0333 405 0194
Enquiries & Reservations
Aurora Expeditions · 23 Days
The Antarctic Peninsula, a crossing of the Antarctic Circle, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands in one 23 day voyage from Ushuaia, aboard one of Aurora’s small X-BOW ships.
The Voyage
Most people who travel to Antarctica go once, and many come home wishing they had seen South Georgia too. Antarctica Complete solves that. In 23 days you cross the Drake Passage, spend six days on the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, head south for the Antarctic Circle, then sail across the Scotia Sea to South Georgia and finish in the Falkland Islands before returning to Ushuaia. It is the whole of the Atlantic side of the Antarctic in a single, unhurried loop.
The southern part of the voyage follows some of the oldest routes in Antarctic history. James Cook made the first recorded crossing of the Antarctic Circle in January 1773 and never saw the continent behind the ice. A little over a century later Adrien de Gerlache took the Belgica through the strait that now carries his name and on into the pack, where his ship’s company became the first to winter in the Antarctic, a young Roald Amundsen among them. Aurora plans to cross 66°33' south when ice and weather allow, and to mark it with a toast on deck.
South Georgia is the reason many experienced travellers choose this voyage. The island holds some of the largest king penguin colonies on Earth, beaches crowded with fur seals and elephant seals, and the rusting remains of the whaling stations that Carl Anton Larsen began at Grytviken in 1904. Shackleton ended his epic small boat journey here in 1916, and he is buried on the island. Two days in the Falklands follow, with albatross colonies, penguins and a planned call at Stanley.
Aurora, also known as AE Expeditions, sails Antarctica Complete on all three of its ships: the Greg Mortimer, the Sylvia Earle and the Douglas Mawson, near identical sisters carrying no more than 130 expeditioners in Antarctica. The December departures give you Christmas and New Year in the far south. Premium spirits, cocktails, beer, wine and liqueurs are included throughout, as you can see on our what’s included page.
Day by Day
Fly into Ushuaia, where an Aurora representative meets you and takes you to your hotel, either Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort or Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel. Your night here and breakfast are included. Check in opens at 3pm, and the Aurora hospitality desk in the lobby is staffed from 3pm to 7pm to hand out luggage tags and explain how embarkation day will run. If you arrive after 7pm a welcome pack will be waiting at reception, and the desk opens again from 8am to 10am the next morning. Meals today are at your own expense. Ushuaia sits on the Beagle Channel, named after the ship that carried Charles Darwin through these waters in the 1830s, and the town’s restaurants are known for southern king crab.
After breakfast, label your bags with your name and cabin number and leave them at reception. They are taken to the port and will be in your cabin when you board, so keep valuables and anything you need for the day with you. Aurora arranges a late check out and a hospitality room, which leaves the day free for the waterfront, the town’s museums or a walk in the hills that rise straight behind the streets. At the time the ground team gives you, meet in the hotel lobby or the car park near the pier. Once aboard there are compulsory briefings, then everyone gathers on deck as the ship pulls away with Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego behind her. The first evening ends with a welcome dinner.
The Drake Passage is the stretch of open ocean between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, where the Southern Ocean funnels between two continents. The X-BOW helps here, slicing through swell rather than slamming into it. These two days are spent finding your sea legs and getting ready: the expedition team runs the wildlife guidelines and biosecurity checks needed before any landing, and the lecture programme begins on Antarctic history, wildlife and ice. Albatrosses and giant petrels often follow the ship. As you cross the Antarctic Convergence the air and water turn colder, and by the afternoon of Day 4 most people are out on deck watching for the first iceberg. If time and weather allow, a first landing may be attempted late that afternoon.
