Antarctica is remote and rugged.   Conditions can be challenging – but the destination is highly rewarding.  For most, it will likely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience (though for some, the draw of Antarctica is only intensified after a first visit).   

Under these circumstances, it will be important to experience it in a way that best meets your expectations.   

Some will want to be exposed to the greatest diversity of opportunities to experience the icescapes, seascapes and landscapes.  They will want to be sure they'll have as many opportunities as possible to go ashore and wander about, to develop their own, personal sense of the this "place beyond all places".  They'll want to kayak, hike, snowshoe and even spend at night in a tent. 

Others may be more inclined towards a less active trip, focusing on experiencing the magic of the land and sea without necessarily going on ice-hopping / glacier-summiting hikes.   

To make the best of your time there, you’ll want to have an experienced support team, a seasoned ship’s crew and robust, top-of-the-line conveyances giving you the best odds for a problem-free trip.

 

 

 

Lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Kathy Haesevoets is our Antarctica Travel Advisor. She’s the woman behind our very extensive Frequently Asked Questions - likely the most extensive such FAQ anywhere on the internet.  Kathy's job is to help you navigate through all the decision-making when considering a trip to Antarctica.  Once booked, she will continue to be on hand to answer your questions and help you prepare for your journey.  On occasion, Kathy will also lead our tours to Antarctica. 

“I’m always thrilled to help people make the absolute most of their time in the great outdoors. There’s so much to see and experience - the Earth is truly a marvelous place, and life is short! Let’s get to it!”

Kathy is based in Victoria, British Columbia.

 

CNH Tours can accompany you in sifting through the complexities involved in choosing the voyage that is best for you.  To start the process, we have developed a useful list of criteria to consider when deciding on a trip. Once you’ve gone through them, do feel free to contact us for suggestions on ships and trips that best meet your needs.

1. The ship

One of the most important considerations is the ship of course.   Here are three elements to consider: 

• Comfort level. From full-on luxury to basic expedition style (but still reasonably comfortable) or even a real adventure on a sailing yacht.  To a certain degree, prices reflect the overall comfort level.  But the law of diminishing return works here as well.  Beyond the basics such as accommodations and typical on-board services, higher prices will start to reflect the addition of extras such as cigar smoking rooms, computer stations for photoshop workshops, on-board museum displays and other such amenities.   

• Passenger Capacity:
  • Small ships (70-140 guests) have a greater focus on spending time ashore. Of course, the smaller the ship, the more you might feel the sea.
  • Mid-sized ships (140-300 guests), where the experience ashore is still good, but will be somewhat time-constrained due to the logistics of moving people ashore (no more than 100 people are allowed ashore at any given time).
  • Larger ships (300+) that ‘sail by’ with no scheduled shore visits. These ships focus on exposing their guests to the varied scenery of the region.  This option is ideal for those who may have mobility issues preventing them from embarking / disembarking onto zodiacs.  

• Ice class: Ships are assigned a particular ice class, depending on their ability to navigate in icy waters.  The ice class is determined in part by hull thickness and overall design.   The better the rating, the more likely your ship will be able to sail relatively unimpeded in Antarctic waters.     

2. Itinerary – where? How long?

We list below a few of the most common itineraries to illustrate the range of possible options - though variations exist.   

• Shortest: Fly-in / Fly-out.  A few companies will have you fly right into Antarctica from Puerto Williams (southern Chile) to board your ship there and start exploring the Antarctic Peninsula right away.  This avoids having to spend 2 days crossing (each way) the Drake Passage.  What would normally take 12 days can be done in  8 days.  The downside?  There is a slight flight delay risk of one or more days due to inclement weather, though the odds are well in your favour.  Best suited for those who are time constrained.  Price / day is higher than a regular cruise. 

• Classic Peninsula: 10-12 day itinerary departing from southern South American (most often Ushuaia in Argentina). Suited for those with a bit more time and keen on acquiring the Drake Passage bragging rights. 

• Crossing the Antarctic Circle: Some itineraries will take you further south while exploring the Peninsula. Fewer ships take you down that far and as a result, you're more likely achieve the sense of being very far removed from it all.  12-14 days.  

• Grand Tour: If you want to take it all in, a longer trip (apx. 21 days) will have you visit the Falkland Islands and South Georgia (a.k.a the Serengeti of Antarctica, with spectacular abundance and diversity of wildlife), before looping down to the Peninsula.

