How to Book Your Antarctica Adventure
With the 2022-23 season over, now is the perfect time to book your trip for the next Antarctica season. Travel to Antarctica happens over the Antarctic summer, with tours running from November to March. For many, Antarctica is a once in a lifetime journey and one that they want to get right. So here is my guide on how to book the best Antarctica trip for you.
Unless otherwise stated, all pictures are my own with full rights reserved. Where providers are mentioned, these are my own views, I have not be sponsored for this article.
Why go to Antarctica?
It’s the 7th continent. It’s the end of the world. It’s like living in a nature documentary. It’s truly an adventure. Why not?
Even after my Antarctica trip, I cannot settle on a reason why I wanted to go. Like many others I met on the journey, I just knew that I REALLY wanted to go. I was fascinated by it and I realised that I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for.
If you’ve got that feeling, then read on! I can promise you that no matter how you do it, your trip to Antarctica will hold a very special place in your memories.
Timing – What do you want to see?
A trip to Antarctica will always be spectacular and you will never be short a penguin. But if there are specific wildlife or wildlife events you would like to see, then consider your timing.
You can see penguins mating in November, penguin chicks will hatch over December and January, and you will have a better chance to see whales in February and March, as they come south to feast on the krill. Later in the season also carries a risk that wildlife will have already migrated out to sea.
However, you should keep in mind that nature does not run on a perfect schedule. In the 2022-23 season penguins were late to hatch, so we saw fewer and younger chicks than you would typically expect to see in late January. Did I care? No. I went to Antarctica with reasonable expectations – I would see penguins, seals and hopefully some whales. I did not know I would be blown away by so much more, and so will you.
The high season of December and January also brings maximum daylight time, with 20 hour days and the ‘warmer’ Antarctic summer. Temperatures are not hugely different over the summer season – it is still polar – but weather is typically more predictable in high season, lowering the risk that bad weather will prevent landings (your twice daily trips to the shore or cruising on zodiacs).
Unfortunately, no amount of timing will help you on the unpredictable Drake Passage, the body of water you will sail for two days to get to Antarctica. The sail across the Drake is considered a right of passage, with the ‘Drake tax’ being the price you pay for the privilege of seeing Antarctica. It is luck of the draw whether you get the ‘Drake Shake’ (bad to real bad), or the ‘Drake Lake’ (a dreamy calm sea). Bring sea sickness aids and pray to the weather gods!
Where do you want to go?
The classic itinerary for your Antarctica trip is either the 11 day trip to the Antarctica Peninsula, or the 20 day trip to see the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. These depart from Ushuaia in southern Argentina or Punta Arenas in southern Chile.
The key difference between these two itineraries is the addition of the historical sites in South Georgia, including Shakeltons grave and the old whaling stations, South Georgia’s wildlife, including the emperor penguin not seen on the western Peninsula visits, and the Falkland Islands, for more wildlife and a visit to its capital Stanley. You will also have a few extra days at sea to reach the area of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
However, there is also a range of variations on the typical Antarctic expeditions, including the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia (without the Falkland Islands), flying over the Drake Passage (instead of a two day sail over the Drake Passage), crossing the Antarctic Circle, and expeditions focused on Snow Hill on the east side of the Peninsula. For a trip really of the Antarctic tourist track, you can also visit the Ross Sea in East Antarctica, an area typically only visited by those working on Antarctic science bases.
Of course with every variation and extra place visited, the longer the expedition and the higher the cost. For example, adding South Georgia and the Falkland Islands generally doubles the cost of your trip. So research those extra places and consider if you want to see them enough to splash that extra cash.
What activities do you want to do?
On the days your ship is in Antarctica, you typically do morning and afternoon ‘landings’ – either going ashore to see wildlife or sights, or buzzing around harbours in a zodiac boat to see wildlife, icebergs, and the stunning scenery.
Before booking, you can view a typical itinerary of the landings you may do on the trip, rather than an exact day-to-day itinerary you would expect to see on other cruises or booked tours. Be assured that this less-than-exact itinerary is normal because your landings and activities in Antarctica are always subject to the weather and sea conditions on the day. Remember there is a reason humans do not permanently inhabit Antarctica, it is not like anywhere else!
