Gerlache Strait, Lemaire Channel, Wilhelmina Bay, and Paradise Bay. During the height of the Antarctic summer, travelers may encounter active penguin colonies, seals resting on drifting ice, and humpback and minke whales feeding in the surrounding waters. Each departure also seeks to advance toward the Antarctic Circle at 66°33'S, with opportunities to explore frozen channels and possibly walk on sea ice if conditions allow. Scheduled for December 2027–January 2028 and December 2028–January 2029, this small-group expedition offers a distinctive opportunity to welcome the new year amid Antarctica's icebergs, wildlife, and extended daylight.
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.
Private round-trip charter flights between Puerto Natales and Antarctica.
One hotel night before the expedition and one hotel night afterward at Weskar Lodge, with breakfast, according to the itinerary.
Patagonian welcome dinner and farewell dinner at Weskar Lodge.
Scheduled transportation between Puerto Natales airport, the included accommodation, and the Antarctic charter flight, as described in the itinerary.
Secret Atlas Peace of Mind Programme, providing up to three additional nights with breakfast in Puerto Natales when applicable and subject to its published conditions.
Services of the experienced Expedition Team throughout the voyage, including educational lectures, workshops, Zodiac excursions, and shore landings.
All scheduled Zodiac cruises, transfers, and landings, depending on weather, sea conditions, ice, and operational considerations.
Accommodation aboard the expedition ship, including daily cabin service.
Full-board meals on the vessel, with tea, coffee, drinking water, and selected beverages served during meals.
Starlink Wi-Fi access when available; connection speed and availability are not guaranteed in remote polar regions.
Complimentary use of rubber expedition boots for landings.
Access to the onboard medical facilities and expedition doctor, although treatment and medication may involve additional charges.
Sea kayaking and light mountaineering programs on selected departures, subject to availability, conditions, and authorization from the Expedition Leader and specialist guides.
Photography assistance and workshops.
IAATO fees, permits, landing fees, port charges, and applicable operational fees.
Detailed pre-departure information and assistance from the Secret Atlas team.
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.
International or domestic flights unless specifically identified as included in the itinerary.
Passport, visa, vaccination, reciprocity, and other entry-related requirements or fees.
Comprehensive travel insurance, which is required under Secret Atlas Terms and Conditions.
Excess baggage fees or luggage exceeding the published charter flight allowance; acceptance of additional baggage is not guaranteed.
Accommodation, meals, and transfers not specifically included in the itinerary or covered by the Peace of Mind Programme.
Extra accommodation, meals, transportation, or personal expenses resulting from Antarctic charter flight disruptions, except where expressly covered by the Peace of Mind Programme.
Personal purchases and expenses, including laundry, beverages outside the included service, telephone charges, and optional premium internet services.
Personal clothing and equipment not explicitly listed as provided.
Medical treatment, medication, emergency evacuation, and repatriation expenses.
Optional activities, private arrangements, and independent excursions not specifically included in the confirmed itinerary.
Tips for the ship's crew and Expedition Team.
Additional taxes, government fees, and supplier surcharges, according to the operator's Terms and Conditions.
Services not expressly stated as included in the confirmed itinerary or booking confirmation.
Highlights
An extraordinary New Year's Eve: Welcome the new year on the Antarctic Peninsula, surrounded by remote wilderness and the lingering daylight of the southern summer.
Small-group polar exploration: Experience Antarctica with a maximum of 36 travelers, supported by six senior polar guides and four Zodiacs.
The Antarctic Circle objective: Attempt to reach 66°33'S and explore increasingly remote southern landscapes whenever conditions permit.
Direct access by charter aircraft: Travel between Puerto Natales and King George Island in approximately 2.5 hours, avoiding the Drake Passage sea crossing.
Seven planned days of Antarctic discovery: Explore the Peninsula's bays, islands, channels, and wildlife habitats through an adaptable expedition program.
Remarkable wildlife opportunities: Look for penguins, crabeater and Weddell seals, leopard seals, humpback whales, and minke whales.
Zodiac exploration: Navigate among ice formations and visit permitted landing sites with the support of an experienced guiding team.
Professional photography guidance: Benefit from workshops and assistance dedicated to capturing Antarctica's landscapes and wildlife.
Possible sea ice landings: Experience the opportunity to walk on sea ice among enormous icebergs when conditions allow.
Aureum's expedition design: Travel aboard an ice-class vessel with hybrid propulsion, fin stabilizers, and dedicated wildlife observation areas.
Specialist activities on selected departures: Sea kayaking and light mountaineering may be available according to conditions, capacity, and guide approval.
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 New Year Expedition Micro Cruise by Air
From USD 20995,00
