Last Updated on September 20, 2024
In the past 20 years, I’ve traveled far and wide, to over 150 countries across 7 continents – and Antarctica remains the most incredible place I’ve ever been. Here’s my experience on how to travel Antarctica.
Etched at the bottom of the world, Antarctica is as far south and remote as you can get. The seventh continent, as some call it, is covered in icebergs, glaciers, mountains, and thick layers of snow all year round. It’s harsh, remote, and truly far beyond. There is no mobile phone service. There are no town squares, no hotels and no tourist traps.
To experience Antarctica is about witnessing some of the last wilderness areas of on earth – before they disappear. It’s about being awed by a sense of scale, drawing alongside great icy mountainous peaks and glaciers and being dwarfed by their shadow. It’s about watching different species, such as whales and walruses, in their natural habitats and marveling that these apparently stark places are such biodiverse environments.
One can really get a sense of being at the edge of the world here – there’s hardly any sign of humanity, and we only saw one other ship during our 13-day expedition. Antarctica gives the sensation of discovering a place for the first time, even on a ship with 120 other passengers. On board our cruise, I felt like we were voyeurs – taking a peek into a different world.
Antarctica Travel Guide
What’s Antarctica Travel Like?
Antarctica is one of the most remote places on Earth, and the trip of a lifetime for many, including myself. It’s not easy to get to Antarctica, and it’s certainly not a cheap journey.
Most people travel on Antarctic expedition cruises that depart from the southernmost part of Argentina and Chile. Expedition cruises aren’t your usual cruises – they tend to only have the capacity for less than 500 people and they include daily landings on the continent. Nightly entertainment is in the form of informative lectures on the geology, history and wildlife of Antarctica.
People who travel to Antarctica tend to be experienced, adventurous travelers who are willing to splurge to explore this remote, incredible part of the world. They understand the importance of being responsible and taking care of the fragile environment in Antarctica. Travelers don’t necessarily have to be fit to join an Antarctic expedition cruise, but they should be able to walk on snow for a mile or two.
Is Traveling to Antarctica Worth the High Price?
Tours to Antarctica are not cheap. Expect to spend around US$5,000-18,000 on an expedition cruise, with prices varying on your route, the company you choose and the type of cabin. There is a cheaper way to get to Antarctica: onboard a ‘cruise-only’ ship, but you won’t be allowed to disembark on the continent.
When you think about how remote you’re traveling and how luxurious an expedition cruise usually is – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you can’t put a price tag on. Of all the places I have been, Antarctica truly an adventure of a lifetime and it’s worth every penny. If you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity to embark on a voyage, you’ll be one of only 100,000 people a year that actually visit!
How to Get to Antarctica
By Expedition Cruise
The most popular way to reach Antarctica is onboard an expedition cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina or Punta Arenas, Chile. These are geographically the closest points to the Antarctic Peninsula. Both are beautiful tourist towns in Patagonia that are worthwhile destinations are their own. The journey to Antarctica from either port is approximately 2 days, and you’ll have to cross the infamous Drake Passage to get there.
There are also Antarctic expedition cruises departing from Hobart, Australia and Invercargill, New Zealand. But these trips involve more sea days (as they are geographically further from the peninsula) and are costlier. However, most of them also stop at New Zealand’s subantarctic islands and Macquarie Islands, which are extremely remote and very few people get to visit.
You’ll find quite a few tour operators running passenger trips to Antarctica, with different price range, itineraries and styles. I will recommend some below.
By Plane
It is possible to fly to Antarctica, but it’s usually very expensive. You can actually fly to Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island on the northern end of the Antarctic peninsula. Once there, you’ll embark on your ship. Antarctica21 combines the 2-hour flight from Chile with cruises that passengers can board in Antarctica. This option allows you to cut down on travel time substantially and avoid cruising the famous Drake Passage, thereby minimizing the risk of seasickness. However, departure dates are much more limited than if you choose to sail (Dec to Feb).
Another option is to fly on a sightseeing plane – however, it doesn’t land on the Antarctic continent. Antarctica Flights fly from Australia to Antarctica and offer a one day tour that is guided by licensed expedition leaders. Prices start at $1199 for a 12-hour return flight. A friend of mine took this flight on New Year’s Eve and rang in the new year while flying over Antarctica.
Plane vs Cruise?
In comparison to flying, cruising is more affordable and accessible; it’ll also allow you to see and experience more of Antarctica as the ship stops at many destinations. There are a lot more options in terms of tour operators that run Antarctic cruises vs flights. Another pro of cruising to Antarctica is that there are more departure dates (the season for air travel is mainly from December to February due to weather).
