7 Dec 27 to 17 Dec 27 , from AU$17,790
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Come aboard Le Lyrial for an unforgettable voyage.

In alliance with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

 

This Antarctica voyage is designed in collaboration with scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the world’s leading ocean science non-profit organization, as a living expression of its scientific work. PONANT and WHOI invite guests to experience the Southern Ocean—a dynamic system shaping global climate, circulation, and life on Earth—as researchers do. Science unfolds in real time through briefings, deck-based observation, and conversation shaped by conditions, curiosity, and discovery. This voyage is specially tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world.

 

Antarctica is often described as remote, pristine, and untouched. But for ocean scientists, it is something else entirely. It is a driver of planetary systems—regulating climate, circulating heat, storing carbon, and sustaining life far beyond the polar regions. Embark on an unforgettable 11-day polar expedition voyage to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife.  

The start of your voyage will be marked by the crossing of the mythical Drake Passage, during which you will likely be escorted by several albatrosses and Cape petrels, the sentinels of these often-choppy waters.

Your ship will then reach the White Continent, realm of the unexpected. This extreme environment where nature reigns supreme will reveal to you its most beautiful secrets through numerous discoveries.

On this uninhabited land, which wasn’t explored until the 19th century, your encounters with wildlife are sure to be one of the highlights of your experience. The Gentoo, Adélie, and Chinstrap penguins, Humpback whales, seals, and seabirds will provide you with cherished lifelong memories.

Each day, whether on land, aboard your ship, or during a Zodiac outing, you will be surrounded by a grandiose landscape ranging from icebergs to ice floe and ancient glaciers.

 

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by IAATO. 

Overview

Your voyage

All-inclusive

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Destination

Destination

Antarctica

Ushuaia (Argentina) to Ushuaia (Argentina)

Duration

12 days, 10 nights on board

Expeditions

Expeditions

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Overnight in buenos aires + roundtrip flights buenos aires/ushuaia/buenos aires + transfers included

Offers

PONANT Bonus 30%

Kayak Discovery Antarctica

Kayak Discovery Antarctica

Ref: USH-USH-10-QC271206 - LY071227

Journey

Your daily itinerary

  • A voyage specially tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with scientists, transfers before and after your cruise, a pre-cruise hotel night in Buenos Aires, round-trip flights to/from Ushuaia, and included activities on land and by sea. For more information, see the “Included Package” tab.
  • Engaging interactions with scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, including daily scientific briefings translating complex processes into human understanding; informal conversations focused on inquiry, not advocacy; deck-based observation connecting visible phenomena to deeper systems; and moments of quiet reflection designed to let insight emerge naturally.
  • Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
  • Hiking opportunities.
  • Visits to research stations and former whaling stations if conditions allow.
  • Landscapes: A multitude of drifting icebergs, ice floes, imposing glaciers, and tall, snow-covered mountains.
  • Wildlife: Humpback and Minke whales; Gentoo, Adélie, and Chinstrap penguins; Leopard, Crabeater, and Weddell seals; and numerous sea birds.
  • An opportunity to explore the magic of Antarctica with a sea kayak adventure. Led by experienced, state-certified kayak guides, you will skim the water’s surface amid the ice. Full professional equipment is provided, including tandem kayak, carbon paddle, full-body drysuit, lifejacket, and AIS beacon. For more information about the kayak experience, please go to the "Activity" tab, and to book the kayak tour, contact your cruise advisor. (Additional Cost)
Antarctica: Ocean (Re)Imagined - with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution null

Customize your journey:

Staterooms and suites

Elegance and refinement

*Price displayed is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available. The price includes the Ponant Bonus discount.

Details

More information

What's Included

Important travel details

In your luggage

Antarctica: Ocean (Re)Imagined - with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Itinerary

Embarkation 07/12/27 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Departure 07/12/27 at 6:30 pm

7 Dec 27 - Ushuaia

Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…

7 Dec 27 - Ushuaia

Arrival 08/12/27 Departure 09/12/27

8 Dec 27 > 9 Dec 27 - Crossing the Drake Passage

Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarise yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience.  You will experience exceptional sailing moments on board and join the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.

8 Dec 27 > 9 Dec 27 - Crossing the Drake Passage

Arrival 10/12/27 early morning Departure 14/12/27 late morning

10 Dec 27 > 14 Dec 27 - Antarctic Peninsula

Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.

Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula.  Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.

10 Dec 27 > 14 Dec 27 - Antarctic Peninsula

Arrival 15/12/27 Departure 16/12/27

15 Dec 27 > 16 Dec 27 - Crossing the Drake Passage

If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.

15 Dec 27 > 16 Dec 27 - Crossing the Drake Passage

Arrival 17/12/27 Disembarkation 17/12/27 at 8:00 am

17 Dec 27 - Ushuaia

Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…

17 Dec 27 - Ushuaia

Antarctica: Ocean (Re)Imagined - with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Included package

Overnight in Buenos Aires + roundtrip flights Buenos Aires/Ushuaia/Buenos Aires + transfers included

PONANT has organized the following included program for you, which starts the day prior to embarkation.

The day before embarkation – Buenos Aires

  • Transfer from Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Casa Lucia hotel (or similar).
  • Meet and greet at the hotel and hospitality desk. Check-in from late morning.
  • Lunch and dinner on your own and time at leisure in the afternoon.
  • Overnight at the hotel.

Embarkation Day – Buenos Aires/Ushuaia

Early morning breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport.

Flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia selected by PONANT in economy class. Approximate flight duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Meet and greet at the airport in Ushuaia.

