When is the best time to visit polar regions?

The timing depends on where you're heading. Antarctica welcomes visitors from November to March, with the warmest and brightest days falling between December and February when you'll get more than 20 hours of daylight and temperatures around 32-35°F (0-2°C). If you're interested in the Arctic, plan your trip between June and September when temperatures are mild at 35-50°F (2-10°C). Summer in places like Disko Bay, Greenland gives you clear skies, plenty of whale sightings, and the unique experience of the midnight sun.

What wildlife will I see?

You'll see different animals depending on which pole you visit. In Antarctica, you'll spot several types of penguins including Gentoo, Adelie, Chinstrap and King penguins waddling about. Keep your eyes peeled for seals lounging on ice floes - Weddell, leopard, and elephant seals are common sights. In both polar regions, you might spot whales like humpbacks, minkes and orcas, plus lots of seabirds. One TourRadar traveler shared their excitement about "watching six whales doing a synchronized performance" during a Zodiac boat trip.

How much exploring can I do off the ship?

Most days you'll have two chances to leave the ship, usually for 2-3 hours each time, using small Zodiac boats to get around. The weather plays a big part in what's possible each day. If you're visiting the Antarctic Peninsula, you'll likely spend 4-5 days going ashore to check out wildlife and landscapes. Arctic trips often mix nature exploration with visits to small communities like Itilleq or Qeqertarsuaq, giving you a taste of local life.

You'll need waterproof pants, warm layers, waterproof gloves, sun protection, and a camera with extra batteries. Many ships provide boots (usually US sizes 4-16) and expedition jackets as part of your trip. Pack for temperatures between 20-35°F (-6 to 2°C) in Antarctica, or 35-50°F (2-10°C) in the Arctic summer. The key is bringing clothes you can layer - you'll want to add or remove layers as conditions change throughout the day.

How rough is the sea journey?

The roughest part is usually crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica - sailors joke it's either the "Drake Lake" when calm or the "Drake Shake" when rough. While ships have stabilizers to help smooth things out, you might experience some rocky moments. The good news is that ship doctors have effective seasickness medication if you need it. The Arctic waters around Greenland's Disko Bay tend to be calmer, especially in summer.

What's included in the trip cost?

Your ticket covers your cabin, three daily meals plus snacks, guided trips off the ship, educational talks, expedition gear (boots and jackets), and transfers. Some companies, like Albatros Expeditions, include flights between Copenhagen and Greenland. You'll need to budget extra for your flights to the departure point, travel insurance, optional activities like kayaking (about $345-400), and anything you buy on the ship. Most trips cost between $7,000-40,000 depending on how long you're traveling and what kind of cabin you choose.

Polar Tours & Trips

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Polar
Crossing the Arctic Circle
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Scotland Faroe Islands Norway Svalbard
Age Range
Ages 6+
Ship
M/V Sea Spirit
Operated in
English
Operator
Poseidon Expeditions
40% Off
From $13,640
NZ$8,184per person
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Polar
Best of Antarctica: Whale Journey (7 destinations)
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego National Park,Tierra del Fuego,South Shetland Islands,Drake Passage,Antarctic Peninsula+4 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
15% Off
From $13,195
NZ$11,216per person
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Polar
Iceland and Greenland Explorer
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Reykjavik, Dynjandi, Grimsey, Akureyri
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
Scenic Eclipse
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
10% Off
From $19,489
NZ$17,489per person
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Polar
6 day Yellowstone Winter Wonderland Tour
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Bozeman, Mammoth, Gardiner, Yellowstone National Park,West Yellowstone+1 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Yellowstone National ParkWestern USARocky Mountains+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Bindlestiff Tours
10% Off
From
NZ$6,990per 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
10% Off
From
NZ$14,164per person
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Polar
Antarctica Classic in Depth
4.0 (5 traveler reviews)
"G expedition team members are very passionate, professional and knowledgeable!"
CHEN-WEI, traveled in November
Duration
13 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
10% Off
From
NZ$16,099per person
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Polar
Quest for the Antarctic Circle
4.3 (13 traveler reviews)
"Go! Mind blowing scenery in an amazing place. G Adventures were fantastic in all regards."
Isabelle, traveled in February
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
25% Off
From $20,399
NZ$15,299per person
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Polar
Antarctic Explorer, Operated by Quark
4.8 (20 traveler reviews)
"Antarctica is definately a place you should experience a once in a lifetime experience."
Antoinette, traveled in February
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula,Hornos Island+1 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
25% Off
From
NZ$22,547per person
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Polar
Crossing the Circle via Buenos Aires, Operated by Quark
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"we loved our crossing the circle via Buenos Aires trip, we had greattest expenerices in Antarctica."
Shauna, traveled in January
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, King George Island,Antarctic Peninsula,Hornos Island+2 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
25% Off
From
NZ$37,393per person
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Polar
Antarctic Explorer via Buenos Aires, Operated by Quark
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"Excellent! Tour, Quark Expedition staff, hotel, Food, Daily programs all thumb up."
YILIANG, traveled in March
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, King George Island,Antarctic Peninsula+1 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ship
Ocean Endeavour
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
25% Off
From
NZ$25,884per person
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Polar
Antarctica Classic
4.6 (25 traveler reviews)
"They went above and beyond to ensure we had the best possible experience exploring Antarctica. This has truly been one of the most unforgettable trips of my life."
Claire, traveled in January
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
Wild Wonders of the Arctic - 8 days
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Excellent tour, staff went above and beyond to make the tour as memorable as possible."
Lynette, traveled in June
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Longyearbyen, Ytre Norskoya, Svalbard, Ny Aalesund
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Arctic / North PoleSvalbard+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
25% Off
From
NZ$11,815per person
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Polar
Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Superb staff at every level. The itinerary was always subject to the weather but there was always a plan 'b' or even 'c'."
JackWalton, traveled in October
Duration
22 days
Destinations
Uruguay Falkland Islands England Argentina
Age Range
Ages 10+
Ship
G Expedition
Regions
Antarctica / South PoleFalkland IslandsSouth Georgia Island+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
25% Off
From
NZ$28,799per person
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Polar
South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari, Operated by Quark
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Overall the ship experience was excellent. Prior to the trip communication between Quark, Exodus and Tour Radar was poor."
Douglas, traveled in December
Duration
18 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego National Park,South Georgia Island,South Orkney Islands,Antarctic Peninsula+3 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Regions
Antarctica / South PoleSouth Georgia Island+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
25% Off
From
NZ$50,169per person
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Polar
Swedish Lapland: The Northern Lights
5.0 (20 traveler reviews)
"Amazing experience with yes trips seeing the northern lights! Highly recommended."
Dean, traveled in January
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Stockholm, Abisko National Park
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Country Region
Arctic / North PoleLapland+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Yes-Trips
25% Off
From
NZ$1,418per person
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