Antarctic Circle Full Expedition – Hondius, Feb 2026

Itinerary Map

Trip Summary

Dates: 

Feb 16, 2026 -
Mar 10, 2026

Duration: 

23 Days

Ship:

Adventure
options:
Starting at: $ 17,800.00
About the Epic Antarctic Adventure itinerary

This is the most in-depth "do-it-all" voyage: explore the Islas Malvinas, Georgias del Sur & Antartida, all the way south of 66 degrees south. Explore Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, with a convenient charter flight in between, before embarking on the cruise portion of your once in a lifetime adventure. In this diverse expedition, you’ll experience the spectacular flora and fauna of the Islas Malvinas before immersing yourself in the unique history and exquisite, rare wildlife of South Georgia.

Whether you’re visiting Antarctic research stations, witnessing a sudden minke whale breach from your Zodiac, sharing a magical moment with king penguins, or celebrating crossing the Antarctic Circle with like-minded travelers and crew, you’ll know this experience will live on in you forever.

  • Explore the world’s seventh continent on the Antarctic Peninsula by ship, Zodiac and on foot;
  • Learn about Antarctica’s unique geology, history and wildlife with an expert team of lecturers;
  • See the incredible wildlife of South Georgia, often referred to as “the Galapagos of the South.” This includes more than 30 species of breeding birds, including four species of penguin;
  • Follow in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s perilous voyages on South Georgia and pause for a moment at his graveside;
  • Explore the quaint, British town of Port Stanley in the Islas Malvinas;
  • Crossing of the Antarctic Circle; and
  • On board lecturers and educational presentations from Polar specialists.
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You will begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port town at the tip of South America. This Argentine town is an ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Get active in the mountains or enjoy handcrafted chocolate at a café in town.

As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon, you will begin your Antarctic journey, passing through the Beagle Channel. The channel opens up to the vastness of the Southern Ocean, where your next land sighting will be along the Antarctic Peninsula. Named after the famed ship on which Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel presents great photo opportunities to capture seabirds hovering overhead.

There are many activities to keep you engaged while we’re at sea. You can take advantage of the library of books available on your ship, hang out at the bar chatting to other travelers or spend time out on deck, admiring the sea. Your Expedition Team will also conduct a series of presentations to familiarize yourself with how to prepare for Zodiac cruises and shore landings.

The Islas Malvinas archipelago contains two main islands, East and West, which we will explore by Zodiac excursions and daily landings. These rugged islands have a frontier feel to them, especially at Port Stanley—the largest settlement on the islands. It’s an interesting British outpost–type place, where you may just as easily wander into a pub as you will a church or museum.

With your camera at hand, our wildlife sightings in the Islas Malvinas should include at least three species of penguins and two endemic bird species—Cobb’s wren and the Islas Malvinas flightless steamer duck.

Your team of lecturers and specialists will be sure to educate you on the local flora and fauna so that you have the most memorable time.

Enroute to South Georgia you’ll cross the invisible biological boundary unique to Antarctica – the Antarctic Convergence. This meeting of oceans is what creates the abundance of krill and marine life that attract large cetaceans such as humpback whales.

Evidence of the old whaling and sealing heydays is still found throughout the island. You’ll be surprised to learn that whale and seal populations were once decimated here, as today their populations are strong, with massive rookeries to be seen.

One significant and historic site that will be of interest is the grave of the great explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. Visiting his grave at the settlement of Grytviken, which is also home to an old whaling station and a research station, is a day for reflecting on what it must have been like to be one of the first explorers to this unforgiving, yet beautiful environment.

While South Georgia’s history is an important attraction to the islands, it is the wildlife that you and your shipmates will likely find most captivating. Often referred to as the ‘Galapagos of the Poles,’ South Georgia contains an exceptional quantity of wildlife. Each landing you make on South Georgia will open your eyes to a new wonder of wildlife. One day you may see rookeries with a 100 thousand pairs of king penguins waddling on the beach. The next day we may visit another beach with thousands of fur or elephant seals.

The grasses, mountains and beaches of South Georgia all play an important role in the breeding and survival of different bird and animal species. Your Expedition Team will be happy to share their knowledge of how these vulnerable relationships all play out on the island.

Antarctica awaits, along with its own penguin and seal species. While you’re at sea, you can enjoy quiet time or take in presentations by the Expedition Team, who will cover everything from the history and geology of Antarctica to tips on identifying different species and what makes each of them unique.

The most common reaction to arriving at the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is hard to put into words. You will discover that Antarctica is a land of extremes: at one moment you’ll be overcome with a feeling of complete silence and loneliness, the next you’ll be laughing at the comical antics of a curious penguin.

