Antarctica is one of the few places on Earth that is barely touched by humans and is other-worldly. You won’t find tourist traps or crowds, despite the growing popularity of visiting Antarctica. Since Antarctica is so remote, it is going to take a little more planning and research to make the trip magical. This is definitely the trip of a lifetime, and it’s not like you can easily re-visit to see what you missed, so take your time planning to get the most bang for your buck.
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Antarctica Basics
Antarctica was discovered in 1841 by James Clark Ross as he passed by what is now known as the Ross Sea. Antarctica is not considered a country – and no one can truly own the landmass. However, twelve countries have claimed their rights to own 12 different sections of Antarctica. Each country has to sign a treaty to protect the nature and limit their reasons for being on the ice continent.
Why Visit Antarctica?
Sure, Antarctica is a bucket list item for millions of people, but only a few thousand people visit each year. People visit to see the unique landscape. The snow-covered mountains, glaciers, icebergs, are so untouched by man that it’s unlike anywhere else on Earth. The millions of penguins, whales, seals, and other wildlife are also impressive.
You can go kayaking with seals or walk with penguins in Antarctica – even go camping on the ice! For the truly brave (aka crazy) you can take a polar plunge in the Southern Ocean. All of this leads to epic bragging rights!
Fun Fact: Anywhere between 1,000 and 5,000 people call Antarctica home – all depends on the time of the year with more people living there in summer (Nov-Mar).
Best times to visit Antarctica
You are only able to visit Antarctica during the warmer months – from mid-October until mid-March. The end of October is when you’ll find ice breaking apart and penguins nesting. November is when elephant seals lay their eggs. December and January are the best times for baby penguins (especially if you’re not going too far south). Seal pups are also growing. If you want to see whales, then February and March are your best months. We did two weeks from late-January to mid-February, but our cruise passed the Antarctic Circle, so we were still able to see baby penguins. Not all cruise ships go far south like this, some only do the tip of the peninsula. If you really wanted to though, you could get paid to work in Antarctica.
How much does a trip to Antarctica cost?
This is probably the first question people ask me when I talk about my trip to Antarctica. For my trip (which includes 4 days in Buenos Aires, 2 days in Ushuaia), it was about $14,000 total (including the excursions). This is probably mid-range for a trip to Antarctica. There are a wide array of tours – including by plane! You can fly from Cape Town to the South Pole in a day, or book a 30 day cruise. It’s really up to you, your style, and your budget.
We decided on our cruise because we knew we wanted to cross the Antarctic Circle, and see more than just the tip of the peninsula. Ours was a two week cruise, which is about mid-range for length as well! Determining the length of the cruise is an important step in planning a trip to Antarctica.
What are the hotels like on Antarctica?
Other than the cost of the trip, this was probably the most frequently asked question I’ve been asked. There are no hotels on Antarctica. Your accommodation is the ship you book. We had a double room with a window to the outside so we could see out if needed. The room was typical for a cruise ship. We didn’t spend too much time in the rooms as there was always something going on.
What are the entry requirements for Antarctica?
There are no visas or vaccines required to visited Antarctica. However, the country that you ship departs from may require vaccines or visas. Some countries need an Antarctic permit to visit. Usually though, the cruise operator needs to be trained and certified.
How is crossing the Drake Passage?
If your cruise leaves from South America, you’ll have to cross the Drake Passage. This infamous waterway is notorious for rough waters and destroying ships. But no worries – those ships were wooden and pre-date modern technology. Learn all about crossing the Drake Passage and what it’s really like.
What animals will I see in Antarctica?
Antarctica cruises are the best way to see mother nature showing off (in my opinion). Fields of sea ice, massive glaciers, and towering icebergs set the scene for incredible wildlife. You can pretty much guarantee penguin sightings. I couldn’t count how many Adelie, chinstrap, or Gentoo penguins we saw even if I tried. We did not see Emperor penguins as we did not go far enough south.
Seals are also very common in Antarctica. They often share beaches and icebergs peacefully with penguins. (Except the Leopard Seal, which happily eats penguins). Elephant seals, fur seals, and crabeater seals were regular occurrences. The only time we saw a leopard seal was when we were kayaking.
Whales are also a common occurance. Sometimes you would just be relaxing and reading and see a spout come up out of the water. The crew would quickly announce that there was a whale (or a few) and where to go to spot them. On our visit, we got to visit Whilhelmina Bay, nicknamed “Whale-mina Bay”, for the large number of humpback whales that congregate here for the krill. We were also able to see Minke whales and Orcas.
Be sure to check out my simple wildlife photography tips so you can capture the best picture!
Fun Fact: There are no polar bears or foxes in the Antarctic – just the Arctic. Also, there are no sharks in Antarctica since they are cold blooded and it’s too cold for them.
Some Antarctic cruises include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands (ours didn’t). However, if yours does, then you open the possibility of seeing King penguins, Rockhoppers, and Black-browned Albatross.
What is the weather like on Antarctica?
Unpredictable. The only constant is cold. On our first landing we had a foggy and misty day, on other days there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Sometimes it changed throughout the day. You should always anticipate wind. Definitely pack in layers – since you may be hiking in snow you may want to remove a layer or two. We also had a really warm day (around 38 degrees Fahrenheit) where we had a barbecue on the ship.
