✅ Must Do: Take the polar plunge off the ship
✅ Must Eat: Hot cocoa on the ice (tradition)
✅ Bring Home: Expedition logbook (from your own trip)
🧠 Trivia: Despite being covered in ice, Antarctica is technically the world’s largest and driest desert.
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With Expertise In Antarctica
Not Everything You Need to Know, But a Good Place to Start
The tourist season in Antarctica runs during the austral summer, from November to March. This period offers the most daylight, the warmest temperatures, and the most active wildlife. Early season (November) features pristine, unbroken sea ice and penguin courtship rituals. Peak season (December and January) is the most popular time for whale sightings and newly hatched penguin chicks. Late season (February and March) is ideal for spotting whales, including humpbacks and orcas, and seeing the last of the adult penguins before they head out to sea.
Read our season-by-season guide on choosing the right time to visit Antarctica.
The most common way to get to Antarctica is by an expedition cruise ship from Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. This journey involves a two-day crossing of the Drake Passage. A less common but faster option is to take a charter flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, directly to King George Island in Antarctica, where you board your ship.
Antarctica is a premium travel destination, and costs vary significantly based on the duration of the trip, the ship’s size and amenities, and the time of year. A typical 10-13 day cruise can range from $7,000 to over $20,000 per person. This price usually includes meals, accommodations, and shore excursions but does not include international airfare to your departure city.
Antarctica is home to an incredible array of marine wildlife and birdlife. You can expect to see several species of penguins, including Gentoo, Adelie, and Chinstrap penguins, along with various seals like the Weddell and Leopard seal. Humpback, Minke, and Orca whales are common sights, as are various seabirds, including albatross. And remember, there are no polar bears in Antarctica (they are native to the Arctic)!
Layering is essential. Pack a moisture-wicking base layer, a warm mid-layer like a fleece or down vest, and a waterproof and windproof outer shell. Most expedition companies provide a heavy-duty parka. You will also need waterproof pants, warm socks, a hat, gloves, and sunglasses with high UV protection due to the intense glare from the ice and snow. Waterproof boots for landings are typically provided by the cruise operator.
The length of an Antarctica cruise varies, but most standard itineraries for the Antarctic Peninsula last between 10 to 13 days. This includes the round-trip crossing of the Drake Passage. Trips that include additional destinations like the Falkland Islands or South Georgia can last up to 20 days or more.
Traveling to Antarctica is very safe with a reputable expedition company. All tourism is managed by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), which enforces strict safety and environmental guidelines. Expedition ships are built for polar travel and led by experienced crew members. All shore excursions are supervised by guides with a high staff-to-passenger ratio to ensure everyone’s safety.
The Drake Passage is the body of water between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica. It is famous for its unpredictable and often turbulent weather, where the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans converge. The journey across the Drake Passage can be famously rough, but it is also a rite of passage for Antarctica travelers. Modern ships are equipped with stabilizers to make the crossing as comfortable as possible.
Yes, visitors to Antarctica must adhere to strict environmental protocols to protect the pristine ecosystem. These guidelines, set by IAATO, include maintaining a safe distance from wildlife, not taking any biological or geological samples as souvenirs, and carefully cleaning all gear before and after landings to prevent the introduction of foreign species.
Yes, this is the main purpose of an expedition cruise. The ship’s crew will use Zodiac inflatable boats to transport you from the ship to the shore. These landings are carefully planned and timed, with a limited number of people allowed on land at any given time. Once on shore, you’ll walk along marked paths, observing wildlife and exploring the stunning landscape under the supervision of your expert guides.
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