Antarctica Full Day Trip by Plane

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to Antarctica? Now you can make it a reality with this full-day trip from Punta Arenas. We’ll land on King George Island and visit Bellingshausen Base, Fildes Bay, and the penguin colonies of Ardley Island.

Trip Details

Are you ready to take one of the most unforgettable trips of your life? If you're thinking of going to Antarctica but want to avoid the long hours of sailing through the Drake Passage, this is the perfect option! We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Punta Arenas and head to the airport to board a flight to Antarctica, which takes between 1.5 and 2 hours.

We’ll land on King George Island, the largest island in the South Shetland Archipelago, in the southern part of Antarctica. This island has the highest concentration of bases on the continent, serving as a significant hub for scientific research. We will explore the prominent Russian base that operates year-round, also known as Isla 25 de Mayo or Waterloo Island, making it an exceptional place to spend a day surrounded by Antarctica’s glaciers, mountains, and icebergs.

Once there, we’ll visit Villa Las Estrellas, a small Chilean settlement located at the Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Base, and the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church at Bellingshausen Base. Here, we’ll learn about the long-term research carried out by the Russian government since 1968. Instead of a formal lunch, we’ll enjoy snacks during our transfers to maximize our exploration time.

We’ll continue this incredible Antarctica tour with a visit to Fildes Bay, where we’ll board a zodiac-type boat to reach Ardley Island. There, we’ll observe gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguin colonies, delighting in their quirky movements!

After approximately five hours exploring this Antarctic region, we’ll return to the King George Island airport for our flight back to Punta Arenas, with snacks and drinks available during the trips. Late in the day, we’ll take you back to your hotel, concluding this unforgettable experience among glaciers.

Accommodation Details

This tour includes four nights of accommodation at a 3 or 4-star hotel in Punta Arenas during the days leading up to your flight to King George Island, dependent on weather conditions.

If the flight can take place on the second day of your stay, we will depart on that day rather than waiting for the last night.

Upon returning to Punta Arenas after the day trip, accommodation for that night will not be provided, though you are welcome to leave your luggage at the hotel until you return.

Important Info

• Please note that in the case of adverse weather conditions, the day trip may be rescheduled. If booked for a Tuesday, you should be available until Saturday for the tour. We will offer three alternative dates if needed. No refunds will be issued if alternatives do not work for you.
• If the day trip cannot occur on any reserved day due to weather, you will receive an 80% refund of the tour price.
• Visits to the bases on King George Island will occur on foot or by vehicle, based on weather conditions.
• You may bring a small backpack of up to 10 kilos (22 lbs) per person.
• It's essential to have your passport or ID with you for the tour.
• We recommend suitable clothing for extreme conditions, such as ski clothing, gloves, hats, scarves, warm socks, and waterproof boots.
• The included insurance covers passengers while inside the airplane or on the aircraft stairs; it’s necessary to have additional liability and rescue insurance for potential air evacuation from Antarctica.

Children Under 12

This day trip is not recommended for children under 12 due to the demanding conditions and low temperatures.