Chilean Fjords Expedition

Your Chilean fjords cruise commences in the city of Valparaiso where, having arrived independently, you will make your way to the port to board your fantastic expedition ship. Enjoy a welcome glass of champagne as you settle into your beautiful cabin and familiarise yourself with the luxury amenities onboard before enjoying your first delicious meal as we set sail.

For arriving in Valparaiso, multiple pre-cruise flight and hotel packages are available so please enquire if this is something which may be of interest to you.

Enjoy the many facilities onboard including 3 first-class restaurants, the Ocean Spa, swimming pool and the excellent interactive Ocean Academy centre. Make sure to spend some time on deck or in the wonderful observation spaces looking for sightings of unique seabirds and marine mammals.

Your first stop on your journey through the enchanting Chilean coastline will take you to the beautiful coastal town of Niebla. Once a 17th-century hotspot for pirates and corsairs, it is now a popular beach resort. During your time here you can choose to explore at your leisure or join an optional excursion. These excursions include a city tour of Valdivia and a hike in the natural reserve of Oncol National Park. These excursions incur an additional cost and should be booked in advance.

As we venture deep into the Chilean fjords area you will be greeted by spectacular landscapes and unforgettable surroundings. Exploring around the northern fjords area you will sail past wonderful sights including three volcanoes in Chaiten and countless scenic passages and channels. Your itinerary here will be flexible, and your captain and crew will bring you to some of the most picturesque spots in the region. Make sure to spend plenty of time on the various outside decks, the glass balconies and observation lounges to soak up the sights. You will discover the picturesque route to Caleta Tortel and make a stop at Puerto Eden to meet the little more than 90 inhabitants who live in this remote and beautiful area. One of the highlights of your voyage will be sailing past majestic glaciers including phenomenal views of the impressive Pio XI Glacier.

Venturing further south now we prepare for more adventures. The journey here becomes the destination and a transit through the scenic Kirke Narrows - a route to Puerto Natales measuring only around 100 m (328 ft) wide – is likely to be a memorable experience. This port city can often only be reached by plane, but on board the ship you are surrounded by nature and may even see dolphins, whales and seals. One of the highlights of your trip is likely to be the incredibly impressive Torres del Paine National Park where imposing mountains with peaks reaching around 3,000 m, as well as a wild array of wildlife including guanacos, flamingos, rheas and Andean condors, will offer unforgettable moments. Optional Torres del Paine excursions can be taken (additional costs apply) and will take you through the waterfalls, extensive forests and shimmering aquamarine mountain lakes that the area is famous for. Another optional excursion is a trek to the Base Las Torres. These excursions incur an additional cost and should be booked in advance.

Travelling in the wake of the first person to circumnavigate the globe, you will reach the seldom-visited Tucker Islands via the famous Strait of Magellan. They are the ideal expedition territory for an exciting Zodiac ride, where you can keep a lookout for Magellanic penguins and cormorants.

The following day will take us to beautiful Punta Arenas where optional excursions to Magallanes National Reserve will offer up an incredibly diverse range of flora, and an optional trip to Isla Magdalena will bring you up-close to a bustling colony of Magellanic penguins. Alternatively, you could choose to get active with a kayak tour of the Strait of Magellan. All of these excursions incur an additional cost and should be booked in advance.

As we make our way to Ushuaia at the very bottom of Argentina, we will now sail through the beautiful Beagle Channel. We will sail through the famous “Glacier Alley” past the Garibaldi Glacier with its blue, shimmering tongue of ice which is likely to provide another highlight of the cruise.

Your expedition concludes in Ushuaia this morning, the world's southernmost city, where it will be time to disembark and join your included flight to Buenos Aires where your itinerary will end.