Antarctica Discovery with Silversea

Enjoy VIP lounge access at the airport before departing on your flight to Santiago, Chile, arriving the following day.

On arrival into Chile you will be taken to your hotel for rest and relaxation ahead of your Antarctic adventure. Santiago, Chile's capital, sits nestled between the snowy peaks of the Andes and the rugged Chilean Coast Range. If you have the chance to explore the streets of this dynamic city, head downtown to soak up the atmosphere. Plaza de Armas, flanked by impressive buildings, is a hub of daily activity. There are museums aplenty, and a maze of local markets selling everything from street food to antiques. Everything comes alive at night time, when restaurants and bars serve patrons till the early hours in some of the hippest corners of Santiago.

Stay: Santiago Hotel tbc

After breakfast, you'll take your included shared transfer to the airport for a charter flight to Ushuaia, where you will be transferred to the port to embark Silver Cloud or Silver Wind. This lively resort is the last glimpse of true civilisation before you head out in to the wilds, often referred to as the 'End of the World'. Against a backdrop of towering mountains and leading down to the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia is the perfect place to set off on your expedition cruise. On board, you'll have time before dinner to settle into your bright, airy suite complete with picture windows framing ocean views and private butler service.

Stay: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind or Silver Endeavour

You'll spend a few days at sea, passing through the Drake Passage, a 600-mile wide expanse that marks the convergence of the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans, and a sight that few will ever see in person. As you sail, you'll watch Ushuaia fade slowly into the horizon, and as you head closer to Antarctica, giant icebergs rise from the ocean in spectacular form. This is also an excellent area for whale-watching and pelagic birding. Look for soaring albatrosses and Southern Giant Petrels, as well as Cape Petrels, prions and storm-petrels. If you're lucky, you might even spot a pod of humpback whales or dolphins. Throughout each day, take advantage of the incredible amenities onboard, including multiple restaurants, a jacuzzi deck and the Explorer Lounge, where you can attend seminars and lectures from expert guides.

Stay: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind or Silver Endeavour

The Antarctic Sound will be your first real encounter with the Antarctic Peninsula. This stretch of water, named after the first ship to have passed through in 1902, is punctuated by tabular iceberg slabs that have broken away from the diminishing Larsen Ice Shelf. Depending on conditions, Zodiac cruises and landings are often possible, bringing you amongst one of Antartica's most incredible sights. Gentoo Penguins breed here, along with Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snow Petrels and Skuas. You'll want to brush up on your photography skills in advance, to capture the true majesty of this otherworldly seascape.

Stay: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind or Silver Endeavour

You will explore the Antarctic Peninsula over the next few days mostly via Zodiac cruises - Silver Cloud has 18 of these expedition boats onboard. All excursions will be expertly planned by your Captain and Expedition Leader according to weather and ice conditions. You'll also have the opportunity to kayak in a small group under the guidance of certified kayak instructors. These special excursions are a chance to truly appreciate the wilds of Antarctica, paddling past cathedral-sized icebergs and snow-covered landforms in peaceful silence. This vast peninsula is dotted with research stations and thriving colonies of Antarctic wildlife; keep an eye out for seals and adorable Adelie penguins.

Stay: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind or Silver Endeavour

Several landing sites and the remains of old whaling stations can be found in the South Shetland Islands. 75 miles north of the Antarctic Peninsula, these islands hold sixteen research stations run by Argentina, the US, Chile, Spain and several other countries. Sites for your activities will be selected by Silver Cloud's crew based on weather and ice conditions. In Pendulum Cove, geothermally-heated waters are warm enough for a dip. Visit Elephant Island, site of Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance crew's miraculous 1916 survival through the harshest of Antarctic winters, and Deception Island, caldera of an active volcano. And this is a wonderful place to watch wildlife; crowds of penguins inhabit this region, along with large, oceangoing elephant seals.

Stay: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind or Silver Endeavour

Over the last two days at sea, you'll sail back through the legendary Drake Passage, passing yet more icebergs and glaciers as you make your way towards civilisation. The converging cool and warm currents attract a range of marine life to these waters, so have your camera at the ready to snap some final photos. And, if you haven't already, visit your ship's Boutique for some high-end shopping, or indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa.

Stay: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind or Silver Endeavour

With its reputation of ferocious storms and mountainous seas it was a place where a seafarer garnered respect for bravery against the odds. Nowadays the Cape has more of a spiritual attraction, drawing intrepid travellers to pay homage to the brave sailors who, by necessity, attempted to pass this wild and inhospitable headland - and of course you'll cruise by in style and luxury. The Cape itself is the rugged tip of South America that projects into the Drake Passage. The Dutch sailor Willem Schouten and merchant Jacob Le Maire, both from the town of Hoorn (hence Cape Horn), put it on the map in 1616 when attempting to circumvent the trade monopoly exercised by the Dutch East India Company over the Straits of Magellan. During clear weather a 7-metre (23 feet) high steel monument can be seen standing about 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) away from the true cape, near the Chilean navy station. It depicts the silhouette of an albatross, a bird that is said to carry the souls of those sailors who perished “rounding the Horn”. 

Stay: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind or Silver Endeavour

This morning, you'll disembark the ship and take your included shared transfer to the airport for your charter flight to Santiago. Continue onward to your hotel for another overnight stay, a chance to regroup and reflect on your Antarctic adventures. If you have the energy, head into Santiago's latin quarter for dinner in the liveliest of atmospheres.

Stay: Santiago Hotel tbc (Deluxe)

This morning, you'll check out of your hotel and take your included shared transfer to the airport. Enjoy VIP lounge access before your return flight to the UK, arriving the following day.