Life Returns—Springtime Expedition to Antarctica (Montevideo)
22-night Antarctica expedition · 1 departure · from $18,323 per guest
- 22 nightsDuration
- MS FramShip
- Montevideo to Punta ArenasRoute
- Oct 23, 2027Next sailing
23-day all-inclusive Antarctica expedition cruise from Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile
The late spring expedition gives you five days in Antarctica during the latter part of the season, when the glaciers and icebergs are at their most sparkly and pristine.
Visit the beautiful, windswept Falkland Islands and South Georgia—the “Serengeti of the Southern Ocean”—at the height of mating season.
You’ll spend more than three weeks exploring some of the most remote and beautiful places on Earth, along with their abundant wildlife.
Southern Ocean islands of wonder
Setting off from Buenos Aires, we’ll head to the windswept green hills and white-sand beaches of the Falkland Islands. While the wildlife here is plentiful, South Georgia is in a class of its own—the beaches heave with seals, penguins, and other seabirds.
Amazing Antarctic wildlife
The snow is fresh from winter at this time of year, and in the sea, towering icebergs glisten in newly sculpted grandeur. On land, the penguins are busy courting and building nests. Over the next five days, we'll explore several landing sites where you can truly experience the frozen continent up close. Your voyage ends in Chile’s Patagonia region.
Upcoming departures
| Sails | Ship | Nights | From (per guest) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2027 | MS Fram | 22 | $18,323 | Cabins & fares |
Day by day
As planned for the Oct 23, 2027 departure; other departures may differ.
Day 1Montevideo
Explore the vibrant city and embark the ship
Welcome to Montevideo, Uruguay’s interesting capital.
Before embarkation, you might stroll along the Rambla of Montevideo, a picturesque waterfront promenade stretching over 13 miles, or wander through Ciudad Vieja, the historic centre lined with colonial architecture, art galleries, and bustling markets. Don’t miss the colourful Mercado del Puerto, a lively spot selling traditional Uruguayan cuisine.
Then board MS Fram, get settled in, explorer, and meet your Expedition Team.
Day 2Cruising
Get into expedition mode
Over the next days at sea, you'll learn more about the wonders we'll encounter during our trip.
Members of the Expedition Team will start their lecture series on topics like oceanography, geology, ornithology, and history. Pop into the Science Center for hands-on presentations as well.
Grab your binoculars and scan for rare wandering albatrosses and petrels. Make the most of your onboard facilities and enjoy the hot tubs, sauna and gym.
Day 3Cruising
Day 4Cruising
Day 5Saunders Island
Enjoy birding and hiking in these green islands
The Falkland archipelago is filled with seamless horizons and white sands teeming with birdlife. Only the occasional farm dots the landscape amidst the grassy hills and wildflowers. Enjoy a community walk around Stanley, taking in the Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral and the Historic Dockyard Museum.
Our landings, hikes and excursions are, as always, guided by the conditions. We hope to visit albatross and penguin colonies, which are often found sharing space with seals, and getting as close as we can without disturbing them.
Day 6New Island
Day 7Port Stanley
Day 8Cruising the South Atlantic Ocean
Cruising the South Atlantic
Sailing from the Falklands, we spend two days cruising towards beautiful South Georgia. You can look forward to seeing an archipelago filled with diverse wildlife.
Meet up with the Expedition Team as they prepare you for what lies ahead. They’ll tell you everything they know about South Georgia, including the area’s wildlife, polar history, geology, glaciology, and stories of Norwegian whalers.
As we get closer, the Expedition Team will talk about the IAATO environmental guidelines and sustainability rules that we follow when visiting to make your visit as safe and as low impact as possible. We leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but pictures.
Day 9Cruising the South Atlantic Ocean
Day 10Right Whale Bay
Visit a wildlife watcher’s paradise
South Georgia’s abundant wildlife has earned it the nickname ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’. Its unique position free from sea ice makes the island a breeding site for large colonies of penguins, other seabirds and seals. In fact, it’s an Important Bird Area, home to albatrosses, petrels, shags, skuas and terns.
Throughout our three days in the area, we’ll land as often as we can to explore the wilderness and wildlife. We’ll also try to reach Grytviken, the final resting place of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Our expedition route will as always be guided by nature, responding to daily conditions to seek out the best possible experience.
While our itineraries are always flexible, they’re even more so during peak breeding seasons when the wildlife is most vulnerable to disturbance. When opportunities allow, we’ll land here and observe the wildlife. When our presence could disturb the animals, we’ll choose another place to visit and as always, these decisions are made by your Expedition Team and are based on lifetimes of combined experience in these destinations. Sometimes we’ll land, sometimes we’ll cruise, it’s all part of the adventure!
Day 11Salisbury Plain
Day 12Grytviken
Day 13Cruising
Time to relax and reflect
After visiting the Falklands and South Georgia, take some time while we head towards Antarctica to relax and reflect on your journey so far.
Antarctica is a symbol of global cooperation, dedicated to peace, science and wildlife conservation. Protected by the Antarctic Treaty, it remains free of military conflict, preserving its pristine environment for future generations.
As a hub for scientific research on climate change and ecosystems, it offers unique insights into nature's resilience. Why not join one of our Citizen Science programmes to help collect data for global research projects.
Day 14Cruising
Day 15Antarctic Sound
Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty
Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica’s immense, frozen beauty. Icebergs, sculpted by nature, float in the straits. Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins watch erect from the shores. Countless seabirds wheel overhead. Nature is in charge.
We’ll explore several possible landing sites, on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Wherever we go and whatever we do, each day will offer something different and thrilling.
We might sail into a flooded volcanic caldera or land in icy bays, where remnants of whaling paraphernalia lie abandoned. You may also get a chance to go kayaking among icebergs and seals, or snowshoe to a stunning viewpoint.
Bird enthusiasts should look skywards for Antarctic seabirds such as skuas, petrels and terns. Through onboard lectures, you'll learn more about this precious habitat and how we can all protect it for the future.
Day 16Antarctic Sound
Day 17Antarctic Sound
Day 18Antarctic Sound
Day 19Antarctic Sound
Day 20Drake Passage Seas
Looking for land ahead
Five unforgettable days in Antarctica are over, and your ship now embarks upon our final adventure together: the Drake Passage. Known for its potentially high winds and strong currents, the passage can also be silent and still, inspiring the nicknames ‘The Drake Shake’ and ‘The Drake Lake’ respectively.
But don’t worry, even if we experience rough seas, your ship is perfectly equipped for this leg of the adventure exploring the Southern Ocean. During our crossing, the Expedition Team will recap our experiences, making it possible to keep your head in the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica a little while longer.
Day 21Puerto Williams
Day 22Drake Passage Seas
Day 23Punta Arenas
Onwards from Punta Arenas
Your Antarctica expedition cruise comes to an end in Punta Arenas. From here, you'll catch a flight to Santiago de Chile and then your connecting flight home, taking with you a wealth of fantastic memories.
However, if you're not ready to end your adventures just yet why not extend your trip and join our optional Post-Programme.
Gallery
Questions about this trip?
Our polar specialists can compare these departures, cabins and current offers with you.
Email explore@polaradventure.com or call toll-free 1-888-611-7688.
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