Glacier hikes, visits to research bases and, of course, communing with seals and penguins are sure to keep you smiling each and every day. Perhaps you’ll catch sight of the fearless penguin-eater, the leopard seal, or come eye–to–eye with a curious minke whale while on a Zodiac. Each day and each landing will present a new collection of creatures to entertain you and keep your camera busy.

If you find yourself wanting more, then perhaps you’ll treat yourself by booking our kayaking Adventure Option (reserve in advance when booking your trip) or if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, a little shock therapy courtesy of a Polar Plunge might be what you need!

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is an impressive achievement, as most expeditions to the Peninsula do not come close to reaching this far south.

With a toast to the first explorers who ventured here, you can raise a glass of champagne and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world visited by very few people. This is raw Antarctica, home to the midnight sun, with the potential for fantastic iceberg sightings.

If you haven’t had your fill of Antarctic wildlife and icebergs by now, you’ll surely be satisfied by the time we return to the Drake Passage. You will continue to journey onto land by Zodiac twice daily as you travel north along the western Antarctic Peninsula.

Your Expedition Team will always be on the lookout for species of penguins, seals and whales that may have eluded you on the journey south.

After more than a dozen days of memorable wildlife encounters, your journey home begins. Crossing the Drake is your unofficial rite of passage, putting a final stamp of approval on your Antarctic adventure.

We will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning after breakfast. After disembarkation, we will taste a little of Patagonia by touring Tierra del Fuego National Park before we transfer to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.

Welcome aboard the Hondius

The all-new Hondius, launched in 2019, is designed from the ground up for rapid response to polar weather and wildlife conditions that exist nowhere else in the world. Hondius sets a standard as a structurally and technologically advanced polar cruise ship that not only meets the challenges of the polar regions but optimizes their opportunities for adventure.

As a Hondius passenger, you will enjoy cuisine, surroundings, and service that starkly contrast the rugged world just outside your window. An entire deck is dedicated to (multi-language) lectures and presentations in the presentation theater or the sizable observation lounge, and in combination with a fully provisioned bar and separate library room, provide ample opportunities to socialize and guarantee that what time you spend on board will be spent comfortably entertained. Take your pick of numerous cabins and suites, all custom-designed and impeccably outfitted in stylish mid-century modern décor.

Hondius is one of the first civilian vessels in the world to receive a Polar Class 6 notation, the most advanced category of polar cruise ship to date. When you set foot on Hondius, you are indeed choosing the best of modern marine science. Furthermore, Hondius exceeds the latest green requirements imposed by the International Maritime Organization, using only bio-degradable paints, LED lighting, steam heat, and flexible power management systems to keep fuel consumption and CO2 emission at the absolute minimum.

Highlights:
• Flexible, fast, and fortified. Capable of swift and safe response to fluctuating polar conditions.
• Ideal for land-based excursions. Sheltered Zodiac boarding zone for easier entry into the boats that will shuttle you to shore.
• Elegant, cozy, and surprising. Public areas, passenger lodgings, and cuisine that will fuel your exploration and stimulate your senses.
• Interactive, experiential, and informal. Activities that will engage and entertain you on the ship and off.
• Environmentally friendly technology to help ensure your cruise is higher impact for you, and lower impact for nature

Technical Specs
Color-coded deckplan of Hondius expedition vessel with staterooms, public spaces, and operational areas.
The all-new Hondius, launched in 2019, is designed from the ground up for rapid response to polar weather and wildlife conditions that exist nowhere else in the world. Hondius sets a standard as a structurally and technologically advanced polar cruise ship that not only meets the challenges of the polar regions but optimizes their opportunities for adventure.

Cabins & Amenities

  • Large observation lounge
  • Fully provisioned bar
  • Library room
  • Includes:
    • Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
    • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
    • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
    • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
    • Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
    • Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
    • Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
    • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
    • AECO fees and governmental taxes.
    • Comprehensive pre-departure material.

    Excludes: 

    • Any airfare whether on scheduled or charter flights; 
    • Pre- and post-land arrangements; 
    • Transfers to the vessel in Ushuaia and Ascension and from the vessel in Ascension and Praia;
      Passport and visa expenses; 
    • Government arrival and departure taxes; 
    • Meals ashore; 
    • Cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended); 
    • Excess baggage
      Charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; 
    • Customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

    Extra Adventure Activities:  Depending on departure.

Price

$0.00 -
 $90,895.00

Adventure Options

Price

$17,800.00 -
 $31,000.00

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