Antarctica & Falklands Expedition Cruise
16-day all-inclusive Antarctica Expedition Cruise with round-trip flights from Buenos Aires
Explore the frozen beauty of Antarctica before heading north to discover the windswept shores of the Falklands.
From December’s down-covered penguin chicks to March’s more independent youngsters – each stage reveals the remarkable cycle of life in Antarctica.
Active adventure brings you close to icebergs, with opportunities to go hiking, kayaking, and even camping on the Antarctic ice.
In the Falklands, land on scenic beaches and follow grassland trails to get close to the wildlife. You’ll also visit the capital, Stanley.
The frozen continent
Sail iceberg-filled waters as we journey from Ushuaia to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. Spot penguins, seals, and whales along the way. As always, nature is in charge. We’ll monitor conditions to give you the best adventure possible, including kayaking, ice-cruising, hiking and more.
The remote Falkland Islands
Explore the rolling green hills and white sands of the picturesque Falklands archipelago. A warm welcome awaits you in the capital, Stanley. You’ll also visit the albatross, penguin, and seal colonies that thrive on these remote shores.
Key Expedition Details
Itinerary
Your adventure at a glance. Daily highlights, included activities, and optional extras to make it unforgettable.
Feel the rhythm of bustling Buenos Aires
An overnight stay in Buenos Aires is the ideal way to start your Antarctic adventure.
Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or “people of the port,” this city is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendor and Latin American panache.
There are plenty of places to explore, including many parrillas serving authentic Argentine steak. Or maybe you’d like to practice your dance moves in the famous hometown of the tango.
Consider arriving a few days early to see all this vibrant city has to offer.
Flying south to Ushuaia where you'll board your ship
Your adventure begins with an early morning flight to Ushuaia, where we'll meet your hybrid-powered expedition ship that is specially designed for sustainable cruising in polar waters.
This bustling port is the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego Province. Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Martial Glacier, Ushuaia vies for the title of the world’s southernmost city.
After a briefing from your Expedition Team, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin and explore the comforts and amenities on board.
Center on science before your Antarctic adventure
On the two-day crossing through the Drake Passage, the Expedition Team will equip you with all you need to make the most of your expedition cruise.
Visit the onboard Science Center and find out what lies ahead. Listen to experts talk passionately about Antarctica’s history, the science of what lies beneath the ice, and the impact of climate change and plastic pollution. Learn how to make your visit as safe and as low-impact as possible, and discover the Citizen Science projects you can join.
There's plenty of time to relax, so unwind in the hot tub or panoramic sauna, enjoy some delicious cuisine, and meet fellow travelers in the Explorer Lounge & Bar.
Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty
Nothing can quite prepare you for it. Antarctica will fill you with wonder when you see its looming glaciers and icebergs the size of cathedrals. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. It's a stillness that's broken every so often by the locals – the wildlife.
In the Antarctic summer, that might be penguins tending to their chicks; cormorants, sheathbills, and petrels wheeling through the skies; or even orcas or humpback whales feeding on the krill-rich waters. Antarctica is simply a place where nature is king and the rest of us are mere observers.
You’ll spend an exciting five days busily exploring several of the possible landing sites. Wherever we go and whatever we do, each day will offer something different and thrilling.
You'll join the Expedition Team on landings and ice cruises. You can take part in activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing, and hiking – and you may even get the chance to go camping overnight. Back on board, the Expedition Team will continue their lectures, giving you deeper insight into the frozen continent.
Discover more about the Falkland Islands
As you savor your Antarctic experiences, prepare for more adventures ahead as we cruise toward the Falkland Islands. Your Expedition Team will brief you about the history and biology of the islands. In the Science Center, you can look through the microscope at the tiny krill and phytoplankton that sustain so much of the region's wildlife.
Get tips from our professional photographer to improve your images or join workshops on wildlife painting and tying nautical knots. You can also book a spa treatment, visit the gym, and enjoy the locally sourced, regionally inspired dishes in our restaurants.
Enjoy birding and hiking on these green islands
The Falkland archipelago is filled with seamless horizons and white sand beaches teeming with birdlife. Only the occasional farm dots the landscape. You’ll find grassy hills and wildflowers, in contrast to the vast whiteness of Antarctica. You can also enjoy a community walk through Stanley, taking in the Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Historic Dockyard Museum.
Our landings, hikes, and excursions are—as always—subject to weather conditions. We hope to visit albatross and penguin colonies, which are often found sharing space with seals, and get as close as we can without disturbing them.
A relaxing day at sea with time to reflect
Your expedition cruise, taking in the wonders of Antarctica and the wildlife of the Falkland Islands, is nearing its end. As we sail the final leg to Ushuaia, enjoy your final day at sea.
Join the Expedition Team in the Science Center to examine special interests in greater depth. Enlist the help of the Expedition Team to help identify species captured in your photos or simply relax on deck, recalling the highlights of your memorable adventure. End the day in the Explorer Lounge & Bar with the new friends you’ve made on your trip, sharing experiences over a relaxing drink.
From Ushuaia to Buenos Aires
Your expedition cruise ends in Ushuaia, the main city in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s southernmost province. From here, you’ll take a flight back to Buenos Aires, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your adventure.
Consider joining our optional Post-Program before heading home.
Included activities & excursions
These activities are included with your trip. Dates and times will be confirmed closer to departure, you’ll just need to reserve your spot after booking.
What else is included?
