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How to get to Antarctica
Whether you’re visiting the Antarctic Peninsula or heading for the South Pole, discover the different routes by sea and air to visit the Seventh Continent.
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Expedition cruises are about experiencing the landscapes and wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula up close. With a coastline stretching across hundreds of miles long, and an expert team to guide you there, there's never a shortage of amazing places to explore.
Antarctic landing sites only allow 100 people on shore at any one time to to keep visitor impacts to an absolute minimum. Add in the fact that you can often go for days without seeing another ship, and you're guaranteed to have the best wilderness experience possible.
The Antarctic Peninsula is heaven for penguin lovers. Gentoo penguins are the species found in the greatest abundance.
The most visited penguin rookery on the Peninsula is the gentoo penguin colony on Cuverville Island. Large rookeries can also be found at Paradise Bay, Danco Island and Neko Harbour. Paradise Bay is also home to a chinstrap penguin colony, though they’re generally found in greater numbers in the South Shetlands, particularly on King George Island and Deception Island.
Adelie penguins don’t nest in great numbers along the Peninsula, though if your ship stops at Brown Bluff on the northeastern tip you’ll find a big colony there. South of the Lemaire Channel, Petermann Island is the only place on the Peninsula where you can find gentoos, chinstraps and Adelies nesting side by side.
Gentoo penguins on Cuverville Island
Whales can be found throughout the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula, and the later you travel in the season, the better the whale watching becomes.
The wide Bransfield Strait between the mainland of the Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands has good whale watching, but things get better further south. The Gerlache Strait has particularly excellent whale watching: you can often see humpbacks, fin whales, minke whales and orca here. The Lemaire Channel and Neumayer Channel are also great spots for whales.
The Peninsula's endless deep bays and fjords all offer opportunities for cetacean spotting, but particularly popular places include Paradise Bay and Wilhemina Bay (sometimes dubbed 'Whalemania Bay' for the numbers of humpbacks seen there).
A humpback whale in Wilhemina Bay
The Antarctic Peninsula is more than just the 'famous' sites. On my last trip, the flexible itinerary we visited one location so obscure that the Expedition Leader was the only person on board to have been there before: we all felt like we were on a true voyage of discovery together.
Mike Poppe Antarctic Sales Manager
The mountainous aspect of the Antarctic Peninsula means that there are surprisingly few places flat enough to land at and step foot on the mainland of the continent: most landings take place on offshore islands. That still counts as Antarctica of course, but expedition teams always do their best to offer at least one continental landing per trip.
Neko Harbour, with its scenic cliffs and gentoo penguins is always popular, but other places to fly the Seventh Continent flag include Portal Point, with its remains on an old survey hut, and Orne Harbour, where you can climb a hill for an amazing vantage point over the Gerlache Strait. Brown Station to the south and Brown Bluff on the northeastern tip on the Peninsula past Antarctic Sound offer further possibilities for continental landings.
Continental landing at Neko Harbour
The Antarctic Peninsula has no shortage of stunning landscapes, but some locations that stand out as being especially beautiful.
Possibly the most scenic cruise along the Peninsula is to pass through the Lemaire Channel, where raw mountains pinch the water into a narrow strait. When the sea acts like a mirror, it's a perfectly sublime scene.
Wherever glaciers descend to sea you'll find epic landscapes. Wilhelmina Bay is one of the best, especially when whales are sporting here. The aptly named Paradise Bay is just as lovely.
Alternatively, the tall peaks surrounding Danco Harbour bring great drama, while at Spigot Peak on Orne Island, you can hike high for incredible views.
Sailing through the Lemaire Channel
The Antarctic Peninsula is dotted with sights that evoke the first explorers and scientists who stepped foot here.
High on many people’s wishlist is the historic research base at Port Lockroy, which is affectionately known as the ‘Penguin Post Office.’ If your ship calls here, don’t miss the opportunity to send a postcard home.
Deception Island is littered with the haunting remains of the old whaling industry, with abandoned, while at Foyn Harbour you can even zodiac cruise around the wreck of the whaling factory ship Governoren, more than 100 years old.
From the Gerlache Strait to Waterboat Point and beyond, almost every location evokes the names of Antarctic pioneers, all ready to be brought to life by the onboard polar historian guides.
