See Santiago from the air in early morning light when your plane leaves for Punta Arenas, Chile’s southernmost port. Your polar vessel MS Fram and its crew await you here, ready to take you further south than most people ever go.

After embarking the ship and checking-in, there will be a mandatory health and safety session for everyone. Later on, you will meet some of the crew, and of course, the Expedition Team. They will be your guides, hosts and travel companions for the next three weeks. There’ll be further opportunity to get to know each of them better during the welcome dinner.

About 90% of all the ice in the world is here, in an area twice the size of Australia, and home to about 12 million penguins across seven species. But even these impressive statistics don’t do Antarctica justice. Numbers can’t capture the magnitude and magnificence of its landscapes and words fail to fully describe the sensations and emotions of seeing a colony of several thousand penguins in person. It is a special place that really does need to be experienced.

It will be late summer in Antarctica when we get here, which means fantastic sunsets and penguin chicks starting to moult into adult plumage. This is also the best time for whale watching. Imagine standing on the ship when whales breach close by, splashing saltwater high up in the air. Now imagine sitting in a kayak in an optional activity when exactly the same thing happens. Talk about your close encounters! Antarctica has the ability to make you feel tiny and great at the same time. Snow algae will also be in bloom, brushing the normally pure-white landscapes with bright pink and green hues. A wide variety of seabirds, like geese, skuas, shearwaters and possibly even albatrosses, can be seen in the skies above and on the shores below.

Our expert Expedition Team will take you ice-cruising and out for landings to get you closer to this incredible world of ice and its wildlife. We’ll spend eight days exploring Antarctica with no fixed itinerary, attempting landings at several possible sites. Having sailed these waters for so many years, we know exactly what to do and where to go. You can trust us to take you to the best places at the best time to be there. Working with or around the weather and sea ice to make the most of each day is the expedition factor. It’s what makes this an authentic adventure.

This wild and remote wonderland was once the domain of the canoe-faring indigenous people who lived, sailed and hunted in these very fjords for centuries. Admire the serenity of this maze of waterways, surrounded by islands, glaciers and steep mountains.

If we have time on the day, and the weather is in our favour, we might launch small explorer boats to take you on a scenic cruise of the fjords or to a possible landing site. Still, the fjords can also be enjoyed out on deck while looking for wildlife like Magellanic penguins and maybe even elephant seals along the coastline. Dolphins and – if lucky – several species of whales can sometimes be spotted in the waters too.

At the end of a deep fjord surrounded by mountains, we arrive at the village of Puerto Edén in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. With no roads to speak of and only accessible by sea, a village doesn’t get much more isolated than this. To get around, you must walk on the pedestrian boardwalks that connect the houses and shops of the 250 people living here. Your umbrella or raincoat will likely also be put to good use seeing as Puerto Edén has one of the highest rates of rain in the world.

The 15 remaining full-blooded members of the indigenous Kawéskar people settled in Puerto Edén late into the 20^th century. They make a living fishing and weaving wicker baskets that they sell to passing passenger ships. The once-nomadic seafaring tribe used to travel in canoes that were 8 to 9 meters long, capable of transporting an entire family and their dog!

Castro is the capital of Chiloé Island and seems to have something for everyone. One of the first things you’ll notice are the characteristic and colourful wooden palafitos houses mounted on stilts along the water’s edge. There are also a number of arts and crafts stores here which make it a good place for souvenir shopping. For more bargains and a glimpse into the day-to-day life here, Feria Campesina Yumbel is a busy market selling all sorts of household goods and groceries.

Another highlight is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Iglesia San Francisco, a church that was built in 1567 when the city was first founded. If you are interested in art, the Museum of Modern Art of Chiloé is well worth a visit. There are a lot of great local snacks to try here too, so a light breakfast on the ship is a good idea, leaving room for churros and empanadas with sweet and savoury fillings.

When we dock at Valparaíso, your expedition cruise will come to an end. If you have the time, we recommend spending a few extra days to explore this eccentric city. The city’s many funiculars have been declared one of the world’s 100 most endangered historical treasures, bringing you up to colourful hill-top neighbourhoods for panoramas over the Pacific. If you want more adventure before going home, we recommend a Post-Programme to Easter Island, famous for its mysterious statues of giant heads and a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Whether you stay on or head home, saying goodbye to the ship, the Captain, crew, Expedition Team and fellow explorers will likely be tinged with sadness. The three weeks you will have spent together exploring the fabled continent of Antarctica, then up through Patagonia and its fabulous fjords, won’t be easily forgotten.

We hope you’ll remember your voyage with us as one of your all-time greatest expeditions. May it provide many fond memories and inspire you to continue to view the natural world with wonder and respect, and to do whatever we can to protect it.