February 3-10, 2023
Join Ryan & Malaka Hilton as they fly in style to the last continent and indulge in 100% Antarctic beauty. Antarctica can be closer than you think. Skip the Drake Passage to fly from Punta Arenas straight to Antarctica! Let Silver Explorer take you across the continent, immersed in the otherworldly beauty of the most extreme latitudes on the planet.
Punta Arenas, Chile
February 3, 2023 – upon arrival into Punta Arenas Airport you will be greeted and transferred to Hotel Cabo de Hornos to check-in for 1 night.
February 4, 2023 – King George Island – After breakfast, transfers by road to the Punta Arenas Airport to check-in for the flight to King George Island. Upon arrival into King George Island you we will be greeted and transferred by road the Silver Explorer to board for 5 nights.
With its 1,150km² King George Island is the largest of the South Shetland Islands. One of the islands closest to South America and only some 120 kilometers from the Antarctic Peninsula, King George Island was first seen by William Smith in 1819 and was named after George III, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover. Despite the fact that almost 90 percent of the island’s surface is covered by ice and glaciers, 10 different nations have permanent bases or stations set up on Fildes Peninsula, along the shores of Maxwell Bay and at Admiralty Bay. Base Eduardo Frei Montalva (named after Chile’s president when the meteorological station was opened in 1969) is Chile’s most important in Antarctica as it has an airstrip used for flights from and to Punta Arenas and the civilian settlement Villa Las Estrellas. Even though the island boasts so many stations and base personnel, the island still has other summer inhabitants one regularly connects with Antarctica: Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins. Weddell and leopard seals can be seen in the water or on the shore, and seabirds like the Giant Petrel are never far off.
Silversea Endeavour
February 5, 2023 – Antarctic Sound – Few voyages ignite the imagination like a journey down to one of the planet’s most remote, extreme and enchanting wilderness, Antarctica. An adventure in its purest form, only a handful of people will ever be lucky enough to experience the majestic beauty of these monochrome landscapes first-hand. The Antarctic Sound will be one of your first encounters of this whitewash kingdom, located at the northerly tip of the Antarctic Peninsula – which sprawls up like a tentacle towards Tierra del Fuego, South America’s most southerly point, otherwise known as the ‘End of the World’. Taking its name from the first ship to brave the passageway between the peninsular and the Joinville Island groups back in 1902, the Sound is a raw, sensory assault of imposing iceberg slabs, broken away from the disintegrating Larsen Ice Shelf. Come face-to-face with stadium-sized islands of ice and meet the extraordinary bird life that call this whitewash kingdom home.
Watch on, as colonies of Gentoo penguins hop around, and cape petrels sweep overhead, as the continent’s unique wildlife thrives around you. If you’re planning your first venture into Antarctica, you’ll want to brush up on your photography skills in advance, to capture this unforgiving continent in all of its unrestrained glory. Read our blog for tips on how to ensure that your photos do justice to the adventure of a lifetime.
February 6, 2023 – Antarctic Peninsular (3 days spent cruising and viewing the peninsular) – The Antarctic Peninsular unravels upwards towards South America, reaching out a beckoning finger to the adventurous, who dare to explore this untamed realm. Stretching up from the heart of the world’s southernmost continent, the Antarctic Peninsula lies a mere 620 mile from Tierra del Fuego and, for many, offers a spectacular first taste of the snow-blanketed landscapes and colossal ice sculptures, which make up Earth’s least-explored continent. Unseen by humans until 1820 – a blink of an eye ago in relative terms – this is an adventure sure to make your hairs stand on end, as you experience the thrill of the truly unknown and extraordinary. The vast peninsula is sprinkled with research bases, which are at the front-line of human scientific endeavor, pushing to study and understand this unique landscape, its exceptional wildlife, and the impact that humans are having on this pristine continent.
