January 12-22, 2027 (11 days) with seven nights aboard the expedition ship Douglas Mawson
The Trip
Carleton Alumni Adventures is returning to Antarctica, this time flying across the Drake Passage to and from the Peninsula, rather than cruising the mercurial Passage (which takes approximately four days round-trip). Without weather delays, flights to/from King George Island are under two hours each way, and then we hope to enjoy up to six full days exploring the White Continent. We will view fantastically shaped icebergs, turquoise glaciers, and towering mountains, plus have opportunities to see abundant seals and sea birds, breaching whales, and hillsides teeming with bustling penguin rookeries.
January provides stable weather windows, making flights to King George Island the most feasible. And, January is considered a peak month for visiting Antarctica, with above-freezing temperatures, maximal daylight (close to 24 hours), and the opportunity to see penguin chicks, nesting seabirds, seal pups, and whales.
Carleton’s Director of Sustainability, Dr. Sarah Fortner, will lecture aboard ship and host our group. Also aboard ship will be an expedition team of naturalists, who will provide a series of enriching lectures and presentations as well as drive the sturdy Zodiac landing craft for excursions ashore. We will retrace sea lanes navigated by storied explorers Amundsen, Scott, and Shackleton, not to mention former Carleton President and celebrated Antarctic explorer Laurence McKinley Gould, who was chief scientist and second-in-command on the first Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1928-30).
Cruise aboard the new, luxurious, state-of-the-art ship Douglas Mawson, accommodating a maximum of 130 passengers, featuring the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW®, and purpose-built with enhanced sustainability features. The ship’s limited guest capacity; superb accommodations and public spaces, facilities, and services; advanced technical and mechanical systems; and complement of experienced officers and crew make the Douglas Mawson the ship of choice for exploring Antarctica in safety and comfort.
I hope you will join fellow alumni on this once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity to the “Seventh Continent.” This program is not an exclusive Carleton Alumni Adventure, and you will travel with passengers from around the world. There are few “fly/fly” Antarctica programs offered, so I encourage you to contact the Alumni Adventures office now at 800-811-7244 or carleton@studytours.org to reserve your preferred cabin.
Faculty Leader
Sarah Fortner is the Director of Sustainability at Carleton College. She is dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Futures Framework, Carleton’s shared vision for climate action across campus operations, education, and community partnerships. With a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, Sarah’s passion for sustainability is rooted in decades of hands-on, field-based research. She is a veteran glaciologist whose work on the sources and fates of chemistry in glacial systems has taken her to all latitudes, including the Peruvian Andes, the Oregon Cascades, and the Juneau Icefield (where she still mentors students each summer). Antarctica is a place she knows well, having participated in the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research Program. Sarah loves connecting on-the-ground understanding of climate research with the applied sustainability solutions she champions every day. Working with students is her favorite part of being at Carleton.
Program Rates (9 nights)
Cabins start at $20,364 per person, double occupancy. $28,210 single occupancy. or all cabin details and pricing. Round-trip, in-program, charter flights* between Punta Arenas and King George Island are included in the tour price. For a complete list of inclusions, cabin details, and pricing, download the full brochure.
Launching in 2025, the Douglas Mawson is designed for global discovery. It accommodates up to 130 passengers on expedition cruises and features the innovative Ulstein X-BOW® for smoother travel, reduced emissions, and lower fuel consumption.
Luxurious amenities include two restaurants, a gym, sauna, heated outdoor pool, jacuzzis, and observation lounges with panoramic views.
Staterooms range from singles to spacious suites, with 79% offering private balconies.
Purpose-built for adventure, the ship includes Zodiac embarkation areas, a Citizen Science Centre, and free Starlink Wi-Fi, making it the ultimate basecamp for exploration.
ITINERARY
Tuesday, January 12, 2027: Depart home
Wednesday, January 13: Arrive Punta Arenas, CHILE
Thursday, January 14: Fly to King George Island, ANTARCTICA* | Embarkation
Friday through Wednesday, January 15 through 20: Antarctic Peninsula
Thursday, January 21: Disembarkation | Fly from King George Island to Punta Arenas, CHILE
Friday, January 22: Fly home
*Note: King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula, in the South Shetland Islands, and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. A contingency plan will be applied to our itinerary should our flight not proceed today. Your safety is our utmost priority. We apologize in advance for any delays caused due to this unpredictable situation. Please refer to our ship operator’s terms and conditions for a more detailed explanation.
Download the brochure for the complete detailed itinerary.
Additional Information
For more information or to reserve your space, please call 800-811-7244 or email Carleton College Alumni Adventures. To make a reservation online click here.