Antarctica Information

Travel Information

Visas: Since no-one owns Antarctica no-one needs a visa to visit it. However, shipping schedules are at the mercy of the ice and elements so, even if you are travelling directly from your home country, you will need to bring a valid passport since your vessel could quite possibly pull into the port of another country for shelter. You will need visas for any countries that your ship visits en route to Antarctica.

Health risks: Hypothermia, sunburn, dehydration, frostbite and snow blindness

Time: Clock time is largely irrelevant (the tourist season has about 20 hours' daylight each day), but most bases set their clocks in accordance with their home countries.

Electricity: Each ship and each base has its own independent electricity supply, but many of the ships are Russian with a 220V/50 Hz output into a standard European two-pin socket.

When To Go

Tourists cannot visit Antarctica during the winter; pack ice extends 1000km (620mi) around the continent making ship access impossible and the darkness (almost 24 hours a day) does not lift until summer time. Add to this the midwinter 'chill' - temperatures can be -80 or 90° Celsius - and you begin to realise that summer might be slightly more pleasant anyway.

November finds penguins mating and nesting with eggs. October and November are early summer when the pack ice is breaking up and the birds, especially penguins, are courting and mating.

December and January represent the height of summer and thus  the warmer months on the continent. Daylight lasts nearly 24 hours, penguin chicks emerge, and whale sightseeing's increase. 

February is the end of summer and many chicks are leaving their nests. Many consider February the best time for whale sightings. Antarctic summers are blessed with 18-24 hours of daylight. In the late summer months of February and March there are terrific whale-watching opportunities and the adult penguins are ashore moulting. Remember also that some vessels visit Antarctica 10 or more times in a single season and the staff members and lecturers on these ships can become jaded and burnt out well before the end of the summer.

Antarctica trip - Antarctica travel - Antarctica cruise

An expedition to Antarctica is an unforgettable journey of discovery. Breathtaking floating castles of ice glisten in the warmth of the austral sun.. moments later they are aglow in an iridescent display of color. This immense wilderness is a fabulous place & a virtually pristine paradise for wildlife with incomparable scenery of mountains, snow and ice. It is a privilege to visit the awe-inspiring land and experience the special magic that has lured explorers, adventurers and scientists for more than two centuries. 

Antarctic Explorer
11 days starting from $5,940
This journey takes us to one of the world’s most awe inspiring destinations. With visits along the way through the South Shetland Islands we arrive on... (click for more)

Classic Antarctica
11 days starting from $6,100
This itinerary is delivered at a comfortable pace. Shore landings will be in the Peninsula. There is an in-depth education program, covering all aspec... (click for more)

Antarctica Classic
11 days starting from $6,295
A true adventure to the world's most remote wilderness! Our 11-day Antarctica Classic expedition focuses on the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic P... (click for more)

Classic Antarctica: Discovering the Peninsula Aboard Clipper Adventurer
11 days starting from $6,500
A softer adventure with a relaxed pace, yet all the thrills - wildlife, research stations, icebergs and more. Expedition Ships: Adventures in Comfort.... (click for more)

Classic Antarctica: Discovering the Peninsula Aboard Lyubov Orlova
11 days starting from $6,800
A softer adventure with a relaxed pace, yet all the thrills - wildlife, research stations, icebergs and more. Expedition Ships: Adventures in Comfort.... (click for more)

Classic Antarctica
11 days starting from $8,225
Embark on a luxurious expedition to the best far-flung destinations in the world aboard Prince Albert II operated by Silverseas.

Antarctic Adventure - Active Exploration of the Peninsula
12 days starting from $5,500
Antarctica is the last wild, unspoiled place on earth, the largest, purest wilderness we know, the only continent that has been almost free of human c... (click for more)

Antarctic Adventure: Actively Exploring the Peninsula
12 days starting from $6,400
This expedition is for people who enjoy active adventures. Every sailing offers an average of two activities off the ship per day while in the Antarct... (click for more)

Antarctica
13 days starting from $6,599
Discover the magic and wonder of the "White Continent" aboard the stylish and comfortable MS Fram. Explore vistas of blue white glaciers and busy peng... (click for more)

Beyond the Antarctic Circle
13 days starting from $6,690
Join us on a voyage of discovery to Antarctica - our planet's last frontier - a fabulous and virtually pristine paradise. Our ice-strengthened expedit... (click for more)

