Antarctica - The Last Frontier
January 14-25, 2026

Experience the magic of antarctica!

Embark with Women Who Explore to Antarctica!

Special considerations for this trip…
(1) This is a co-ed trip and women booking this trip are able to travel with their partners, friends, etc. Solo travelers are welcome and will be paired with another solo traveler at their request in a double or triple occupancy cabin.

(2) Currently this trip is only available to Women Who Explore guests; a minimum number of cabins must be reserved with a down payment by June 1st, 2025 in order for this trip to be confirmed. Please note that a special cancellation policy is in place which follows that of our expedition provider.

(3) Once the trip is confirmed, any additional booking requests after that date will be confirmed within 72 hours to the request as the boat is filled on a first come basis.

Day 1:

Welcome to ushuaia!

two women standing next to ushuaia sign

Touch down in the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, where your Antarctic journey begins. Collect your luggage and meet your expedition team at the airport. From here, a private transfer will whisk you away to your hotel.

Arrive at your charming hotel nestled in the heart of Ushuaia. Take some time to settle into your cozy room, freshen up, and perhaps catch a glimpse of the stunning landscapes from your window. Head to a local café or your hotel’s dining area for a light lunch.

Discover the unique charm of this bustling port town, renowned for its picturesque setting between the Andes Mountains and the Beagle Channel. Enjoy some free time to explore further at your own pace. Perhaps visit local shops to check out souvenirs or simply enjoy a stroll along the waterfront, soaking in the stunning views of the surrounding mountains and waters. You can also visit the End of the World Museum, which offers fascinating insights into the region’s history and indigenous cultures.

Return to your hotel and prepare for a special evening. Freshen up and meet the group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant known for its hearty Patagonian cuisine. Delight in a menu featuring regional specialties and enjoy lively conversation and camaraderie as you toast to your exciting journey ahead.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2:

Exploring the end of the world

crowds of people at the ushuaia port with ships

Buenos días!! Wake up and enjoy a warm breakfast at your leisure. Today is your day to adventure your own way - spend the morning relaxing, join us for an optional trekking adventure or plan your own bucket list activity!

There’s plenty to do in the area and we are happy to give you some ideas. Here’s a few to consider: enjoy some down time at the hotel, explore the city’s museums and culinary opportunities, join an optional 4-5 hour guided round-trip trek to Esmeralda Lake, or check off your own bucket list adventure like hiking on a glacier or explore Tierra del Fuego National Park. After a full day of adventure, enjoy the evening on your own accord exploring town and enjoying the delicious culinary opportunities the end of the world has to offer

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3:

antarctica, here we come!

ushuaia ship
icebergs antarctica

Today is the day - expedition day!!! Wake up and enjoy breakfast before packing up and checking out of the hotel. We will store our luggage here until we make our way to greet the boat.

The morning is yours to spend exploring town, wander through local shops, relax with a massage, or visit a museum. Enjoy lunch at your leisure. We will meet back at the hotel midday, gather our bags, and make our way to the marina to board our home for the next 10 days.

After taking a little time to settle in, we will gather in the lounge for a warm welcome from your expedition guide and lecture staff. Meet the rest of your fellow mates and receive an overview of the ship as you get excited for the days ahead. The adventure of a lifetime is about to begin!

As you set sail, enjoy the stunning scenery of the Beagle Channel and Mackinlay Pass. You’ll pass by glaciers as you watch for glimpses of sea birds and dramatic landscapes as you start your Antarctic journey.

Join your fellow adventurers for a delightful dinner in the ship's dining room. Relish local and international cuisine while sharing stories and anticipation for the expedition.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4 & Day 5:

crossing the drake passage

people are standing on front of boat looking at antarctica
ocean with antarctica in background

Over the next couple of days, we will set sail across the legendary Drake Passage, a gateway to Antarctica.

Renowned for its dynamic weather, the Drake passage is a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern water creating a great upwell of nutrients which sustains the rich biodiversity found in this area.

Keep an eye out for albatrosses and other seabirds following in the ship's wake. As we sail through the passage, our onboard naturalists will help identify these majestic creatures and explain the ecological significance of this region.

As you explore the ship, don’t forget that our ship has an open bridge policy allowing you to visit and observe the crew at work, learn about navigation, watch for whales, and enjoy the views during your stay. A full program of informative lectures led by expert guides and scientists, providing insights into Antarctic wildlife, history, and exploration will be provided as well.