There is also a range of extra activities which can be done in addition to your landings, and these will vary from ship to ship. They include kayaking, paddling excursions (like kayaking but with inflatable edges), paddle boarding, overnight camping, helicopter rides, and the must-do Antarctic plunge (and yes, that is you jumping in the Antarctic sea)!
Keep in mind an extra activity will mean less time (or potentially missing) a day-to-day landing, and some activities, like kayaking, are intended to be done more than once. You will be allocated an allotted time to do your activity – you will not be able to choose a time at which to do it. As such, I would recommend that you prioritise 1-2 must wants, and then the nice-to-haves (or the affordable), giving you a good balance between landings and extra activities.
Before booking an extra activity, you should consider whether you have the physical ability and skills required for an activity. Safety is not negotiable, so you can be refused to do an activity if you do not have the necessary skills or experience (your provider should clearly set these out to you before booking). For example, for kayaking, you will be expected to have some basic experience, including the ability to complete a wet exit. Of course, this is a great reason to pick up new skills and activities before your trip!
You should also confirm with your provider which activities are included in your tour price, or which cost extra and how much. Generally, a single activity will cost around £250 / US$310, but others may cost more. If able, I would recommend pre-booking, as this will put you are front of the queue when you do your activities (i.e. you will be among the first scheduled groups).
Also check with your provider if there is any clothing or equipment you need to bring for each specific extra activity, though you would generally expect anything beyond the standard recommended Antarctic wear to be provided (e.g. providing you with a dry suit for kayaking).
Your Guides
The guides aboard your ship are the people who make your Antarctica trip happen. They will safely get you ashore, zip you around harbours looking for wildlife, and tell you everything you need to know about penguins, birds, history, you name it!
During your sail over the Drake Passage, it is usual to have lectures from experts on a range of antarctic topics, such as wildlife, photography, history and some of their experiences of antarctic expeditions. Even if you do not think you are interested in a topic, it is well worth going for understanding the wildlife you will see. They aim to make them fun – e.g. a comical debate on which penguin is the best! – and some ships will live-stream the lectures to the TV in your cabin, which is helpful for those who are suffering from seasickness.
For my provider – Quark expeditions – experts were the same guides that took you on landings, which meant that they could give you live commentary on the sights you were seeing on that landing. For example, explaining the behaviour of the penguins right in front of you, or telling you the history of the harbour you are looking at from a snowy hillside. This expert-first model really enriched the experience and understanding of my time in Antarctica.
When booking your trip, ask your potential provider about the experience and knowledge that your guides will have. There is nothing like being surrounded by penguins and hearing a real expert tell you about the thing they just did!
Your Ship + Asking Questions
The ship that will take you to take to Antarctica is one of the biggest considerations when booking your trip. The options are highly varied, between companies and within companies, and will impact the type of activities you can do.
I have outlined below the questions to ask yourself – and your potential provider – before booking. Do not be hesitant to ask plenty of questions and ask for further written materials if needed. An Antarctica trip is a big investment, and if a company is not providing the information asked for, then they are probably not the company to book with.
What do you imagine your Antarctic ship to be like? If you visualise a more traditional explorer ship, then the more expedition-style or older ships in the fleet may be for you. If you see a luxurious cruise ship with all the amenities, then look at the luxury end.
What facilities are there on board? You can expect a good standard across all ships, this is a cruise after all, but do you want a more luxurious experience (think saunas, spas and helicopters)? Or do you want a ship that feels more like a classic adventurer ship, and less on the frills? More importantly, do you care about these enough to pay more for them? You should also be realistic about how much time you will actually have to use those extra facilities. Landing days are packed and if you are unlucky enough to have the Drake Shake, I promise that you will not be heading to the sauna!
What activities can be done on this ship? What extra activities can be done vary from ship to ship. While you would expect activities like kayaking or antarctic plunge to be available on all ships, activities like overnight camping and helicopter rides tend to be on newer and more luxurious ships. So even if you are less fussed about the standard of the ship, you may want to consider a higher-end ship if it offers an activity that is on your must-do list.
How big is the ship? In Antarctica, there is a 100 person limit on landings set by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (so it will apply to whichever company you use). If there are fewer than 100 people then everyone can be at a landing sight at once, but if more, then guests will need to be rotated in and out of the landing site (above the normal group landing for organisational purposes), which will likely reduce your time spent at landings.
