Sailing expedition to the Antarctica
The Antarctica is one of the few places on Earth with pristine wild nature where you don’t feel the presence of a human being apart from a few sparsely distributed polar stations. No one has ever inhabited this distant inaccessible continent of eternal ice, vast snowy wilderness and unique landscapes.
Sailing EXPEDITION
TO THE ANTARCTICa
TO THE ANTARCTICa
The Antarctiaca is one of the few places on Earth where one does not feel the presence of people. Apart from polar explorers from a few stations, no one has properly settled on this far, inaccessible continent covered with permafrost, snow deserts and unparalleled landscapes.
ITINERARY OF THE EXPEDITION
Day 1
Meeting in Ushuaia. The Beagle Channel
Meeting in Ushuaia. The Beagle Channel
You'll get accommodated on board and will get to know the boat and the team. After leaving Ushuaia we get straight into the Beagle Channel. Congratulations: your dream starts coming true! Right after the departure the team will give you instructions on how to behave on board and on shore as well as on how to use the life-saving equipment. If you have a photo camera, you'd better have it prepared in the Beagle Channel already, because you may see whales, dolphins and Magellanic penguins there.
Days 2–5
The Drake Passage
The Drake Passage
Crossing the Drake Passage is the most difficult part of the expedition and amilestone for every intrepid traveler. It takes around four days in the open ocean. This experience provides a sense of a true adventure as the weather and ocean conditions are always unpredictable. Sometimes it is smooth, sometimes it is turbulent. Don’t forget to take motion sickness medications and patches with you, it will help to get through any rough waves conditions.
Day 6
Bellingshausen Polar Station
Bellingshausen Polar Station
At this point you will be able to see the silhouette of the South Shetland Islands on the horizon already. Our first landing spot is the Antarctic polar station Bellingshausen located on Waterloo Island. Here you will see how Russian polar explorers live; we'll attend the southernmost church on the Earth — the Saint Trinity Church; and if the master of the stations allows — we'll have a chance to experience a Russian sauna.
Day 7
Yankee Harbour Islands and Halfmoon Island
Yankee Harbour Islands and Halfmoon Island
We are going to the Yankee Harbour and the Halfmoon Island. The coastline of the Yankee Harbour is covered with pebbles. It is a protected area and the habitat of gentoo penguin colonies, elephant seals and fur seals. The Halfmxoon Island has a shape of a half moon as you might have guessed already, it is partly covered with Antarctic moss. Here we can also meet elephant seals, gentoo and chinstrap penguins and giant petrels.
Day 8
Deception Island
Deception Island
We'll spend the night in a flooded caldera of the active volcano at the Deception Island. The island structure resembles a horseshoe and it has the best natural harbor for waiting out any extreme weather. At the beginning of the 20th century it used to be a whaling station here; it’s remains can still be found on the island. The Bailey Head headland is located on the outer side of the island, it is inhabited by the largest colony of the Antarctic penguins. It is an amazingly beautiful place but extremely difficult to disembark at. We will need a total lack of wind and a calm ocean in order to get there.
Day 9
Trinity Island
Trinity Island
We will cruise around the Trinity Island’s bays that are filled with icebergs and will go under the cliff arches by the dinghy. A magnificent experience!
Day 10
Enterprise
Enterprise
Here we'll moor for the night to a sunken ship in the place called Enterprise. In the daytime we'll be looking for whales here. If we are lucky, we’ll be able to see one of the most stunning wildlife activities — bubble net feeding, the process when whales blow bubbles from their noses to encircle their food like a net, and then several whales come up to the surface at once and gulp up the krill caught into their bubble trap. That is an unbelievable, breathtaking show!
Day 11
Orne Harbour Island. Cuverville Island
Orne Harbour Island. Cuverville Island
We are in the Orne Harbour, home for Gentoo penguins colony and blue-eyed shags. We will hike up the hill here to watch whales and seals from above and to see the panorama of the nearby islands and the bay with icebergs.
We will make stops at the Cuverville Island Bay and the Neko Harbour.
The Cuverville Island is a cliffy island with a bay filled with icebergs.
A colony of papua penguins lives here, and in the coastal waters you can easily spot seals enjoying themselves on the ice floes. We will visit the Neko Harbour to have a look at a gigantic glacier with ice chunks calving off it and falling into the water making a roaring sound and huge waves.
We will make stops at the Cuverville Island Bay and the Neko Harbour.
The Cuverville Island is a cliffy island with a bay filled with icebergs.
A colony of papua penguins lives here, and in the coastal waters you can easily spot seals enjoying themselves on the ice floes. We will visit the Neko Harbour to have a look at a gigantic glacier with ice chunks calving off it and falling into the water making a roaring sound and huge waves.
