Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage 8-Day

Arrive in Puerto Natales. Originally a small fishing port, the town is nestled on the Last Hope Sound and boasts a stunning view of the sea surrounded by the Cerro Benitez Mountains—the gateway to Torres del Paine. Transfer from the airport to your hotel, where you'll enjoy dinner and attend a briefing on the following day’s activities. Ask your expedition specialist about joining an immersive <a href=https://www.expeditions.com/extensions/torres-del-paine-pre-extension-exploring-patagonias-jewel>5-day pre-voyage extension</a> to explore Torres del Paine National Park, an incredible UNESCO biosphere reserve. <b>Arrival Time:</b> Arrive to the hotel in Puerto Natales by 3:00 p.m. local time. <br /><b>Arrival City:</b> Puerto Natales, Chile

Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your two-hour direct flight to King George Island in Antarctica, where you'll begin your Antarctic adventure. Home to a diverse assortment of wildlife, King George Island also has a human presence. Researchers from a wide range of countries, including the U.S., Chile, Argentina and Brazil, call the various stations home. Your flight will land at the Chilean research station where the <i>National Geographic Explorer</i> will be waiting offshore. Board Zodiacs to embark the ship and set sail as you begin exploring this amazing region.

With long hours of daylight at this time of year, you'll have ample opportunities to explore. The schedule is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of the unexpected, whether you’re watching whales at play off the bow of the ship, hiking alongside penguin highways or enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise amid porpoising penguins. While wildlife is magnificent, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know ice up close and personal—from icebergs the size of islands, bergy bits and near-vertical glaciers, to the fragile, nearly invisible layers that have just begun to freeze. One day, you might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level; embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed shags; or walk amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins. The next, you might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. Everywhere you go in Antarctica, you'll be surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images. Along the way your expert expedition team will enrich every experience. 

This morning, the ship will be moored off of King George Island once again. Following disembarkation and Zodiac rides to shore, your flight departs the White Continent and returns to Puerto Natales where you overnight at your hotel.

Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport to begin your journey homeward.<b>Departure Time: </b>Outbound flights from Puerto Natales should depart no earlier than 1:00 p.m. local time (or as late in the day as possible).<br /><b>Departure City: </b>Puerto Natales, Chile