Antarctica Direct: Sail and Fly the Drake Passage

Arrive in Puerto Natales. Originally a small fishing port, the town is nestled on the Last Hope Sound and boasts a stunning view of the sea surrounded by the Cerro Benitez Mountains—the gateway to Torres del Paine. Transfer from the airport to your hotel, where you'll enjoy dinner and attend a briefing on the following day’s activities. Arrival Time: Arrive by 2:00 p.m. local time Arrival City: Puerto Natales, Chile

Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your two-hour direct flight to King George Island in Antarctica, where you'll begin your Antarctic adventure. Home to a diverse assortment of wildlife, King George Island also has a human presence. Researchers from a wide range of countries, including the U.S., Chile, Argentina and Brazil, call the various stations home. Your flight will land on a gravel runway at the Chilean research station. You will then be transferred to the rocky shoreline, where you will board Zodiacs to embark on the ship and set sail as you begin exploring this amazing region.

With long hours of daylight at this time of year, you'll have ample opportunities to explore. The schedule is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of the unexpected, whether you’re watching whales at play off the bow of the ship, hiking alongside penguin highways or enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise amid porpoising penguins. While wildlife is magnificent, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know ice up close and personal—from icebergs the size of islands, bergy bits and near-vertical glaciers, to the fragile, nearly invisible layers that have just begun to freeze. One day, you might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level; embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed shags; or walk amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins. The next, you might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. Everywhere you go in Antarctica, you'll be surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images. Along the way your expert expedition team will enrich every experience.

This 500-mile-wide strait between the Antarctic Peninsula and South America is one of the most famous bodies of water in the world. Sometimes ferocious, sometimes flat calm, the Drake is always a fascinating place in its own right. This part of the journey is your best opportunity to see gorgeous seabirds like the wandering albatross, and you might be lucky enough to encounter orca whales or rare species of dolphins. Visit the Bridge (a great place to spot wildlife), have a relaxing massage, attend a talk about the biology of the penguins you’ve just seen or settle into a comfy chair in the observation lounge to look out over the waves and reflect on your incredible journey. Toast your epic voyage at a festive farewell dinner.

Arrive in Ushuaia. Sandwiched between ice-mantled peaks and the frigid waters of the Beagle Channel, this is a fittingly wild place to be known as “El Fin del Mundo” or “The End of the World.” Transfer to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy dinner.

Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport to begin your journey homeward. Departure Time: Depart no earlier than 10:00 a.m. local time Departure City: Ushuaia, Argentina