Antarctica is the southern-most continent on the planet. At 14 million square kilometres, it is the fifth-largest continent and roughly twice the size of Australia.
There have never been native people on the Antarctic continent. There are between 1,000 to 5,000 researchers living in Antarctica at any one time, studying the ice, the environment, or the various organisms, animals and birds that call this continent home.
Antarctic Peninsula
The quintessential Antarctic experience! The majority of Antarctic expeditions travel to the Antarctic Peninsula. It is home to most of the wildlife found in Antarctica, as the temperatures are milder than the majority of the continent. Enjoy sightings of whales, penguins, a variety of birds and more.
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are 400km north-east of Tierra Del Fuego in Argentina and are much
milder in temperature than the Antarctic Peninsula. As a result, there are a large variety of birds that call the Falklands home, including six species of penguin and colonies of Albatross.
South Georgia
South Georgia is an icy, rocky island about 1,300km south-east of the Falkland Islands. It was a large base for whaling for many years and is full of whaling history. It’s also the location of famed explorer Ernest Shackleton’s grave but most people visit because of the large breeding populations of seals and King Penguins.
The Weddell Sea
This area is east of the Antarctic Peninsula. There are very few cruises to the Weddell Sea, as it is often clogged with icebergs. If your interest is exclusively in Emperor Penguins, this is the place to see them.
Sub-Antarctic Islands
These islands are in a slightly different location – the closest is 200km from New Zealand’s South Island. Largely untouched and unexplored by humans thanks to their rocky and un-habitable terrain, large animal populations have thrived here for centuries.
Ross Sea
In a remote and unspoiled continent, the Ross Sea is probably the most remote and unspoiled part. Not many expeditions visit the Ross Sea as the thick sea ice is hard to break through. The Ross Sea is incredibly rich in biodiversity and the few lucky travellers who make it here, have the chance of visiting historic huts from the glory days of Antarctic exploration.
Due to the freezing temperatures and icy water conditions, Antarctica is only accessible from October until March every year. Each part of the season brings its own special magic so there’s no best time. This is a rough guide on what you can expect, but remember, this is the last frontier, and always unpredictable!
Late October/November
The ice is at its most spectacular and it is a time of mating and nesting for penguin and other birds. It is also a time when the dominant male seals establish their harems and territory.
December
Enjoy the longest days of the summer, and wildlife. Penguins begin to hatch towards the end of the month and seal pups start to appear on the beaches.
January
January carries on with extended sunlight hours. Penguin chicks and seals are typically plentiful during this time.
February
It is a time of great wildlife activity, with more fur seals than any other time of the year and plenty of whales too. Adolescent penguins will keep you entertained.
March
The seasons draws to a close, with penguins beginning to head out to sea, but there is still abundant wildlife as the region begins to prepare for winter. If you love whales, this is the time for you!
Adélie Penguins: These cheeky little penguins will travel long distances for food and build pebble nests.
Seen on: Antarctic Peninsula, Ross Sea
Chinstrap Penguins: Chinstraps are easy to identify by the black mark that runs along their chin fur like a chinstrap.
Seen on: Antarctic Peninsula
Emperor Penguins: The largest of all penguins, standing at an average of 115cm tall. Living deep on the Antarctic continent, they are usually only seen in specific expeditions.
Seen on: Antarctic Peninsula (Weddell Sea)
Gentoo Penguins: Their bright orange-red bill is what makes Gentoo easily recognisable.
Seen on: Antarctic Peninsula
King Penguins: Their black and white feathers are brightened up by yellow and orange plume around their face and neck.
Seen on: South Georgia, Macquarie Island (Australian sub-Antarctic island)
Macaroni Penguins: Named for the bright yellow feathers that make up the crest on its head.
Seen on: South Georgia, Falkland Islands
Rockhopper Penguins: These guys have a crest of yellow feathers similar to the Macaroni, but are smaller.
Seen on: Falkland Islands, Macquarie Island
Humpback Whales: Being the size of a schoolbus and singing songs to one another, these whales are hard to miss.
