What is the best time to visit Antarctica?

The Antarctic travel season runs from November through March during the Southern Hemisphere's summer. December and January give you almost 24 hours of daylight and temperatures between 20-50°F (-6 to 10°C). Each month offers something special: November and December have pristine snow and penguin courtship displays, while February and March are perfect for whale watching and seeing penguin chicks. As one TourRadar traveler puts it, "You will get 4 seasons in one day in Antarctica, so be prepared for changing conditions." The conditions during these months also make it easier to navigate the Drake Passage and do shore landings at places like the Antarctic Peninsula.

What wildlife will I see in Antarctica?

You'll see an amazing variety of Antarctic animals, especially around the Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Expect to meet several types of penguins - Adelie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap - in their natural colonies. Whales are common too, particularly humpback, minke, and orca. You'll also spot different seals (Weddell, crabeater, leopard, and fur seals) and seabirds like wandering albatross. One TourRadar traveler shared: "We had amazing encounters with whales swimming right next to our Zodiac boats and spent time observing over 100,000 penguins at their rookeries." The ship's wildlife experts will help you spot and identify animals throughout your trip.

How rough is the Drake Passage crossing and how long does it take?

The Drake Passage crossing between South America and Antarctica takes about 48 hours each way. The conditions can vary from perfectly calm (called "Drake Lake") to very rough ("Drake Shake") with waves up to 30 feet high. Today's expedition ships come with stabilizers to help smooth out the ride. You'll cross between Ushuaia and the South Shetland Islands. As one TourRadar traveler noted, "Some people may experience seasickness in occasional rough seas however, we do have a doctor on board should you need assistance."

How many people are on an Antarctic expedition?

Ships traveling to Antarctica usually carry between 100 and 200 passengers. This smaller size makes everything run more smoothly - from wildlife watching to getting on and off the ship. For example, the Ocean Nova takes 80 people while the Ultramarine carries up to 200. Antarctic rules only allow 100 people on shore at once, so smaller groups mean more time exploring. You'll also get more personal attention from the expedition team when you visit places like the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia Island.

Antarctica Tours & Trips

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Polar
Best of Antarctica: Wildlife Explorer
4.3 (3 traveler reviews)
"Great trip. One of best ones ever."
Sam, traveled in January
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, Drake Passage, South Shetland Islands,Antarctic Peninsula+1 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
Ocean Endeavour
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
15% Off
From $18,025
NZ$15,321per person
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Polar
Journey to the Antarctic Circle
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"The trip crossed the Antarctic circle. We saw many glaciers and wildlife."
Walter, traveled in February
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, Drake Passage, South Shetland Islands,Antarctic Peninsula+1 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
Ocean Endeavour
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
15% Off
From $20,030
NZ$17,026per person
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Polar
South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula - Ocean Victory & Ocean Albatros vessels
5.0 (5 traveler reviews)
"It's a different world down there. It's a different world down there."
Jose, traveled in November
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, Drake Passage, South Shetland Islands,Antarctic Peninsula+1 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Ocean Victory Ocean Albatros+1 ship
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Albatros Expeditions
15% Off
From $14,021
NZ$11,918per person
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Polar
Crossing 66º South Latitude
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"The best adventure ever."
Nataly, traveled in January
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, King George Island, Deception Island,Antarctic Peninsula+1 more
Age Range
Ages 6+
Ship
M/V Sea Spirit
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Poseidon Expeditions
10% Off
From $26,492
NZ$23,843per person
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Polar
Polar Circle Quest - 12 days
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 10+
Ship
MV Ushuaia
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
10% Off
From
NZ$18,685per person
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Polar
Antarctica: The White Continent (Buenos Aires to Ushuaia) (2026)
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Drake Passage, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Collette
5% Off
From $16,099
NZ$15,349per person
+$1,750 upfront costs
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Polar
Antarctica: The White Continent (Buenos Aires to Ushuaia) (2025)
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Drake Passage,South Shetland Islands+1 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Collette
5% Off
From
NZ$11,549per person
+$2,600 upfront costs
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Ocean Cruise
Realm of Penguins & Icebergs
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, Antarctic Peninsula, King George Island
Age Range
Ages 6+
Ship
M/V Sea Spirit
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Poseidon Expeditions
10% Off
From $20,430
NZ$18,387per person
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Explorer
Antarctica & Falklands - From Punta Arenas to Buenos Aires
Duration
24 days
Destinations
Ecuador Chile Antarctica Argentina
Age Range
Ages 6+
Ship
MS Fram
Islands
Falkland Islands
Operated in
English
Operator
Hurtigruten
10% Off
From
NZ$31,604per person
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Polar
Highlights of Antarctica (MS Roald Amundsen, 2025)
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Drake Passage, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 6+
Ship
MS Roald Amundsen
Operated in
English
Operator
Hurtigruten
10% Off
From
NZ$14,544per person
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Polar
Antarctica Classic
4.6 (25 traveler reviews)
"It is truly a once in a lifetime experience."
Leena, traveled in March
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
G Expedition
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
25% Off
From $14,999
NZ$11,249per person
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Polar
Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica: Explorers and Kings, Operated by Quark
4.4 (19 traveler reviews)
"Once youy have seen Antarctica, you understand the importance of conserving and protecting it."
Teresa, traveled in March
Duration
20 days
Destinations
Argentina Falkland Islands England Chile
Age Range
Ages 18+
Regions
Antarctica / South PoleFalkland IslandsSouth Georgia Island+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
20% Off
From $62,331
NZ$49,865per person
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Ocean Cruise
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake, Operated by Quark
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
"The pristine environment in Antarctica needs to be seen and felt to be appreciated. Quark provided a platform to conduct the trip in a sustainable manner."
CK, traveled in February
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Punta Arenas, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
30% Off
From $40,000
NZ$27,999per person
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Polar
Quest for the Antarctic Circle
4.3 (13 traveler reviews)
"Antarctica was unreal and from organisational side everything was extremely well prepared."
Marta, traveled in December
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
G Expedition
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
20% Off
From $22,599
NZ$18,079per person
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Polar
Classic Antarctica - 10 days
5.0 (3 traveler reviews)
"Excellent service, great communication and friendly staff."
Inga, traveled in December
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, Antarctic Peninsula, King George Island
Age Range
Ages 10+
Ship
MV Ushuaia
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
20% Off
From
NZ$10,795per person
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