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Emperor penguins in the Weddell Sea © Quark - Peter Guttman

Antarctica

Infinite purity

Accueil / Antarctica

Antarctica Cruise

Heading for the South Pole! Heading for Antarctica!
Departing from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, once the Drake Passage has been crossed, the silhouette of the Antarctic Peninsula comes into view. A vast continent, long coveted, belonging to no one.

Blue and white as far as the eye can see. Icebergs, pack ice, snow-capped mountains and frozen ocean conceal a fauna and biodiversity of remarkable richness. This is the domain of blue and humpback whales, orcas, sperm whales, elephant seals, fur seals, leopard seals and a great number of seabirds.
In the Weddell Sea you follow in the footsteps of Ernest Henry Shackleton, encountering colonies of emperor penguins. A third of the world's population of Adélie penguins has settled in the Ross Sea. In Graham Land, only a handful of people live together in scientific bases, working to advance our understanding of climate, biodiversity and the environment.

During your Antarctica cruise, a team of naturalist guides and lecturers accompanies you throughout the expedition.
Zodiac outings are scheduled daily to get as close as possible to this unique wildlife, often remarkably unafraid of humans. On certain cruises, it is even possible to camp overnight on the White Continent.

You are far, very far from your usual bearings.
A journey to Antarctica is legendary, unforgettable.

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What to see in Antarctica

Faune de l'Antarctique, Kapitan Klhebnikov et les Manchots Empereurs @ Quark Expeditions

Faune de l'Antarctique

Extreme fragility
Mer de Weddell, Manchots empereurs en mer de Weddell © Quark - Peter Guttman

Mer de Weddell

The emperor's kingdom
Mer de Ross, Mer de Ross, Antarctique © Oceanwide

Mer de Ross

The last ocean

Experiences to have in Antarctica

Expédition en Mer de Ross, Mer de Ross, Antarctique © Oceanwide

Expédition en Mer de Ross

At the edge of the world's extreme seas

Prepare for an exceptional journey, filled with genuine emotion and unforgettable images. Day 1 - Departure from Ushuaia In the mid-afternoon, transfer from your hotel to the embarkation pier. Start of the cruise and introduction to the expedition team. The ship leaves Tierra del Fuego for Antarctica. First night at sea. Days 2 and 3 - Crossing the Drake ...

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Antarctique Express jusqu'au Cercle Polaire, Croisière en Antarctique © Quark - Lynn Woodworth

Antarctique Express jusqu'au Cercle Polaire

66°33' South latitude

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 ...

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Nuit sous tente en Antarctique, Campement en Antarctique © Quark Expeditions

Nuit sous tente en Antarctique

A night on the white continent

Few people can say they have camped on the 7th continent. It's one of the best ways to experience Antarctica more intimately and take your expedition a step further. Camping is available on certain Antarctic cruises. The overnight stay takes place in a very limited number of sites.  All equipment, guides and instructions are provided.

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We create your tailor-made journey

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01 77 37 03 10

Why travel to Antarctica

  • SMALL-SCALE VESSELS
  • SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPES
  • PROFESSIONAL EXPEDITION TEAMS
  • EXCEPTIONAL WILDLIFE
  • UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

Cruise ideas for Antarctica

Antarctica cruises, beyond the Polar Circle

Country

Antarctique Croisières et Yachting

Suggested duration

12 days / 11 nights

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 […]

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Antarctica Cruises with the Drake Passage by Air

Country

Antarctique Croisières et Yachting

Suggested duration

7 nights / 8 days

The Drake Passage is the stretch of ocean that navigators and explorers dread most. If you fear seasickness or simply want to save time, fly to the Antarctic Peninsula instead. After flying over Cape Horn and the legendary Drake Passage, we invite you to experience something unique. It will take you to one of the […]

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Luxury French-Speaking Cruises to Antarctica with Ponant