Seen around: Antarctic Peninsula
Minke Whales: Compared with other whales, Minke are more solitary and prefer to travel in groups of 1-3.
Seen around: Antarctic Peninsula
Orcas: Found right across the globe, Orcas have a large and varied diet which includes fish, penguins, dolphins and even whales.
Seen around: Antarctic Peninsula
Crabeater Seals: Despite their name, these seals don’t actually eat crabs, and prefer a diet of krill instead.
Seen on: Antarctic Peninsula
Fur Seals: Much closer related to sea lions than normal seals, as they have external ears and can walk on all four flippers.
Seen on: Antarctic Peninsula
Leopard Seals: These seals are very close to the top of the food chain – there are not many animals in Antarctica they don’t eat!
Seen on: Antarctic Peninsula
Elephant Seals: Easily identifiable by their long nose; perfect for making loud sounds to attract mates in mating season.
Seen on: South Georgia
Weddell Seals: Their teeth are perfectly designed to carve breathing holes in pack ice.
Seen on: Antarctic Peninsula
Wandering Albatross: These birds have the largest wingspan of any bird across the globe.
Seen on: South Georgia & Drake Passage
Giant Petrels: These birds struggle to take flight in little to no wind, and sometimes need a run-up to become airborne.
Seen on: South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula
Before you depart, we will provide you with advice and detailed packing lists, as the list can vary depending on which expedition company you choose. On many voyages, you will be given a quality waterproof/windproof jacket which you can keep and the loan of rubber boots for shore landings.
On all voyages, if you do have your own gear, you are welcome to bring it along. At the time of booking, we will give you a comprehensive pre-departure information pack, which will include information about what you will need to pack for your voyage.
Shore Excursions/Landings
Zodiac cruising
Hiking
Kayaking
Paddling
Camping
Stand up Paddleboarding
Cross-country skiing
Photography
Polar Plunge
Snow-shoeing
Scuba Diving
Snorkelling
Heli-flightseeing
While there are no visa requirements to Antarctica, if you are travelling to Antarctica through, or extending your stay in, other countries there may be visa requirements. All travellers must have a valid passport (valid for at least six months after your departure date) plus proof of onward passage to enter Chile or Argentina.
Although some cruises experience relatively calm seas throughout, it is best to go prepared for rough seas at least some time during your expedition. Bring seasickness medication just in case.
We recommend that you book as early as possible. Voyages fill fast and the longer you leave it, the harder it may be to book the berth or cabin you prefer. Many departures fill up a year or more in advance. There are on occasion last minute special offers, but most expedition companies offer their best deals very early, and things generally get more expensive as the trip date gets closer.
Yes – and we recommend it! Many of our clients combine their Antarctic adventure with further travel in South America. With 40 years of experience in adventure travel, particularly travel to South America, we can offer sound advice and recommendations to help you make the most of your holiday time.
YES! You cannot travel on any Antarctic voyage without travel insurance. Adequate and valid travel insurance is compulsory for all Antarctic voyages. You will need travel insurance that covers accidents, injury, illness and death, including any related to pre-existing medical conditions, emergency repatriation (including helicopter rescue and air ambulance where applicable) and personal liability. We would also recommend that your insurance covers cancellation and loss of luggage and personal effects.
All of the Antarctica ships we book onto are designed to travel in the Antarctic conditions and meet all required safety standards. Most of our voyages are small expedition ships that hold between 50-200 people, allowing our ships to disembark in a variety of locations.
We do recommend a small ship over a big cruise ship, especially if you want to disembark onto the ice! One thing to keep in mind when selecting your ship is that only 100 passengers are allowed to set foot on the Antarctic continent at one time, therefore larger boats often have to rotate to ensure everyone gets equal time on the ice. Smaller boats mean more time on the ice!
This depends on the individual voyage you have chosen. As mentioned above, a smaller ship can often mean more time ashore. Most expeditions aim to offer two landings or excursions a day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Absolutely! It is not uncommon for people to travel to Antarctica solo. What a great way to make new friends! We can book you a twin, triple or quad share room with someone of the same gender (subject to availability) or you can pay a single supplement if you would like your own cabin. Ship life is a very social affair and many lifelong friendships have been made on board.
