Buenos Aires to Ushuaia — Departing 2 January 2025 on the Viking Polaris
Alternate 2024, 2025 & 2026 departures also available at discounted rates. Please enquire to learn more.
As the year begins anew, the time has come to awaken your spirit of travel. A time to embrace your curiosity. In the footsteps of explorers such as Amundsen, Shackleton and Scott, you will be one of the few to discover the world’s last truly wild frontier. Each day brings new surprises and the opportunity to change plans to maximise wildlife sightings and adapt to ever-changing weather.
Day 1 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, is an eclectic combination of Latin and European influences. The tree-lined streets and postcolonial architecture draw on the city’s Spanish, French and Italian heritage, while the many cafés and bodegas and vibrant nightlife are decidedly Argentine. It's barrios, or neighbourhoods, exude an intimate atmosphere that belies the city’s size. Full of bohemian flair, historic San Telmo’s cobblestone streets and Belle Époque–style buildings reverberate with the mesmerising melodies of the tango.
Day 2 - Ushuaia, Argentina
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and board your charter flight to your embarkation city. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. Its splendid setting, tucked between the Beagle Channel and the southernmost slopes of the Andes, lends it an outpost atmosphere, as do the Antarctic explorers readying for the expeditions that depart from here. Ushuaia is the capital of and gateway to the celebrated Tierra del Fuego, the “Land of Fire,” named by Spaniards upon seeing the constant flames burned by the indigenous Yámana to keep warm. This largely unspoiled region comprises the large island of Tierra del Fuego and countless Chilean and Argentine islands.
Day 3 - Sail Drake Passage
Named for 16th-century English privateer Sir Francis Drake, the frigid waters of the Drake Passage stretch for some 600 miles between Cape Horn and Livingston Island in the South Shetland archipelago. As you sail today, attend an informative lecture or watch a film on our 8k laser-projected panoramic screen in The Aula, one of the world's most advanced venues for learning at sea. This indoor-outdoor experience allows nature to take centre stage with its retractable floor-to-ceiling windows that unveil 270° views.
Days 4 to 10 - Explore Antarctica
At once ethereal and majestic, Antarctica has inspired explorers and adventurers for centuries. In this icy wilderness, marvel at icebergs glimmering in serene bays and mountains cloaked in white rising from the mainland basalt cliffs. These stunning landscapes evoke both utter tranquility as fur seals lounge on a floating sheet of ice, and breathtaking drama as glaciers thunderously calve into the sea. In these cold and nutrient-rich waters, humpback, fin and giant blue whales have been known to greet expedition ships that venture into their habitat.
Day 11 - Sail Drake Passage
The Drake Passage has a notorious reputation for being the roughest seas on Earth. Traversing it required braving massive waves, hurricane-force winds and icy conditions that tested the mettle of both sailor and ship. As you sail, admire the surrounding vistas from the Finse Terrace, an outdoor lounge area designed to keep you warm in colder climes while enjoying the dramatic scenery.
Day 12 - Scenic Sailing: Cape Horn
Rising above the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans converge, Cape Horn, named for the Dutch city of Hoorn in The Netherlands, is part of the Hermite Islands archipelago. This remote, stark and treeless place is often considered the continent’s southernmost point. Soaring from Hornos Island is an enormous prehistoric-looking massif of Jurassic volcanic rock. Atop, stands its historic lighthouse near the water’s edge. A beacon of assurance and safety for countless sailors since 1991, it is the world’s southernmost traditional-style lighthouse.
Day 13 - Ushuaia, Argentina
The “city at the end of the world” is one of the planet’s most breathtaking destinations; Andean peaks, pristine lakes and boreal forests create a dramatic backdrop, surrounding this captivating coastal town. Although Ushuaia lies more than 600 miles north of Antarctica, the city’s port is still the closest to the “Last Continent” and the starting point for its exploration. The majesty of Antarctica’s landscape attracts visitors seeking adventure, with its packed ice plains, rugged mountains and abundance of wildlife, such as whales, seals and various species of penguin. Disembark your ship and transfer to the airport for your charter flight. Bid farewell to your fellow travelers and journey home.
Multiple departure available from May 2024 to November 2026
Below price based on departure on 3 August 2026, on the Viking Polaris, save up to $2,300 per couple per couple with Fly Free*
Secure your cabin by 15 November 2024 for these sensational savings!
For pricing on alternative departure dates in 2024, 2025 and 2026, please call our team on 1300 414 198 today!
Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.
Nordic Balcony:
Deluxe Nordic Balcony:
Nordic Penthouse:
Nordic Junior Suite:
Explorer Suite:
Owner’s Suite:
When to travel?
The ideal time to explore is the Antarctic summer, starting in November when cold, windy weather turns to 24-hour sunlight and temperatures rise to a comfortable 32° F. The ice melts, unlocking frozen seaways. Activities maximise your interaction and virtually all are included: explore by Special Operation Boats, kayak, submarine, zodiac and more.
Are there refrigerators in individual staterooms?
On board the expedition ships, each stateroom is equipped with a mini-bar. Your stateroom category will determine whether your mini-bar is replenished daily with drinks and snacks. Purified water is provided in all staterooms and refilled daily.
Can I see wildlife easily from the ship?
Yes. There are a wide variety of locations for wildlife viewing from the ship. Every room is an observation room with floor-to-ceiling, distortion-free windows throughout the ship and outdoor venues.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply
Companion Flies Free Offer - Fly Free up to AU$2,300 per couple when booked by 15 November 2024. Terms & Conditions apply.