Compare Antarctica Classic by G Adventures vs Antarctic Circle Expedition by Hurtigruten

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Trip	Antarctica Classic by G Adventures 5 \| Excellent 42314 Reviews Trip Details Save Trip Reserve	Antarctic Circle Expedition by Hurtigruten 3.5 \| Average 29 Reviews Trip Details Save Trip Customize

Duration	11 days	16 days
Price From	$ 7,599	$ 8,031
Price Per Day	$ 691	$ 502
Highlights	Set foot on antarctica — the world's least-visited continent Watch majestic albatross soar by the ship while crossing the drake passage Opt to brave the chill of a polar plunge Witness immense icebergs and magnificent glaciers Have your questions answered by antarctica experts	First class scientific lectures Come ashore on isolated beaches and spend the night in a tent Cross the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66° 33’ 39’’ See penguins, Leopard seals and whales
Trip Style	Small ship cruise	Small ship cruise
Lodging Level	Standard	Premium
Physical Level	2- Easy	2- Easy
Travel Themes	Cultural Nature & Wildlife National Parks Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing Trekking & Expeditions Small Ship Cruise	Cultural Nature & Wildlife National Parks Small Ship Cruise
Countries Visited	Antarctica Argentina	Antarctica Argentina
Cities and Attractions	Antarctic Peninsula Shetland Islands South Shetland Islands Ushuaia	Buenos Aires Shetland Islands Ushuaia
Flights & Transport	Ground transport included	Ground transport included
Activities	Canoeing Culture Hiking History Kayaking Nature Photography Wildlife viewing	Culture Hiking Kayaking Nature Whale watching Wildlife viewing
Meals Included	10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners	N/A
Description	The Antarctic Peninsula is anything but a world of white desolation. Join us on a true adventure to a world of immense scale and visual splendour. Passing huge icebergs in the flat calm of a polar morning will reshape the way you look at your world. Encounter huge whales, enormous rookeries of penguins, and stunning landscapes few have ever witnessed. This 11-day expedition will introduce you to the magic of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.	Cross the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66° 33’ 39’’ and set foot where few have gone before you. Starting in Buenos Aires, you have the opportunity to discover the “Paris of South America” before embarking on MS Fram in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost town and setting course for the Southern Ocean. En route to Antarctica we sail through the notorious Drake Passage, where two oceans meet. Then we head through open sea towards a continent of endless white wilderness, with its overwhelming presence of nature and wildlife.

Itinerary: Antarctica Classic

Day 1 Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia at any time. Arrival transfer included. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the world's most southerly city.

There will be a welcome desk in the lobby of the start hotel that will provide more specific information on the G Expedition and your upcoming adventure. Please note that the first night in Ushuaia is on twin share basis. If you're travelling solo or have an odd number of travellers in your group and have not purchased a private cabin, you will be paired with another solo traveller of the same gender.

Day 2 Ushuaia/Drake Passage

Enjoy a free morning in Ushuaia. Do any last minute shopping, explore the town, or visit the surrounding countryside. Embarkation on the G Expedition begins in the afternoon at the port in Ushuaia. Enjoy the evening sailing through the Beagle Channel.

Opt to visit the magnificent Tierra del Fuego National Park today before boarding the ship.

Expedition travel can be full of surprises! While it is our intention of adhere to the itinerary described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. On the first day onboard, the Expedition Leader will give an expedition overview outlining what the specific plans are for the trip.

Day 3 Drake Passage/South Shetland Islands

The adventure begins with an 1000km (800mi) crossing of the passage named in honour of the 16th-century English sea captain and privateer, Sir Francis Drake. Take in daily lectures from the expedition team and keep an eye out for the first sightings of icebergs, whales and albatross following in the G Expedition's wake.

The G Expedition is at home in this part of the Southern Ocean, known for the unimpeded never ending fetch of the winds that encircle the Antarctic. As the Expedition crosses the passage there will be time to become acquainted with the ship and frequent the common areas that include the lounge, dining hall, library and lecture hall where we meet our guides, ship’s crew and expedition staff. Begin lectures and information sessions to learn the extraordinary human and natural history of the Antarctic region

Day 4 Drake Passage/South Shetland Islands

Day 5 South Shetland Islands/Antarctic Peninsula

Experience some of the most unique wildlife viewing and inspiring scenery in the world while setting foot on the Antarctic continent. Attempt two shore landings per day (weather permitting) and encounter Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie penguin rookeries, Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, and orca, humpback and minke whales in the cold Antarctic waters. During the voyage, learn about the peninsula's remarkable history.

