ANTARCTIC MICRO FLY CRUISE
__________________
ANTARCTIC MICRO FLY CRUISE
Fly over the Drake Passage and land directly on King George Island. Board the Polar Athena and sail as far south as ice conditions allow, navigating narrow channels such as the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel, and the Lemaire Channel to reach wildlife-rich sites and incomparable scenery.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puerto Natales, Chile | Transfer from the airport to your included hotel, day at leisure |
| 2 | Puerto Natales to King George Island | Fly from Puerto Natales to King George Island, board the Polar Athena to start your Antarctic expedition |
| 3 - 8 | Antarctic Peninsula | Dramatic coastlines, penguin colonies, many species of whales and seals, calving glaciers |
| 9 | King George Island to Puerto Natales | Fly back to Puerto Natales from King George Island, enjoy another included hotel night |
| 10 | Puerto Natales | Enjoy your last day in Puerto Natales before continuing your adventure |
SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Polar Athena
The Polar Athena was born as a research vessel and is in a class that has built a legacy for exploration in the polar regions. Constructed in 1974 as the Akademik Shuleykin, later re-named the Polar Pioneer, now the Polar Athena, she has a 1A super ice-class rating. As such, she’s built to slice through heavy sea ice.
Having undergone a significant refit in 2025/26, she now has space for just 42 guests in comfortable and modern cabins. Social spaces have also been upgraded and after a recent spell in dry-dock, her engines been overhauled and her stabilisers re-installed. The Polar Athena offers an excellent small-ship option for observation and versatility in the polar regions. Given her size, she can quickly board all guests into Zodiacs and be off exploring in a mater of minutes.
Day 1 Puerto Natales, Chile
Begin your Antarctic journey in the remote Puerto Natales and experience Patagonia’s soul from the first moment. You will be met at the airport upon your arrival and transferred to your included hotel.
Day 2 Puerto Natales to King George Island
After meeting the team in Puerto Natales, Chile, you’ll board a two-and-a-half-hour charter flight with your fellow guests across the Drake Passage to King George Island, your gateway to Antarctica. Upon landing, a Zodiac transfer will take you to your ship, where your voyage into the white continent begins.
Days 3 – 8 Antarctic Peninsula
Visit remote and rugged islands along the peninsula, where you’ll see dramatic volcanic cliffs, glacier-sculpted shorelines, and encounter large colonies of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins nesting side by side, with their hungry chicks. You’ll glide through the narrow and stunning channels often packed with glittering sea ice and steep mountains on both sides by still waters.
Prepare to enjoy a Zodiac cruise through sapphire-blue iceberg-filled coves and serene reflective waters, and look out for humpback whales, leopard seals, and calving glaciers.
Land on islands where gentoo penguins nest among whalebone relics, and young fur seals frolic in shallow waters, while elephant seals will be hauled out on shore. Sail into the heart of the Antarctic Peninsula through the scenic Gerlache Strait, flanked by jagged peaks. If ice conditions allow, venture into regions renowned for impressive tabular icebergs and dramatic landscapes.
Day 9 King George Island to Puerto Natales
On the final day, disembark at King George Island and take a charter flight back to Puerto Natales. There, you’ll stay at an included and very comfortable lodge, where you can relax and reflect on your extraordinary Antarctic experiences.
Day 10 Puerto Natales
Enjoy your last day in Puerto Natales before continuing your adventure.
We will tailor the perfect holiday to suit your needs.
Extend your trip to Patagonia
To make the most of your time in South America we can tailor a holiday to Patagonia to suit your voyage dates. If you have a bit more time we can create a tailor-made itinerary to some of the highlights of South America. Take a look at the Patagonia sample itineraries below and contact us to begin creating your perfect holiday.
