Ushuaia - Beagle Channel - Cape Horn - Antarctica - back

A 21-day expedition to Antarctica is the ultimate sailing adventure. Beginning in Ushuaia, Argentina, it takes you across the legendary Drake Passage to the remote and stunning West Antarctic Peninsula. On this expedition, you will experience the untouched wilderness of one of the last true frontiers on Earth. Sail among towering icebergs, witness incredible wildlife like penguins and seals, and explore a region rich in history and scientific discovery. This is an unparalleled opportunity to visit one of the most extreme and beautiful places on the planet.

Your sailing adventure

Ushuaia

Everywhere in Ushuaia you will find signs and souvenirs with the words "Ushuaia - fin del mundo". And indeed, Ushuaia is the end of the world, the last city on the southern tip of South America. Today, the city is mainly a starting point for adventures to Antarctica and Patagonia. It was originally formed as a penal colony for the most serious criminals and political prisoners in South America. The prison is worth a visit and the despair of the place breathes on you. There is also a naval exhibition with the successes of the discoverers and the failures of many sunken ships. Ushuaia is located in the Argentine part of the island of Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia will be the starting point for our Antarctic adventure.

Harberton

After leaving Ushuaia and carefully following the Argentinian side of the Beagle Channel we will reach the small town and last stop before making the passage across Drake. Harberton is a small village nestled in a very pretty bay. Harberton has a history of cattle breeding, but now relies more on tourists, enjoy a bowl of freshly produced local soup and a cold beer and last check in of wifi!

Drake Passage

For many yachtsmen, Drake Passage is the same as Mount Everest is for climbers. It got its name from Francis Drake, whose ship was blown far to the south in 1578 and was the first to pass through this strait. The Drake Passage is considered one of the most treacherous voyages for ships to make. Currents at its latitude meet no resistance from any landmass, and waves top 40 feet, hence its reputation as "the most powerful convergence of seas". We expect we will pass this 450 NM passage within 3 to 4 days.

Eco Nelson polar station

The Eco-Nelson polar station tells the story of Czech survival expert Jaroslav Pavlíček, who in 1988, with Chilean support, built the first private polar base in Antarctica at Collins Harbour on Nelson Island. Created as an ecological, minimalist outpost, it hosted volunteers testing survival skills under strict environmental rules. Since 2017, it has been run by Masaryk University in Brno as part of the Czech Antarctic Research Programme, supporting work alongside the Mendel Station on James Ross Island. Visitors are welcome, and a modern, energy-efficient replacement is planned.

Bellingshausen

Bellingshausen is the Russian Antarctic Station located at Collins Harbour on King George Island. Established in 1968, it was among the very first research stations in Antarctica, serving as a hub for scientific exploration and international cooperation in the region. Over the decades, it has supported a wide range of studies, from glaciology and meteorology to biology, and remains an important presence in the South Shetland Islands.

You will be met by a colony of Penguins, who are happy to pose for photos, lots of outbuildings give an indication of the work done here. A short ramble up the hill takes you to Trinty Church which is the only permanently staffed Eastern Orthodox Church in Antarctica, built in 2004 and shipped bit by bit from Russia. It is quite something, detailed, colourful and ornate. Hopefully you will be blessed by the resident monks and will be treated to bell ringing.

Deception Island

Deception Island, part of the South Shetland Islands archipelago, is one of the safest and most remarkable anchorages in Antarctica. It is, in fact, an active volcano whose flooded caldera forms a natural harbour, accessible only through a narrow entrance known as Neptune’s Bellows. The sheltered waters inside offer a dramatic contrast to the surrounding Southern Ocean.

Our visit will take us to the site of the former Norwegian whaling station, which operated from 1912 to 1930, processing whale blubber into oil and other products. The station was later abandoned, and much of it was damaged by volcanic eruptions in 1967 and 1969. Today, the rusting remains of machinery, storage tanks, and boilers still stand against the stark volcanic landscape, alongside the weathered wrecks of historic whaling boats—silent witnesses to the island’s industrial past.

Enterprise Island and Governoren wreck

Enterprise island is a small island in Wilhelmina Bay, off the west coast of Graham Land. In 1915, the epic story of industrial whaling, courage and misery took place here. The Governoren ship, converted into a floating whaling and processing factory, has just completed her mission. She was full of thousands of gallons of whale oil. As usual, the sailors celebrated the successful completion of work and the approaching journey home. One of them dropped a burning lamp while dancing and the whole ship caught fire. It was not possible to extinguish a ship saturated with highly flammable oil. The captain kept a cool head and drove the burning boat to the beach of Enterprise Island. He saved the whole crew and himself.

You can still visit the commemoration of this disaster. Today, we can tie to the wreckage and use it as a safe harbor. The interior of the wreck is also accessible at low tide. You can see the engines and the remains of whaling equipment. You can walk to the island and see large area of wild nature of snow, ice, rocks, icebergs, wind and cold …

Sailing in the area

Sea ice is almost always present in this area, shaping both the scenery and our navigation. Icebergs can tower like giant buildings, their walls gleaming in the polar light, while at other times the sea is scattered with long strips of smaller fragments. Ice watches, especially when the boat is moored in a deserted bay, are absolutely necessary to ensure safety. Likewise, the full attention and skill of the helmsman are essential in these challenging waters. At times, the straits between islands may be completely blocked with ice, forcing us to change plans and chart a new route. The forces of nature in Antarctica are immense and ever-changing. We will listen to them carefully, respect their power, and work with them in harmony—accepting that here, the rhythm of the journey is set by wind, water, and ice.