Optional extras
Enhance your journey with optional extras. Some activities are only bookable onboard and can’t be reserved online or by phone. Subject to availability.
Our Antarctica ships
Get a taste of what life is like on board the ships that sail on this itinerary
Offers
Enjoy limited-time savings on selected sailings. Combinable on select offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to complete a Medical Screening Form?
At HX Expeditions - we explore some of the world's most remote locations and as such, in many of these locations, sophisticated medical services are few and far between. Medical care at sea is limited, and often emergency sea and air services may also be inaccessible, particularly in the polar regions. It is therefore vital that you make us aware of any current or past health issues, and as such we require a Medical Screening Form to be completed for Expeditions to Antarctica.
The Health, Safety and well-being of you our guests and our on-board crew are our top priority, and we want to ensure that all our guests are fit for travel. On board all our ships, we will have a qualified physician, which have a small, limited medical facility with basic medical supplies and equipment. Still, that makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat even the simplest conditions. This often leads to missed diagnoses, worsening conditions, a greater burden of chronic disease, and in some cases, unnecessary costly medical disembarkations.
What is the Medical Screening Form Promise?
Our promise to you is that if your Medical Screening Form is declined for medical reasons as determined by Vikand Solutions, we will refund you of all bookings made by HX up until the date of declinature. This includes all applicable flights, hotels and ground transportation.
This offer applies per booked cabin on voyages to Antarctica departing from 1 October 2024.
The Medical Screening Form must be submitted to HX via the Vikand portal no later than 4 weeks prior to the departure date.
Our promise to you is that if your Medical Screening Form is declined for medical reasons as determined by Vikand Solutions, we will refund you of all bookings made by HX up until the date of declinature. This includes all applicable flights, hotels and ground transportation.
This offer excludes a refund of any bookings made outside of HX (including any bookings made by yourself). Please refer to your insurance policy for any costs booked outside of HX.
This offer must be claimed within 60 days prior to the departure date.
HX reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time. Please check at the time of booking as to the status of this offer.
This offer does not apply to re-scheduled or cancelled voyages.
This promise only applies to the first Medical Form submitted. It is not allowed to re-submit multiple form until failure.
Rebookings can be made at no additional cost, subject to applicable booking conditions.
How do I complete the Medical Screening Form?
We require all guests (including children) to submit and complete the Medical Form prior to departure to Antarctica.
Complete the form online through the Vikand Medical portal. It includes sections for both you and your doctor to fill out. You can begin the process up to 120 days before your sailing start date. Group bookings: access opens 90 days before your sailing start date. To start, Vikand will verify your name against our passenger list. If your name isn’t found, please contact HX or your local travel agent(if you booked through one) to ensure your name has been added to the booking exactly as it appears on your passport. For Doctor’s section - if your doctor can't sign the form, please consult an alternative or use Vikand’s online doctor service.
To make sure you receive important updates about your Medical Screening Form, we’ll send a verification email to the address you provided. Please check your inbox (and Spam/Junk folders) and click the verification link to continue. Once verified, you can complete the Guest Section of the form. If you don’t receive the email, try using an alternative address for future updates.
Please note: We only accept the Medical Screening Form available through Vikand portal and has been specially designed for HX sailings to remote destinations.
What is included when I book a suite?
À la carte dining option | On the ships that have a Lindstrøm restaurant, suite guests are offered the chance to have all their meals here. Reservations must be made on board and are offered upon availability.
Room service | Room service is available only aboard MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen in these selected suites: MF-700, MD-701, MC-749, MC-756, MA-800, MA-801, MC-849, MC-856, MC-919, MC-932. Free of charge, room service is available only from the Lindstrøm menu during the restaurant’s opening hours.
Suite check-in | Are first to check in as per our timeslot system. An exclusive welcome area in Lindstrøm is available for suite guests, where they may meet and greet some of the ship officers.
Welcome greeting | On embarkation day, all guests receive a Galápagos Big 15 wildlife book and a reusable water bottle.
Turn-down service | Suite guests will receive a daily turn-down service, including fresh towels and chocolate or similar on the pillow.
Laundry service | This service is free of charge for all suite guests. One laundry bag limit per day per suite.
Minibar | Daily replenishment of the minibar is included for suites (The first round is included, any additional refills will charged ).
Beverages | House wine, beer, soft drinks, and still and sparkling water are available and complimentary at lunch and dinner. For cabin guests, premium drinks and signature cocktails are not included; for suite guests, signature cocktails, premium beers and wines by the glass are included (premium wines including sparkling by the bottle at extra cost). Coffee, tea, and potable water that has been purified on board are included throughout the day.
For those on Santa Cruz II, only guests who book a suite will receive:
Welcome greeting | On embarkation day, all guests will receive a complimentary Galapagos wildlife book and a reusable water bottle. Suite guests will receive an additional welcome gift in their cabin.
Turn-down service | Guests will receive a daily turn-down service, including fresh towels and chocolate or similar on the pillow.
Wi-fi | Guests will receive limited complimentary Wi-fi access. Additional Wi-Fi is available for purchase, but due to the Galapagos’ remote location, please be aware that the internet connection is intermittent and low-bandwidth.
Wetsuit rental | Wetsuit rental is complimentary for all guests on request.
What is a solo supplement?
A solo supplement is an additional cost for occupying a cabin alone. At HX, we actively work to reduce or remove this wherever possible. We offer two kinds of solo offers, (1) no solo supplement offers and (2) reduced solo supplements offers (e.g., 25% instead of a 100%).
