The Drake Express
Classic Antarctica Expedition: The Drake Express
This 5-night air-cruise is the most accessible way to experience Antarctica, pairing the romance of a southbound sea crossing with the ease of a flight home from the ice. You begin in Ushuaia and sail the Beagle Channel, calling at legendary Cape Horn before crossing the Drake Passage by sea, the classic approach that generations of explorers have taken. Reaching the South Shetland Islands, you go ashore by Zodiac among penguin colonies and cruise through ice-filled bays in the company of seals and whales. Then, rather than retrace the two-day crossing, you board a flight at King George Island and return north over the Drake in around two hours. It is a short, affordable introduction to the white continent that loses none of the wonder, and gives you both the sea passage and the time-saving flight in a single journey.
Itinerary highlights
Sail south across the Drake Passage by sea and fly back by air, experiencing both the classic crossing and the swift flight home in one trip.
Step ashore at legendary Cape Horn, weather permitting, one of the most storied landfalls in seafaring history.
Sail the historic Beagle Channel from Ushuaia, with Puerto Williams, the world's southernmost town, along the way.
Explore the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula by Zodiac, going ashore among penguin colonies.
Watch for seals and whales in ice-filled bays, and seabirds such as albatross and petrels on the southbound crossing.
Return north by air from King George Island, crossing the Drake Passage in around two hours rather than two days.
Travel with an expert expedition team whose guidance and talks bring the wildlife, ice and history to life.
Classic Antarctica Expedition: The Drake Express
This 5-night air-cruise is the most accessible way to experience Antarctica, pairing the romance of a southbound sea crossing with the ease of a flight home from the ice. You begin in Ushuaia and sail the Beagle Channel, calling at legendary Cape Horn before crossing the Drake Passage by sea, the classic approach that generations of explorers have taken. Reaching the South Shetland Islands, you go ashore by Zodiac among penguin colonies and cruise through ice-filled bays in the company of seals and whales. Then, rather than retrace the two-day crossing, you board a flight at King George Island and return north over the Drake in around two hours. It is a short, affordable introduction to the white continent that loses none of the wonder, and gives you both the sea passage and the time-saving flight in a single journey.
Itinerary highlights
Sail south across the Drake Passage by sea and fly back by air, experiencing both the classic crossing and the swift flight home in one trip.
Step ashore at legendary Cape Horn, weather permitting, one of the most storied landfalls in seafaring history.
Sail the historic Beagle Channel from Ushuaia, with Puerto Williams, the world's southernmost town, along the way.
Explore the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula by Zodiac, going ashore among penguin colonies.
Watch for seals and whales in ice-filled bays, and seabirds such as albatross and petrels on the southbound crossing.
Return north by air from King George Island, crossing the Drake Passage in around two hours rather than two days.
Travel with an expert expedition team whose guidance and talks bring the wildlife, ice and history to life.
What's Included
- Ship cruise and one-way flight between King George Island, Antarctica and Punta Arenas, Chile
- One night's hotel accommodation with breakfast in Punta Arenas on the day of the return flight
- Group transfers in Punta Arenas between hotel and airport as per the itinerary
- Daily meals on board, with wine, beer and soft drinks, plus snacks
- All guided shore excursions, Zodiac outings, lectures and onboard entertainment
- Loan of waterproof boots for landings
- IAATO passenger fee and contingency plan
- Comprehensive pre and post-voyage information
What's Included
- Ship cruise and one-way flight between King George Island, Antarctica and Punta Arenas, Chile
- One night's hotel accommodation with breakfast in Punta Arenas on the day of the return flight
- Group transfers in Punta Arenas between hotel and airport as per the itinerary
- Daily meals on board, with wine, beer and soft drinks, plus snacks
- All guided shore excursions, Zodiac outings, lectures and onboard entertainment
- Loan of waterproof boots for landings
- IAATO passenger fee and contingency plan
- Comprehensive pre and post-voyage information
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FAQs
On this Classic Drake Express you sail south by ship and fly north by air. You cross the Drake Passage by sea on the way down, taking in Cape Horn, then return from King George Island in Antarctica by a flight of around two hours back to Punta Arenas, Chile. You experience both the sea crossing and the time-saving flight in one trip.
Sailing south lets you experience the legendary Drake crossing and call at Cape Horn, while flying north saves roughly two days at sea and avoids a second open-ocean passage. It is a popular balance of the classic approach and the convenience of the air-cruise.
At six days it is among the most accessible ways to reach Antarctica, ideal if time is limited. You still go ashore among penguins, cruise by Zodiac and cross the Drake by sea, with the flight home shortening the return.
Expect gentoo and chinstrap penguins ashore, seals resting on the ice, and whales in the bays, along with albatross and petrels on the southbound crossing. Cape Horn adds a rare seabird-rich landfall, conditions permitting.