How does a trip to Antarctica actually work?
A trip to Antarctica is always an expedition: no scheduled flight lands on the continent, and no railway leads there. Anyone travelling there books an expedition ship or a charter flight with one of the more than 100 member companies of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), usually departing from Ushuaia in Argentina or Punta Arenas in Chile.
In the 2025/26 season, IAATO counted around 113,500 visitors: 85,195 went ashore, 27,217 stayed aboard ship without landing, and 1,106 used charter flights inland to the South Pole. Almost all travellers concentrate on the Antarctic Peninsula in the continent's northwest, since it is the quickest to reach from South America.
This page explains the logistics: the crossing of the Drake Passage, IAATO membership and rules, ship types from small expedition vessels to pure cruises without landings, the season, and price levels. What you actually see on the Peninsula itself, from penguin colonies to landing sites, is covered on the dedicated page about the Antarctic Peninsula.
Sources: International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
What is Antarctica like as a destination?
At 14.2 million km², Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent, but the only one without a resident population: only around 5,100 researchers in summer and 1,300 in winter live on the stations. Almost the entire land area lies beneath an ice sheet averaging 1.9 km thick, which holds around 70% of the world's fresh water.
No state owns Antarctica. The 1959 Antarctic Treaty and the 1991 Environmental Protocol (in force since 1998) declare the continent a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science" and prohibit mining, military activity and nuclear tests. The treaty area begins south of 60° South and includes the Antarctic Peninsula.
Travellers therefore move not through a country but through an internationally administered area with its own rules: every tourist activity requires an environmental impact assessment and a permit from the relevant national authority of the ship operator, not a visa from Antarctica itself.
Antarctica holds records: at Russia's Vostok Station, a temperature of −89.2°C was recorded on 21 July 1983, the lowest ever registered at the Earth's surface. The continent is also regarded as the coldest, driest and windiest on Earth. Travellers experience only the edge of it: the Antarctic Peninsula, where the sea moderates the temperatures.
Sources: Wikipedia · Antarctic Treaty Secretariat · Australian Antarctic Program
Which regions of Antarctica do visitors travel to?
Almost all Antarctica trips concentrate on the Antarctic Peninsula and the offshore South Shetland Islands in the northwest, since they are quickest to reach from South America. The Ross Sea on the opposite side of the continent and charter flights inland to the South Pole remain rare exceptions.
Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Over 90% of IAATO travellers visit only this region: a roughly 1,300 km-long mountain chain extending northward from South America, with fjords, offshore islands and the densest wildlife in Antarctica. Details on landing sites, penguins, seals and whales are covered on the dedicated page about the Antarctic Peninsula.
Weddell Sea
Located east of the Peninsula, known for large tabular icebergs and historic sites such as Shackleton's sunken "Endurance". Individual expedition ships venture in when sea ice allows; the route is more weather-dependent than the western side of the Peninsula.
Ross Sea
On the Pacific side of Antarctica, closer to New Zealand and Australia than to South America. Only a few specialised expedition ships visit the region, usually on multi-week voyages with stops such as McMurdo Station as a highlight.
The interior and the South Pole
Four IAATO members operate charter flights and field camps in the interior, usually from Punta Arenas to the Union Glacier base camp; their visitor numbers grew from 568 in the 2021/22 season to 1,027 in 2025/26. From there, ski expeditions to the South Pole, mountain ascents and short flights to the Pole itself can be booked, typically with a guide-to-guest ratio of one to three.
| Region | Access | Typical trip length |
|---|---|---|
| Antarctic Peninsula | Ship from Ushuaia or fly-cruise from Punta Arenas | 8 to 12 days |
| Weddell Sea | Only as part of longer Peninsula voyages | 14 to 20 days |
| Ross Sea | Ship from New Zealand or Australia | 28 to 35 days |
| Interior/South Pole | Charter flight from Punta Arenas | 10 to 20 days |
Sources: International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) · Poseidon Expeditions · Wikipedia
When is the best time to visit Antarctica?