Transfer to the port in Ushuaia to embark the ship.

- 10-night cruise on board Le Lyrial -

Disembarkation Day – Ushuaia/Buenos Aires

Disembarkation.

Meet and greet at the port.

Transfer to the airport and check-in to the flight Ushuaia/Buenos Aires selected by PONANT in economy class. Approximate flight duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes.

 

Your program includes:

  • A program of onboard enrichment provided by scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
  • 1-night accommodation at the Casa Lucia hotel (or similar) the night before embarkation.
  • Early check-in available from late morning.

Hospitality desk at the hotel.

Antarctica: Ocean (Re)Imagined - with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Customize your journey

Patagonia, land of contrasts (4 nights)

Patagonia, land of contrasts (4 nights)
Details

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed program.

With this rich and varied program, you can admire the wild nature of argentinian Patagonia and explore the spectacular Perito Moreno glacier.

 Day 1 - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Meet and greet at the Ezeiza International Airport of Buenos Aires in arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative upon arrival of the flight selected by PONANT or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).

You will be transferred to the Palladio MGallery 5* (or similar).

Check-in.

Lunch, afternoon, and dinner are at your leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 - Buenos Aires /El Calafate

Breakfast,

After a sightseeing tour of Buenos Aires, and lunch at leisure, you'll be transferred to the airport in connexion with the domestic flight selected by PONANT (subject to airline changes) to El Calafate. You'll be greeted at the airport by our local representative. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel, Posada los Alamos (or Xelena Hotel depending on departures).

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 - El Calafate

After breakfast, you will enjoy a full day excursion visit to Estancia Cristina, a true haven of peace surrounded by nature, in the heart of Los Glacieres National Park. You'll discover the Upsala glacier by 4x4, then enjoy lunch in a typical Argentinian restaurant. Return to your hotel at the end of the day.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

 Day 4 - El Calafate/Ushuaia

After breakfast, you will discover the spectacular Perito Moreno glacier. This extraordinary excursion will introduce you to Argentine Patagonia's main attraction. The intense shades of blue of the ice and the immensity of the glacier form an incredible spectacle. After this excursion, you'll be transferred to El Calafate airport for the El Calafate/Ushuaia flight selected by PONANT.

You'll be met at Ushuaia airport by our French-speaking correspondent, then transferred to the Hotel Arakur, high above Ushuaia, overlooking the entire bay.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5 - Ushuaia

Breakfast.

Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and explore the Tierra del Fuego National Park before boarding your ship.

Your hotels:

Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires MGallery 5* (or similar)

Located in the refined neighborhood of La Recoleta, known for its neoclassical architecture, the hotel offers easy access to the main tourist attractions of Buenos Aires. The establishment has elegant and spacious rooms, swimming pool, restaurant and bar, for an authentic and exclusive stay.

Hotel Arakur 5*

Located in the heart of the Cerro Alarken nature reserve, Arakur Resort & Spa offers sustainable architecture with a modern design in harmony with nature. The hotel features natural terraces that blend into the environment, as well as a spectacular natural balcony 250 meters above sea level, for panoramic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel.

Your program includes:

·        1 night accommodation in Buenos Aires, at the Palladio MGallery 5* (or similar) Classic room, breakfast included. 

·        2 nights accommodation at Posada los Alamos 4* (or Xelena hotel) Classic room, breakfast included.

·        1 night accommodation in Ushuaia Arakur 5* (or similar) Valley view room, breakfast included.

·        Domestic Flights Buenos Aires/El Calafate/Ushuaia in economy class.

·        Meals as mentioned in the program.

·        Beverage package during meals (bottled water + 1 soft drink or 1 glass of wine or 1 local beer and 1 coffee or tea).

·        Transfers, visits and entrance fees as mentioned in the program.

·        Entrance fees for national parks and reserves.

·        Services of local English-speaking guide.
 

Your program does not include:

·        Personal expenses and other services not mentioned in the program.

·        Visa fees if required.

Please note:

·        It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

·        By choosing this exclusive pre-cruise stay, the boarding day schedule as described in the tab "Included in your cruise" is not compatible or cumulative with this program Patagonia, land of contrasts (4 nights).

·        For more information and to purchase this trip please contact our travel advisors.

·       The local currency in Argentina is the Argentine peso. You can make most of your purchases in U. S. dollars (small denominations) or by credit card, which are accepted in most hotels, malls and shops. You can also withdraw pesos from ATMs.

·      Travelers are advised to check on their government websites, or local government sites for the latest Travel Advisories, passport visa, and health requirements for your intended destinations. all the information with the authorities concerned prior to the departure date. We advise travelers to consult the country factsheets relating to the chosen destinations.

·        The luggage allowance is maximum 23 kg (50lbs) for your checked bag and 7kg (17lbs) for your carryon bag, and one small personal item such as a backpack/purse/camera bag. 

·        This program is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

A minimum number of participants is required for this trip to proceed. As a result, both the price and itinerary may be adjusted based on the final number of participants. Should the minimum number not be met, we will offer you an alternative arrangement. 


Contact of your hotels: 

Palladio MGallery 5*

Suipacha 1036, C1008 CABA, Argentine

+54 11 4114-3400

Hotel Posada Los Álamos 4*

Ing. Héctor Mario Guatti 1135

El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Patagonie, Argentine. 

Hotel Arakur 5*  

Cerro Alarkén N° 1(Acceso por Av, Héroes de Malvinas 2617, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentine

+54 2901 44-2900

 Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

Total

AU$6,220/person*

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.