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  • Penguins in their natural environment
    1/9 Chinstrap penguins usually breeds on hillside slopes and rocky outcrops Photo: Marsel van Oosten Photo
  • Camping in the Antarctic, here from Petermann Island, a once in a lifetime experience
    2/9 Camping in the Antarctic, here from Petermann Island, a once in a lifetime experience Photo: Tessa Van Drie Photo
  • Passenger surrounded by penguins
    3/9 Enjoy the feeling of being almost alone on a big continent Photo: Marsel van Oosten Photo
  • Experience the Lemaire Channel from a Polar Cirkel boat
    4/9 Experience the Lemaire Channel from a Polar Cirkel boat Photo: Arnau Ferrer Photo
  • Passengers and penguins in rough weather
    5/9 Set foot where few have been before you and get close to the penguins Photo: Dominic Barrington Photo
  • Kayaking is an exciting way to explore the waters
    6/9 Kayaking is an exciting way to explore the waters Photo: Esther Koijkmeier Photo
  • People in Antarctica
    7/9 There are no humans living permanenly in Antarctica Photo: Marsel van Oosten Photo
  • Expedition in Antarctica
    8/9 Enjoy our expedition style landings Photo: Esther Koijkmeier Photo
  • Come ashore on Cuverville Island
    9/9 Come ashore on Cuverville Island Photo: Mark McDermott Photo

Antarctica Travel Guide

The most remote continent on Earth is unlike anything you've ever experienced. Here's all you need to know before travelling to Antarctica.

  1. What is Antarctica?
  2. Wildlife in Antarctica
  3. Webinar: Exploring the Frozen Continent

No matter where you have been and what you have seen on previous travels: the frozen continent of  Antarctica is different from anything on the planet. A huge cold-water current encloses this isolated continent. Here, in the midst of the great white open, you will find nature at its most sublime and haunting.

What is Antarctica?

Roughly twice the size of Australia, the southernmost continent is the fifth largest with its 14 million square kilometres of land mass. Most of this - 98% to be precise - is covered in ice. As a result, there are neither permanent residents nor native inhabitants in Antarctica. However, about 4000 people stay on scientific bases in the short summer period and around 1000 in total during the winter months. Additionally, around 30 000 tourists visit during the Antarctic summer from December to March.

Surprisingly for some, the area is teeming with life. Antarctica is home to millions of penguins, is the feeding area for thousands of whales in the Austral summer, and is a continent dedicated to science and peace. The continent is protected by the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 – however, pre-treaty, eight nations made claims to portions of Antarctica – Norway has the second largest claim, second only to Australia.

Antarctica is in all aspects isolated from the outside world and travelers will understand what this means when they experience “the windiest, the coldest, the driest, and the highest continent”.

Someone once said: “The person who is able to express the feeling of being in Antarctica in words has probably not been there.”

  • Cuverville Island, Antarctica
  • Hiking on the majestic cliffs of Deception Island
  • Returning from a hike in Brown Bluff, Antarctica
  • Photo: Andreas Kalvig Anderson, Karsten Bidstrup and Adele Jackson

Reasons to travel to Antarctica

1. Adventure
What can be more adventurous than exploring one of the most untouched places on the planet? A trip to Antarctica is a non-stop journey of unforgettable experiences.

2. Part of history
Because Antarctica is so isolated and has such extreme weather, very few people have ever visited the continent at all. As opposed to visiting an established destination, you are now part of the story, witnessing the grandeur first hand.

3. Another world
Gabrielle Walker, an environmental scientist in Antarctica, describes the continent as being almost alien: "The first time I went there it was like walking on another planet. It's just ice and rock - no trees, no plants, no anything else."

  • Keep reading: 6 more reasons to visit Antarctica

Nature, climate and weather in Antarctica

Being the coldest place on Earth, Antarctica supports no terrestrial mammals – there are no trees or shrubs, and only two species of flowering plants: Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia Antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis). The sea is what supports most creatures, such as penguins and seals.