The season runs from November to March, the Southern Hemisphere summer, when the pack ice around the Peninsula retreats enough to allow landings. November brings fresh snow and courtship behaviour, December and January the chick-rearing period, and February and March the best time for whales, when many penguin chicks have already fledged.
Ushuaia, the main departure port: average daily high and low temperatures (°C) and monthly rainfall (mm)
| Ushuaia | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 |
| Low °C | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | -0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Rainfall mm | 78 | 70 | 65 | 67 | 53 | 58 | 51 | 46 | 44 | 44 | 62 | 73 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station USHUAIA MALVINAS ARGENTINAS (5 km, 22 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
The table shows the climate in Ushuaia before departure, not that of Antarctica itself: on the Antarctic Peninsula, daytime temperatures in the southern summer usually range between 0 and 5°C, with wind and dampness playing a bigger role than pure cold.
| Period | Conditions | Wildlife |
|---|---|---|
| November | Pack ice retreats, fresh snow, coldest water temperatures | Penguins courting and starting to nest |
| December–January | warmest stretch, long days with near-continuous light | Chicks hatch, seals give birth |
| February–March | pack ice at its furthest retreat, calmer seas | best whale season, penguin chicks fledged |
Outside this window, from April to October, no IAATO member takes tourists to the Peninsula: pack ice, darkness and storms make the route impassable.
Sources: International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) · Poseidon Expeditions · Swoop Antarctica
Do you need a visa for Antarctica?
There is no visa for Antarctica itself, because no state governs it: the Antarctic Treaty instead requires a permit from the tour operator through its national authority. In practice, though, you enter via Argentina or Chile, where the usual entry rules for Swiss, German and Austrian nationals apply.
Every IAATO member needs an environmental impact assessment and a permit from its flag state's authority for its voyages; that is the operator's responsibility, not the guests'. Travellers identify themselves on arrival in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas with a passport valid for the trip.
For Argentina and Chile, entry rules for Swiss, German and Austrian nationals differ and occasionally change; the current information from FDFA for Argentina, FDFA for Chile, as well as from the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA, is authoritative. Separate rules apply to other nationalities; the relevant embassy or immigration authority of the respective country is authoritative.
Sources: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)
What health risks come with a trip to Antarctica?
The US health authority CDC recommends the standard baseline vaccinations before departure and a doctor's visit four to six weeks beforehand. The bigger risks are seasickness on the Drake Passage, intense sun reflection off snow and ice, and remoteness: the nearest hospital is often days away.
The CDC lists no Antarctica-specific mandatory vaccination but recommends measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, chickenpox, polio and the annual flu shot, as well as up-to-date Covid-19 protection; cramped cabins aboard ship favour the spread of colds.
Because rescue flights from the Peninsula can take hours to days, practically all IAATO members require travel insurance covering medical evacuation by air; without valid proof, no one is taken aboard. Motion sickness remedies belong in every bag for the Drake Passage, even for those who never usually need them.
The low sun, reflected off snow and ice, intensifies sunburn and glare; sunscreen, sunglasses and lip protection are essential kit. Anyone who regularly needs medication should bring an ample supply themselves, since onboard pharmacies are limited.
Sources: CDC Travelers' Health
How safe is a trip to Antarctica?
There is practically no political or criminal risk: the Antarctic Treaty bans military activity, and there is no civilian population to fuel conflicts. The real risks are weather, sea and terrain, which is why IAATO members rely on experienced staff and strict safety rules on board.
IAATO requires its members to ensure at least 80% of the expedition team has relevant experience, and that half of them have already worked in Antarctica. Before every landing, the crew briefs guests on escape routes, weather conditions and local rules; venturing out alone without a guide is not permitted.
The Drake Passage can rank among the roughest waters on Earth, with waves exceeding 12 metres, though calm crossings are more common than its reputation suggests. Landings only take place in suitable weather and are called off at short notice in storms or dense ice.
Sources: International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) · Wikipedia
How do you get to Antarctica?
There are two routes: the classic two-day crossing of the Drake Passage from Ushuaia in Argentina, or the roughly two-hour charter flight from Punta Arenas in Chile to the South Shetland island of King George Island, which bypasses the crossing entirely or in part. Both cities themselves can only be reached with connecting flights.