This is what we've all been waiting for - a chance to explore step foot on the Great White Continent! Over the next 4 days the Expedition will navigate southwards making stops in the South Shetland Islands then through the Bransfield Strait and to the Antarctic Peninsula. Our goal is to attempt two excursions per day while navigating through the area but the itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions. During the voyage, learn about some of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world.

Day 6 South Shetland Islands/Antarctic Peninsula

Day 7 South Shetland Islands/Antarctic Peninsula

Day 8 South Shetland Islands/Antarctic Peninsula

Day 9 Drake Passage/Ushuaia

Begin the journey north to the home port of Ushuaia. Review the highlights of the Antarctic experience with the lecturers and staff. Keep sharp eyes on the observation deck for some last-minute whale sightings.

Leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. In between bird watching and whale watching and enjoying some final lectures by the expedition staff, this is a chance to relax and review the adventures of the past week before returning to Ushuaia. Remember, the best way to experience the wildlife of the Drake Passage is to be on deck keeping a look out for Albatross, Prions, and Whales!

Day 10 Drake Passage/Ushuaia

Day 11 Ushuaia

Disembark the G Expedition after breakfast.

In the morning upon completion you will disembarkation in Ushuaia. Passengers will receive a complimentary transfer to either the airport or a central location where luggage can be stored. For those on morning flights, a transfer will bring them directly to Ushuaia airport (USH). The rest of the passengers will be transferred to the luggage storage point and given time to explore the city. These passengers should then return to retrieve their luggage and board a second transfer to Ushuaia airport in the afternoon, depending on their flight times. Please note that the transfer times are subject to change according to flight schedules.

Itinerary: Antarctic Circle Expedition

Day 1: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires’ mixture of elegant and bohemian neighbourhoods only adds to its charm and appeal. You start with an overnight stay here, in the birthplace of the tango.

Day 2: Buenos Aires/Ushuaia

Ushuaia is where the Andes meet the Southern Ocean. It is a busy port and adventure hub with steep streets and architectural diversity below the snow-capped Martial Range.

Day 3: Drake Passage

The Drake Passage is the stretch of ocean between the south tip of South America, also known as Cape Horn or Tierra del Fuego, part of Chile, and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. On the way across the passage and towards “the ice” (as it’s often referred to by our expedition leaders) you can learn a great deal about Antarctica’s natural wonders and fascinating history.

Day 4: Drake Passage

The Drake Passage is famous for some of the roughest and most unforgiving waters of the world. This is where two oceans meet; sailors say that it’s either the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake.

Day 5: Antarctica

The Antarctic continent is an endless white wilderness full of overwhelming vistas of nature and wildlife. On this special trip, we plan to cross the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66° 33’ 39’’. We will go ashore several places and offer activities like hiking, kayak trips and snowshoeing. You might even have the chance to spend a night ashore in a tent. Witness what the winter-locked landscape of Antarctica looks like in summer and set foot where few have gone before you.

Visiting the South Shetland Islands is definitely worth looking forward to. Deception Island, Half Moon Island and Yankee Harbour all have a diverse landscape, amazing animal life and spectacular photo opportunities. The narrow Errera Channel offers a spectacular passage to and from Cuverville Island. Neko Harbour is feeding ground for shy minke whales. Paradise Harbour offers another rare opportunity for a mainland landing and some of the finest vistas of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Lemaire Channel is known as one of the most beautiful passages in Antarctica and Petermann Island is a great place for iceberg and whale spotting. On the British base Port Lockroy you get a peek into life on an Antarctic base in the 1950s. Wilhelmina Bay is feeding ground for whales and seals, and was a preferred hunting ground for whalers back in the days. Evidence of this is a partially submerged wreck of a Norwegian whaling ship. We might take a closer look at the wreck from our Polarcirkel boats. The 48 km (30 mi) Antarctic Sound is home to an estimated half million adélie penguins as well as gentoo penguins, leopard seals, and killer whales. On Brown Bluff we might land and take a walk along the beach admiring the lava “bombs” from the old volcano and all the penguins. There is also the chance to walk to the viewpoint above the landing site. On Detaille Island we find the former geology and meteorology "Base W" of the British Antarctic Survey. On Horseshoe Island we’ll see an important example of a relatively unaltered and completely equipped British scientific research station of the 1950s.

Day 6: Still in Antarctica