I don’t recommend taking the sightseeing plane as you won’t be landing on Antarctica itself. Flying across to King George Island may save you time but you’ll be missing the Drake Passage, which is a rite of passage in my opinion. When I cruised to Antarctica, the Drake Passage was surprisingly calmer than usual and we had smooth journey (who knows, you might be lucky like me?!).
Which Antarctic Expedition Cruise Company to Choose?
Luxury Small-Scale Cruises
There are some reputed companies that specialize in Antarctic and polar cruising and they include Polar Lattitude, Aurora Expeditions, Quark Expeditions, and Lindblad Expeditions. These companies tend to offer small ships that are icebreakers specifically designed for polar travel. Quark Expeditions, for instance, is a pioneer in polar exploration and their fleet are some of the best icebreakers int he industry, purpose-built for navigating frozen waters.
Affordable Adventure Cruises
G Adventures and Intrepid Travel both offer affordable yet solid trips to Antarctica, and neither requires single supplements for solo travelers. I went to Antarctica with G Adventures on their Antarctica Classic In Depth (XVAESX) and had the most amazing experience; everything about the trip was perfect, from the knowledgeable lectures to the daily landings and zodiac excursions, as well as the gourmet food and luxurious cabin. There were also optional add-ons such as kayaking and camping on land, which I regretted not adding to my trip.
Cheap Antarctic “Cruise-Only”
There are cheap cruises that market themselves as Antarctica cruises, but stick to “cruise-only” itineraries and actually don’t disembark in Antarctica. These cruises tend to pack in more than 500 passengers – which according to IAATO regulations, means nobody gets off the ship. That means you’ll only get the chance to simply look at the landscapes from afar.
Princess Cruises, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean operate such cruises, usually departing from Buenos Aires, Argentina or Santiago, Chile. They can go for as cheap as US$1,800 per person. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind just cruising past Antarctica, then this could be an option for you.
But I recommend saving up and waiting until you’ve got the budget to go on a proper Antarctic cruise where you get to land on the continent, swim in the icy waters and have penguins waddling just a few feet away from you. It makes a whole of a difference!
Last Minute Antarctica Cruises
If you have time on hand, there is another way to find good deals on Antarctic cruises. Those who wait long enough in Ushuaia for a cancellation to come up, you can get amazingly good deals. However, you may end up spending a week or more down in Ushuaia waiting to hear.
On my cruise, a group of young backpackers in their late 20s managed to score last-minute spots for just US$3,500 per person! Mind you, they waited around for 2 weeks and weren’t sure if they were actually going to make it to Antarctica or not.
Tips for Choosing Your Antarctic Tour Operator
With so many options available, I’d recommend doing as much research as you can and choose a tour operator based on three main factors: itinerary, cost and number of passengers.
- Antarctica is one place where smaller boats offer a big advantage. I don’t recommend a boat over 200 people – as your time on land will be severely limited. IAATO states that no more than 100 people can step foot on the continent at once.
- Consider the itinerary carefully. I suggest spending at least 13 days in Antarctica as you’ll be taking 2 days just to cross the Drake Passage and another 2 days back. I would highly recommend picking an itinerary that stops at South Georgia Island and Falkland Island (the few places where you can see king penguins).
- Cruising Antarctica is expensive, but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of us. You really shouldn’t skip certain experiences just to save a few hundred bucks. I really regretted not adding on the overnight ice camping and kayaking excursions!
- A great way to cut cost without sacrificing on experiences is to book the cheapest cabin on the ship. You won’t be spending much time in the cabin anyway! You’ll get the same guides, same destinations, same activities but you’re paying a few hundreds less.
- Do your research and read reviews for the cruises you’re considering, but keep in mind that everyone has different preferences and requirements – think of what matters most to you (is it safety or add-on experiences or itinerary?)
Best Time to Travel to Antarctica
The best time to visit Antarctica is between November and March, during the summer season in the southern hemisphere. Temperatures are higher than ever (summer in Antarctica is akin to winter in most places), the days are getting longer and sea ice melts enough to enable access for cruise ships. Antarctica is located deep in the Southern Hemisphere, and its remote location makes accessibility a challenge outside of the summer months.
Antarctica’s cruise season is short – visiting the white continent is not possible from April to October for leisure travelers. When choosing when to go on your Antarctic trip, consider basing your decision on the types of animals that will be most active, or if there are activities you might want to do in Patagonia before or after your trip.