From Ushuaia (USH), Argentina
Ushuaia is regarded as the southernmost starting point for Antarctica voyages and lies around 1,100 km from the Antarctic Peninsula, the shortest distance between an inhabited continent and Antarctica. Malvinas Argentinas Airport (USH) is served from, among others, Buenos Aires, El Calafate and Santiago de Chile; international travellers usually change planes in Buenos Aires or Santiago. Most ships depart in the afternoon and reach open water via the Beagle Channel the same evening.
From Punta Arenas (PUQ), Chile
Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan is the second recognised Antarctica gateway and the base for the fly-cruise: a roughly two-hour charter flight brings guests directly to the gravel airstrip on King George Island, where a waiting expedition ship takes over the journey. Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport (PUQ) is served, among others, by LATAM and Sky Airline from Santiago de Chile.
| Route | Duration | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Ship from Ushuaia, both directions | 2 days each way on the Drake Passage | cheaper, more expedition days possible |
| Fly-cruise from Punta Arenas | around 2 hours' flying instead of the crossing | no seasickness, shorter overall trip |
| One-way fly-cruise | 1 flight, 1 crossing | compromise between cost and comfort |
Within Antarctica there are no scheduled flights or ferries for tourists: every movement happens by Zodiac inflatable boat from the mother ship or, in the interior, by charter aircraft operated by the deep-field operators.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Antarctica21
What does an Antarctica trip cost, and how do you pay on board?
Classic 10- to 12-day cruises cost, according to tour operators, roughly 6,000 to 14,000 US dollars per person, with a fly-cruise package running about 20 to 25% more because of the charter flight. The trip is paid in advance in US dollars or euros; on board, drinks and extras usually run on an onboard account settled by card at the end of the voyage.
| Trip type | Duration | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Fly-cruise, Peninsula | 8 days | from around 13,795 US dollars |
| Classic cruise, Peninsula | 10 to 12 days | roughly 6,000 to 14,000 US dollars |
| Crossing the Antarctic Circle (66° South) | around 15 days | roughly 10,000 to 18,000 US dollars |
| With South Georgia and the Falkland Islands | 18 to 23 days | roughly 10,000 to 25,000 US dollars |
The cabin category is what drives the price upward; luxury and suite categories on small ships often cost a multiple of an inside cabin. Most packages include full board, Zodiac excursions and lectures, but not flights to the departure port, gratuities or gear such as waterproof boots.
On board, the US dollar serves as the reference currency almost everywhere, even on ships run by European shipping lines; you barely need cash, since nearly all extra costs run through the onboard bill. ATMs are last available in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, and then not again.
Sources: Poseidon Expeditions · Antarctica21
Where do you stay overnight on an Antarctica trip?
You sleep almost always on the expedition ship itself, from shared cabins to balcony suites; there are no hotels in Antarctica. Before and after the voyage, one to two hotel nights in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas are usually needed, which many operators build into the trip price.
Ships in IAATO category C1 (13 to 200 guests) usually offer outside cabins with a window or balcony, some with a private bathroom, while smaller ships sometimes have shared bathrooms. Larger ships in category C2 (201 to 500 guests) resemble classic cruise ships with more comfort, but stricter landing rules.
Pure cruise ships in category CR with more than 500 guests do visit Antarctica, but let no one ashore; they suit travellers who want to experience the scenery from the deck rather than go on landings.
In the interior, the four deep-field operators run fixed tent camps, chief among them Union Glacier in West Antarctica since 1985; there you sleep in heated expedition tents instead of cabins — a small, distinct niche within Antarctic tourism.
Sources: International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)
What do you eat on board an Antarctica cruise?
Meals are included on almost all ships and range from a breakfast buffet to a multi-course dinner with wine; Antarctica21, for example, explicitly lists breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as wine, beer and soft drinks in its packages. Regional cuisine from Argentina or Chile, such as beef or salmon, is often part of the programme.
Because expedition days start early and shift with the weather, many ships offer flexible mealtimes and packed lunches for long shore excursions. Special dietary needs due to allergies or intolerances should be reported before booking, since there's no resupply along the way.
