WEDDELL SEA - BASECAMP
Expedition Cruise
Adventure & Wilderness
Explore the massive tabular icebergs, wildly dramatic landscapes, and fascinating historical sites of the remote Weddell Sea.
The Weddell Sea Basecamp voyage offers a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the wildlife-rich waters declared by scientists to be the clearest on Earth, on par with distilled water. Pushing deep into one of the most remote regions of the world, this expedition combines immersive activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing, hiking, and photography workshops with the chance to camp out under the Southern Polar skies if conditions allow. Expect Zodiac excursions, shore landings across pristine snowfields, and navigating among colossal ice formations. With ice and weather shaping the route, every voyage is entirely unique, embodying the true essence of polar discovery.
Trip Overview
The remote waters and shores of the Weddell Sea host massive tabular icebergs, dramatic coastal landscapes, and thriving polar habitats. This thirteen-day expedition covers extraordinary environments—starting and ending in Ushuaia, and pushing deep into the rugged wilderness of the far south.
The route is designed around active exploration and hands-on participation, where spending days hiking across pristine snowscapes, snowshoeing along polar coastlines, and kayaking among ice floes forms the core of the journey. Whales, seals, and seabirds are frequently encountered through waters that very few travelers ever reach, and the colossal ice formations and remote polar wilderness are the true centerpiece of the crossing.
Expert expedition guides lead the journey, offering a wealth of knowledge on Antarctic ecology and history, ensuring every Zodiac excursion, hike, and shore landing brings you intimately closer to the spectacular landscapes and rich wildlife of this remote southern region.
Highlights
Day by Day Itinerary & Map Itinerario Día a Día y Mapa Itinerari Dia a Dia i Mapa
13 Days – Antarctic Peninsula & Weddell Sea Expedition 13 Días – Expedición Península Antártica y Mar de Weddell 13 Dies – Expedició Península Antàrtica i Mar de Weddell
Day 1: End of the world, start of a journey Día 1: El fin del mundo, inicio de un viaje Dia 1: La fi del món, inici d'un viatge
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening. Tu viaje comienza donde el mundo se acaba. Ushuaia (Argentina), considerada la ciudad más austral del planeta, está situada en el extremo sur de Sudamérica. Por la tarde, embarcarás en esta pequeña localidad turística de Tierra del Fuego, apodada «El Fin del Mundo», y navegarás por el Canal Beagle, rodeado de montañas, durante el resto de la tarde. El vostre viatge comença on s'acaba el món. Ushuaia (Argentina), considerada la ciutat més austral del planeta, està situada a l'extrem sud de Sud-amèrica. A la tarda, embarcareu en aquesta petita població turística de Terra del Foc, anomenada «La Fi del Món», i navegareu pel Canal Beagle, envoltat de muntanyes, durant la resta del vespre.
Day 2-3: Path of the polar explorers Días 2-3: Sendero de los exploradores polares Dies 2-3: Sender dels exploradors polars
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, we enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence — Antarctica's natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas — you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape petrels, southern fulmars, Wilson's storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see. Durante los próximos dos días en el Pasaje de Drake, disfrutaremos de algunas de las experiencias que vivieron los grandes exploradores polares que cartografiaron estas regiones por primera vez: brisas marinas saladas, mares agitados e incluso el soplo de algún rorcual común. Tras cruzar la Convergencia Antártica —la frontera natural de la Antártida, formada al chocar las aguas frías del norte con los mares subantárticos más templados—, entrarás en la zona de afloramiento circumpolar antártico. No solo cambia la vida marina, sino también la avifauna. Albatros errantes, albatros de cabeza gris, albatros de ceja negra, albatros oscuros, petrels capetinos, fulmares australes, paíños de Wilson, petrels azules y petrels antárticos son algunas de las aves que podrás observar. Durant els propers dos dies al Pas de Drake, gaudirem d'algunes de les experiències que van viure els grans exploradors polars que van cartografiar aquestes regions per primera vegada: brises marines salades, mars agitats i fins i tot el buf d'un rorqual comú. Després de creuar la Convergència Antàrtica —la frontera natural de l'Antàrtida, formada en xocar les aigües fredes del nord amb els mars subantàrtics més temperats—, entrareu a la zona d'aflorament circumpolar antàrtic. No només canvia la vida marina, sinó també l'avifauna. Albatros errants, albatros de cap gris, albatros de cella negra, albatros fosc, petrells capetinos, fulmars australs, petrells tempesta de Wilson, petrells blaus i petrells antàrtics són algunes de les aus que podreu observar.
