Antarctica — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Nonetheless, there are still plenty of great cruises and expeditions available for those who are brave enough to visit it — and it can be quite exciting to be one of the few people who ever get the chance to explore this ice-covered continent. Check out some of the things you should know before your trip to Antarctica.
Antarctica Cruise Highlights
- Catch a glimpse of wildlife in their natural habitat like the Emperor Penguins, whales and seals
- Experience the most extreme side of nature, visiting some corners of the Earth that are only accessible by special ice-strengthened boats
- Cross the infamous Drake Passage, or the Sea of Hoces - the world’s roughest sea (brace yourself if you are prone to get seasick)
Antarctica Travel Tips
- There are strict environmental guidelines that you must follow on your visit to Antarctica, and you cannot visit on your own. You will have to explore the region as part of a small group on a cruise ship, accompanied by a guide.
- Antarctica can only be visited during the continent’s short summer months, typically between November and March. Otherwise, the weather is too harsh.
- There are about 24 hours of sunlight in this part of the world, so be sure to pack sunscreen.
- Most trips to Antarctica depart from Argentina and run for multiple days. Expect to be gone for anywhere from 10 days to an entire month. This is a long adventure!
Popular tour types in Antarctica
- Antarctica luxury tours: Explore spectacular views of the Antarctic Peninsula from the comfort of a helicopter seat while getting rich insights about Antarctic wildlife from renowned polar experts. Our Antarctica luxury tours give you a chance to see exotic species like penguins, seals, and whales up close. Beyond wildlife, you will also get to conquer the Drake Passage and take in some spectacular views of the natural environment on zodiac boats.
- Antarctica budget tours: Discover a wide range of budget tours to Antarctica that will take you through some of the most popular highlights in Antarctica. Travel to the Falkland Islands to meet hardy locals and watch the unique wildlife up close. You will also get to explore abandoned whaling stations, visit Shackleton’s grave, and stroll quietly amidst penguins.
- Antarctica group tours: Traverse the ice-covered continent alongside other adventurers while enjoying pleasant views of penguins, seals, and whales as you cruise through the region. See the incredible scenery up close and discover the diverse species of the South Shetlands. Our Antarctica group tours feature a large ship with comfortable cabins run by experienced crew members and tour guides.
- Antarctica guided tours: Enjoy detailed stories about wildlife, natural formations, and other highlights through our variety of Antarctica guided tours. These tours will be supervised by knowledgeable guides as you visit immense icebergs and magnificent glaciers. If you are feeling very adventurous, you can take a polar plunge, snowboard, and other daring experiences.
- Antarctica solo trips and holidays: Choose from our range of Antarctica solo trips and holidays that offer an incredible opportunity to explore the ice continent by yourself. Take amazing pictures of the mesmerizing landscapes and chart your trail as you hike icy glaciers and snow-covered mountains. It will be you and nature alone.
Activity-based Antarctica tours
- Cruise tours: Travel around Antarctica on board exotic cruise ships on our Antarctica cruise tours. Take in the incredible scenery from the deck and check out South Georgia’s incredible wildlife and penguin species. Our cruise tours also provide an insight into the perilous voyages of Sir Ernest Shackleton and a stopover at the great grave site of the legendary explorer.
- Adventure tours: Hike the undefined trails in Antarctica’s snow-covered landscapes as you unlock your inner explorer on our Antarctica adventure tours. Encounter seal colonies and vast penguin rookeries while traversing the historical sites in South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, and Ushuaia. Apart from hiking, our adventure tours also allow you to enjoy activities like snowshoeing, kayaking, and glacier climbing.
- Kayaking and canoeing tours: Our kayaking and canoeing tours to Antarctica give you a close-up view of Antarctica's enormous waterways. Brace yourself when the chilly water rushes through your hull and the brittle ice clatters against your paddle. You will be floating across sparkling bays and bumping your way through the ice, skipping by the rarest kinds of whales, penguins, and seals.
- Photography tours: Discover the distinctive terrain and varied fauna of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands on one of our Antarctica photographic tours. Accompanied by fellow photography enthusiasts, you will have the freedom to express yourself as you connect with the region's secluded fauna and natural wonders. In these tours, you will also get plenty of time on land to photograph Antarctica's breathtaking vistas and glaciers.
Popular durations for Antarctica trip
Antarctica trips typically require a great deal of planning. The sheer logistics of traveling to the region means one cannot take a quick trip to the continent. We recommend setting aside at least 14 days for your trip to Antarctica. This will give you enough time to see Ushuaia, hike the most popular trails, take countless photographs of the scenic views, enjoy intimate wildlife viewing, and, of course, visit all the historical sites.
Peak season and low season tours in Antarctica
- Peak season tours in Antarctica: The Antarctic summer, from November through early February, is the peak period for Antarctica tours. The region is at its warmest during this period, and you can enjoy up to 24 hours of daylight, making it the best time for hiking, photography tours, and other outdoor adventures. This is also the peak wildlife breeding season. But do make sure to book your trip well ahead of time and be ready to part with a significant amount of money.
- Low-season tours in Antarctica: Mid-February to March is considered the low tourist season in Antarctica. The weather is much colder and there are fewer daylight hours during this time of the year. Still, the overall conditions are much more bearable than in the peak fall and winter seasons. You can anticipate lower prices on Antarctica trips and cruises due to lower tourist arrival. Despite being the low season, February and March is a great time to visit Antarctica if you are a wildlife enthusiast. Penguin chicks leave their nest and the whale numbers are at their peak around this time.
Popular Antarctica trip travel guide
If you are planning a trip to Antarctica, you will want to know about the best time to visit Antarctica as well as check out all available Antarctica tours. You may also wish to learn more about the top things to do in Antarctica. Once you are sure about some of the activities you wish to experience in Antarctica, along with the destinations you want to visit, you may want to consider how many days to stay in Antarctica. We generally recommend staying at least 14 days in Antarctica, but recommend 10 days in Antarctica or more, to get the most out of your trip to Antarctica.
Next, we recommend you start thinking about the money you can allocate to the trip to know whether you should be looking for a budget tour, a luxury tour, or perhaps a completely customized tour to Antarctica.
Antarctica is an amazing continent to visit, and there may be other key factors that you wish to consider before traveling there. Please check our "Antarctica travel guide" which will give you a lot of relevant information about traveling to Antarctica.