Land of the Penguins
14 days starting from $5,709
Our General Tours World Traveler Ship and Hotels… The ice-strengthened MV Ushuaia is perfect for this voyage, nimble enough to s... (click for more)

Classic Antarctica
14 days starting from $7,595
From vast penguin colonies to massive, stately icebergs, explore the best of Antarctica by sea and land. ... (click for more)

Climate Change Challenge Classic Antarctic Mission
14 days starting from $7,595
About the Climate Change Challenge Antarctica is currently the fastest warming area on the planet with temperatures and related ice-melt increasing ... (click for more)

Antarctica Classic Package
14 days starting from $7,595
Explore the rugged, remote South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, home to some of the continent’s most dramatic landscapes and impressive wil... (click for more)

Emperor Penguins: Snow Hill Island Safari
14 days starting from $17,990
Multiple visits over a number of days to the Snow Hill Island rookery offer unique photo opportunities. Digital photography workshops help you take ou... (click for more)

Antarctica: Crossing the Circle
15 days starting from $7,450
Here's a trip for those with the heart and soul of a true explorer! Far south beyond the imaginary line of the Antarctic Circle (latitude 66° 33') is ... (click for more)

Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition
15 days starting from $7,500
The goal of this 15-day expedition is to cross 63° 33' 39"S, where the sun shines for 24-hours. Optional camping and kayaking are available. This 15-d... (click for more)

Antarctica - The White Continent
15 days starting from $10,250
Our journey to the "White Continent" offers six days of exploration on the incomparably beautiful Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands and ... (click for more)

Beyond the Antarctic Circle Package
16 days starting from $7,990
Join us on a voyage of discovery to Antarctica - our planet's last frontier - a fabulous and virtually pristine paradise for wildlife with incompa... (click for more)

Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica
16 days starting from $10,400
Embark on a luxurious expedition to the best far-flung destinations in the world aboard Prince Albert II operated by Silverseas.

Antarctic Holiday
19 days starting from $9,229
Enjoy luxury 6 star cruising through South America & Antarctica. Here at the bottom of Earth are some of the world's top attractions, includi... (click for more)

Holiday South America and Antarctica Experience
20 days starting from $3,500
Spend the holidays sailing through South America and Antarctica. View unwordly peaks sculpted by ice and time, nesting penguins and seal-chasing whale... (click for more)

South America Explorer and Antarctica Experience
20 days starting from $3,900
Come discover Antarctica's unwordly peaks sculpted by ice and time, nesting penguins and seal-chasing whales. No clocks or calendars rule this world -... (click for more)

Antarctic Quest-Antarctica Peninsula, South Georgia, and Falkland Island
20 days starting from $8,025
Our grandest Antarctic journey offers the many splendors of the Antarctic Peninsula plus two big bonuses: the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. The ... (click for more)

Patagonia Experience and Antarctica
20 days starting from $7,745
See it all on this adventure. With wilderness treks, cruising and a city stay, there truly is something for everyone. Marvel at the glaciers of Antarc... (click for more)

Antarctic Quest via the Falklands (Malvinas) and South Georgia
20 days starting from $10,300
This 20-day expedition is for people who are always on the move. It offers an average of three activities off the ship per day while in the Falkland I... (click for more)

Explorers' Route via the Falklands (Malvinas) and South Georgia
20 days starting from $10,400
This expedition features a relaxed pace with shore landings in Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, an in-dep... (click for more)

Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands
20 days starting from $11,195
Travel to Antarctica aboard the mv Minerva. Add a visit to the rugged shores of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands to your Antarctica adventures.... (click for more)

Lake Districts of Patagonia and Antarctica
21 days starting from $7,795
Hike the rugged Patagonia mountains, enjoy the spectacular scenery and Argentinean culture, then rest your body but awaken your curiosity with a 1... (click for more)

Spirit of Shackleton Package
23 days starting from $16,645
Experience vast penguin rookeries and seal colonies on this journey to the Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands and South Georgia. A true wildlife ad... (click for more)

Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia
25 days starting from $17,590
Decades of exploring Antarctica and the surrounding region have given the Lindblad staff the expertise and time needed to uncover important landing si... (click for more)

Cape Horn to the Cape of Good Hope: From South America to South Africa
28 days starting from $17,590
Extraordinary and unusual, an expedition from Cape to Cape has been the challenge and dream of many sailors and explorers. Colorful milestones line ou... (click for more)