Day 4-10: Entering the Weddell Sea Días 4-10: Entrando en el Mar de Weddell Dies 4-10: Entrant al Mar de Weddell
The great Weddell Sea features massive tabular icebergs, wildly dramatic landscapes, and fascinating historical sites. It is also one of the best places in Antarctica for viewing iconic wildlife like whales, seals, and rarely seen seabirds. We may visit the following locations, depending on local conditions: El gran Mar de Weddell cuenta con enormes icebergs tabulares, paisajes de gran dramatismo y fascinantes lugares históricos. También es uno de los mejores lugares de la Antártida para observar fauna icónica como ballenas, focas y aves marinas difíciles de ver. Dependiendo de las condiciones locales, podríamos visitar los siguientes puntos: El gran Mar de Weddell compta amb enormes icebergs tabulars, paisatges d'un gran dramatisme i llocs històrics fascinants. També és un dels millors llocs de l'Antàrtida per observar fauna icònica com balenes, foques i aus marines poc habituals. Segons les condicions locals, podríem visitar els llocs següents:
Antarctic SoundEstrecho de Antártico (Antarctic Sound)Estret d'Antàrtic (Antarctic Sound) - Antarctic Sound is nicknamed "Iceberg Alley," as we often see enormous tabular icebergs here. - Al Estrecho de Antártico se le conoce como el "Callejón de los Icebergs", ya que aquí solemos ver enormes icebergs tabulares. - A l'Estret d'Antàrtic se l'anomena el "Carreró dels Icebergs", ja que sovint hi veiem enormes icebergs tabulars.
Brown BluffBrown BluffBrown Bluff - Possibly the most scenic location in the northern Antarctic Continent, Brown Bluff is characterized by sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, and beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice. - Posiblemente el lugar más pintoresco del norte del continente antártico, Brown Bluff se caracteriza por imponentes paredes de cañones, rocas caídas y hermosas formaciones volcánicas cubiertas de hielo. - Possiblement l'indret més pintoresc del nord del continent antàrtic, Brown Bluff es caracteritza per parets de canyons imponents, roques caigudes i boniques formacions volcàniques cobertes de gel.
Herbert SoundEstrecho de Herbert (Herbert Sound)Estret de Herbert (Herbert Sound) - We will focus our attention on the visually impressive areas of Naze Peninsula and Comb Ridge. - Centraremos nuestra atención en las áreas visualmente más impactantes de la Península Naze y Comb Ridge. - Centrarem la nostra atenció en les zones visualment més impactants de la Península Naze i Comb Ridge.
Devil IslandIsla Devil / Devil IslandIlla Devil - This island offers a magnificent vantage point for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met. - Esta isla ofrece un mirador magnífico para los excursionistas dispuestos a subir a pie hasta la cima de la colina. El deshielo a veces forma una cascada que cae desde los acantilados cerca de Cape Well-met. - Aquesta illa ofereix un mirador magnífic per als excursionistes disposats a pujar a peu fins al cim del tossal. El desgel de vegades forma una cascada que cau des dels penya-segats a prop de Cape Well-met.
Day 11-12: Familiar seas, familiar friends Días 11-12: Mares familiares, amigos conocidos Dies 11-12: Mars familiars, amics coneguts
Our return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, we’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to us now, and us to them. Nuestro viaje de regreso está lejos de ser solitario. Al cruzar de nuevo el Drake, nos recibe la gran variedad de aves marinas que recordamos del viaje hacia el sur. Pero ahora nos resultan un poco más familiares, y nosotros a ellas. El nostre viatge de tornada està lluny de ser solitari. En creuar de nou el Drake, ens rep la gran varietat d'aus marines que recordem del viatge cap al sud. Però ara ens resulten un pèl més familiars, i nosaltres a elles.