What do you actually DO on Antarctica?
Since the cruise ships are smaller (and therefore don’t have a bar on each level, a mini-shopping mall, or casino) many people think they’ll be bored on the ship. Absolutely NOT. Every day there were lectures – ranging from the history of Antarctica, the animals of the continent, and even photography tips! Since we only had about 250 people on the boat, we were able to do landings almost every day (see below for why this is important). Food is included and was delicious! There was also a game room with puzzles, story time, and of course the views were incredible. We got to know many of our fellow passengers in the main observation deck and I got to catch up on my reading.
What do I need to bring with me?
Depending on the ship, some essential items may be included. Our ship provided us very stylish jackets (they called them parkas) and waterproof, calf-level boots to wear on land. Check to see if your ship includes these items but if not you’ll definitely want them!
- Camera and plenty of batteries and memory space!
- An extra set of waterproof/windproof pants (penguin poop smells awful)
- Thermals & layers
- Sunglasses
- At least two pairs of gloves – one thick and one thin (preferably more in case they get wet)
- Bathing suit for a polar plunge
- Sense of adventure!
Here’s a great packing list for Antarctica – including clothes and gear!
Travel Tip: Most cruise lines offer you detailed information about what to bring. Our cruise ship provided muck boots so I didn’t have to find water-proof, mid-calf high boots to bring.
Read More About Antarctica
- 30+ Fun Facts About Antarctica
- 40+ (Unedited) Photos to Inspire You to Visit Antarctica
- 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Go to Antarctica
- Taking a Polar Plunge in Antarctica
- Camping on the Ice in Antarctica
- Traveling to Antarctica with Hurtigruten
- Ethical Animal Tourism Posts on Antarctica
Save “How to Plan a Trip to Antarctica” for later!
I have a feeling Antartica is going to be last in the places I go to because it is so out of the way. It did require a lot of planning, but I think because more and more people go….it will be smoother in the future. I hope to go though!
It was my last continent – we did a cruise from Ushaia and before that spent a few days in Buenos Aires. I think the more people go, the easier it will be to plan! Definitely worth the hassle though.
I was always wondering if it might not feel a little warm with all the layers, so thanks for answering that! But I guess it’s still not avoidable.
There aren’t any paths to hike or walk, so you’re doing it all on snow or rocks – meaning the hike is going to be warmer. I also run really warm. However, there was a day where New Jersey where I used to live was colder than what it was in Antarctica. Remember- you visit Antarctica in the summer!
Visiting Antarctica. Wow, it must have been an amazing adventure. These photos of glaciers and snowy mountains are simply beautiful. You have given many useful tips here. Thanks for this post!
Antartica is my bucketlist destination and I will definitely go. Your list is really helpful – the supplies we are not allowed to take etc, the clothes layering is sensible but can easily be overlooked. A good guide.
Everyone thinks it will be beyond cold and it’s really not. Since it’s summer when you go it’s like winter in the Mid-Atlantic. But add in some hiking on snow and you’ll quickly warm up!
Antarctica looks so beautiful, but I think it will be YEARS before I see it lol
I hope not! While it was my most expensive trip, I was able to save for it for about 2 years before going! There are cheaper ones as well! As long as it’s on your list I’m good š
Awesome post! There is a lot to know about this continent. I’m glad that it is so well protected and that people care about not leaving any trash behind, I think it is very important for environment like this.
Absolutely! There is a lodge that they’re not allowed to clean the outside of to let nature run its course – so it’s covered in bird droppings haha. But they say that they can’t control the birds and don’t want to introduce anything into the environment. Makes sense to me!!
Ooooo man, would never have thought about penguin poop on my pants. That is perhaps the best advice EVER given! And I never would have known to book a smaller ship. In fact, I would have booked a larger ship thinking Iād get less sea sick. This is a lifesaver because I would likely lose my mind if I wasnāt able to go on land! No bathroom for #2? That sounds traumatizing! Would love to visit but wow, this is a lotā¦
Haha! I never thought about the poop either – it’s like the secret no one tells you. I think it all depends on the Drake Shake rather than the ship – it can be really nice or really rough!! And you go before you leave the ship – it’s really only like 14 hours on land! So worth it!!!
I haven’t considered going to Antartica before but this was very informative. Your pictures are so stunning! The bathroom situation is interesting though.
Haha, that’s only on land! On ship the bathrooms are fine and you can do as much as you need to! š
Wow! I never see travel blogs about Antarctica! That trip looks so unique and amazing!
Wow, great tips! This was really helpful and I’m pinning this right now for future reference!
Glad it was helpful! Feel free to ask me any questions!
Wonderful post. Very good and beautiful information is given about Antarctica.
Iād really like to be a part of community where I
can get suggestions from other experienced people that share the same interest.
This is so stunning – really a trip of a lifetime.
Absolutely! I tell everyone it’s worth every penny!
Wonderful information about Antarctica. I wasn’t aware that one can book a tour to go there. Thanks for writing this article.
What cruise line did you use?
I used Hurtigruten and absolutely loved them! I have a whole post on why I recommend them, but feel free to email me if you have questions. Quark is the other one I was debating about as well.