First, you need to work out how much time you have got, and what you want to see. The shortest trip to Antarctica is a 6 day fly/cruise, where you fly across the Drake Passage and board a ship on King George Island, rather than cruising across the Drake. The next most common is ten days starting and finishing in Ushuaia, which usually just covers the Antarctic Peninsula. Keep in mind that these 10-day cruises spend approximately 2 days crossing the Drake Passage each way. To include the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, you’ll need a trip of at least 16-21 days. Expeditions to include the Ross Sea are often 30 days or longer.
Peregrine is the Australian Operator for Quark Expeditions.
Welcome to one of the last untamed places on earth, where you’ll wake each day to the promise of new and unforgettable experiences. From massive penguin colonies to spectacular panoramas of land, ice and water – no two days are the same.
Each Peregrine itinerary has been designed with a perfect balance of activities and free time to enjoy your surroundings. There is plenty of time spent off the ship exploring on inflatable Zodiac boats, hiking, sea kayaking and bird watching. You might even be lucky enough to camp on the ice.
When you are onboard, we want to ensure you are as comfortable as possible, which is why we choose vessels with a maximum 189 passengers (varies between vessels).
Your Arctic home will be one of three ice-strengthened ships: Ocean Adventurer, Ocean Nova and 50 Years of Victory (Let Pobedy). These ships provide a warm homecoming at the end of each day, moving quickly between bays, islands and wildlife colonies.
An experienced chef prepares an array of delicious and hearty meals. In your free time, take advantage of regular education programs presented by world-renowned experts. Each ship has a multimedia centre to download your images and burn them to CD. Trust us, there will be plenty of photos to choose from.
Small Ships – Big Experiences
There was a time, not long ago, when almost all cruises were just that, a cruise past wonderful destinations. The last twenty years or so has witnessed an immense and wonderful evolution in small ship cruising and today travellers have thousands of options. If you share Wild Earth Travel’s philosophy and have decided that resort style vessels accommodating thousands of passengers is definitely not your type of holiday, then let us help you choose a perfect small ship cruise holiday. You will discover that majority of our ships range from only 8 to 150 passengers. So no round the clock buffets and long lines waiting to pay extra for your shore excursion, just good old-fashion exploring a destination with a small group of inquiring
travellers.
Gone are the endless queues. Wild Earth Travel only promote voyages for real travellers with carefully selected specialist cruise operators that do not cut corners in their quest to ensure your onboard experience is of the highest quality. Travel in an intimate, safe and comfortable environment. Travel to enjoy, but also to see and experience, learn as you travel and do all this in the company of like-minded travellers. Their small ships offer comfortable to luxurious accommodation and many other amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible but above all else they are designed to take you to extraordinary places and give you amazing experiences.
With a ratio of ten travellers for each onboard expert, we ensure your experience is as enriching as possible.
The members of our expedition team share a passion for seaborne adventure and bring a diverse range of skills to the table; everything from geology to ornithology and marine biology. All of them are on hand to answer your questions and provide you with a greater understanding and appreciation of your world.
With years of experience, our team of experts knows the perfect spots to position the MS Expedition to provide maximum access to your destination’s awe-inspiring wildlife and incredible views. They possess the insight, knowledge, and enthusiasm needed to stir your imagination. They look forward to sharing their passion for the sea and the lands that border it.
A more favourable ratio of on-ship experts to travellers expands the depth of your trip. Not only does it lend you deeper access and greater understanding of your surroundings through lectures and Q&A sessions, our ten-to-one ratio also delivers a more personalised and intimate experience and a greater degree of customer care than you’d find on a larger ship. This is your trip, after all. More experts at the ready makes it feel more yours.
The Arctic summer brings a sense of urgency, and the best way to experience its wonders is on an exciting Arctic expedition cruise.
Like the Inuits and Vikings who preceded us, our Arctic trips are explorations by sea. Aboard our fleet of small ships, we chase the Gulf Stream’s warm currents up Scotland and Norway’s coasts to Spitsbergen; sail the icy waters to Greenland, Iceland and venture further north than ever before with a Franz Josef Land adventure.
