Trip Summary
Experience the wild grandeur of the White Continent in a more efficient, expedient way. On this new itinerary, cruise the Drake Passage one way, and then bypass the Drake Passage on the way back on a 2-hour flight from Antarctica and discover all of the highlights without sacrificing the extra time. Travel with a diverse team of experts aboard the National Geographic Explorer, the definitive expedition ship. Venture into channels and coves framed by towering peaks. Watch for whales off the bow; Zodiac cruise around enormous icebergs; and hike, kayak, and even possibly cross-country ski in complete tranquility. Choose an active agenda or surrender to the pleasures of relaxing downtime and shipboard camaraderie. Plus, get top shots with the help of a National Geographic Photography Expert.
Travel with us aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, a quintessential luxury expedition ship with an ice-strengthened hull and advanced navigation equipment--you will be assured by the 50+ years of polar experience at your service. This is sure to be a once-in-a-life adventure with Dartmouth, and one not to be missed!
NOTE: This is an expedition in the truest sense—flexibility is key. Delays and early departures of flights due to inclement weather are common in Antarctica. In the event of a flight adjustment, your expedition team may implement a contingency plan with alternative activities.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore the world’s last great wilderness in the company of a team of top naturalists celebrating Lindblad’s 50-plus years of expedition heritage
- Hike on magnificent mountains; see huge glaciers; and watch for gentoo, Adélie, and chinstrap penguins
- Kayak in protected waters, paddling as penguins swim nearby
- With National Geographic Global Explorers, Lindblad’s exclusive family program, kids and teens will learn about this exhilarating part of the world—from its massive glaciers to humpback whales
SPECIAL OFFER
Bring the Kids!
$500 discount extended to all guests under the age of 18.
Event Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
- Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina from home
- Spend one evening in Ushuaia. Meet travelers at dinner and briefing.
Day 2: Ushuaia/Embark Ship
- Visit Tierra del Fuego National Park
- Embark the National Geographic Explorer via Zodiacs
Day 3-4: Crossing the Drake Passage
- Flexible daily schedule
- Various onboard activities depending on conditions
Day 5-8: Exploring Antarctica
- Flexible daily schedule
- Various activities depending on conditions
Day 9: King George Island/Disembark Ship/Puerto Natales, Chile
- Disembark ship on King George Island
- Flight to Puerto Natales to spend one night
Day 8: Home
- Flights from Puerto Natales to home after breakfast
Meet Your Faculty Expert
Hélène Seroussi
Helene Seroussi is a glaciologist with fifteen years of experience studying the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Her work seeks to reconstruct their past evolution and improve projections of their future behavior over the coming decades and centuries. She is interested in how glaciers and ice sheets flow under their own weight and how they respond to variations in oceanic and atmospheric conditions. By combining numerical simulations with remote‑sensing observations, she investigates processes that occur beneath the ice surface and therefore cannot be observed directly.
Helene has led international efforts to coordinate simulations of Antarctic ice‑sheet contributions to future sea‑level rise, providing a primary source of information for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports. Her research has been recognized with the Presidential Early‑Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and the NASA Early Career Public Achievement Medal.