Witness cathedral-sized icebergs up close, and blue-hued glaciers, slowly slipping from imposing locations like Hope Bay. Blanched mountain peaks cover the peninsula, and you’ll find thousands of adorable Adelie penguin pairs thriving undisturbed in this peninsula’s unique setting
February 8, 2023 – South Shetland Islands – The ice-coated Antarctic Peninsula forms perhaps the most accessible region of mainland Antarctica, lying a mere 480-miles away from South America, across the fabled waters of Drakes Passage. Lying close to the northwestern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, separated by the Bransfield Strait, the South Shetland Islands fall under the jurisdiction of the Antarctic Treaty, suspending claims on their sovereignty. Several countries maintain research bases here, and with plump elephant seals, and crowds of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie Penguins also calling the islands home, it can even feel a little crowded at times. King George Island is the largest and most hospitable island, hosting the majority of the research stations – some of which are populated all-year-round by tiny, hardy crews. Don’t be fooled though, these islands offer extraordinary adventure in one of the most remote locations on earth.
The triple peaks of Mount Foster tower above the archipelago, and you’ll feel your heart pumping a little quicker, as you sail into the core of Deception Island’s magnificent collapsed volcano caldera. Hike the luna landscapes within, and even dip into the improbably warm, geothermally-heated waters of Pendulum Cove. Elephant Island, meanwhile, is written deep into the annals of Antarctic expedition legend, as the site where Ernest Shackleton and the stricken crew of the Endurance miraculously survived a harsh Antarctic winter, in 1916. Discover even more reasons to visit this incredible icy kingdom and find out why many consider the South Shetland Islands to be the jewel in Antarctica’s Crown, by reading our blog.
February 9, 2023 – Disembark King George Island – After disembarkation, transfer to King George Airport to check-in for the scheduled flight to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival into Punta Arenas Airport we will be greeted and transferred by road to Hotel Cabo de Hornos to check-in for 1 night.
February 10, 2023 – Depart Hotel for transfer to Punta Arenas Airport to check-in for scheduled departing flight.
Call Michelle Andersen at 941.951.1801 ext 103 for accurate availability and pricing.
A $250 per person Admiral Travel Booking Fee will apply. (VIPLane members complimentary)
Inclusions:
- Economy Class International air *upgrades available at additional cost
- Round-trip Punta Arenas/King George Island in business class
- 1 night hotel pre and post your cruise
- Transfers (between airport/hotel and ship)
- Guided Zodiac, land and sea tours, and shoreside activities led by the Expeditions Team
- Parka
- Enrichment lectures by a highly qualified Expeditions Team
- Spacious suites
- Butler service in every suite
- Unlimited Free Wifi
- Personalized service – nearly one crew member for every guest
- Choice of restaurants, diverse cuisine, open-seating dining
- Beverages in-suite and throughout the ship, including champagne, select wines and spirits,
- In-suite dining and room service
- On-board entertainment
- On-board gratuities
Flight disclaimer: DAP Airlines: from Punta Arenas to King George Island.
If the weather is poor on the day of departure, flight delays are possible. If air is delayed, touring in Punta Arenas is scheduled with an additional overnight at Hotel Cabo de Hornos
Click links below for our Chile Pre-Trip and Argentina Post Trip!
PLEASE NOTE:
- All payments made to or on behalf of Admiral Travel are non-refundable unless stated otherwise
- If minimum numbers are not met for a hosted departure, prices are subject to change / increase to confirm same program on a private basis
- Founder’s Journey will always be priced at or below published rates, but never higher.
- Travel with like-minded individuals on these exclusive departures.
- Enjoy a welcome cocktail party to meet your fellow travelers.
- A hosted dinner will be offered during one night of the trip with the Hiltons.
- On many occasions, optional shore events are offered as an option that only our group is invited to join.
- Special global relationships that the Hiltons have formed over the years will allow you privileged access opportunities.
- Trips are offered well in advance to give ample time for your future planning.
- Minimum numbers must be met in order for the Hiltons to host the journey.
- The Hiltons reserve the right to adjust the duration of their participation should any schedule conflicts arise.