A short season of long days, the Arctic summer offers sunsets that linger until dawn, snowmelt feeding waterfalls and glaciers that drop massive icebergs into the sea. Whether calving from Svalbard’s vast glacier fronts or squeezing into Greenland’s deep fjords, mesmerising icebergs of every shape and aqua hue can be seen. From Franz Josef Land’s remote wonders to Norwegian fishing towns, the adventure base of Longyearbyen to Inuit villages of East Greenland, we enjoy a wide range of history and local culture.
Now with more Arctic cruises to choose from, expeditions to the Arctic have never been more exciting. Whether you join us for a single voyage, or link back-to-back Arctic tours for a more in-depth exploration, your Arctic holiday will be a wilderness adventure you’ll never forget!
Experience in expedition cruising
Oceanwide Expeditions is a Dutch vessel operator, organizing voyages that make it possible for passengers to enjoy the scenery and nature above and underwater in the world’s most unique areas. The regions we visit during these wildlife expeditions contain hardly any infrastructure and are almost only reachable by boat.
Oceanwide Expeditions operates, so to speak, on the borderline of land and water, where daily guided excursions in small groups are organized. Our expertise in designing and managing the wildlife voyages allows us to offer quality tours in areas that will fascinate and amaze you time after time. We would very much like to share our enthusiasm and our experiences with you.
Oceanwide Expeditions operates with private and chartered expedition vessels and is responsible for the management and operations on board. All voyages have been carefully prepared and developed (routing, regulations, provisioning, crewing, excursions etc.) and are empathic to the natural conditions of the areas concerned and therefore unique in their design.
Oceanwide Expeditions looks back at 26 years of experience in expedition cruising, having built up a thorough knowledge of the areas visited. Our tours are constantly modified to guarantee the intended quality of our voyages.
During Oceanwide Expedition cruises, daily excursions in small groups are offered. Experienced tour leaders show you the most interesting aspects of the areas, often illustrated by lectures on board the vessel. Most lecturers come from a scientific background.
Sailing schedules are always adapted to local sea ice conditions and Oceanwide is known for good and basic standards for the service and comfort offered to all passengers on board the ships.
“I believe in creating new possibilities for human experience and understanding.”
The words above are from Lars-Eric Lindblad’s 1983 autobiography, Passport to Anywhere. Now regarded as the father of ecotourism, Lars-Eric was literally the first travel company owner to take travelers where only scientists had gone—the first to take citizen explorers to many destinations, including Antarctica and Galápagos, in 1966 and 1967, respectively.
By believing that educated people who saw things with their own eyes would be a potent force for the preservation of the places they visited, he made his notions a powerful force for the good of conservation and restoration projects worldwide.
Lars-Eric was a real—as well as symbolic—father, and since 1979 his son, Sven-Olof Lindblad, has expanded his legacy by providing transformative travel experiences in the world’s most remarkable places.
The Linblad Expeditions fleet consists of nimble, intimately-scaled expedition ships, able to safely venture where larger cruise ships cannot, allowing Linblad Expeditions to offer authentic, up-close experiences in the planet’s wild, remote places and capitals of culture. More than comfortable as your base for exploring, they are outfitted with cool tools that enable a genuine connection with the places we visit, and offer inviting private accommodations, and gracious public spaces for our expedition community to gather.
Experience the Arctic with an expedition cruise and discover a frosted wilderness of glistening white as far as the eye can see. The brief summer thaw allows us to take you into this magical land, one of the planets most inspiring places. Silversea’s Arctic and Greenland Expedition cruises narrate your own personal story.
Cruise to Arctic and Greenland and create memories you’ll never forget on Silversea’s Arctic expeditions. From abundant wildlife and dramatic landscapes, to the Midnight Sun follow in the wake of the Vikings to Greenland and Iceland. Explore Svalbard where the polar bear roams freely. Hike and Zodiac amid icebergs and spectacular tundra. Vast colonies of birds pocket the rugged cliffs. Seals and walrus haul out on rocky outcrops. Whales spout and breach before your eyes. These trips to the Arctic and Greenland delve into the wonder of one of the planet’s most inspiring places.