Gonzales Videla polar station

The Chilean Polar Station is named after President Gabriel González Videla, who became the first head of state to visit Antarctica. The station is manned for around six months each year—currently by the Chilean Navy, and in the past by the Air Force. It is an unusual and memorable base, built right in the middle of a bustling colony of Chinstrap Penguins, whose curious residents provide constant entertainment.

The station also houses a small museum, where visitors can send a postcard home, stamped with an Antarctic postmark. With a bit of luck, it may be possible to arrange a tour of the living quarters, offering a glimpse into daily life on the base. If conditions allow, there’s also the chance to climb to the observatory—a small tower atop the main building—from where the sweeping views of the Lemaire Strait are nothing short of spectacular.

Seals

We will encounter many seals in their natural habitat, where they can often be approached with ease. This is a truly remarkable experience, as they do not view humans as a threat and allow us to observe them at surprisingly close range. From their lazy stretches on ice floes to their playful splashes in the water, we will have the rare chance to witness the details of their daily life—undisturbed and entirely on their own terms.

Brown polar station

The Brown Polar Station was built by Argentina in 1951 and is operated only during the Antarctic summer. It is designed for the comfortable stay of up to eight people and, like all Antarctic stations, includes one building that remains equipped and accessible year-round for anyone in need. The station is not permanently manned, but during the summer months it serves as a welcoming base for research and logistics.

From the hill just above the station, there is an excellent vantage point offering sweeping views of the stunning surroundings—ice-dotted waters, dramatic rock faces, and the ever-changing Antarctic light. It is a place where the beauty of the landscape is matched by its sense of isolation.

Penguins

It is well known that wild penguins are found only in the southern hemisphere, and sailing in Antarctica offers an ideal opportunity to meet them quite literally “face to face”. These remarkable birds are usually unafraid of humans, allowing us to observe them from very close range. At some stations, we may even find penguins walking calmly and without hesitation right through our group of visitors, seemingly undisturbed by our presence. Over the course of the journey, we will encounter several different species, each with its own distinctive appearance and behaviour—a rare chance to watch them in their natural environment, going about their daily lives against the spectacular Antarctic backdrop.

Port Lockroy

Port Lockroy is a sheltered bay on Goudier Island in the Palmer Archipelago, discovered in 1904. In 1944, it became home to Polar Base Station A, which remained in operation until 1962. In 1996, the station was carefully restored and is now maintained by the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust as both a museum and a working post office.

Visiting Port Lockroy is like stepping back in time to the Antarctic of the 1960s. Inside, you will find historic scientific equipment, the kitchen, and the living and working quarters preserved as they were, giving the impression that the station’s occupants have only just stepped out for a short walk. This is also the only place in Antarctica where you can buy souvenirs and send a postcard home—complete with the famous Port Lockroy stamp.

Whales

After more than half a century of banned commercial whaling, whale populations in the Southern Ocean are slowly recovering. As we make our way towards the Antarctic Peninsula, sightings are almost certain, and we are likely to encounter several species of whales—perhaps even the dramatic presence of killer whales.

Each whale’s tail, or fluke, carries a unique pattern of colouration, much like the ridges of a human fingerprint. These distinctive markings allow experts to identify individual animals, track their movements, and build an understanding of their lives in these remote waters. Observing them in their natural habitat is one of the most unforgettable experiences Antarctica has to offer.

Vernadsky Research Base

This station was originally built by Great Britain in 1947 as Station F - Faraday. UK operated this base until 1996, when it was handed over to the Ukraine. Since its inception as an independent republic, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine has had its own scientific ambitions, so it has set up its own polar station - Vernadsky. This station lies about 80 NM from the Southern Arctic Circle. Ukrainian's in Vernadsky Station also operates perhaps the only official bar in Antarctica - the Faraday bar.

Antarctica - Cape Horn adventure sailing journey

Cape Horn

Strictly speaking, Isla de Hornos is not a cape at all, but a small, windswept island. Jagged rocks, a constant wild swell, frequent rain, low clouds, and dense fog combine to give this place its well-earned reputation as the true “end of the world”.

It marks the meeting point of the open waters and powerful weather systems of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, creating conditions that are both unpredictable and quick to change—a challenge for even the most experienced sailors. In settled weather, it is possible to go ashore and visit the island’s few landmarks: the solitary lighthouse, a small chapel, and the striking Albatross Monument, which stands as a tribute to the sailors who have lost their lives in these treacherous waters.

Did you know?

Antarctica is the fifth largest continent by 13.8 million square kilometers in size. Its name comes from Latin and means opposite the north. Not surprisingly, it is the coldest continent with an average summer temperature of -10 to -40 and winter extremes of up to -93 °C, but in the Antarctic Peninsula the conditions are much more favorable. There are almost 70 scientific stations operated by 26 countries. There are huge areas of untouched, wild nature, remnants of human activity and a living presence. You can visit it all. Join us onboard for arguably the most amazing sailing adventure on this beautiful planet.

Please note all of our adventures and places to visit are subject to weather and many other conditions.

2026 & 2027 Dates