Antarctica cruises, beyond the Polar Circle

Sample cruises, departure dates on request

Country

Antarctique Croisières et Yachting

Suggested duration

12 days / 11 nights

The spirit of the journey

An invisible line, the goal to reach, to cross before turning back. Crossing the Polar Circle is a defining moment of your Antarctica cruise. Passing 66° 33’ South latitude and thus crossing the Antarctic Circle is a memorable experience.

These expeditions offer the privilege of discovering the best of the Antarctic Peninsula as far as the Polar Circle. What experience will be yours?
A true 5-star polar cruise, or an expedition following in the explorers’ footsteps? One that includes a flight over the Drake Passage, or does the experience of sailing it appeal to you? One with a fully French-speaking crew, or do you feel at ease in English?

Whatever your choice, you will explore iconic places that make the White Continent one of the most natural places on Earth. Penguins, seals and whales will be your travel companions. Finally, upon crossing the Polar Circle, you will raise a toast to the first explorers who ventured into this part of the world, where today only a privileged few arrive, sometimes guided by the midnight sun.

“French-speaking” labelled cruise Find out more

Why book your cruise with Étendues Sauvages? 5 answers

Day by day

On a 12-day expedition cruise departing from Ushuaia to Antarctica, follow in the footsteps of the pioneers who set out to conquer the last territories of the Far South.
Departure from Ushuaia, heading for the South Shetland Islands, home to large penguin colonies. You will then reach the White Continent, where nature reigns supreme, and travel beyond the Polar Circle

Péninsule, Antarctique © Shutterstock

Au-delà du cercle polaire

Cross the legendary Antarctic Circle on a 12-day polar expedition cruise to the far reaches of the southern lands. After boarding in Ushuaia, you will set course for the Falkland Islands. You will then reach South Georgia, a subantarctic region formed by an underwater mountain range home to diverse and well-preserved wildlife. King penguins, fur seals and elephant seals are its most iconic residents.
Before crossing the Antarctic Circle, the highlight of your cruise, let yourself be captivated by your stops on the Antarctic Peninsula, a land of the unexpected.
Each day, whether ashore, aboard your ship or on a Zodiac excursion, you will move through a magnificent setting of icebergs, pack ice and ancient glaciers.
You will sail aboard the Plancius or the Ortelius, expedition ships that embody a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of adventure and comfort.

Antarctique Express jusqu'au Cercle Polaire

The adventure begins in Puntarenas. You board a BAE 146-200, specially adapted for flying in Antarctica. After landing on King George Island, you transfer onto Zodiacs to reach your ship, which then weighs anchor. The striking landscapes of Antarctica come into view as you head south toward the South Shetland Islands.
Few places on Earth are as evocative as Antarctica. It is indescribable, and can only truly be appreciated when seen with your own eyes.

Your first sightings will be made from the ship itself. The captain and expedition team keep a constant watch for whales and seabirds, and will alert you the moment something appears. Our team of experts will also provide in-depth explanations of the region's geology, history and wildlife.

Your daily landings on the continent will be even more exhilarating. Your first Zodiac landing is something you'll never forget. Walking onto a beach scattered with penguins and seals is the most intimate way to encounter Antarctic wildlife.

Each landing is different and depends on the weather, but every day brings new sightings and opportunities for striking photographs. You might take a Zodiac out in search of whales and icebergs around Pléneau Island one day, then set off the next on a hike to a chinstrap penguin colony.
Then comes the crossing of 66° 33' South latitude – the Antarctic Circle – a legendary line where every emotion of the journey comes into focus, a name that resonates as one of the great landmarks of adventure. A toast is raised to the early explorers who ventured into this part of the world. Beyond it, Adelaide Island – or Belgrano – is almost entirely covered in ice, home to the British research station Rothera.

A memorable moment in the life of any traveller.