At Hurtigruten we give you the opportunity to travel with meaning. Building on our explorer heritage dating back to 1893, our explorations are grounded in the likings of people who value learning and personal growth over luxury. We are a world leader in sustainable explorer travels in Polar Regions. We offer unique experiences and impart knowledge in a way that leaves the smallest environmental footprint possible.
Our unique heritage, combined with highly skilled crews and a diverse fleet consisting of nimble, intimately-scaled expedition ships, enables us to offer you unique nature-based experiences at remote corners of the world.
EXPERIENCE CRUISING ANOTHER WAY, DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF YACHT CRUISES.
For over 20 years now, PONANT has embodied the art of YACHT CRUISES, combining a sophisticated à la française lifestyle on board with exploration and discovery.
Our mission is to transport you to mythical destinations and secret ports only accessible to small capacity ships.
To offer the delights of a French-inspired cuisine in an intimate environment – a discreet service where no attention to detail is spared – and unforgettable moments of relaxation on board elegant yachts of character.
To combine sophistication and conviviality, with priority given to authentic experiences, emotions and the ongoing quest for excellence.
Yacht cruises: more than a cruise, a privilege…
Small groups – close encounters
Established in 1999, PolarQuest has long experience of arranging small ship expedition cruises in Svalbard. Every expedition is unique and our aim is that each passenger will have the trip of a lifetime. Travelling with PolarQuest allows you to enjoy the amazing Arctic wilderness without having to undertake a scientific expedition or become an explorer with a beard full of ice. All you need is a curious mind and a desire for wildlife adventures!
Travelling with PolarQuest means travelling in small groups, a necessity to experience close and exclusive encounters with the wild. Small groups offer great flexibility when it comes to landings and making the most of opportunities that arise during an expedition. Travelling in small groups allows us to maximize the time spent ashore and the quality time for each guest “out in nature”. The Zodiacs are one of the secrets behind a successful expedition cruise. With these safe and sturdy rubber boats we navigate among icebergs, cruise along glaciers and go ashore to get unique nature experiences. Each day, our goal is to make several landings or cruises with our Zodiacs. Our Zodiac operation is fast and efficient and all guests can get ashore on short notice.
Poseidon Expeditions was founded in 1999 as an operator of icebreaker expedition cruises to the North Pole.
Poseidon Expeditionsfirst voyage to the North Pole was operated aboard the nuclear powered icebreaker Yamal, the only ship at that time that could provide safe and comfortable navigation to the “top of the world”. Two years later, new destinations and another icebreaker were introduced to the world travel market – the Franz Josef Land Archipelago Voyage and Transpolar Bridge Voyage aboard the icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn. These territories, known as “the Russian Arctic”, had been closed to travelers due to political and governmental reasons. It was only at the end of the 20th century that travelers finally got a chance to appreciate the beauty of the Russian Arctic.
With the world becoming smaller, human aspirations to visit remote and hard–to–reach destinations is increasing, Poseidon North Pole Voyages are proud to be one of the world leaders in polar expedition cruising with both Arctic and Antarctic regions among our destinations and to be one of the world leaders in polar expedition cruising.
The Variety Cruises passion remains unchanged since 1968: an alchemy that blends enriching oneself educationally and exploring the true identity of a destination, while enjoying the comforts and unique benefits of a small ship sailing the seas.
Today, Variety Cruises has grown to operate 11 Mega Yachts and Motor Sailers. Our small ships currently serve handpicked cruise destinations worldwide including Greece, Italy, Turkey, the Canary Islands, the Adriatic Sea, Cape Verde, the Seychelles, Costa Rica & Panama, Cuba, and soon Madagascar & Iceland.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard one of our ships soon and discover the world the Variety Cruises way.
