Introduction

Touring Antarctica by yacht is one of the most unique and exclusive ways to explore this remote and breathtaking region. This journey combines adventure with luxury, offering a level of intimacy with the environment that larger vessels can’t match.

Apart from the few research stations. No one has properly settled here. It is an inaccessible continent covered with permafrost, snow deserts and unparallel landscapes.

Our approach to this discovery adventure

I have known of the owner of this company, whom I met and went for 2 trips in his yacht in 2017 and 2018. One of the trips was to Svalbard and another to Greenland. Today, he has expanded his company to a full fledge ship tour company with six yachts of varying capacities. I have chartered a yacht from 17^th to 27^th Jan 2026. The terms of the charter are to take up the whole capacity of 17 participants. If we are unable to get the full number of participants, we will have to pay the full price of the charter.

The advantages of this approach

1. The yacht is smaller than an ocean liner with 100 to 200 passengers’ capacity.
2. The yacht can go to places where the ocean liners cannot go.
3. It can be parked nearer to shoreline hence we do not need long transfers by zodiacs to places of interest.
4. The disembarking and embarking time to the yacht is shorter. We will only have 17 passengers.
5. We do not need to sail in the yacht through the Drake Passage. The sea in the Drake passage is often very rough. Many people even those who don’t regularly have seasick problems will develop one.
6. The seas around Antarctica are often quite calm.
7. Travelling in a yacht is more intimate with a small group.
8. We fly to and from Punta Arenas, Chile to Bellingshausen Research station at Antarctica on chartered flights. Hence, we will avoid sailing for 3 days each way through the Drake Passage. The price of these chartered flights is included in the price.
9. A well-known photographer has been using this company for his photo tours.
10. Our pricing through this approach is significantly lower than ocean liners.

How to get to Punta Arenas? It’s a long flight to Punta Arenas. The flight schedules for 2026 have not been out. This year’s flight schedules give an indication of the journey and price

Visas required for Chile.

Malaysian citizens do not need a visa to enter Chile for a short stay of less than 90 days. One has to take care of the airports of transit. If one has to get out of the airport and then check-in again, please check if that country needs a permit or visa to enter.

Additional Accommodation

One may need to stay a day or two in Punta Arenas before boarding the chartered plane and a day or two on return. The weather conditions on this part of the world are unpredictable. It is better to allow some extra days in your flight bookings. The cost of this extra accommodation will be borne by individual participants. The prices of accommodation is similar to Malaysian hotels.

The Yacht

We have booked a yacht (schooner) with a sleeping capacity of 17 people excluding the crew. There is no single room alternative. Everyone has to share rooms. There are charging facilities on board for your phones and batteries.

Notes on the Yacht’s facilities

• 3 baths and toilets – you can take a hot shower on board
• Heating system
• Charging outlets for phones and batteries
• There are no internet facilities on board.
• If you want to connect the world, you will need a satellite phone.
• The cooks are usually from Russia. Only continental foods are served.
• You can bring your own comfort food.
• Drinks provided – hot and cold water, coffee, and tea.
• Bring your own warm clothing and landing boots or waterproof trekking shoes.
• Don’t bring luggage bags larger than 24”. There is not much room to store it on board.
• There’s a washing machine and drier aboard the yacht.
• There is no restriction on using drones in Antarctica

Notes on the Yacht’s facilities

• 3 baths and toilets – you can take a hot shower on board
• Heating system
• Charging outlets for phones and batteries
• There are no internet facilities on board.
• If you want to connect the world, you will need a satellite phone.
• The cooks are usually from Russia. Only continental foods are served.
• You can bring your own comfort food.
• Drinks provided – hot and cold water, coffee, and tea.
• Bring your own warm clothing and landing boots or waterproof trekking shoes.
• Don’t bring luggage bags larger than 24”. There is not much room to store it on board.
• There’s a washing machine and drier aboard the yacht.
• There is no restriction on using drones in Antarctica

Dining and multi-activity room

Toilet and baths

Kitchen

Shared bedrooms

Captain’s navigation room

Yacht Deck

Itinerary

Day 1 and 2 – 17^th and 18^th Jan

Fly from Punta Arenas to Bellingshausen

We will board a chartered plane from Punta Arenas in Chile and fly to Bellingshausen Polar Station. The flight is about 3 hours. We have allocated an extra day here to take care of contingencies of the weather.

