Active & Adventure Trip Antarctic Basecamp

During this expedition sea voyage with Oceanwide Expeditions, you will travel to one of the most pristine and remote areas on Earth: Antarctica. Near the South Pole, you will marvel at dramatic landscapes and beautiful nature. From the outer deck and on land, you will enjoy breathtaking views and observe wildlife in their natural habitat. Activities such as kayaking, camping, snowshoeing, zodiac rides, mountain climbing, and photography workshops are already included, allowing you to fully enjoy this adventure. The price per person refers to accommodation in a double cabin for double occupancy.

Active & Adventure Trip Antarctic Basecamp: Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Embarkation
Embarkation takes place in Ushuaia in the afternoon. You settle into a cozy cabin and prepare for exciting days ahead. Watch from the outer deck as the ship leaves the port and sets sail towards the Beagle Channel.

Day 2-3: Drake Passage
After breakfast, you start the day full of anticipation. You continue southward across the Drake Passage. The waters here can be rough at times, but on some days, they can also be calm as glass. Use the free time on board to prepare for Antarctica and attend lectures by the expedition team, or marvel at the endless expanse of the ocean from the outer deck. After passing the Antarctic Convergence - the natural boundary of Antarctica, formed when cold north-flowing currents collide with warmer subantarctic seas - you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does marine life change, but birdlife changes as well. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson's storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are some of the birds you might see.

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Day 4-10: Antarctica
You start each day with a hearty breakfast. Weather and ice conditions determine the itinerary - your expedition team and captain will ensure the best possible experience. Activities such as kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, camping, photo workshops and Zodiac trips are already included and round off your adventure in Antarctica perfectly. Impressions that await you: gray stone mountains framed by snow sketches, towers of broken blue-white ice and dramatically different wildlife below and above you. You first pass the snow-covered Melchior Islands and the Schollaert Channel as you sail between the islands of Brabant and Anvers.
Places that could be visited are:
Neumayer Canal: The ship can position itself here and start its many basecamp activities from the sheltered waters around Wiencke Island. Enjoy the beauty of this alpine environment at sea on Zodiac and kayak excursions. If you prefer to be on land, there are opportunities for snowshoe hikes and easy mountaineering tours further inland. Of course, the possible activities depend on the weather conditions.
Port Lockroy: After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may have the opportunity to visit the former British research station on Goudier Island, which now serves as a museum and post station. At Jougla Point, you may be able to take part in activities and observe spectacled penguins and blue-eyed shags. Nearby, at Damoy Point, you can snowshoe to the old ski lift, which is also one of our favorite camping spots.
Pléneau and Petermann Islands: Ice conditions permitting, continue through the Lemaire Channel to look for Adelie penguins and blue-eyed shags. Here you also have a good chance of seeing humpback whales, minke whales and leopard seals. Potential activities include kayaking, glacier walks and more challenging mountaineering tours.
Neko Harbour: A breathtaking landscape of huge glaciers and wind-sculpted snow offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and a landing where you can enjoy impressive views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
Paradise Bay: Here you have the opportunity to camp and experience an extraordinary overnight adventure in Antarctica.
Errera Channel: Possible destinations in this area include Danco Island and Cuverville Island, as well as the lesser-known but equally picturesque Orne Island and Georges Point on Rongé Island.
On your last day of Antarctic activities, you will pass the Melchior Islands and head towards the open sea. Keep an eye out for humpback whales in Dallmann Bay. You may also visit Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands, with further opportunities for activities.
The exact departure time depends on the conditions on the Drake Passage. You will gather unforgettable experiences near the South Pole and gain an insight into this fascinating and extreme world that few people get to see.

Day 11-12: Drake Passage
You return via the Drake Passage, where you will probably be greeted by rough seas again. However, you may be lucky and the Drake Passage will show its better side. Use the time to reflect on your experiences and chat with the expedition team and fellow travelers.

Day 13: Disembarkation and departure
After a final breakfast on board, you will unfortunately have to say goodbye. After disembarkation, you will be transferred to Ushuaia airport.

Arrival
This travel package starts and ends in Ushuaia. On day 1, a luggage transfer from the city of Ushuaia to the ship is included, you organize the transfer for yourself. On the last day, day 13, the transfer from the ship to the airport is also included for you.

Expedition ship:
MS Ortelius (dates from 29.12.25, 10.01.26)
The ship has the highest ice class (UL1, equivalent to 1A) and is therefore suitable for sailing in both solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. The Ortelius offers space for up to 108 passengers and has a large number of open deck spaces. Please note that a small number of cabins may have partially obstructed views due to the size of the windows and the design requirements of the ship. For example, some windows in the lower half may be partially obscured by a gangway. The best view is always on the outside deck or the bridge. Although our voyages are primarily aimed at providing our passengers with a wildlife exploration program with as much time ashore as possible, the Ortelius has all the amenities of a standard hotel - including a bar and lecture room. Flexibility guarantees maximum opportunities to explore the wildlife. Ortelius therefore has 10 Zodiacs with 60 hp Yamaha engines. The ship has space for 108 guests.

MS Hondius (dates from 27.11.25, 09.12.25)
The Hondius is the world's first registered Polar Class 6 ship and meets the latest and highest Lloyd's Register standards for ice-strengthened cruise ships. Exceeding the requirements of the Polar Code adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Hondius is the most flexible, advanced and innovative travel vessel in the polar regions, optimized for exploration voyages that give you the greatest possible first-hand contact with the Arctic and Antarctic. The Hondius uses LED lighting, steam heating, biodegradable paints and lubricants, and state-of-the-art energy management systems that keep fuel consumption and CO2 levels to a minimum. This means that on board the Hondius you can enjoy the extreme landscapes and wildlife while having as little impact on them as possible. Please note that a small number of cabins may have partially obstructed views due to the size of the windows and the design requirements of the ship. For example, some windows in the lower half may be partially obscured by a gangway. The best view is always from the outside deck or the bridge. The Hondius offers space for up to 170 passengers.

MS Plancius (dates from 16.12.25, 28.12.25)
The MS Plancius was used by the Dutch Royal Navy as a research vessel from 1976 to 2004 and was converted into a passenger ship by Oceanwide Expeditions in 2009. The expedition ship offers space for 108 passengers with private shower and toilet [4 four-person cabins with porthole, 2 three-person cabins with porthole, 9 double cabins with porthole, 25 double cabins with window, 2 deluxe double cabins (approx. 12.5 square meters) and 10 superior double cabins (approx. 21 square meters)]. Please note that a small number of cabins have a partially obstructed view due to the design requirements of the ship. For example, the view from some windows may be partially obstructed by the gangway. The best view is always on the outside deck or the bridge. Enjoy the benefits of the MS Plancius: a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows allowing a full panoramic view. The ship welcomes you comfortably and beautifully - in keeping with its expedition character, it is not a luxury ship. Experience, exploration and education are the main focus of the voyages.
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