However, when looking at ships passenger capacity, factor in that not every person on the ship will do every landing. There will be passengers on kayaking groups or other extra activities, or passengers who are sick (I missed an AM landing because of a migraine). So ships with passengers up to around 120-130 are likely to have the same advantage as a ship with 100 passengers.
What atmosphere do you want? In regard to size, consider how you want to interact with other guests. If you are looking for a more communal feel, where you get to know those outside your travelling group, then picking a smaller ship – especially those with less than one or two passengers – is recommended. Alternatively the bigger ships – the two three or four hundred passengers – can be more anonymous if that is your preference.
Cost + Saving Tips
Antarctica is expensive, there is no way around it. The cheapest option for the classic 11 day trip to the Antarctica Peninsula during December-January high season – a single berth in a triple cabin, in the cheapest ship – has a floor price of around £7000 / $8500. Though sometimes those sharing a twin or double cabin, can take advantage of slightly cheaper deals.
You will also need to factor around £1000 / $1200 flight costs (illustrative of flying from Europe). You will need to reach Buenos Aires (or Santiago, Chile), and then take a return internal flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia (or Santiago to Punta Arenas in Chile). Plus any accommodation / spending costs from extra time spent in Buenos Aires or Santiago, Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, or any other additions to your trip.
There are options that would lower this price.
Booking early and sales. You can generally book for the season ahead and the following one. Booking ahead can save you money, particularly if you are looking for a single spot in a triple cabin (generally the cheapest option), as these are usually the first to sell out. Do sign up for emails to see the offers and sales that pop up throughout the year, which could save you some money. I would caution that the lower ‘from’ prices advertised tend to be in the shoulder season, but not always, and you can still save on the high season prices. As ever, ask about what is included in the price and compare your options.
Travel in the shoulder season of November and later February/March. This could save you around £1000 or US$1200. However, this carries the risk of more unpredictable weather – which may prevent landings – and that the wildlife will have already migrated out to sea towards the end of the season. Nevertheless, there are some perks, such as abundant sea ice in November which gives you spectacular scenery, or that you will likely still see the whales in early March for a reduced price. While there are no guarantees with Antarctica, I personally think that the risk of shoulder months is not compensated enough for the price reduction. I found that the late January to early February expedition kept costs slightly cheaper and increased my chance of seeing whales!
Take your chance in Ushuiai (or Punta Arenas). The most high risk / high reward option is to take your chance in Ushuiai and grab a last minute deal on spots that travel companies have not managed to fill. From those I met in Ushuaia taking this approach, the lowest offers tended to be around US$5-6000 per person (in 2023). The internet suggests offers can be as low as US$4000, but I am sceptical that remains achievable as the travel companies recover post-Covid.
What was clear is that you need to do some hustling in Ushuaia! Trekking around the travel agents in town – including the huts by the end of the world sign – and asking around for WhatsApp details for travel agents. You can expect that this can take quite a few days (or even 1-2 weeks), so factor in that Ushauia is not cheap, with a central hostel costing around £30-50 / US$37-52 per person per night.
Taking this option will depend on your personal circumstances – for example, it would not be suited to those with set annual leave / vacation time. You should also be interested in exploring the wider sites of Ushuaia, including Tierra del Fuego National Park, as you will be spending some time there and you only need 1-2 days to see Ushuiai main. This option is really suited for those who are long term travelling and have flexibility in their travel plans.
As ever, ask plenty of questions, particularly about what is or is not included in the price, like activities or clothing. Some companies like Quark Expeditions will provide a jacket, but others do not. If successful, make sure you get a full list of what you need – waterproof trousers are always mandatory – as you will need to buy and/or rent clothing in Ushuaia before your trip. However, do not worry about securing the necessary clothing, I have never been to a place with more outdoor stores than Ushuaia, and most ships have a small shops for extras.
This is your trip
This article has covered a lot of things to consider when booking an Antarctica trip, and it can seem overwhelming, but the most important thing to remember is that this is YOUR trip!
Budget will always be a consideration, but what you spend it on and what you prioritise is about how you want to experience Antarctica. All you care about is a bunk and penguins? Go for the cheaper end. Want a spa and helicopter ride? Go to the luxury end. Just do what YOU want.
Antarctica is truly the trip of a lifetime, so make it your trip!
Do you want to go to Antarctica? What are your recommendations for booking an Antarctica adventure? Let me know in the comments!
