Express Antarctica – Flying over the Drake

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Accepting the unexpected is part of the thrilling and emotion of expedition trips. When you travel to extremely remote regions, the personnel of your expedition must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide the details of the road and itinerary. This itinerary is a tempted summary of what you will experiment in this trip, take into account that no specific itinerary may be guaranteed. 

ITINERARY DAY 1 | ARRIVAL AT PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE 

Your adventure starts in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most inhabited city of the south of the Patagonia. IF you arrive early there are many museums, restaurants, stores which will keep you busy during days. In the early afternoon a representative of Quark Expeditions® will meet you at the starting point of the hotel, where you will enjoy a welcome dinner and you will be informed about the preparation for the boarding day. 

DAY 2 | FLY TO KING GEORGE ISLAND AND EMBARKATION 

Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will cross you over the legendary Drake Passage in a few hours. Once you are very south the ship will get near the King George Island for your arrival. Your first sights of the dramatic Antarctic views will be a unique perspective, as your plane descends to land on South Shetland Island. After landing, stretch your legs with a walk of one mile (1, 6 km) up to the shore, before the Zodiac takes you to your ship to go to Antarctic Peninsula 

DAYS 3–6 | ANTARCTIC PENNINSULA AND SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS

There are very few places in the world which are as evocative as the Antarctica. As your ship gets near the White Continent, you can feel full of emotion and astonishment. The Antarctica is indescriptive and it can only be appreciated through your own eyes. While the captain and the expedition crew watch the whales and sea birds any new sight will be announced. Our expert presenter’s team shall explain about glaciers, history and wild life of the region. 

Your daily tours are even more exciting. Your first landing on the zodiac is something you will never forget! Walking on the beach sprinkled with penguins is the most intimate way of experiencing a unique wild life in the Antarctica 

Each landing is different and it depends on the weather, but each day presents new sights and opportunities to take photos, and it will not be long until you can distinguish between Adelia, Gentoo and Barbijo penguins. You can take a Zodiac cruise in search of whales and icebergs one day, followed by a walk to a penguin colony on the following day. From the birth of the Glacier to the emotion of seeing depredators such as leopard seals and killing whales in action, you will wake up early and you will be welcomed each day with an adventure sense and a wish to explore during an incomparable trip. Your expedition team will go with you along the way, giving you information about the places you visit. 

DAY 7 | DISEMBARK AND FLY TO PUNTA ARENAS 

After a week of exploring, you will say goodbye to your expedition team and will disembark on the King George Island. Your two hours and a half flight over the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, puts an end to the adventure. After your group is transferred to the hotel you will be able to explore and enjoy an evening on your own, in the city or the hotel to remember the wonderful sights and sounds of the Antarctica. 

DAY 8 | DEPARTURE PUNTA ARENAS.

After breakfast, you can continue with your own trips or go to the airport of Punta Arenas to take your return flights. 

ATTENTION CONTINGENCY PLAN

In the improbable case that the plane cannot leave on the stated date for the charter flight, you will have a night accommodation at the Punta Arenas Hotel with meals included. It is possible that you are asked to wait and stay near the hotel, because a forecast window can be opened with very little warning time. If the weather is not adequate on day 3 you will enjoy a night with accommodation and additional meals in Punta Arenas. On the 4 if the charter flight cannot take off before 2 pm, Quark Expeditions® shall officially cancel the trip and will send you a letter to be presented before your trip insurance supplier for the coverage for changes of flights and other associated costs which are not a cruise under the provision of delay/cancelation of the trip. The operator will do everything possible to guarantee that your program will be carried out, but due to complex and variable weather conditions, flying in this region is a challenge and out of our control. Security is the most important issue in your expedition, and our pilots follow strict procedures of evaluating the weather. The operator shall offer a refund of your cruise package and of any adventure option in case of delay or cancellation of the trip due to the fact that the charter flight cannot take off according to the plans. We truly recommend that all guests of the expedition get an integral trip insurance policy including delay, cancellation and interruption of the trip, apart from the medical assistance insurance. Take into account that the international air fare may not be covered by insurance in case of cancellation. Please consult us about the trip insurance.

ALL SHIPS INCLUDE: 

• Leadership in all the trip by our expert leaders 
• Leaders of the expedition, including all the disembarkments on land and other activities 
• All the transfers and cruises of zodiac according to the daily program 
• All the disembarkments on land according to the daily program 
• Accommodation on board with daily cleaning service 
• All the meals, snacks, drinks and juices on board. During your voyage (please let us know if you have any diet requirement as soon as possible). Unluckily the galleys on the ships cannot prepare kosher meals 
• Beer and wine during dinner, coffee, tea and chocolate available during the 24 hours. . 
• Formal and informal introduction of our Expedition Team and lecturers invited according to what is planned. 
• A photography magazine which documents the expedition 
• A pair of water proof expedition boots on loan for landings and excursions of zodiac cruises. 
• An official expedition jacket to keep 
• Hair drier and bathrobes in all cabins 
• Integral material on board which include a map and an informative Antarctic reader. 
• All the taxes for several services and customs during all the program 
• All the handling of luggage on board the ship 
• Emergency evacuation insurance for all the passengers with a maximum benefit of USD $ 500,000 per person. 
• A transfer at the arrival of the group to Punta Arenas from the airport to the hotel before the expedition of Day 1. 
• One night accommodation at a hotel before the expedition in Punta Arenas with breakfast (Note: the number of guests per room is the same as the number in the cabin on the ship. Due to the limited availability, travelers who book a suite on board stay in a standard room at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available ) 
• An informative dinner on day 1 in Punta Arenas 
• A group transfer before the expedition in Punta Arenas from the hotel to the airport. 
• Flights to and from King George Island. 
• Group transfer after the expedition in Punta 
• Transfer from the airport to the hotel. 
• A night at the hotel, after the expedition in Punta Arenas with breakfast.

THE EXPEDITION DOES NOT INCLUDE SPECIFICALLY: 

• International air fare. 
• Passport and applicable visas. 
• Not mentioned Government taxes at arrival and departure 
• Meals except the contrary is stated 
• Luggage, cancelation, interruption and medical assistance, trip insurance, very recommendable. 
• Excess luggage expenses on international flights
• Water proof pants, obligatory when landing on the zodiac and cruise tours or any other not mentioned.
• Laundry, bar, massages, and other personal expenses, unless specifically stated. 
• Telephone charges and internet. 
• Voluntary tip at the end of the trip for expedition staff and onboard crew. 
• Additional accommodation during the night. 
• Arrival and departure transfers, except when stated. 
• Adventure options not included in the occupations included.