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Our Tour Experts 
Heroes and Heroines Private Charter Flight
Take a private charter flight from Chile, arriving in Antarctica in less then three hours.
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![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Air-Cruise Antarctica
Travel to the Antarctic Peninsula in style, cutting out the conventional two-day ship sailing across the erratic waters of the Drake Passage and opting instead for a two-hour flight from Chilean Patagonia.
On arrival in the South Shetland Islands, board an ice-strengthened expedition vessel for an in-depth exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ideally suited to those short on time, anxious about four days of sailing crossing the Drake Passage, or keen to arrive on the Great White Continent in style.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
1
2Skip the Drake Shake
Avoid two days of sailing across the unpredictable Drake Passage.
3Ice Sheet from Above
Take in the magnificent scenery of the Drake and the South Shetland Islands from above.
4Expeditionary Vessels
When in Antarctica, travel on-board an ice-strengthened vessel that will become your base camp.
Day 1
Punta Arenas
Day 2
Punta Arenas - King George Island
Days 3-6
Sailing the Antarctic Peninsula
Day 7
King George Island - Punta Arenas
Depart Antarctica with a flight north to Chile.
Day 8
Punta Arenas
Depart Punta Arenas or maybe extend your stay in Patagonia
Day 1
Punta Arenas
Arrive in Punta Arenas in time for the evening pre flight briefing.
Day 2
Punta Arenas - King George Island
Fly into the Chilean air base at Frei on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands and embarking the ship ready to explore straight away.
Days 3-6
Sailing the Antarctic Peninsula
Explore the South Shetland Islands before crossing the Bransfield Straight to the Antarctic Peninsula allowing you to set foot on the seventh continent. Visit penguin colonies, explore research stations and maybe post a letter from Port Lockroy.
Day 7
King George Island - Punta Arenas
Day 8
Punta Arenas
Charter flight to Antarctica
Soar Over the Drake Passage
Board a privately chartered plane in Chilean Patagonia for a scenic two and a half-hour flight over the infamous Drake Passage, spotting cruising vessels beneath you as you go. The sight of the vast continent of pristine white wilderness unfurling below is quite a breathtaking one. In circumventing the potentially stormy stretch of water (its unpredictability often expressed as “the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake”), the air-cruise option wards off potential sea sickness and exchanges two sea days for time on the Peninsula.
King George Island
Wait Not, Want Not
Upon landing at King George Island, board a small expeditionary vessel and begin cruising the Antarctic Peninsula in an exclusive group of no more than 73 people. Restrictions on the number of passengers allowed at any one site mean that those travelling on larger ships may have long waits before excursions. In choosing this smaller ship option, bypass taking turns to disembark in favour of spending valuable time exploring the epic proportions, towering icebergs and huge variety of wildlife on offer in the peninsula.
Step Foot on the White Continent
Adventure in Antarctica
Depending on the specific departure, you might find yourself taking a dip in the hot geothermal springs of Pendulum Cove, walking inside the ruins of a Norwegian Whaling Station or bimbling amongst chinstrap penguins on Half Moon Island. With each day comes another unique disembarkation, from zodiac safaris to wildlife hikes, ensuring snow-covered boots and hefty appetites at days’ end. We can also arrange small group sea kayaking for those who might like to try and spot a breaching whale up close, and snowshoeing for those seeking an adventure on foot.
Wildlife of Antarctica
Discover Endemic Species
From gentoos and humpbacks to king cormorants and minke, the wildlife in Antarctica is varied, plentiful and up close. Thriving in this enchanting territory that contains more than 90% of the planet’s land ice, find macaroni penguins, crabeater seals and the occasional wandering albatross (and compositions that make for a photographers’ dream). On-board expert polar guides are always on hand to identify the species that are present in abundant numbers, and engaging on-board lectures are designed to impart their knowledge of the creatures of Antarctica.
See more of the World
Extend to Torres del Paine
In shaving a total of four whole days off of your journey time to and from Antarctica, more days are freed to explore the south of Chile! We recommend a journey to Patagonia, particularly Torres del Paine National Park, to experience this iconic landscape and perhaps hike to the base of its three granite towers. For a wildlife-centric trip, consider joining a puma-tracking adventure.
Let’s chat
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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