Day 1
Tue, Nov 16Buenos Aires
Arrive in Buenos Aires
Overnight at the Hotel Emperador with breakfast. Luggage is weighed and tagged at the hotel.
Polar expeditionHosted group trip
Emperor Penguin Quest
Antarctica & Snow Hill Island · November 16–29, 2027 · 14 days · Hosted by Werner & Myra Kurn
Reserve your placeSee the day-by-dayDatesNov 16–29, 2027
ShipUltramarine, 199 guests
DestinationWeddell Sea · Snow Hill
From$25,261 per person
StartBuenos Aires
A rare expedition to an emperor penguin colony, reached by helicopter across the sea ice
Few travelers ever see emperor penguins in the wild. This voyage aboard Quark Expeditions’ Ultramarine heads deep into the Weddell Sea to the colony of roughly 8,000 emperors on the sea ice off Snow Hill Island.
Ultramarine carries two twin-engine helicopters. When ice and weather allow, you’ll fly over snow-capped peaks and tabular icebergs to land near the colony, then walk to it with the expedition team. A visit is expected but not guaranteed, as it depends on sea and weather conditions.
Moments you won’t find on an ordinary cruise
Emperor penguins and chicksThe colony on the sea ice off Snow Hill Island
Helicopter over the iceA sightseeing flight over tabular icebergs, included
Zodiac cruisingAmong icebergs with the expedition team
Adélie rookeriesBrown Bluff and Paulet Island, weather permitting
Polar wildlifeSeals, whales and seabirds of the Weddell Sea
Walking with emperorsA guided route across the ice to the colony
Your hosts
Explore Antarctica with Werner & Myra
Werner and Myra Kurn travel with the group from Buenos Aires to the ice and back, alongside Quark’s expedition leaders, penguin scientists and polar historians.
Day by day
The route is set each day by weather, sea ice and wildlife.
Day 2
Wed, Nov 17Ushuaia
Charter flight and embarkation
An early private charter flight to Ushuaia, free time in town, then board Ultramarine around 4 pm and sail the Beagle Channel.
Days 3–4
Nov 18–19Drake Passage
Crossing the Drake Passage
Settle in on board with expert presentations as you sail south.
All meals on board
Day 5
Sat, Nov 20Weddell Sea
Into the Weddell Sea
Navigate into the Weddell Sea, with presentations on polar exploration and emperor penguins.
All meals on board
Days 6–10
Nov 21–25Snow Hill Island
The quest for the emperors
Guided by ice and weather reports, fly by helicopter toward the colony and walk across the sea ice to the penguins. Zodiac cruising, kayaking, paddleboarding and a polar plunge, with possible landings at Brown Bluff, Hope Bay, Devil Island, Paulet Island and Seymour Island.
All meals on board
Days 11–13
Nov 26–28Drake Passage
Return crossing
Sail north across the Drake Passage, with time for seabird and whale watching.
All meals on board
Day 14
Mon, Nov 29Ushuaia to Buenos Aires
Disembark and fly home
Disembark in Ushuaia in the morning and take the charter flight back to Buenos Aires, arriving around 5 pm.
Breakfast
Your ship
Quark Expeditions
Ultramarine
A purpose-built polar expedition ship with two twin-engine helicopters, 20 quick-launch Zodiacs, two restaurants, a spa, sauna and fitness room. 199 guests and 140 staff and crew.
Pricing
Per person, double occupancy. Suite availability depends on when you book.
| Suite | Price |
|---|---|
| Explorer Suite | $25,261 |
| Balcony Suite | $27,726 |
| Deluxe Balcony Suite | $32,741 |
| Terrace Suite | $33,931 |
| Solo Panorama | $35,206 |
| Penthouse Suite | $36,481 |
| Owner's Suite | $45,151 |
| Ultra Suite | $50,081 |
What's included
- 13 nights aboard Ultramarine with all meals, beer, wine, spirits and Wi-Fi
- Expedition leaders, guides and onboard presentations
- All Zodiac excursions and landings, and helicopter flights as described
- A Quark 3-in-1 parka to keep and expedition boots on loan
- Hotel night in Buenos Aires and the charter flights to and from Ushuaia, with transfers
- Emergency evacuation insurance, port charges and service taxes
Not included
International flights, visas, travel insurance, waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, laundry and personal charges, and the recommended gratuity of $25 per person per day.
Photos: Jenny Varley, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Denis Luyten, public domain · Liam Quinn, CC BY-SA 2.0 · LBM1948, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jens Bludau, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pedro Szekely, CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Reserve your suite
Suites are assigned as bookings arrive. Send us a request and we’ll be in touch to hold yours, or call us any time.
858-565-9474