Shipwrecked whaler at Foyn Harbour
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
4.3 out of 5
The great strength of this trip is choice – a wide selection of departure dates and optional adventure activities available on a sleek purpose-built 138 passenger expedition ship. Spend four full days exploring Antarctica. Enjoy daily shore landings and zodiac…
4.6 out of 5
Travelling on board this extremely comfortable ship, explore the highlights of the peninsula with a top class expedition team. Spacious cabins, delicious cuisine and optional adventure activities all help create this ideal marriage of comfort and…
4.8 out of 5
For adventurers prioritising real comfort and ease of travel, this is a great option. Journey in style aboard a state-of-the-art expedition ship, with heli-sightseeing available on select departures for a unique bird's-eye view of Antarctica. Plus, the comprehensive transfer package…
4.3 out of 5
The ultimate Antarctic adventure, this trip is specifically for the active traveller. Spend 7 days kayaking, hiking, camping, mountaineering and snowshoeing, all included in the price. A medium-sized expedition ship acts as your floating ‘basecamp’. An excellent deal backed up…
4.4 out of 5
A rare and popular voyage which flies to Antarctica in just two hours, then sails back across the Drake Passage, maximising both expediency and experience. Spend 5 to 7 days exploring Antarctica on a small, purpose-built expedition ship, with kayaking…
4.6 out of 5
Fly over the Drake Passage in just 2 hours, both to and from Antarctica. Ideal for those wanting a high comfort level, but who have limited time or are anxious sailors. An outstanding program, successfully operated for over 15 seasons.…
4.6 out of 5
With three medium-sized expedition ships to pick from and regular departure dates throughout the season, this well-priced voyage is a popular option. Across striking landscapes and icy seas, your company includes penguins, seals, whales and skuas. For the adventurous, optional…
3.6 out of 5
Travelling aboard a state-of-the-art small ship and accompanied by unparalleled onboard expertise, expeditionary cruising doesn’t get much better. Regular departures throughout the season and a choice of three outstanding ships renowned for their comfort, enhanced safety features and spirit of…
3.9 out of 5
For those travellers looking for seamless travel on a trip that is hassle-free and all-inclusive, this is the perfect option. Skip over the notorious Drake Passage on a comfortable two hour flight to Antarctica, then travel onboard a state-of-the-art mega…
Very hard to pick one most memorable moment, but maybe the hike on Petermann island, surrounded by so many penguins Read the full review
Travelled: February 2024
David DeMaria - USA
There was not just one memorable moment. It's absolutely incredible. Seeing all the penguins, seals and whales. The icebergs, especially in Wilhelmina Bay, made me feel like I was in the movie Avatar: The Way of Water. It was all totally amazing! Read the full review
Travelled: February 2024
Carol Forrest - USA
There was not just one memorable moment. It is all absolutely incredible. Seeing all the penguins, seals and whales. The icebergs, especially in Wilhelmina Bay made me feel like I was in the movie Avatar: The Way of Water. It was all totally amazing! Read the full review
Travelled: February 2024
Carol Forrest - USA
Flying into Ushuaia is amazing. Book a window seat if you can. For the last 10-15 minutes, you go right through the Andes, with mountains on both sides of you. It's beautiful and terrifying all at once! Read the full review
Travelled: January 2024
Lauren Pecarich - USA
On Christmas Eve, our family walked among penguins on the continent, sailed through the Lemaire Channel, plunged into the Antarctic Ocean, devoured a gourmet Filipino feast, and then were treated to a spectacular show by a pod of 20+ Orcas off the bough of our ship – all of it in eternal daylight on one of the longest days of the year. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2023
Love Zubiller - USA
Kayaking in the brash ice in Neko Harbor. The stillness created by the ice was broken only by the occasional glacier calving. We paddled past a sleeping crab eater seal and watched feeding penguins swim past. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2023
Chuck Gallegos - USA
We spent an incredible afternoon on the zodiacs following whales in the Gerlache Strait - what an incredible experience. We were fortunate enough to have several groups of whales in the area, with one whale breaching within 20 yards from our zodiac. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Jeff Zumhofe - USA
Most memorable moment? My partner proposed to me at Orne Harbor as chinstrap penguins wandered by, and then we got to see a group of humpback whales on the zodiac cruise right after! Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Leanne Matthews - USA
Setting foot on the Antarctica continent for the first time at Brown Bluff with huge blue and white icebergs all around and Adele and gentoo penguin colonies and fur seals and the glaciers and ice shelves all around. It was everything and more than I expected. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2023
Jana Dreyzehner - USA
It's hard to choose from so many memorable moments; every day I thought it was the best ever but I think I will say that the zodiac excursion across Paradise Bay with the whales right in front of us, or the cruise through Spert Islands channels and the iceberg graveyard with it all set off by the amazingly blue water. Also getting to 68 degrees south was incredible! Read the full review
Travelled: February 2022
Jennifer Ruth - USA
Most memorable moment: polar plunge in Deception Island/Bay. Weather was beautiful. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Zach Sandler - USA
As we were crossing Gerlache Strait a large pod of orcas was spotted. The captain immediately changed course and 15 minutes later we were all hanging over the side of Ocean Adventurer surrounded by them - Amazing! Just one small example of how brilliant the staff on this ship are.
Travelled: December 2016
Agi - Hungary
Review:
There are scores of landing sites on the Antarctic Peninsula, with the most popular covered by special Visitor Site Guidelines drawn up by the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty to ensure all visits are carried out in the most sensitive manner to protect their environments. This guidance, conveyed to you by the expedition leader on your ship must be strictly adhered to at all times. Some locations are suitable for zodiac cruising only, while others are out of bounds to ships carrying more than 200 passengers.
Our list of Antarctic Peninsula landing sites is for guidance only. Ship itineraries and visits to specific locations in the Antarctic Peninsula are never guaranteed. While your operator will always do their best to maximise your time in Antarctica, plans can change as fast as the polar weather. Decisions on which locations to visit are always made on the day by the ship's captain and expedition leader.
Whether you’re visiting the Antarctic Peninsula or heading for the South Pole, discover the different routes by sea and air to visit the Seventh Continent.
Discover MoreChoosing the best time to visit Antarctica is an essential part of the planning process. Each month's distinctive weather and wildlife offer a different side of the region.
Discover MoreWe work with a range of different Antarctic vessels, with expertise across the entire polar fleet, to give give you the best choice of ship, cabin and departure date.
Discover MoreThe Antarctic Peninsula is one of the best wildlife watching destinations on Earth, with a host of penguins, whales, seals and more to discover.
Discover MoreOur team has visited Antarctica over 150 times and has 100 collective years of polar experience, so from which trip is right for you to what shoes to bring - there’s no question we can’t answer.
Choosing the right voyage is complicated, Swoop makes it easy. We offer no-nonsense advice on 1500 voyages across 30 ships to find you the right trip, cabin, price - and we don’t charge a fee.
We want to protect Antarctica for future generations - which is why we became a certified B Corp and set up our own conservation fund. So your adventures can be a force for good.
We leave nothing to chance in delivering your perfect trip and have over 6500 happy travellers to show for it. With a dedicated Antarctic co-ordinator & support throughout - you’re in safe hands.
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
With over 100 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.
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