Antarctica Cruises, Tours, and Vacations

While Antarctica may seem remote and inaccessible, adventurous travelers can visit the southernmost continent with ease on a well-planned vacation. With the right travel specialist, you can embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to explore the stark beauty and fascinating wildlife of Antarctica.

Exploring with naturalist guides, you can enjoy frequent off-ship excursions via Zodiac boats to walk on the mainland, observe wildlife, and learn about the continent's unique geology and history.

When it comes to getting to Antarctica, the most common and accessible option is to travel by sea. There are no commercial flights or land crossings to the isolated continent. However, there are charter flights that leave from Punta Arenas, Chile, and land on King George Island. To reach Antarctica, you'll need to either embark on an expedition cruise departing from South America or book a charter flight.

Most Antarctic cruise itineraries begin in Ushuaia, Argentina, which is considered the gateway to Antarctica. Positioned at the southern tip of South America, Ushuaia provides direct access to the Drake Passage, the body of water between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. Another route to Antarctica departs from Punta Arenas, Chile, which is north of Ushuaia on the Strait of Magellan.

Whichever port you depart from, expect to spend at least a few days at sea getting to Antarctica. Crossing the Drake Passage includes impressive seabird sightings and iceberg spotting as your adventure begins.

The travel season for Antarctica coincides with the region’s summer and runs from November to March as the sea ice retreats enough for ships to access the peninsula region.

The Antarctic summer brings nearly 24 hours of daylight, allowing for ample wildlife viewing and excursion opportunities. Temperatures reach highs around the freezing point, which is far warmer than winter's subzero extremes. Late November to early December is ideal for seeing penguins, and late December through January showcases cute, fluffy penguin chicks. And, February to March offers long hours of sunlight for exploring the ice or the opportunity to see the Southern Lights.

You can learn more in our guide on the best time to visit Antarctica or consult with your polar cruise or tour operator on the best time for your interests and preferences.

With its sprawling icy wilderness, choosing where to go in Antarctica can be overwhelming. We recommend focusing your itinerary around these remarkable destinations, the best places to visit in Antarctica:

• South Shetland Islands: A group of islands south of the Antarctic Peninsula brimming with chinstrap, Adelie, and gentoo penguin colonies.
• Antarctic Peninsula: The northernmost part of the continent, featuring accessible landing sites with prolific wildlife like gentoo penguins, leopard seals, and humpback whales.
• Drake Passage: The stretch of sea between South America and Antarctica, famed for its choppy waters, seabird sightings, and crossing the Antarctic Convergence zone into polar waters.

With a cruise itinerary from an experienced polar operator, your days in Antarctica will be packed with incredible experiences and wildlife encounters to last a lifetime. Here are some of the top things to do on your trip to Antarctica:

• Visit a working scientific research station to learn about their valuable studies and conservation efforts
• Go on frequent off-ship excursions by Zodiac boats to walk on the continent and ice, see wildlife up close, and take in the dramatic landscapes
• Follow your naturalist guides on landings to active penguin rookeries, observing the birds' charming antics
• Sea kayak and paddle among the icebergs for an extra adrenaline rush and unique seal and whale sightings
• Photograph the wondrous icescapes you'll encounter, from frozen waves to glittering blue glaciers
• Learn all about the continent's ecosystems and wildlife from your ship's expert naturalist guides

Despite its harsh climate, Antarctica is renowned for its remote and untouched icescapes that attract scientific researchers and travelers up for the challenge. As the only continent with no permanent human residents, Antarctica is known for its populations of penguins, seals, and whales that thrive in the cold conditions. Massive glaciers and ice shelves extend from the continent's land mass, including the colossal Ross Ice Shelf. Antarctica's unique location around the South Pole also provides prime conditions to view the Southern Lights.

Travelers visiting Antarctica can expect average temperatures of around 14°F in coastal regions during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, from December to February. On the Antarctic Peninsula, highs can, though rarely, rise above 32°F.

Antarctica may be freezing, but it teems with incredible wildlife uniquely adapted to the harsh climate. You can be on the lookout for these remarkable animals in Antarctica:

• Adelie, chinstrap, gentoo, and emperor penguins.
• Humpback, minke, and orca whales.
• Crabeater, leopard, Weddell, and elephant seals.
• Skuas, petrels, terns, and albatross.

Explore more information in our frequently asked questions about planning a trip to Antarctica and inspiration in our Antarctica travel guide.