Country

Antarctique Croisières et Yachting

Suggested duration

12 days / 11 nights

Cast off and set out on a 5-star polar expedition. You will experience a refined Antarctic cruise, in the kingdom of ice. Ponant has over 20 years of experience. Over the years, it has established itself as a true specialist in the Poles and expedition cruises. On the Peninsula, in South Georgia, in the Falkland […]

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Emperor Penguins in the Weddell Sea

Country

Antarctique Croisières et Yachting

Suggested duration

12 days / 11 nights

This cruise is an exceptional exploration expedition in Antarctica. It offers a unique opportunity to encounter Emperor penguins. Your expedition vessel cuts a path through an impressive quantity of ice and icebergs. You sail the Weddell Sea toward rarely explored sites that serve as a refuge for wildlife. Weather conditions and the natural cycles of […]

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Ponant, Le Commandant Charcot and the Emperor Penguins of Bellingshausen

Country

Croisières et Yachting Antarctique

Suggested duration

16 days / 14 nights

This exceptional cruise aboard Le Commandant Charcot takes you into the heart of the Bellingshausen Sea, beyond Peter I and Charcot Islands. Names that sound like extreme adventure. The promise of deeply moving encounters. Emperor penguins live here, a species found nowhere else, endemic to Antarctica and rarely observed, as their colonies are difficult to […]

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Cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula

Country

Antarctique Croisières et Yachting

Suggested duration

11 days / 10 nights

This cruise offers a unique opportunity to explore the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. The budget is reasonable and travel conditions are excellent. This Antarctic cruise immerses you in a landscape of dark, jagged rock, pristine snow and remarkable wildlife. You will be in the company of penguins, seals and whales throughout your […]

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More cruise ideas for Antarctica

In the news

Penguin species

Penguin species

26 January 2024

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The Northern Lights

The Northern Lights

28 November 2023

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And the Commandant Charcot set sail…

And the Commandant Charcot set sail…

23 October 2021

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When to travel to Antarctica

L’Antarctique n’est accessible que de novembre à mars, durant l’été austral. En fonction de la période choisie, les observations sont différentes. Globalement, novembre est la période de reproduction, décembre celle de nidification et du début des naissances des manchots royaux en Georgie du Sud. Janvier est la pleine période des naissances des ...
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Budget to plan for

Prices vary according to the length of the cruise, the distance covered, the type of vessel used and the cabin booked. We strongly recommend planning this trip well in advance. The cruise operators we work with offer preferential rates as soon as bookings open, a minimum discount of 15%.
Last-minute bookings can also prove advantageous, with discounts of up to 40% on available cabins, including higher categories. All of this varies considerably depending on availability.
For a 15-day trip departing from Europe, plan a minimum budget of around €11,000 per person.

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Expert advice

We deliberately do not offer expeditions limited to 3 or 4 days on the Antarctic Peninsula, despite their sometimes attractive price.
If you choose to cross the Drake Passage by boat, plan for a minimum of 12 days departing from Ushuaia.
If you have limited time, choose to fly over the Drake Passage and plan for 8 days departing from Punta Arenas, Chile. The actual time spent in Antarctica remains the same as for a cruise crossing the Drake Passage by sea.

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Our clients say it best

Your questions / Our answers

Can you reach Antarctica without crossing the Drake Passage by sea?

Yes, certainly — some cruises depart from Puntarenas, Chile. You’ll reach King George Island, where you’ll board your expedition ship, after a flight of around 2 hours over Cape Horn and the Drake Passage.

Where to go in Antarctica to observe emperor penguins?

The Weddell Sea is the place to go. Beyond the spectacular icebergs, one of the main draws of a cruise to the Weddell Sea is the chance to encounter the emperor penguin. During the winter months, it moves across the sea ice near the continent, where it comes to breed. In 1986, several colonies were discovered along the eastern coasts of the Weddell Sea, and in 1997, an aerial survey identified a 44th colony on Snow Hill.

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