The first sightings of icebergs and snow-capped mountains will welcome us to the South Shetland Islands, a group of twenty islands and islets that were first sighted in 1819 by Captain William Smith of the brig Williams. With favorable conditions in the Drake Passage, our lecturers and naturalists will accompany the group ashore as we experience our first encounter with penguins and seals on Day 5, the third day of our expedition.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Day 6 - Day 9:

exploring the antarctic peninsula & south shetland islands

boat with icebergs
standing penguin with boat in the background

The South Shetland Islands are a haven for wildlife, and sailing through the narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island will take your breath away.

Over the next few days, the Antarctic Peninsula’s remarkable history will provide you with a type of excitement often felt by the early explorers. You will have plenty of time to take in and explore its amazing scenery; a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains and waterways, and an incredible wide variety of wildlife. Apart from penguins and seabirds, you are very likely to see Weddell, crabeater, and leopard seals as well as Minke, killer (orca), and humpback whales at close range.

On our journey, we hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways including the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel, and the Lemaire Channel (depending on the ice conditions). These narrow passages lay between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers and are sure .

During the visit we plan to make at least two landings per day and possible landing sites may include: Paradise Bay, perhaps the most aptly named place in the world and this is where we attempt a landing on the continent proper.

After negotiating the iceberg-strewn waters of the Antarctic Sound, we hope to visit the bustling Adélie Penguin (over 100,000 pairs breed here) and Blue-eyed Cormorant colonies on Paulet Island. The Nordenskjöld expedition built a stone survival hut here in 1903. Today its ruins have been taken over by nesting penguins. 

Further exploration may take you to the Melchior Island group, Cuverville Island, Portal Point, Neko Harbour, Pléneau Island and if ice conditions permit, to Petermann Island for a visit to the southernmost colony of Gentoo Penguins.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Day 10-11:

north bound: at sea crossing drake bay

group of penguins on beach with boat approaching in antarctica

Today we embark on our journey back north as we cross the Drake Passage. Join our lecturers and naturalists on deck as we search for seabirds and whales and enjoy some final lectures. Take the chance to relax and reflect on the fascinating adventures of the past days on the way back to Ushuaia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Day 12:

arrival in ushuaia

fuzzy seal laying on snow

Arrive back in Ushuaia early in the morning. After breakfast, we will disembark and check out from our boat before being transferred to the airport to catch your flight back home. We suggest a departure time of 1 p.m. or later concluding an unforgettable Antarctic journey.

Meals: Breakfast

Expedition Ship & Cabins Options

Please note this is a co-ed trip and the boat will be shared with travelers outside of the Women Who Explore community group trip.

Embark on this journey with us to the end of the world on a 278-foot polar expedition ship originally built in 1970 for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The vessel under went a major update in 2014 and again in 2023, now caters to 90 adventurers in 46 cabins and suites. The latest renovation refreshed every corner of the ship, from the bar lounge and restaurant to the staterooms and crew areas, ensuring a state-of-the-art experience.

With it having fewer-than-100-passenger capacity, this vessel is one of the rare and few still offering an intimate voyage to visit this unique and stunning part of the world. The smaller size means it can glide closer to Antarctica’s pristine shores, attempt to make more landings per day, and provide extended time ashore. This results in a more personalized journey, perfect for engaging in activities and wildlife encounters.

Onboard, the cabins are a haven of simplicity and comfort. Spacious, bright, and thoughtfully designed, each cabin features ample storage, temperature control, international plug points, and scenic windows or portholes, ensuring a cozy and memorable stay..

Please Read: As a reminder, this trip is a coed trip and is also shared with other guests that are not traveling with Women Who Explore. If you are traveling solo, Women Who Explore will pair you up with another solo traveler. Men may accompany a female partner or friend on this trip as a registered guest.

Standard Triple Private Cabin:

interior cabin of boat with 3 beds

Women passengers only. Sleeps 3 passengers and features a window, 3 lower berths (beds) and private facilities (shower, toilet, sink).

Cost: $8,495 per person

Standard Twin Semi-Private Cabin:

interior cabin of boat with bunk beds

Sleeps 2 passengers and features a porthole, 2 berths (upper and lower bunk) and semi-private facilities. Two standard twin cabins share one bathroom accessible from both cabins (shower and toilet). Each cabin is also equipped with its own sink. This is open to both women and co-ed bookings.

Cost: $8,995 per person.

Standard Plus Twin Private Cabin:

interior cabin of boat with two twin beds

Sleeps 2 passengers and features 2 portholes, 2 lower berths (beds) and private bathroom facilities (sink, toilet, and shower). This is open to both women and co-ed bookings.

Cost: $10,795 per person

Questions? Please reach out to us at info@womenwhoexplore.com

Ready to Book?

Ready to Book?