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13-day ski touring expedition on the Antarctic Peninsula sailing from Ushuaia
Explore the fascinating Antarctic Peninsula in a 13-day skiing and sailing trip led by IFMGA-certified mountain guide David. This is an intermediate to advanced program.
Description
If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime ski touring adventure, this trip is for you! You will climb and ski some of the Antarctic Peninsula’s untouched white peaks, and explore its ice-covered landscape and impressive wildlife, while enjoying the comfort and safety of an expedition ship.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of mainland Antarctica (4,892 m). With a surface area that covers 1,300 kilometers, it is the largest peninsula in the white continent. Its highest peaks rise about 2,800 meters and are considered to be an extension of South America’s Andes Range (6,961 m).
Our trip will depart from the Argentine city of Ushuaia, the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands, best known for being the southernmost city in the world. We will board the Sea Adventurer expedition ship and sail down the Beagle Channel and the Drake Passage, two of the three navigable routes across South America between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
During 10 days, we will travel along the Antarctic Peninsula, through icebergs and massive glaciers, exploring different bays and harbors. Every day, we will leave the ship boarded on Zodiac motorboats, from where we will access remote inlets and skiing areas with great potential. Along the way, we will observe impressive minke, humpback, sperm and fin whales, Gentoo and Adelie penguins, seals, and black-browed albatross, among other typical Antarctic wildlife. Excursions will cover the history, biology, and geology of one of the world’s last frontiers.
This is an intermediate to advanced program. Participants must be able to ascend between 915 and 1,500 vertical meters (3,000 and 5,000 feet) on ski touring days, as well as to link turns in variable snow conditions.
Join me on this memorable ski touring and sailing expedition on the southern edge of the world. Book your trip now!
If you are looking for other exciting ski touring adventures, check out the Svalbard 11-day skiing and sailing tour in the Arctic Ocean, Norway and the Niseko week-long ski touring program in Japan.
Details
Accommodation 1 night in a hotel in Ushuaia and 11 nights boarded on the Sea Adventurer expedition ship |
Disclaimer If any trip must be delayed due to bad weather, cancelled or delayed transportation, sickness or any other situation for which Ice Axe Expeditions cannot make provisions, all costs incurred during such delays must be borne by trip members. |
More info The weather in Antarctica is extremely unpredictable. Heavy rainfall is unusual but strong winds are common. The average temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer months range from approximately -10°C to 5°C. |
Meeting point Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina |
Photos
Itinerary
Day 1: Meeting point
Arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina. Welcome dinner. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 2: Setting sail south
We will board the Sea Adventurer and set sail down the Beagle Channel.
Day 3 to 4: Hiking in Deception Island
We will cross the Drake Passage.
On the afternoon of day 4, we will stop at Deception Island’s volcanic crater for a hike.
Day 5: Neko Harbour
We will stop at Neko Harbour, on Andvord Bay, for a hiking and skiing tour. We will visit a small colony of Gentoo penguins.
Day 6: Anvers and Wenke Islands
We will stop at the Anvers and Wenke Islands for another ski touring day. In Port Lockroy, we will visit a scientific base, a museum, and a large Gentoo and Adeline penguin colony.
Day 7: Ronge Island
We will stop at Ronge Island to visit Mount Britannia and a penguin rookery at Georges Point.
Day 8: Paradise Bay
Ski and trekking day in Paradise Bay. We will visit another penguin colony and the Almirante Brown Station, the Argentine Antarctic base and scientific research station.
Day 9: Mt. Scott/Demaria/Mill ski descents
We will sail across the Lemaire Channel and reach the Mount Scott, Mount Demaria and Mount Mill peaks for great skiing descents. Visit to the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base. Killer whale and leopard seal sightings.
Day 10: Charlotte Bay
New ski descents and exploration in Charlotte Bay. In the evening, we will begin sailing north.
Day 11 to 12: Sailing back
We will cross the Drake Passage heading north, passing Cape Horn, the southernmost Chilean island, where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet.
Day 13: Disembarking in Ushuaia
About the guide
I am an IFMGA and ACMG-certified mountain guide based in Nelson, British Columbia. I'm the lead guide at Summit Mountain Guides, a guiding agency I co-founded back in 2007 and which offers year-round guiding services and courses in Canada and Europe.
The mountains of western Canada have been my playground since 1992. I'll be happy to take you mountaineering, backcountry skiing, rock climbing, hiking or ice climbing in this area I know so well. From day trips to multi-day adventures, I can guarantee an unforgettable and safe experience.
The SMG team of guides will help you with your trip's logistics, safety and contingency plans so that you get the most out of your backcountry experience and can just focus on having an amazing time on the mountain!
Prices per person
Group of 1 | USD 8995 each |
Group of 2 | USD 8995 each |
Group of 3 | USD 8995 each |
Group of 4 | USD 8995 each |
Group of 5 | USD 8995 each |
Group of 6 | USD 8995 each |
Want a different number of travellers?
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Accommodation
- Transport during the trip
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Price details
Price per person starts at US$8,995 based on the cabin style on the Sea Adventurer. Book early for best price.
Please note that the price includes:
• Breakfast at the hotel and welcome dinner in Ushuaia
• All meals on board the Sea Adventurer
• Group safety equipment (satellite phone, ropes, rescue kit, first aid, GPS, maps)
• Rubber expedition boots on loan for shore landings
• Presentations by Expedition Team and guest speakers
• Expedition certificate
• Photographic DVD chronicling the trip
The price does not include:
• Airfares to and from Ushuaia
• Passport and visa expenses (Please note that tourist entry fees may apply depending on your nationality)
• Any government arrival and departure airport taxes
• Ski and trekking equipment
• Any meals in Ushuaia with the exception of breakfast and welcome dinner
• Baggage, cancellation and travel insurance (Please note that emergency medical and evacuation insurance is mandatory. We can help you arrange these if needed.)
• Laundry, bar, and other personal charges onboard the ship or at the hotel
• Telecommunications charges on the ship or at the hotel
• Customary gratuity at the end of the trip for stewards, guides, and other service personnel
• Tips for guides and hospitality staff
For booking assistance
Have any doubts? Talk directly with an Explore Share assistant.
The Concierge service is a great tool for when you still haven't decided what kind of Adventure you're looking for and you're open to suggestions