When the legendary AUGUSTA VICTORIA set out on the world’s first ever “pleasure cruise” on 22 January 1891, it was the beginning of a unique story in the history of cruises. Inspired by the passionate pioneering spirit of Albert Ballin, chairman of HAPAG, our current fleet continues the story that began more than 125 years ago. This might be a milestone such as our “cruises above the clouds” in the ALBERT BALLIN private jet. Or great moments such as the maiden voyage of the world’s best cruise ship*, the EUROPA 2. Or the many small moments that endow each cruise with its own distinctive spirit. With every guest who comes on board, our story takes its course. Perhaps you, too, will soon be part of it.
Since their establishment in 1991 Noble Caledonia have made it our aim to provide our clients with a lasting memory of a journey made with like-minded travellers. Unlike most travel companies our range of trips is constantly evolving shaped by world events, new discoveries, festivals, historic themes and out of the ordinary human endeavours and we have searched for new and unusual destinations in the far flung corners of the world so that we will always have something different to offer the well travelled.
Noble Caledonia’s raison d’être has from our earliest days been to offer varied cruises on vessels of a certain style and size. Such small ships allow us to create itineraries and an onboard ambience that is conducive to exploring the world and learning of its wonders in the company of like-minded travellers. It is our view that the best way to achieve this ideal is to limit the number of passengers to such a size that allows the camaraderie to grow between passengers thereby creating a warm and friendly atmosphere onboard. Small numbers onboard also allow the crew and staff to provide a more personal and caring service, something which is not feasible on larger vessels.
Over the past 25 years, Adventure Canada has become one of the foremost specialists in Canada & the Arctic. Their educational programs and fun, casual spirit bring people back to travel year after year.
Explore the fabled Northwest Passage aboard the 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour as this voyage presents the landscape, wildlife, culture, art and archaeology of this unique Arctic destination. This is more than an Arctic Cruise, this is an Arctic Expedition!
Complete with onboard lecture programs, these cruises are second-to-none and have been one of the reasons behind the multitude of awards Adventure Canada has received.
Iceland ProCruises is part of the Iceland ProTravel family, which is the leading tour operator in Iceland. Our family of companies in-country include: Iceland ProTravel Iceland an Incentive and group DMC, Iceland ProTravel Service providing meet and greet and services for our clients; and Iceland ProFishing a sea angling company, running 22 boats and houses in the west fjords of Iceland.
Guðmundur Kjartansson, a native Icelander and Ann-Cathrin Bröcker from Luxembourg are the owners of the Iceland ProCruises and Iceland ProTravel companies. Both of them have been over 20 years in tourism in Iceland and have a great experience both in Iceland and selling trips to Iceland abroad.
Heritage Expeditions was formed in 1985, as a way of increasing awareness and conservation of the natural world through responsible expedition travel. Its founder Rodney Russ was a biologist working for the New Zealand Wildlife Service. Through his work on Kakapo, Black Robin and other endangered species he appreciated that rather than locking wilderness areas away, it was important to share them with people so that they might become “ambassadors” advocating and supporting conservation efforts. He has long held the view that conservation and responsible travel are partners, that together can achieve what might otherwise be unachievable.
From those small beginnings the company, which is still family owned, operates its own Polar Research Vessel, Spirit of Enderby, on expeditions to Antarctica, the Subantarctic, through the Pacific and the Russian Far East. Each expedition is meticulously planned and led ensuring that passengers (maximum of 50) maximize every opportunity they have to learn and experience as much as possible about the region, while at the same time minimising the impact of their visit.
Today Heritage Expeditions works from modern purpose built offices in Christchurch, New Zealand. When booking with us you will benefit from the enormous wealth of experience, knowledge and passion of the staff for the destinations we visit.
Exploring the Arctic is, in many ways, unimaginable. To travel to what ancient geographers termed ultima Thule (“farthest land”)—and in luxury, no less—is a feat seemingly reserved for the hardiest adventurers among us. And yet, Zegrahm’s Arctic expeditions afford rare opportunities to view Arctic wildlife, seabirds, whales, and polar bears; to meet indigenous peoples who sustain a living at the ends of the Earth; and to explore lands that very few have ever stepped foot on—it’s the top of the world, waiting for you.
The itineraries Zegraham Expeditions offer vary from year to year; below please find our upcoming Arctic adventure travel expeditions.