Day 12
Lemair Channel. Yalour Islands
Lemair Channel. Yalour Islands
Lemair Channel separates Booth Island from the Antarctic Peninsula. The most narrow part of the Channel is only 300 meters wide: one can see sheer cliffs up to 400 meters high rising from both sides of the vessel. Sailing through this channel is one of the most memorable moments of the Antarctic cruise. Orcas and humpback whales visit these waters quite often.
Yalour Islands is a group of low rocky islands not far from the Academic Vernadsky station. This is one of a few places on the Antarctic peninsula inhabited by a colony of Adélie penguins. The island itself is surrounded by icebergs and ice floes with seals resting on them.
Yalour Islands is a group of low rocky islands not far from the Academic Vernadsky station. This is one of a few places on the Antarctic peninsula inhabited by a colony of Adélie penguins. The island itself is surrounded by icebergs and ice floes with seals resting on them.
Day 13
Port Lockroy
Port Lockroy
It's time to send postcards from Port Lockroy station! It used to be a whaling factory at the beginning of the 20th century, then it was turned into a British Antarctic Exploration Centre, and finally in 1996 they transformed the station into museum and the southernmost post office in the world. The museum is only open during the tourist season, from November till March. You can send a postcard or a letter from here and buy some souvenirs. They do accept card payments.
Days 14-17
The Drake Passage
The Drake Passage
It's the Drake Passage again — several days in the open ocean and you'll find yourself in Ushuaia. Now you may take a breath, take shower, go to the yacht club and share your stories and emotions.
We'll enjoy a traditional barbecue at the end of the expedition with lots of meat, Argentinian wines and good mood. Congratulations, you have completed the expedition in Antarctica with RUSARC!
We'll enjoy a traditional barbecue at the end of the expedition with lots of meat, Argentinian wines and good mood. Congratulations, you have completed the expedition in Antarctica with RUSARC!
Note:
Please take into consideration that the departure date, the described route and the duration of stops may vary at the discretion of the captain due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstances.
Please take into consideration that the departure date, the described route and the duration of stops may vary at the discretion of the captain due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstances.
Meeting in Ushuaia. The Beagle Channel
You'll get accommodated on board and will get to know the boat and the team. After leaving Ushuaia we get straight into the Beagle Channel. Congratulations: your dream starts coming true! Right after the departure the team will give you instructions on how to behave on board and on shore as well as on how to use the life-saving equipment. If you have a photo camera, you'd better have it prepared in the Beagle Channel already, because you may see whales, dolphins and Magellanic penguins there.
Day 1
The Drake Passage
Crossing the Drake Passage is the most difficult part of the expedition and amilestone for every intrepid traveler. It takes around four days in the open ocean. This experience provides a sense of a true adventure as the weather and ocean conditions are always unpredictable. Sometimes it is smooth, sometimes it is turbulent. Don’t forget to take motion sickness medications and patches with you, it will help to get through any rough waves conditions.
Days 2–5
Bellingshausen Polar Station
At this point you will be able to see the silhouette of the South Shetland Islands on the horizon already. Our first landing spot is the Antarctic polar station Bellingshausen located on Waterloo Island. Here you will see how Russian polar explorers live; we'll attend the southernmost church on the Earth — the Saint Trinity Church; and if the master of the stations allows — we'll have a chance to experience a Russian sauna.
Day 6
Yankee Harbour Islands and Halfmoon Island
We are going to the Yankee Harbour and the Halfmoon Island. The coastline of the Yankee Harbour is covered with pebbles. It is a protected area and the habitat of gentoo penguin colonies, elephant seals and fur seals. The Halfmoon Island has a shape of a half moon as you might have guessed already, it is partly covered with Antarctic moss. Here we can also meet elephant seals, gentoo and chinstrap penguins and giant petrels.
Day 7
Deception Island
We'll spend the night in a flooded caldera of the active volcano at the Deception Island. The island structure resembles a horseshoe and it has the best natural harbor for waiting out any extreme weather. At the beginning of the 20th century it used to be a whaling station here; it’s remains can still be found on the island. The Bailey Head headland is located on the outer side of the island, it is inhabited by the largest colony of the Antarctic penguins. It is an amazingly beautiful place but extremely difficult to disembark at. We will need a total lack of wind and a calm ocean in order to get there.
Day 8
Trinity Island
We will cruise around the Trinity Island’s bays that are filled with icebergs and will go under the cliff arches by the dinghy. A magnificent experience!
