Antarctica Tours & Trips

Traveling to Antarctica is nothing like anything you will have experienced before, and is not for every traveler. The journey can be long, cold, and there are some restrictions that you will have to take into account. However, if you are brave enough to travel to the White Continent, it will make for an amazing dinner conversation. 

What to Expect from an Antarctica Tour

An Antarctica tour will largely be like a lot of other cruise trips. You’ll be on the ship making stops in harbors and exploring. Where Antarctica is vastly different than other cruises is that you’ll be docked longer in some places as there aren’t many harbors and you’ll be on small cruise ships, not large ones. 

You can expect to be in port on the continent of Antarctica for many days trips offered such kayaking, hiking, penguin watching, or Zodiac tours. You are able to get close to the wildlife on the island and kayaking right next to whales. 

You won’t be visiting any major cities on an Antarctica cruise. The only major city you’ll be in is Ushuaia, and that city isn’t large compared to most. Most inhabitants of Antarctica and surrounding islands are penguins and seagulls.

There are some smaller research stations and tourist towns, but the human population you will be interacting with will predominantly be your fellow travelers. Most of the ships are capped at around 100 people. 

Some activities unique to Antarctica tours are polar plunges into the polar waters, whale watching from the deck with the captain, and hear lectures from onboard scientists explaining about the beautiful and different world that is Antarctica.

Packing List for Antarctica

When researching which tour company you will be going with, double-check to see if they provide weather-proofed clothing. There are some cruises that provide waterproof boots, jackets, and pants for free (others you can rent). If you want to save some room in your suitcase, this may be something to consider when packing and planning your trip. 

Layers, layers, layers. The most important word to remember when starting your packing list for Antarctica. Layers mean taking along multiple fleeces, jackets, thermal clothing, and socks. If you weren’t aware, Antarctica gets cold, very cold. On the ship, you won’t need as many layers, but when you are on a Zodiac cruise or kayaking around Paradise Bay, these will come in handy. 

Hats, jackets, and scarves will also be very helpful. Comfortable clothes you can easily move around in will make your trip more comfortable. You don’t have to overpack as you will have multiple layers, but bringing some of these key items is essential. 

A note on electronics. Many of the activities on Antarctica cruises are in and around water. Make sure to pack a dry bag to keep your cameras and phones dry and safe from the cold. 

To Fly or Not to Fly the Drake? 

This will largely depend on how long your trip is and whether you want to see the Drake up close.

The Drake Passage is the stretch of water between South America and the Antarctica Islands. It is a vast body of water teeming with sea life and also one of the roughest waters in the world. This is why the Drake can be considered a double-edged sword for travelers, no matter how adventurous you feel. 

Flying the Drake offers you the chance to reach Antarctica in a few short hours and avoid the tumultuous waters of the Drake. You’ll be able to see the water and Antarctica from above before meeting a small cruise ship in Antarctica. However, when flying you won’t be able to see the whales or penguins swimming just off the side of your boat when you are in the air. Antarctica cruises that are shorter in duration often fly the Drake to save time. 

Sailing the Drake does take longer and can be rougher than flying. However, on the Drake, you get to experience the waters that Sir Francis Drake sailed in the 1600s and really feel what these waters are truly like, along with amazing sites off of the bow. Longer Antarctica tours typically include sailing the Drake.

The Drake Passage is infamous for rough waters, so if you are even slighly worried about getting seasick, the safest recommendation is to fly.