Day 13: There and back again Día 13: Ida y vuelta (Fin del viaje) Dia 13: Anada i tornada (Final del viatge)
Even great adventures must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia with memories that will accompany you wherever your next journey lies. Incluso las grandes aventuras deben llegar a su fin. Es hora de desembarcar en Ushuaia con recuerdos que te acompañarán allá donde te lleve tu próximo viaje. Fins i tot les grans aventures han d'arribar a la seva fi. Ara toca desembarcar a Ushuaia amb records que us acompanyaran allà on us porti el vostre proper viatge.
Expedition Route Map (Subject to ice and weather conditions) Mapa de Ruta de la Expedición (Sujeto a condiciones de hielo y clima) Mapa de Ruta de l'Expedició (Subjecte a condicions de gel i clima)
Please note: Nota importante: Nota important: the above itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions, wildlife sightings and the decisions of the expedition leader on board. Flexibility is essential on expedition cruises. el itinerario anterior está sujeto a cambios según las condiciones meteorológicas, los avistamientos de fauna y las decisiones del líder de expedición a bordo. La flexibilidad es esencial en los cruceros de expedición. l'itinerari anterior està subjecte a canvis segons les condicions meteorològiques, els albiraments de fauna i les decisions del líder d'expedició a bord. La flexibilitat és essencial als creuers d'expedició.
Prices and cabins
Available dates for 2027
Cabin options
Rates are shown per person, based on shared cabin occupancy. Single occupancy is available for selected double cabins at 1.7× the shared rate, subject to availability. The applicable single occupancy price will be confirmed when you submit the request form below.
Included in this voyage
- Voyage aboard the vessel indicated in the itinerary
- Support from our Warbler Tours team throughout booking and planning, as well as during your expedition
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship, including snacks, coffee and tea
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
- Complimentary use of waterproof neoprene expedition muck boots and snowshoes
- Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
- Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
- AECO fees and governmental taxes
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
- Complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity. All guests receive 1.5 GB of data usage per day, which resets every 24 hours
- Complimentary Dopper water bottle for use during and after your expedition
Not included in this voyage
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post-land arrangements
- Passport and visa expenses
- Government arrival and departure taxes
- Meals ashore
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended)
- Excess baggage charges and personal expenses such as laundry, bar, beverage and telecommunication charges
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard
- Transaction costs
The Expedition Fleet

Hondius

Ortelius

Plancius
How to book a tripCómo reservar un viajeCom reservar un viatge
Three simple steps to get you there.Tres pasos sencillos y estarás en camino.Tres passos senzills i ja estaràs en camí.
Booking form
Prefer to write directly?
Reach us at warblertours@gmail.com or on WhatsApp.
FAQs
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This expedition is ideal for birders and wildlife photographers looking for extended time in polar bear habitat. Expect long hours on deck, Zodiac excursions and changing Arctic conditions.
It’s an expedition rather than a conventional cruise: schedules depend on ice and weather, and wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. No technical hiking or climbing experience is required, but you should be comfortable walking on uneven, icy ground and getting in and out of Zodiacs.
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No. Polar bears are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed. The route and expedition team focus on areas where bears are commonly found, and most voyages on this route encounter them, often more than once.
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You’ll board Zodiacs several times a day and walk on uneven, icy or rocky ground. The crew assists with Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation, but you should be comfortable walking for 1–2 hours and climbing between the ship and Zodiac. Contact us before booking if you have mobility concerns.
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The rate includes the voyage, all meals, Zodiac excursions, expedition lectures, rubber boots and snowshoes. Flights, travel insurance and pre/post-trip accommodation are not included. Solo travellers can share a cabin at no extra cost or book single occupancy at 1.7× the shared rate, subject to availability.