I went in December, when there was 24 hours of sun and warmer temperatures. During this time, frequent trips to the shore and overnight ice camping on the Peninsula were possible. January is the most popular month to visit Antarctica because the height of summer brings stable weather and temperatures reaching 10°C/50°F. This is the peak of the ice melt, making it possible to cross into the fabled Antarctic Circle (at latitude 66°33’S).
How Much Time Should You Spend in Antarctica?
Most Antarctica cruises are 10-13 days, but there are cruises that go up to 20 and even 36 days! I went on a 13-day Antarctic cruise and felt that it was the perfect amount to see and experience Antarctica at a comfortable pace. I did wish I had chosen an itinerary that stops at South Georgia and Falkland Islands to see the king penguins there! That said, a cruise doing that route will take a lot more time (22 days) and cost almost double.
Keep in mind that you’ll be taking 2 days just to cross the Drake Passage and another 2 days back. So 13 days should be a minimum. That sound like a lot of time to be spent on a cruise, but you’ll be surprised at how fast time flies and how much there is to do.
What’s It Like on an Antarctic Expedition Cruise?
Going on an Antarctic expedition cruise involves lots of activities, social hours, and learning sessions with experts. You can also have as much downtime as you want – it’s all up to you! I’ll take you through a typical day onboard, from the early morning wake-up call to the evening’s social hour.
- 8:00am: Each morning on an Antarctica cruise starts with a wake-up call over the loudspeakers to all the passengers onboard. The crew updates everyone on the current weather and a brief outline of the schedule for the day.
- 8:30am: It’s time to enjoy the huge spread of breakfast! Feast on dishes like pastries, toasts, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs and oatmeal with fruit. The food on my boat was excellent! And I always enjoyed my breakfast while chatting with other passengers.
- 9:30am: After breakfast, it is time to get dressed for our morning excursion; believe us when we say getting dressed to go outside in Antarctica is a major workout!
- 10:00am: Time to head out! Our excursions were different every day and always exciting with activities ranging from walking to touring research bases to hanging out with hundreds of adorable penguins and visiting a seal colony. On days when the excursions aren’t possible, the crew usually plans a zodiac cruise or other fun activities, like a polar plunge.
- 12:30pm: Lunch is served again buffet-style, but with quality, healthy food. Choose from the salad bar, or go for the pasta, sandwiches and soups.
- 2:00pm: After lunch, the ship cruises for a few hours to our next destination. This is the perfect downtime for sitting in the lounge and drinking in the views of Antarctica. Sometimes the captain makes announcements when a humpback whale or orca is spotted!
- 4:00pm: On a typical afternoon, we will have another landing in the afternoon, otherwise it’ll be a Zodiac cruise to spot marine life. You’ll usually get to see all kinds of wildlife from penguins swimming in the ocean to seals lounging on the shore.
- 6:00pm: Every evening following the afternoon excursion, everyone on the ship meets together for a debrief of the day’s events and to go over the planned schedule for the following day. There’ll also be lectures on different subjects pertaining to Antarctica: from geology to wildlife and history.
- 7:30pm: Dinner is usually a bigger meal. On our boat, we had a 4-course meal every night, ordered off of a menu. The menu changes every day and included soups or appetizers for a starter, grilled fish or meat and veggies for the main, and decadent desserts.
- 9:00pm: After dinner, most people head to the bar to enjoy some drinks and music. I had so much fun getting to know fellow passengers and partying under the midnight sun!
How Safe is Antarctica?
Travel to Antarctica is not a particularly dangerous endeavour, with the only possible discomfort resulting from crossing the Drake Passage, regarded as the world’s most tumultuous body of water. But that’s only when it misbehaves. Most incidents that happen to cruise ships in Antarctica involves the pack ice, but this is an extremely rare occurrence in this day and age.
It’s important to know that your tour operator evaluates all risks and manages the trip around perceived hazards. Safety is their number one priority. Today we’re able to predict icebergs, pack ice and unexposed hazards with forward-scanning sonar and ice radars, and all cruise ships have them in use.
Weather conditions in Antarctica are very unpredictable. We cannot promise anything except two things: ice and bad weather.” We all broke out into a series of nervous laughter. According to the expedition crew, passengers on the voyage prior to ours had experienced one of the worst Drake Passage crossings of the season — dinners in the restaurant were switched to sandwiches at the lounge, only 10% of the passengers made it to the lectures, and a couple of them even got injured because they hadn’t hung on tightly.
