Explore Antarctica

Frequently Asked Questions

Summer in Antarctica runs from November through March, with January being the warmest month. However, there is no ‘best’ time to visit Antarctica but rather depends on when you can travel and what your expectations are. Each month offers its unique experience and you are guaranteed to witness wildlife in whichever summer month you choose to visit.  

• November – This is the early season of the Antarctic summer. Penguins are plentiful and just ready for mating season. The penguins are building their nests and searching for their partners to start a family. Since the continent is just coming out of winter, icebergs are bigger and ice and snow are abundant. This is a great time for photographers wanting to capture those scenic icebergs. 

• December – This is the peak season for touring Antarctica. Temperatures are starting to get warmer and days are longer. Wildlife increases as penguin chicks begin to hatch, hungry humpback whales start arriving and seals are in their prime mating season. We recommend planning early for this month as it books quickly. 

• January – This is another peak of the summer season in Antarctica and the warmest month. You will get face-to-face with newborn wildlife, as you witness penguin chicks being fed by their parents. Enjoy 20 hours of sunlight during this month, giving you more time to explore the seventh continent. With melted icebergs, new areas to explore on the zodiac become more accessible and journeys to the Polar Circle become feasible. 

• February – This is the best time for whale sightings during your zodiac journeys, with species including humpback, sperm, minke southern right and orca. Fur seals are also abundant at this time of the year. Say goodbye to the penguin chicks as they start fledging and learning to swim. We recommend this month for cruising beyond the Polar Circle as you are unlikely to encounter any issues with ice. It is also a beautiful time of the year for photographers to capture incredible landscape photography with the change in light. 

• March – ‘Tis the end of summer season. The penguin chicks are mature and ready for independence. Wildlife continues to be active, so whales and seal sightings remain abundant. Enjoy less ship sightings as less people travel to Antarctica during this month.

Antarctica is one of the coldest places on Earth, with temperatures often dropping below -60 degrees Celsius (-76 degrees Fahrenheit).

The cost of an Antarctica trip can vary depending on factors such as the duration of the trip, the type of accommodation, and the activities included. On average, a trip to Antarctica can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Check out our full guide, explaining the costs of an Antarctica trip here.

Most trips to Antarctica involve sailing on expedition ships. Flying to Antarctica is less common and usually limited to specific regions or research purposes. Sailing allows for a more immersive experience and the opportunity to see more of the Antarctic landscape.

Crossing the Drake Passage by ship can either be a good or bad experience. Such unpredictability is not for every traveler and one cannot predict whether the voyage will be Drake Lake or Drake Shake! The Drake Passage is where the Pacific, Atlantic and Southern Oceans converge, inviting for more turbulent waters and potential seasickness for our travelers. It takes at least two days to cross, of which spending these two days at sea can be an excellent opportunity to bond with your fellow passengers and crew, bringing a sense of comradery and excitement, but not every traveler has four days at sea (to and from Antarctica) to spare for vacation time. 

If you would like to save those four days at sea towards exploring the Patagonia instead, for instance, or avoid potential seasickness, fly-in cruise options are offered in our sample itineraries. Instead of sailing for two days towards Antarctica, you can enjoy a two-hour comfortable flight towards Antarctica from Punta Arenas, Chile. This will give you extra time to explore Chile and its beautiful Patagonia, including Torres del Paine, which is an incredible part of the world that complements very well with any trip to Antarctica. It is important to note, nonetheless, that if weather does not cooperate, you may be presented with delayed arrival times into Antarctica or you may have to leave the continent ahead of schedule to avoid incoming storms. In this part of the world, Mother Nature plays a big role and as a traveler, one needs to determine their priorities in order to pick the best arrival option!

Yes, Antarctica is considered a desert because it receives very little precipitation. Despite its icy appearance, it is one of the driest places on Earth, with an average annual precipitation of only about 200 mm (8 inches) in the form of snow.

In our sample itineraries you will find one day visits to Antarctica. Such itineraries are operated as air-cruises and allow for a faster and more affordable introduction to Antarctica. In the Antarctica Express Cruise, you have the opportunity to visit Cape Horn, cruise the Drake Passage, land in Antarctica and fly back. Starting price for this program is $4,795 per person (double occupancy) on the Ocean Nova expedition vessel. 

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Emperor Penguins will be seen on any Antarctic voyage taken. These are the largest of all penguin species and stand over a metre tall. Seeing Emperor Penguins in their natural habitat is one of the wildest wildlife experiences, but also one of the most difficult encounters to experience while on an expedition cruise. They are located in the south east region of Antarctica, around Weddell, Ross and Atka Bay, areas that are blocked most of the year by ice and not easily accessible. A few expedition cruises offer a helicopter ride to access the area around Weddel and Ross, but sightings are only 50% guaranteed and most times only individual penguins are seen, rather than colonies, so this is important to factor in when planning for your trip to Antarctica. On the other hand, to guarantee seeing the incredible spectacle of an Emperor Penguin colony, we recommend the Exclusive Antarctic Early Emperor Penguins Itinerary, where you will witness over 14,000 breeding pairs and newly-hatched chics as you travel deep via a private plane into Atka Bay. This is an incredible and once in a lifetime experience for wildlife watchers and photographers. If penguins aren’t for you, we’ve got a full guide on the animals of Antarctica here.

All Antarctica Itineraries