Six days on the western side of the Peninsula and in the South Shetlands, with long summer days to use. The expedition team plans each day around weather, ice and wildlife, so there is no fixed list of sites. Expect Zodiac cruises along ice cliffs and among grounded icebergs, landings at penguin rookeries and historic huts, and walks up snowy ridges for the view. The ship may also cruise narrow channels between the islands and the mainland, and the bridge is open at the captain’s discretion. The aim is to cross the Antarctic Circle at 66°33' south, conditions permitting, with a toast on deck. Further south the waters are rich in krill, so watch for humpback and minke whales and penguins feeding hungry chicks. The polar plunge can happen on any day the team announces it.
Two days at sea as the ship crosses the Scotia Sea towards South Georgia. The sea takes its name from the Scotia, the ship of William Speirs Bruce’s Scottish National Antarctic Expedition in the early 1900s, and these are the same waters Shackleton and five companions crossed in the James Caird in 1916 to fetch help for the men left on Elephant Island. The lectures now turn to South Georgia: its wildlife, its whaling past and how landings work on an island with strict biosecurity rules. In between, the sauna, the gym and the observation lounge are all yours.
Sea and weather decide what time you reach South Georgia today. When James Cook arrived in 1775 he hoped he had found the tip of a great southern continent. It turned out to be an island only 176 km long, but one with mountains reaching close to 3,000 metres and some of the largest gatherings of wildlife anywhere. As the coast comes into view, seabirds wheel around the ship and the ship sails along the glaciated shore. If conditions allow, the route in may pass close to Shag Rocks, a cluster of jagged rocky islets standing alone in the ocean west of the main island.
Three full days, planned by an expedition team that knows the island well and reads the weather and sea state each morning. Zodiacs nose into coves and along rocky shores looking for penguins, seal haul outs and bird cliffs, and over the kelp forests whose fronds sway on the surface. Ashore you may walk among king penguin colonies of extraordinary size, and past fur seals and elephant seals, keeping the distances your guides ask for. Aurora also hopes to visit the remains of the whaling stations and to pay respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton, who died aboard the Quest at Grytviken in 1922 and is buried there. The ship may cruise into fjords and towards glacier fronts too. Any optional activity you have booked runs whenever conditions allow.
Weather and sea state decide when the ship leaves South Georgia today, so how much of the day is spent at the island depends on conditions. It is a good moment to reflect on how far the island has come. Whalers and sealers once brought rats ashore here, and after one of the largest eradication projects ever attempted, birds such as the South Georgia pipit, the world’s most southerly songbird, are returning. Once under way, the ship sets course west for the Falklands.
Two days at sea between South Georgia and the Falklands, with albatrosses and petrels following and circling the ship for hours on end. The lecture programme continues, with the expedition team’s specialists covering the birds, the history and the islands still to come. Somewhere on this crossing you pass back north of the Antarctic Convergence, into slightly warmer water. Borrow a book from the library, work out in the fitness centre or simply keep watch from the deck.
The Falklands are made up of East and West Falkland and more than 700 smaller islands, most of them uninhabited, with windswept coasts, white sand beaches and very clear water. They hold the largest black browed albatross colony on Earth. The team plans landings or Zodiac outings twice a day around the wind and weather, looking for seals, sea lions, dolphins and penguins along the cliffs and coves. It can be chilly even north of the Convergence, so layer up. You may visit albatross colonies and penguin rookeries, and perhaps take tea and scones at a farm cottage. Conditions permitting, you land at Stanley, the capital, with its terraced houses, red telephone box, pubs, post office and the Historic Dockyard Museum, which tells the islands’ maritime story and their links to Antarctica.
A last day at sea as the ship heads back towards Ushuaia. There are final lectures and films, time to sort through three weeks of photographs and a chance to talk over everything you have seen with the friends you have made. In the evening the Captain’s farewell dinner closes the voyage. Aurora hopes everyone goes home an ambassador for the Antarctic, telling family and friends about it and supporting its protection under the Antarctic Treaty.