Do You Need to Be Fit to Travel Antarctica?
Anyone who is reasonably fit and healthy can easily travel to Antarctica. Most Antarctic cruises don’t include anything overly strenuous. This means that the only potentially challenging thing you’ll have to do in Antarctica is make your way from the expedition ship to the smaller Zodiac boats for shore landings (that and pulling yourself back onto the ship after you’ve taken the polar plunge into the Southern Ocean), but there’ll be crew members to help.
Antarctic cruises cater to travelers of all age groups – on my Antarctic cruise, I met tons of people from my age group (30-40 years old) as well as senior citizens (in their late 50s to 60s)who were friendly and happy to socialize. There were also more people in their 20s than I expected.
Some Antarctic tour operators require passengers to return a signed medical from their general practitioner, but mine didn’t ask for one. As long as you inform them of any pre-existing conditions or disabilities, you should be fine to go.
Can Kids Travel to Antarctica?
The minimum age for children on most Antarctic cruises is 8. Any person under 18 years of age must travel with their legal guardian. There weren’t any child on my Antarctic cruise but I am definitely hoping to bring my daughter to Antarctica someday! For those who are keen to travel Antarctica with kids, my friend wrote about his trip to Antarctica with his 8-year-old.
Top Places to Visit in Antarctica
Lemaire Channel
One of the most photogenic parts of Antarctica, Lemaire Channel is nicknamed ‘‘Kodak Gap’ for good reason. Steep cliffs hem in the iceberg-filled passage like naturally-sculpted gateways and bergy bits litter the glassy water surrounding us. At just half a mile-wide in it narrowest part, Lemaire Channel is a stunner for both its impressive formation and size. Not only is it scenic, the protected waters are usually as still as a lake, a rare occurrence in the storm-wracked southern seas.
Deception Island
Because of its geographical formation, Deception Island is one of the safest harbors in Antarctica. It was used as a whaling station a few decades ago. The island is actually the caldera of an active volcano and it is said to be one of the best places to swim in Antarctica because of its hot springs. I went on a polar plunge here (right off the beach) and the water really wasn’t warmer than anywhere else!
Port Lockroy
You can’t come to Antarctica and not visit Port Lockroy. The former research base of Port Lockroy, which is now post office, is the most southerly mailing depot on Earth. I sent myself a postcard from the post office here, only to receive it at home only after 4 months! The beautiful setting of the black and red-roofed post office backdropped by the snow mountains and glaciers is exceptionally photogenic.
South Georgia Island
This is a place I wish I had gone on my Antarctic cruise! South Georgia is dubbed “the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean” due to the abundance of wildlife concentrated here. It’s not uncommon to see hundreds of thousands of king penguins cuddled together or elephant seals battling each other here. You’ll need to go on a longer cruise to get here, but friends who have been all say it’s well worth it!
Cuverville Island
The island is a 252-meters high (826 feet) rock with a long shingle beach at its foot. About 6,500 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins call Cuverville home, forming the largest rookery on the Antarctic Peninsula. On my cruise, a couple from Hongkong decided to put on their wedding outfits for a special photography session here!
What to Pack for an Antarctic Trip
No matter when you’re traveling to Antarctica, you need to pack for cold temperatures. The key is to pack lots of layers so you can peel them off if the temperature climbs or add more layers when it’s cold.
Miscellaneous Items
Final Tips for Antarctica Travel
- Book a cruise with less than 200 passengers! Make sure it actually allows you to disembark on the continent.
- Buy a good travel insurance policy. Antarctica is so isolated that your travel policy should always include an emergency evacuation charge.
- Invest in your camera equipment. This is possibly the most scenic place on Earth, you really want to capture it with great photos so make sure you brush up on your photography skills and get proper photography gear.
- Keep an open mind and be flexible, as the weather in Antarctica can be unpredictable. This means that your itinerary and excursion schedule can change at a moment’s notice. Somedays, the excursions happen exactly as planned. On other days, we have to wait around on the ship as the crew searches for a place to land.
- Keep distance from the wildlife. The guideline on interacting with wildlife in Antarctica is that you have to keep your distance, at least 5 meters away from all wildlife, but if they approach you that’s no problem.
Read More on Antarctica Travel
Any trip to Antarctica will be an adventure of a lifetime. Yes it comes with a hefty price tag, but you’ll know it’s worthwhile the minute you reach the Antarctic peninsula and step foot on the white continent. There’s nowhere else on Earth quite like Antarctica.
If you’re looking to read more on Antarctica, check out these articles:
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