Day 9
Enterprise
Here we'll moor for the night to a sunken ship in the place called Enterprise. In the daytime we'll be looking for whales here. If we are lucky, we’ll be able to see one of the most stunning wildlife activities — bubble net feeding, the process when whales blow bubbles from their noses to encircle their food like a net, and then several whales come up to the surface at once and gulp up the krill caught into their bubble trap. That is an unbelievable, breathtaking show!
Day 10
Orne Harbour Island. Cuverville Island
We are in the Orne Harbour, home for Gentoo penguins colony and blue-eyed shags. We will hike up the hill here to watch whales and seals from above and to see the panorama of the nearby islands and the bay with icebergs.
We will make stops at the Cuverville Island Bay and the Neko Harbour.
The Cuverville Island is a cliffy island with a bay filled with icebergs.
A colony of papua penguins lives here, and in the coastal waters you can easily spot seals enjoying themselves on the ice floes. We will visit the Neko Harbour to have a look at a gigantic glacier with ice chunks calving off it and falling into the water making a roaring sound and huge waves.
We will make stops at the Cuverville Island Bay and the Neko Harbour.
The Cuverville Island is a cliffy island with a bay filled with icebergs.
A colony of papua penguins lives here, and in the coastal waters you can easily spot seals enjoying themselves on the ice floes. We will visit the Neko Harbour to have a look at a gigantic glacier with ice chunks calving off it and falling into the water making a roaring sound and huge waves.
Day 11
Lemair Channel. Yalour Islands
Lemair Channel separates Booth Island from the Antarctic Peninsula. The most narrow part of the Channel is only 300 meters wide: one can see sheer cliffs up to 400 meters high rising from both sides of the vessel. Sailing through this channel is one of the most memorable moments of the Antarctic cruise. Orcas and humpback whales visit these waters quite often.
Yalour Islands is a group of low rocky islands not far from the Academic Vernadsky station. This is one of a few places on the Antarctic peninsula inhabited by a colony of Adélie penguins. The island itself is surrounded by icebergs and ice floes with seals resting on them.
Yalour Islands is a group of low rocky islands not far from the Academic Vernadsky station. This is one of a few places on the Antarctic peninsula inhabited by a colony of Adélie penguins. The island itself is surrounded by icebergs and ice floes with seals resting on them.
Day 12
Port Lockroy
It's time to send postcards from Port Lockroy station! It used to be a whaling factory at the beginning of the 20th century, then it was turned into a British Antarctic Exploration Centre, and finally in 1996 they transformed the station into museum and the southernmost post office in the world. The museum is only open during the tourist season, from November till March. You can send a postcard or a letter from here and buy some souvenirs. They do accept card payments.
Day 13
The Drake Passage
It's the Drake Passage again — several days in the open ocean and you'll find yourself in Ushuaia. Now you may take a breath, take shower, go to the yacht club and share your stories and emotions.
We'll enjoy a traditional barbecue at the end of the expedition with lots of meat, Argentinian wines and good mood. Congratulations, you have completed the expedition in Antarctica with RUSARC!
We'll enjoy a traditional barbecue at the end of the expedition with lots of meat, Argentinian wines and good mood. Congratulations, you have completed the expedition in Antarctica with RUSARC!
Days 14-17
Note:
Please take into consideration that the departure date, the described route and the duration of stops may vary at the discretion of the captain due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstances.
PRICE PER
1 PERSON
1 PERSON
Drake round trip
10 000 €
Drake + flight
12,800 € - Schooner J.R.Tolkien11,500 € - Schooner Amazone
10,900 € - Schooner Ruach Love
-
Price includes:
- Accommodation in cabins;
- Professional sailing team;
- Shore landings and tours with the dinghy;
- Bedding and towels;
- Onboard meals, hot beverages;
- Fuel and all port dues
-
Price excludes:
- Air fares to and from departure point;
- Insurance (personal medical, travel, cancellation, etc);
- Voice and data communication using onboard equipment;
- Other personal expenses
BOOKING 2026-2027
Unique wildlife
Most likely the first wildlife representatives you'll see will be penguins, the funny birds that are so clumsy on shore and as quick as lightning in the water. The Antarctic peninsula is inhabited with hordes of penguins, and also with whales, seals, southern elephant seals, blue-eyed shags, sea leopards… These are only some of the animals you'll be able to watch in their natural habitat.
Overnight stays in amazing locations
Apart from several stops at polar stations you are going to wake up among wild nature, sometimes to penguins' chirping: in an extinct volcano crater, next to a sunken ship, in bays surrounded by cliffs and glaciers.
Take your first step
to an expedition with RUSARC
to an expedition with RUSARC
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