From Bellingshausen, we will board our yacht for the journey around Antarctica. Bellingshausen is located on Waterloo Island. We have a chance to witness how polar researchers and explorers live. We will visit the southernmost church on earth, the Saint Trinity Church subject to permission by the Master of the Polar Research Station.

Day 3 – 19^th Jan

Yankee Harbour Islands and Halfmoon Island

We are going to Yankee Harbour and Halfmoon Islands. Yankee Harbour is a protected harbour with a pebble coast. Here you’ll find Gentoo penguin colonies, elephant seals and even fur seals. As for Halfmoon Island, you might have guessed that it has the shape of a half-moon. Some of its surface is covered with Antarctica moss. Elephant seals, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins as well as petrels live here.

Day 4 – 20^th Jan

Deception Island

We’ll spend a night in a submerged caldera of one of the active volcanoes on Deception Island. The island structure resembles a horseshoe with the best natural harbour inside where one can find shelter and wait till the rough weather subsides. There was a whaling station here at the beginning of the 20^th century. It’s remains were still here. The Bailey Head headland, located on the outer part of the island, is inhabited by the largest colony of Antarctica penguins. This is an amazingly beautiful place. In order to land on this island, we need calm seas.

Day 5– 21^st Jan

Trinity Island

As a rule, we do not step ashore here. Instead, we sail on the boat among the huge icebergs and cliff arches. We will spend the day watching icebergs.

Day 6 – 22^nd Jan

Enterprise

We’ll moor for a night near a sunken ship called Enterprise. In the daytime, we will be looking for whales here. If we are lucky, we’ll see one of the most stunning wildlife activities – bubble net feeding. It is a process when whales blow bubbles from their noses to encircle their food like a net. Several whales will come up to the surface at once and gulp up the krill that’s caught in the bubble trap. From above these bubble look like an even spiral. This is an unbelievable breathtaking show.

Day 7 – 23^rd Jan

Orne Harbour Island

We’ll head for Orne Harbour, an island with Gentoo penguin colony and blue-eyed shags. If the water is clear, we’ll have a chance to climb down some hills and watch the whales and seals. Those who’ll venture to the uppermost part of the island will see a panorama pf the neighbouring island cluster and a bay with icebergs.

Cuverville Island

We will stop at Cuverville Island Bay and Neko Harbour, which are close to each other. Cuverville island is a dark, cliffy island with a bay filled with icebergs. A colony of papua penguins live here. On the coastal waters we’ll be able to see seals enjoying themselves on the ice floes. Another penguin colony inhabits the Neko Harbour. Our main objective of stopping here is to have a look at a gigantic glacier with ice chunks calving off it and falling into the sea. This event is usually very spectacular. The falling ice create huge waves and a sound to match.

Day 8 – 24^th Jan

Lemair Channel

Lemair Channel separates Booth Island from the main Antarctic Peninsula. The narrowest point of the channel is only 300 meters wide. There are sheer 400m cliffs on both sides. Sailing through this channel is one of the brightest moments of the Antarctic Cruise. Orcas and humpback whales visit these waters quite often.

Day 9 – 25^th Jan

Port Lackroy

It’s time to send postcards from Port Lockroy station. It used to be a whaling station at the beginning of the 20^th century. When the station was closed, it was turned to a British Antarctica Exploration Centre. In 1996 they transformed the station into a museum and the southernmost post office in the world. The museum is opened only during the tourist season, ie from November till March. One can send a postcard or a letter from here. The station sells souvenirs. They do accept credit card payments.

Day 10 – 26^th Jan

Back to Bellingshausen Polar Station

Today we sail back to the Bellingshausen Polar Station. We will have a farewell dinner on board

Day 11 – 27^th Jan

Say goodbye to the crew and yacht. Chartered flight from Bellingshausen to Punta Arenas.

If you are interested in this trip, please contact Maxby at [email protected]