On the Antarctic Peninsula, two days of sailing from the tip of South America, the temperatures average 0-5 degrees Celsius during summer. But you can expect periods of high winds when in Antarctica - cold air travels down the glaciers and ice-shelves. These are called katabatic winds and can occur when you least expect it.

However, being one of the driest places on earth, Antarctica does not see a lot of rain. In fact, more rain falls every year on average on the Sahara Desert than on the icy, wild-blown desert of Antarctica. What little snow happens to fall doesn’t thaw in the freezing temperatures and is often blown away by strong winds – it simply creates further ice sheets and ice shelves.

  • Keep reading: Learn more about the weather in Antarctica

Wildlife in Antarctica

In Antarctica you will see thousands of penguins eagerly nesting and feeding during the short summer months. There is a rich variety of mammals. As they have not been hunted for decades, most species are more curious than afraid of humans. There is also an abundance of birds, with the mighty Albatross as the king of the sky. During the austral summer, its shores are a feeding ground for thousands of whales. You can also see the torpedo-like leopard seal patrolling the shorelines, and the singing humpback whale as it acrobatically breaches the water.

Wildlife in Antarctica

In Antarctica you will see thousands of penguins eagerly nesting and feeding during the short summer months. There is a rich variety of mammals. As they have not been hunted for decades, most species are more curious than afraid of humans. There is also an abundance of birds, with the mighty Albatross as the king of the sky. During the austral summer, its shores are a feeding ground for thousands of whales. You can also see the torpedo-like leopard seal patrolling the shorelines, and the singing humpback whale as it acrobatically breaches the water.

Article

Penguins

Penguins are one of the first animals that come to mind when people imagine Antarctica. However, of the 17 species of penguins in the world, only seven can actually be found Antarctica itself.

Seals

There are four types of seals that live in the waters surrounding Antarctica: leopard, crabeater, Weddell and southern elephant.

Whales

During the summer, Antarctic waters are full of many different types of whales looking to eat fish, squid, penguins and plankton During the summer, Antarctic waters are full of many different types of whales looking to e...

Keep reading about the animals of Antarctica
15 Interesting Facts About Antarctica

Despite being almost entirely covered in ice, Antarctica is, by definition, a desert. A desert is generally categorised as a place that receives less than 254 mm of rainfall a year . With Antarctica receiving only 166 mm annually , it certainly fits the bill. Read more

How to get to Antarctica - and when to go

The most common way to get to Antarctica is by cruise, often starting in Ushuaia, Argentina - the southernmost city in the world. Many cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula also include stops in the Falkland Islands or South Georgia.

Cruising season starts when it's possible to navigate through the ice, just before the Antarctic summer; the first sailings happen late October, while the last expedition usually takes place in March.

Webinar: Exploring the Frozen Continent

As one of the few untouched destinations on the planet, Antarctica is high on the bucket list of true explorers.

In this webinar you can learn more about:

  • History of our Antarctic exploration
  • What it's like to travel here
  • Our ships, daily operations and landings
  • Spectacular wildlife - and surprises!
  • Sustainability in pristine areas

Cruising in Antarctica - what is it like?

Given its isolation, the Antarctic environment is probably the most pristine natural environment on the planet. For visitors this fact comes with a set of obligations – the most important and general is to leave no traces behind.

However, guests are welcome to go ashore on dedicated landing sites in Antarctica. The Antarctic Treaty and IAATO prohibiting more than 100 people to be ashore simultaneously strictly regulate human traffic in Antarctica. All guests will be given instructions on how to behave when on shore in Antarctica.

