Tours in Antarctic Peninsula
The most accessible part of Antarctica with incredible wildlife and dramatic landscapes.
Embark on a cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, a pilgrimage to Earth's last true wilderness. Disconnect from modern life and reconnect with pristine nature. Seeking adventure? Join us and explore a natural world beyond your wildest dreams.
In a world where travel often revolves around international flights, bustling capitals and popular tourist hubs, a realm seemingly untouched by modernity exists. A magical place where the ice-capped grandeur of nature reigns supreme a€“ welcome to Antarctica!
Cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula attract explorers, nature enthusiasts, and dreamers with awe-inspiring landscapes, outstanding wildlife, and sublimely serene silence. Disconnecting from the hectic world we know and diving head-first into a land of absolute calm and startling beauty is a soul-stirring and, for many, a life-changing experience.
Antarctic Peninsula cruises offer myriad chances to experience spectacular iceberg sculptures, jaw-dropping glaciers, weddell and leopard seals, whales, and innumerable bays bursting with millions of penguins. There is one other advantage of cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula - it's one of the easiest and most popular places in Antarctica to cruise to, so you'll have a wide range of ships, itineraries and departure dates to choose from.
Choose from our range of Antarctica Peninsula Cruises, or contact our Antarctica Destination Specialists??for expert help to find the perfect itinerary to??suit your requirements.
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How do you get to the Antarctic Peninsula?
Expedition cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula usually depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile, on expedition cruises. These voyages take two days to cross the infamous Drake Passage before reaching the relatively calmer waters north of the peninsula. A few select expeditions allow you to fly directly to King George Island (thus skipping the Drake Passage) and join a cruise ship from there.
You can fly the Drake in one direction or both ways a€“ that's up to you.
When is the best season to go to Antarctica?
The Antarctic cruising season starts late October and runs until March. These are the only months of the year when temperatures are known to reach above 0 degrees Celsius during the day on the Antarctic Peninsula, and though the east tends to be colder, it is still more tolerable at this time of the year.
How many people will be on the ship?
It depends on the ship but the majority of our ships carry between 50 and 150 passengers. A few of the mega-yachts and purpose-built cruise ships carry around 250 passengers.??
How rough is a cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula?
The Drake Passage is known as a€?the roughest sea passage on eartha€? a€“ there is no landmass around the globe at this latitude, so winds and currents can be considerable. The unpredictability of weather patterns means there is no way of foretelling just how rough the Drake Passage can be on any specific day. Some Antarctica Peninsula cruise passengers experience the 'Drake Lake' while others have the pleasure (or not) of experiencing the 'Drake Shake'. It really is all up to the weather and sea current gods.
Aside from many seasickness remedies that can help you mitigate a rough crossing to the Antarctic Peninsula, modern expedition vessels are equipped to handle these conditions, providing stability and as much comfort for passengers as possible.
Some types of expedition ships are better for seasickness sufferers than othersa€”ask us about this specific requirement.
Is it a problem if I am sea sick?
Everyone reacts differently to sea conditions whether during the crossing of the infamous Drake Passage to Antarctica, or even during calmer seas. However, our vessels are built for maximum stability and comfort to ensure that even in rough conditions, sea and motion sickness are kept to a minimum at all times. To avoid seasickness, ask your doctor to prescribe appropriate seasickness medicine for you and make sure you have enough for the whole trip. Tips: If you are prone to motion sickness, it is best to avoid alcohol, tobacco, excess liquids and confined spaces.
What do I need to pack for the cruise?
Antarctica is an extreme environment and although Antarctic cruises depart during the spring and summer months, the weather can change dramatically, with no warning and so you need to be prepared for conditions in this harsh region.??
- A parka jacket, but dona€?t bring your own, it will be provided.
- Waterproof boots and pants
- Warm socks, gloves, scarf and a hat
- Sunscreen, sunglasses
- Zip lock plastic bags or dry sacks for carrying camera, batteries, etc.??
Is it safe to travel to the Antarctic Peninsula?
All our tours are 100% tried and tested to ensure that when you travel with us, you are doing so in a controlled and safe environment with trained experts. One of the biggest concerns on a cruise to Antarctica is the weather conditions, so to ensure you have the best adventure without risk of injuries to you or damage to the vessel, activities may occasionally??need to be rescheduled or cancelled or your itinerary may need to be adapted during the trip.