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Viking Expeditions · 19 Days
The Falkland Islands, three days among the king penguins of South Georgia and five days in Antarctica, aboard Viking’s expedition ships. Return flights from London are included.
The Grand Voyage
If you only go south once, this is the voyage to choose. In nineteen days you visit the three great wildlife destinations of the Southern Ocean: the Falkland Islands, with their albatross cliffs and rockhopper penguins, South Georgia, home to hundreds of thousands of king penguins and the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, and the ice of the Antarctic Peninsula.
South Georgia alone makes the trip. Beaches such as Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour hold colonies of king penguins so large they stretch to the glaciers, with fur seals and elephant seals scattered among them. It is one of the least visited and most extraordinary places on Earth, and with three days there you have time to take it in properly.
The voyage sails on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, and as always with Viking your fare includes return flights from London, the charter flight between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, landings, kayaking and the Special Operations Boats, beer and wine with meals, Wi-Fi and gratuities. With only a handful of departures each season, it is also the Viking voyage that sells out first.
Day by Day
You fly out from London to Buenos Aires, where your Viking journey begins. The included tour takes you to La Boca, the old port district of painted tin houses and street tango, and to the Plaza de Mayo, the political heart of Argentina, where Eva Perón addressed the crowds from the balcony of the Casa Rosada. If you would like more time in the city, Viking offer a three night pre-cruise stay, and our gateway cities guide has ideas for what to see.
A charter flight takes you south to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, on the shores of the Beagle Channel. Before boarding there is an included visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park, where beech forests, peat bogs and lakes run right up to the mountains at the very end of the Andes. In the afternoon you join your ship and settle in as she slips out along the channel.
The ship heads north east from the Beagle Channel into the South Atlantic. It is a good day to attend your first lectures in The Aula, explore the ship and watch for black browed albatrosses, which nest in their thousands in the Falklands.
A small, privately owned island off the north west of West Falkland, famous for its cliffs where black browed albatrosses and rockhopper penguins nest side by side. The walk across the island to the colony is one of the most memorable in the Falklands.
The Falklands’ small capital is a mix of colourful houses, Victorian church and red phone boxes, and feels very British. Your included tour introduces the town and its history, and there is time to visit the museum or one of the cosy pubs. Nearby beaches are home to gentoo and Magellanic penguins.
Two days sailing east towards South Georgia, the route Captain James Cook took when he claimed the island in 1775. The Expedition Team tell the story of Shackleton’s Endurance expedition and his extraordinary rescue voyage, which ended at South Georgia, and the island’s strict biosecurity rules are explained before you land.
Three days on an island of jagged peaks and glaciers rising straight out of the ocean. Depending on the weather, you may land among the king penguins of Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay or Gold Harbour, cruise beneath glaciers by Zodiac, and visit Grytviken, the old whaling station where Shackleton is buried. Raise a glass to “the Boss” at his graveside, a tradition for every visitor.
Elephant seals and fur seals crowd the beaches, wandering albatrosses nest on the tussock covered slopes, and the sheer amount of life is unlike anywhere else.
Heading south west towards Antarctica, the ship passes the first big icebergs that have drifted north from the Weddell Sea. The route may pass Elephant Island, where Shackleton’s men waited months for rescue at Point Wild.
Five days in Antarctica, with landings and Zodiac cruises chosen each day by the Expedition Leader. Possible stops include Paulet Island and Brown Bluff on the edge of the Weddell Sea, with their huge Adélie colonies, Half Moon Island and its chinstraps, and the channels and bays of the western Peninsula such as Rongé Island and the Errera Channel.
As well as the landings, there is kayaking, the Special Operations Boats and, for those who book it, a submarine dive. Back on board, the scientists in The Science Lab welcome guests who want to help with their research.
A day at sea crossing the Drake Passage, with farewell lectures and a last chance to spot whales and albatrosses.
On the way back north the ship sails close to Cape Horn, weather permitting, the rocky headland at the bottom of the Americas that sailors feared for centuries. It is a fitting final view before the calm waters of the Beagle Channel lead you back to Ushuaia.
After breakfast you disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for the charter flight to Buenos Aires, where you connect with your included flight home. If you would rather stay on, Viking’s five night Patagonia extension and a one night Buenos Aires stay can both be added.
Itineraries in Antarctica are always subject to ice, weather and wildlife, and the Captain and Expedition Leader decide each day’s landings on the spot. The order of the days and the places visited can change.
2026/27 to 2028/29 Seasons
Viking only run this voyage a few times each season, which is why it books up so far ahead. There are 4 departures still on sale between March 2027 and February 2029. The March 2027 sailing is late in the season, the best time for whales and for king penguin chicks in their brown woolly coats.
Two departures, on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. One of them is already sold out.
| Departs | Ship | Nordic Balcony from | Suites from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Nov 2026 | Polaris | Sold out | Sold out |
| 2 Mar 2027 | Octantis | £16,990 | Sold out |
One departure, on Viking Octantis.
| Departs | Ship | Nordic Balcony from | Suites from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb 2028 | Octantis | £19,990Limited availability | £47,9901 left |
Two departures, on Viking Polaris.
| Departs | Ship | Nordic Balcony from | Suites from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Dec 2028 | Polaris | £19,990 | £23,990 |
| 4 Feb 2029 | Polaris | £21,990 | £25,990Limited availability |
Prices are per person, two sharing, and include return flights from London. They are taken from Viking’s UK website on 17 October 2026, when every departure shown also carried a free drinks package for bookings made in October. Viking adjust their fares with demand, 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. Single travellers, ask us about solo fares.
Your Fare
Viking fares cover far more than the cruise itself, and the biggest difference from most Antarctic voyages is the flights. Here is what your price includes:
Not included: travel insurance, which must include at least £250,000 of medical and evacuation cover, the optional submarine dives, drinks outside mealtimes and spa treatments. Our Viking what's included page goes into more detail.
Make More of It
The one optional experience most guests ask about is the submarine. Each Viking expedition ship carries two six seat submarines, and where the conditions allow you can book a dive beneath the surface of Antarctic waters, something very few people on Earth have done. Places are limited and are booked on board, so we recommend registering your interest early.
You can also add time in South America before or after the voyage. Viking offer short, fully guided extensions including three nights in Buenos Aires and the Paraná Delta, four nights at the Iguazú Falls, five nights in Patagonia and five nights in Peru, as well as Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and the Atacama Desert. Prices start from around £1,799 per person, or from £199 for a simple extra night in Buenos Aires. Ask us which ones are available on your chosen date.
Other Voyages
If nineteen days is more time than you have, Antarctic Explorer spends seven days on the Peninsula in thirteen, and Into the Antarctic Circle heads further south. To compare South Georgia voyages with other cruise lines, see all Antarctica cruises.