’s a trend that’s sweeping the adventure travel nation: as flight technology improves and more remote areas of the world become viable landing sites for passenger aircraft, travelers are finding polar exploration more accessible than at any time in history. And as polar-passionate people worldwide celebrate the first passenger jet touch-down in Antarctica, we’re reminded just how far we’ve come from the days when treking the Polar Regions often took weeks or months at a time.
A charter flight south from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island for example, takes the legendary Drake Passage out of the equation for passengers en route to the Antarctic Peninsula. The otherwise two-day journey by sea takes just four hours by air, making the expedition far more accessible for time-pressed travelers.
Quark Passengers disembark on King George Island
The fastest and most direct way to experience Antarctica is with the Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake cruise, which offers convenient charter flights to eliminate the Drake Passage crossings on the way to Antarctica and back to Punta Arenas. In just 8 days, the expedition opens the door to a world of Antarctic wildlife interactions, adventure activities and stunning icescapes found nowhere else on Earth -- and all in less time than anyone could have imagined even a decade ago.
At King George Island, in the South Shetlands just 75 miles (120 kms) off the coast of Antarctica, Quark travelers start their Antarctic holiday by flying to Antarctica by jet, and cruising back. Passengers can experience the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and South Georgia in just 17 days.
Gentoo penguin dive! Photo credit: Samantha Crimmin
Lovers of the Arctic and its unique historic, geographic and cultural qualities needn’t feel left out. Arctic Express Fly/Cruise voyages see travelers fly from the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik to Akureyri, to embark on the journey to geographically fascinating and biodiverse Greenland.
Greenland - Photo credit: Steven Denver
Polar exploration is more accessible and convenient today than we’d ever thought possible, but it’s no less an adventure
