Braving Antarctica's King George Island with Crystal Cruises

This is one for the books! Crystal Cruises has developed a super unique two-day excursion to Antarctica's King George Island. The largest of the South Shetland Islands, the only people living there include the scant few manning research stations.

A trip to King George Island isn't all fun and games. As Crystal Cruises notes, it's part of one of "the windiest, coldest, and least populated continent on the planet." Yet, each year a limited number of tourists visit to catch a glimpse of a variety of seals (elephant, weddell, and leopard) as well as chinstrap and gentoo penguins.

There's only room for six participants on this once-in-a-lifetime excursion from Crystal Symphony's December 20th Buenos Aires to Valparaiso, Chile itinerary that includes three days cruising Antarctica.

“Brace for a once-in-a-lifetime excursion that literally exemplifies the type of highly unusual, off-the-beaten-path experiential adventures our guests are seeking,” says John Stoll, director, land programs for Crystal Cruises. “Only a handful of people will ever have the chance to see this remarkable region so intimately.”

The adventure departs from Ushuaia, Argentina and rejoins Crystal Symphony in Punta Arenas, Chile. Highlights depend on weather conditions, and include:

• Travel by King Air beach craft from Ushuaia to King George Island;
  
  
• Overnight accommodations at the Chilean Antarctic Institute;
  
  
• Visits to the Chilean Eduardo Frei Antarctic Base and the Uruguayan Base Artigas;
  
  
• Snow coach trek to Collins Glacier, which once covered 90 percent of the island;
  
  
• Zodiac excursion to Ardley Island and a penguin breeding ground; and
  
  
• Two-hour hiking expedition to observe elephant and fur seals, and Villa Las Estrellas.

Other adventures ashore include a helicopter ride to a humpback whale sanctuary, a 4 x 4 expedition to a King penguin colony, and trekking the mountains of Chile. Fares for the “Extreme Overnight Adventure” start at $9,774 per person, double occupancy.

In addition to Buenos Aires and Valparaiso, the cruise visits Montevideo, Uruguay; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Ushuaia, Argentina; and Punta Arena and Puerto Montt, Chile. Cruise fares start $8,995 per person, double occupancy.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Crystal Cruises at (888) 799-4625.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of baby elephant seal on King George Island