Early in the morning the ship sails up the Beagle Channel and docks in Ushuaia, and you are free to leave the ship at around 8am. If you are staying on, transport to your hotel is provided only if you booked the hotel through Aurora or are staying downtown near the port. If your flight leaves before 2.30pm you are taken straight to the airport; with a later flight you have time in town before an afternoon airport transfer. Details are confirmed on board. Aurora advises against booking a flight out of Ushuaia before midday, in case of delays.
Every Antarctic itinerary depends on the ice, the weather and the wildlife. The Captain and Expedition Leader choose each day’s landings and Zodiac cruises on the spot, so the order of the days and the places visited can change.
Watch
Aurora’s own guide to the two halves of this voyage, the ice of the Peninsula and the wildlife of South Georgia, is a good way to picture what three weeks down south look like.
Video: Explorer’s Guide to Antarctica and South Georgia, from Aurora Expeditions on YouTube.
2026/27 to 2028/29 Seasons
Antarctica Complete has five departures, with fares from £25,587 per person twin share and five still on sale. The December 2026 sailing is on the Douglas Mawson and the December 2027 sailing on the Greg Mortimer; both include Christmas and New Year. The February departures sail on the Greg Mortimer in 2027 and the Sylvia Earle in 2028, later in the summer when penguin chicks are growing fast, whales are more numerous and the pack ice has usually loosened. The February 2029 sailing on the Greg Mortimer starts and ends in Buenos Aires rather than Ushuaia, so the day by day above will differ for that date; ask us for the details. Selected dates save up to 25%.
Two departures in the 2026/27 season, on the Douglas Mawson and the Greg Mortimer.
| Departs | Ship | Aurora Stateroom from | Balcony Stateroom from | Suites from | Solo from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 202623 days, Ushuaia round tripSave up to 10% | Douglas Mawson | £27,230was £30,256Limited | £29,447was £32,719 | £41,227was £45,808Limited | Sold out |
| 7 Feb 202723 days, Ushuaia round tripSave up to 10% | Greg Mortimer | Sold out | £27,992was £31,102Limited | £41,227was £45,808Limited | £35,183Limited |
Two departures in the 2027/28 season, on the Greg Mortimer and the Sylvia Earle.
| Departs | Ship | Aurora Stateroom from | Balcony Stateroom from | Suites from | Solo from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 202723 days, Ushuaia round tripSave up to 15% | Greg Mortimer | £25,587was £30,102 | £27,746was £32,642Limited | £40,900was £48,118 | Sold out |
| 1 Feb 202823 days, Ushuaia round trip | Sylvia Earle | £31,795Limited | £34,336Limited | £54,971Limited | Sold out |
One departure in the 2028/29 season, on the Greg Mortimer.
| Departs | Ship | Aurora Stateroom from | Balcony Stateroom from | Suites from | Solo from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Feb 202923 days, Buenos Aires round tripSave up to 25% | Greg Mortimer | £26,580was £34,721 | £28,717was £37,570 | £41,710was £54,894 | £37,570Limited |
Prices are per person in pounds, two sharing, and include Aurora’s current savings. The Solo column is the price for a cabin to yourself. They are taken from Aurora Expeditions’ UK fares on 3 November 2026. Flights from the UK are not included, and we are happy to arrange them for you. Aurora adjust fares and offers often, so prices and availability can change daily. Call us on 0333 405 0194 for today’s fare and the full range of staterooms on your chosen date.
Your Fare
Aurora’s fares cover more than many people expect, including drinks, landings and your polar jacket. On this voyage the price includes:
Not included: flights to and from South America unless shown above, travel insurance (which must include at least US$250,000 of medical, repatriation and evacuation cover), optional add-on activities, visas and personal spending. A crew gratuity of US$20 per person per day is added to your onboard account, and you can adjust or remove it when you settle up. For suite guests the gratuity is already included. Our Aurora what’s included page has more detail.