See all cruises to Antarctica with Hurtigruten
  • Small boat up close to icebergs
  • Kayaking outside Cuverville Island, Antarctica
  • A person that is standing in the snow
  • Photo: Marsel van Oosten and Karsten Bidstrup

3 things you need to know about cruising with Hurtigruten

1. Environmentally friendly tourism in Antarctica

Sailing in such pristine surroundings naturally comes with a huge responsibility. Hurtigruten is committed to the highest standards of seamanship and an environmentally friendly operation. Our activities and reputation rest on our long tradition and experience when it comes to exploring polar waters.

  • Hurtigruten's social responsibility: Leaving a smaller footprint

2. A variety of ships and itineraries

With Hurtigruten you can choose among a variety of expedition sailings on MS Midnatsol, the smaller MS Fram, or the newest of our fleet, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen.

  • Four ways to experience Antarctica with Hurtigruten

3. On an expedition with Hurtigruten, no cruise is ever the same

Each Hurtigruten Explorer voyage is unique and our schedule is dictated by the elements. Although landing sites are always carefully planned in advance, our itineraries are only indicative of your voyage.

  • FAQ: Travelling to Antarctica

10 reasons why you should travel to Antarctica with Hurtigruten

I traveled with Hurtigruten on a 20-day Antarctica cruise expedition and it has been the best trip that I have ever done in my life! Sure enough, I was more than happy that I have chosen Hurtigruten because they were exactly how I expected them to be — and more. Read more

See all cruises to Antarctica with Hurtigruten

Related cruises

  • Multiple offers
    MS Fram
    19 days 15 October 2021

    Antarctica, Patagonia, Chilean Fjords - Exploration of the Southern Highlights (Southbound)

    • Experience Patagonia and Antarctica in one expedition cruise
    • Discover the magnificent Chilean fjords
    • See Cape Horn and cross the Drake Passage
    • Enjoy ice-cruising, landings and encounters with wildlife in Antarctica
    Price from
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  • Multiple offers
    MS Roald Amundsen
    18 days 23 October 2021

    Antarctica, Patagonia, Chilean Fjords - Voyage of Discovery (Southbound)

    • Experience Patagonia and Antarctica in one expedition cruise
    • Discover the magnificent Chilean fjords
    • See Cape Horn and cross the Drake Passage
    • Enjoy ice-cruising, landings and encounters with wildlife in Antarctica
    Price from
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  • Book with confidence
    MS Fram
    23 days 1 Nov 2021 - 24 Feb 2022

    Antarctica, Falklands, South Georgia - The Ultimate Expedition

    • Enjoy landings to see thousands of animals: seals, penguins, birds and whales
    • Hike, kayak and go ice-cruising in stunning Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia
    • Chance to come ashore on isolated beaches and spend the night in a tent
    • Experience an in-depth exploration of the ‘Galápagos of the Poles’, South Georgia, home to vast numbers of King penguins
    Price from
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Further reading

  • The History of Antarctic Exploration
  • 15 Interesting Facts About Antarctica

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The Lemaire Channel is a narrow strait surrounded by cliffs and glaciers that runs seven miles in length and just under a mile wide. This scenic route is one of the most photogenic spots in all of Antarctica, and has even been dubbed the 'Kodak Gap.' Grab your camera and get ready for some amazing photos and breathtaking landscapes. 
📷: @glr.photo / Hurtigruten 
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#hurtigrutenexpeditions #weexplore #antarctica #lemairechannel #naturephotography #sunset #travel A curious chinstrap penguin stopping by to say hello😄
📷: Ken Louie / Hurtigruten
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#hurtigrutenexpeditions #weexplore #antarctica #penguin #chinstrappenguin #wildlife #cruise #travel #adventuretravel Did you know that the colorful houses of Uummannaq, Greenland, traditionally dictated the function of the building? Hospitals were yellow, the telephone company was green, fish factories were blue, and commercial houses were red.
📷: Andrea Klaussner / Hurtigruten
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#hurtigrutenexpeditions #weexplore #greenland #Uummannaq #cruise #travel #adventuretravel #localcommunities #expedition

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