Alcohol is available on board, but is served sparingly before Zodiac excursions and landings, since sobriety is a standard safety rule ashore.
Sources: Antarctica21
What history and culture shape Antarctica?
Antarctica has no indigenous population and no everyday culture in the usual sense; its history is that of the "Heroic Age" of polar exploration between 1897 and 1922, with names like Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen, as well as the young culture of today's research stations.
Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated but legendary Endurance expedition (1914–1917) and Roald Amundsen's race with Robert Falcon Scott to the South Pole in 1911/12 still shape the continent's story today; many landing sites and routes revisit this history through onboard lectures.
With its "Antarctic Ambassador" programme, IAATO promotes the idea that travellers become ambassadors for the continent's protection after their voyage, for example by contributing to citizen-science projects such as whale observation during the trip.
On board, expedition teams of biologists, historians and geologists build their own culture of knowledge through lectures and Zodiac tours; a large part of the travel experience comes from their explanations rather than fixed sights.
Sources: International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)
What can you experience on an Antarctica trip?
The voyage itself is the centrepiece: Zodiac excursions among icebergs, landings at penguin colonies, and lectures from polar experts on board. Many operators additionally offer kayaking, a night camping ashore on the continent, or the "Polar Plunge", a jump into near-freezing water.
- Zodiac cruises: trips among icebergs and along steep coastlines, often with seals or whales in view, without landing.
- Kayaking: small groups paddle close to ice formations and coastlines, usually as an optional add-on for an extra fee.
- Camping on the continent: a night in a bivy sack on the Antarctic mainland, weather-dependent and only on selected voyages.
- Polar Plunge: a brief jump into the sea at around 0°C, usually with a safety line and hot tea afterwards.
- Citizen science: contributing to projects such as whale photo catalogues or weather observation, later analysed by research teams.
- Photography workshops: many ships have their own photography guides on board for long exposures of ice and light.
How full the programme is depends on the weather: every day is replanned in the morning, because wind, ice and visibility can upend fixed schedules. This flexibility is part of the expedition character, not a shortcoming.
Sources: International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)
How do you travel considerately in Antarctica?
IAATO strictly limits landings: never more than 100 guests are ashore at a single site at once, ships with more than 500 passengers may not land at all, and a ship scheduler ensures that no two ships visit the same site at the same time. Since 2011, ships have been banned from burning heavy fuel oil south of 60° South.
Every landing requires a guide-to-guest ratio of at least one to 20. Visitors may neither feed nor touch animals and must not approach them closely enough to change their behaviour; recreational drone use in coastal zones is prohibited.
Biosecurity is mandatory: clothing and equipment are checked for seeds and spores before the first landing, and boots are cleaned between site changes to prevent invasive species. Open fires and leaving waste behind are banned across the entire continent.
Sources: International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) · International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)
What can an Antarctica trip be combined with?
Most commonly with Patagonia: Ushuaia and Punta Arenas are simultaneously gateways to Tierra del Fuego, Torres del Paine National Park, and the Chilean south. Longer expedition voyages of 18 to 23 days additionally include the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, with their enormous penguin and albatross colonies.
Travellers departing from Ushuaia often combine the trip with a few days in Tierra del Fuego National Park or a trip to the glacier near El Calafate; from Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine and the Strait of Magellan are good options. Both cities also sit along the route of many Patagonia round trips.
Sources: Poseidon Expeditions
Who is an Antarctica trip a good fit for, and who should look elsewhere?
Antarctica suits travellers willing to accept wilderness, unpredictable weather and a high price tag in exchange for experiencing one of the least-visited places on Earth. It is less suited to travellers with a tight budget, severe seasickness without preparation, or a need for fixed daily schedules.
- Good fit: nature and wildlife photographers, expedition travellers who can tolerate weather-driven replanning, couples or solo travellers with a budget from around 6,000 US dollars.
- Less suited: travellers with a very limited budget, with significant medical care needs far from any clinic, or anyone who needs fixed, predictable daily schedules.