Make More of It
Optional activities on Antarctica Complete are sea kayaking, paddling, snorkelling, snowshoeing and scuba diving, but the mix changes by departure. Snowshoeing is offered on the December sailings, scuba diving on the February ones, and snorkelling on every date except December 2026. Places are small in number and some have already gone, so book any activity with your cabin. See our Aurora activities page for how each one works.
Aurora’s extension tours for this voyage are the Ushuaia City Stay (two days, before the voyage), Taste of Santiago (four days), Santiago and Valparaiso Explorer (six days), Taste of Buenos Aires (four days), Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls Explorer (six days), Patagonia Eco Camp (five days) and Atacama Desert Adventure (four days). Our gateway cities guide has more on Ushuaia, Buenos Aires and Santiago.
| Add-on activity | From, per person |
|---|---|
| Paddling | £269 |
| Snowshoeing | £339 (sold out on current dates) |
| Snorkelling | £643 |
| Scuba diving | £997 |
| Sea kayaking | £1,344 |
Activity prices vary by departure. Places are limited, they are booked with your voyage, and every activity depends on the weather and ice on the day. See our Aurora activities page for what each one involves.
Questions
It is 23 days. On most departures it starts and ends in Ushuaia, with your first night in an Ushuaia hotel included. The February 2029 departure is the exception and starts and ends in Buenos Aires. You sail on Day 2 and are back in Ushuaia around 8am on Day 23, after six days on the Peninsula, several at South Georgia and two in the Falklands.
It depends on the date. The December 2026 departure uses the Douglas Mawson, the newest of the three, which adds a heated outdoor pool. The February 2027, December 2027 and February 2029 departures use the Greg Mortimer, and February 2028 the Sylvia Earle. All three are near identical X-BOW sisters carrying no more than 130 expeditioners in Antarctica, so the experience ashore is the same.
No. You arrange your own flights to Ushuaia, usually via Buenos Aires, and home again. The airport transfers named in the itinerary, the first night’s hotel and breakfast, all meals and drinks on board are included. We can help you with flights and with an extra night or two before the voyage, which is sensible on a trip of this length. Do not book a flight home before midday on Day 23.
It is the plan, but not a promise. Aurora aims to cross 66°33' south during the Peninsula days and marks it with a toast on deck. Sea ice, wind and visibility decide how far south the ship can safely go, and the expedition leader will always choose a good day in the right place over a line on the chart.
Only once, on the way south on Days 3 and 4. After the Peninsula the ship crosses the Scotia Sea to South Georgia, then sails on to the Falklands and back to Ushuaia from there. You still have plenty of open ocean, with around nine days at sea in total, so if you are prone to seasickness bring your usual remedy and talk to the ship’s doctor early.
The December 2026 departure on the Douglas Mawson and the December 2027 departure on the Greg Mortimer. On the published plan Christmas Day falls during the Peninsula days and New Year during the South Georgia days, though the expedition team always adjusts the route to the weather. The February departures do not include Christmas.
Yes. Aurora keeps up to ten solo cabins on every sailing with no single supplement, and they go early on long voyages like this one. Any other cabin can be booked for sole use with a 50% supplement. With no more than 130 guests and three weeks together, solo travellers soon find company at meals and in the lecture theatre.
Aurora grades this voyage as moderate. You need to manage Zodiac transfers, which means stepping down into a moving boat with help from the crew, and walks of a few hours over shingle, snow and tussock. Nothing is compulsory, and you can choose a Zodiac cruise instead of a longer walk. Aurora gives you a three in one polar jacket to keep and lends you waterproof boots.
Other Voyages
If you want the Antarctic in even greater depth, Epic Antarctica: Crossing the 7th Continent links New Zealand’s subantarctic islands and the Ross Sea with the Peninsula, and Ross Sea Odyssey explores the Heroic Age huts of the Ross Sea from Hobart. For South Georgia with less time on the Peninsula, look at In Shackleton’s Footsteps, or browse all Antarctic cruises.