Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage
10 days
Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage is a 10-day guided tour with National Geographic Expeditions through Polar Regions and Antarctica. 40 departures are open from Nov 19, 2026 to Feb 21, 2029. The lowest current price is $12,600 per person (twin share), for the Nov 25, 2026 departure. Included: Transfers upon arrival/departure for Guests booked on Recommended Group Flights, Accommodation aboard the world-class expedition ships of the National Geographic-Lindblad fleet or a luxury chartered ship, Meals as indicated in the itinerary, Daily activities and excursions as indicated in the itinerary and 2 more.
Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage
- Length
- 10 days
- Route
- Puerto Natales, Chile to Puerto Natales
- Meals
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
- Price basis
- Prices are per person, based on double occupancy
- Trip type
- Expedition Cruise
- Activity level
- Light or Moderate
- Service level
- Premium
- Operated by
- Lindblad
- Ships
- National Geographic Orion, National Geographic Explorer
Watch this price
Highlights
- Get a head start on your Antarctica experience by flying across the Drake Passage from Puerto Natales to King George Island, landing at the Chilean research station which permanently operated there.
- Explore the world’s last great wilderness in the company of top naturalists and them most experienced polar captains in Antarctica, with more than 55 combined years of expedition heritage.
- Marvel at an abundance of wildlife—a parade of gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins; stealthy leopard seals; several species of whales—from humpbacks to orcas—and more.
- November DeparturesEnjoy the possibility to cross-country ski or snowshoe across the frozen sea ice, conditions permitting.
- Kids and teens will learn about this exhilarating part of the world with an exclusive family program—National Geographic Global Explorers.
Itinerary
- Puerto Natales, ChileDay 1
- Puerto Natales / King George Island, Antarctica / Embark ShipDay 2
- Exploring AntarcticaDay 3
- King George Island / Disembark Ship / Puerto NatalesDay 7
- Puerto NatalesDay 8
Day 1Puerto Natales, ChilePuerto Natales, Chile
Arrive in Puerto Natales. Originally a small fishing port, the town is nestled on the Last Hope Sound and boasts a stunning view of the sea surrounded by the Cerro Benitez Mountains—the gateway to Torres del Paine. Transfer from the airport to your hotel, where you'll enjoy dinner and attend a briefing on the following day’s activities. Ask your expedition specialist about joining an immersive 5-day pre-voyage extension to explore Torres del Paine National Park, an incredible UNESCO biosphere reserve. Arrival Time: Arrive to the hotel in Puerto Natales by 3:00 p.m. local time. Arrival City: Puerto Natales, Chile
Day 2Puerto Natales / King George Island, Antarctica / Embark ShipPuerto Natales / King George Island, Antarctica / Embark Ship
Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your two-hour direct flight to King George Island in Antarctica, where you'll begin your Antarctic adventure. Home to a diverse assortment of wildlife, King George Island also has a human presence. Researchers from a wide range of countries, including the U.S., Chile, Argentina and Brazil, call the various stations home. Your flight will land on a gravel runway at the Chilean research station. You will then be transferred to the rocky shoreline, where you will board Zodiacs to embark on the ship and set sail as you begin exploring this amazing region.
Day 3Exploring AntarcticaExploring Antarctica
With long hours of daylight at this time of year, you'll have ample opportunities to explore. The schedule is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of the unexpected, whether you’re watching whales at play off the bow of the ship, hiking alongside penguin highways or enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise amid porpoising penguins. While wildlife is magnificent, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know ice up close and personal—from icebergs the size of islands, bergy bits and near-vertical glaciers, to the fragile, nearly invisible layers that have just begun to freeze. One day, you might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level; embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed shags; or walk amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins. The next, you might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. Everywhere you go in Antarctica, you'll be surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images. Along the way your expert expedition team will enrich every experience.
Day 7King George Island / Disembark Ship / Puerto NatalesKing George Island / Disembark Ship / Puerto Natales
This morning, the ship will be moored off of King George Island once again. Following disembarkation and Zodiac rides to shore, your flight departs the White Continent and returns to Puerto Natales where you overnight at your hotel.
Day 8Puerto NatalesPuerto Natales
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport to begin your journey homeward. Departure Time: Outbound flights from Puerto Natales should depart no earlier than 1:00 p.m. local time (or as late in the day as possible). Departure City: Puerto Natales, Chile
What’s included
Included
- Transfers upon arrival/departure for Guests booked on Recommended Group Flights
- Accommodation aboard the world-class expedition ships of the National Geographic-Lindblad fleet or a luxury chartered ship
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Daily activities and excursions as indicated in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities
Not included
- Airfare to and from destination, as well as internal airfare where applicable
- Trip cancelation insurance or any other travel insurance
- Visas
Dates and prices
Per person, twin share
Good to know
- What to Expect: In keeping with the nature of an expedition, your schedule is kept flexible to take advantage of the unexpected, adapting your course to the conditions and opportunities that arise. Your expedition experience can be tailored to the activity level you choose—whether it’s light, moderate or a little of both. Guests should be in good health, comfortable walking or standing for extended periods of time and over uneven surfaces, and able to get in and out of unstable expedition landing craft. Daily activities may include Zodiac cruises, easy hikes, walking tours and visits to cultural or historic sites, with options for more physical activities such as longer hikes or kayaking, depending on conditions. All departures are family friendly.
- Expedition Team A National Geographic Destination Expert or Photography Expert joins the expedition team on all departures.
- EXPLORERS-IN-TRAINING PROGRAM: Kids and teens on Alaska, Baja California, Galápagos and the Journey to Antarctica Expedition, can join the National Geographic Explorers-In-Training program —a hands-on, interactive program developed with National Geographic Education. Led by certified field educators, the program fosters exploration skills and knowledge through fun activities such as making ice cream sundaes to learn about glaciers or recording wildlife observations in a field notebook. The program will help kids sharpen their observation abilities and document their adventures through photos, videos, maps and drawings. With a broad array of activities both on board the ship and in the field, the program encourages kids to dive into their interests, from marine biology to photography.
Questions about Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage
How much does Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage cost?
The lowest current price is $12,600 per person (Nov 25, 2026 departure). Prices are per person, twin share, and depend on the departure date; the page lists every date with its price.
When is Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage cheapest?
November 2026 has the lowest current price, from $12,600 per person, among 12 months with priced departures.
When does Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage depart?
40 departures are open in November 2026, December 2026, January 2027, February 2027, November 2027, December 2027, January 2028 and February 2028 and later. Departures marked "On request" are confirmed by an advisor.
What is included?
Transfers upon arrival/departure for Guests booked on Recommended Group Flights, Accommodation aboard the world-class expedition ships of the National Geographic-Lindblad fleet or a luxury chartered ship, Meals as indicated in the itinerary, Daily activities and excursions as indicated in the itinerary, Alcoholic beverages and Gratuities. Not included: Airfare to and from destination, as well as internal airfare where applicable, Trip cancelation insurance or any other travel insurance and Visas.
Where does Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage go?
The 10-day itinerary visits Puerto Natales, Chile, Puerto Natales / King George Island, Antarctica / Embark Ship, Exploring Antarctica, King George Island / Disembark Ship / Puerto Natales and Puerto Natales.
How do I book Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage?
Send a request and an advisor confirms the current fare and availability and books it for you. You do not pay on the website. Prices are read from the supplier and shown only while they are less than 14 days old, so a price on this page is never older than that. The final price is confirmed when you book.