• Going all the way: Specialized operators offer the opportunity to go to the South Pole.   You are flown into the base camp there and spend 2 to 3 nights in a tented camp, with meals.  Typically you engage in winter activities / cross country skiing / hiking.   A pricey trip with few openings / year, but a memorable one.  For authentic winter enthusiasts.  Typically 5-6 days.  Out of Cape Town (South Africa) or Punta Arenas (Chile).  Combine it with a bespoke African safari – CNH Tours can help.

• The Ross Sea: The most remote and furthest south possible by sea.  This is typically up to a one-month journey, out of New Zealand.  

 

      3. When to go?

• The Austral summer season is from late October to March. The start of the season is good for more dramatic snow and ice scenery.  Penguins are very active earlier in the season, as they court, mate, build nests and lay eggs.  
• The seabirds and penguins are breeding throughout the season. The stages vary from courting to egg laying through chick raising - followed by fledglings and juveniles who are constantly up to something.  Towards the end of the season, marine mammals become more active as the food sources increase over the summer, so seals and whale sightings become more numerous, particularly after December.
• Icebergs are present throughout the season.
• Relative high points for each part of the season:
  • early season:  The sea ice has not fully retreated, the snow is still melting - the landscape is more wintry. There is an energy among the wildlife like penguins that are busy starting to nest/coming and going for the short summer breeding season
  • mid season: Chicks are hatching in the seabird and penguin colonies; the ocean is open as sea ice has retreated in the ‘warmer’ months; Humpback Whales are more commonly observed as the plankton blooms, leopard seals start patrolling offshore for inexperienced juvenile penguins
  • late season: A new generation of penguins is close to fully grown and start to swim on their own; Some darkness starts to return at night so more chance of seeing Aurora Australis; whales are more frequently encountered and slowly the wildlife is migrating north for the winter; Fewer ships venture south later in the season

 

      4. How to engage with the land/seascapes

Unless you have mobility issues, an Antarctica expedition cruise can offer you a wide variety of activities that will get you “out and about” among the wildlife / landscapes and seascapes.  It’s important to realize that not all trips offer all opportunities.   Here are a few examples of what to expect on most trips: 

• Hiking: Shorter or more adventurous walks / hikes, as a function of ship.  These are typically naturalist excursions, with a view to observing wildlife, exploring shorelines and nearby ice and land formations.  As a result, they tend to be slow, with frequent stops.  It's important to note that areas without snow or ice cover are limited in Antarctica, and these are often monopolized by wildlife.   Aslo, while you don’t have to be an Olympian to enjoy excursions, you should feel comfortable on a 2-3 km hike over uneven terrain.  Some ships will take you on more extensive, multi-hour hikes, or on snowshoes / skis.   
• Costal / Ice flow / Iceberg / sea life exploration by zodiac.
• World class wildlife viewing.  

The following activities are offered by some ships, and space is usually limited:

• Overnight camping (though it won’t get very dark)
• Small group kayaking
• Stand-up paddleboarding
• Snorkeling / diving (dry suits provided!)
• Citizen science – where your observations are recorded and fed into a database set up by scientists
• Photography workshops and advice
• Skiing/mountaineering
• Snowshoeing
• Scuba diving (must have significant previous experience)

 

      5. Choosing a ship operator

Approximately 85 ships are currently plying Antarctica waters.  Some are owner-operated, some are not.  Some are part of multi-national cruise ship lines. Some are operated by relatively new companies while others are operated by companies in the Antarctica business for decades.   Some are true polar experts, and some offer Antarctica as one of several cruise destinations. 

Experience in the Antarctic expedition cruising business equals a depth of knowledge of all crew to know how to navigate the icy waters, knowledge of the best landing places as a function of ice floes and tide, and even when is the best time to schedule an outdoor bbq onboard.  Experience matters and CNH Tours knows which ship operators have the most of it. 

 

       6. The expedition team

The expedition team is made up of those people hired to help you make the best out of your time in Antarctica.  You have the guides who will join you on the outings and help interpret what you are seeing and doing.   There may be on-board experts in a variety of fields such as marine biology, glaciology, photography and history who will give lectures and workshops during crossings or evenings.  There will be zodiac drivers whose job it is to get you from point A to point B safely.  A good expedition team will also be best able to take advantage of impromptu opportunities, providing its guests with the maximum exposure to what Antarctica is all about.   

In choosing a trip, it’s important to be confident that your expedition team is well-rounded, experienced and professional.   Our Antarctica advisors have decades of experience and an invaluable network of contacts among various expedition teams.  With their help, we can easily determine which ships have more seasoned expedition teams on board.  

 

There are many options out there - and we have not read them all.  But here's something to get you going.

 

NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENCE

"Antarctica: A Biography" by David Day

A comprehensive history of Antarctica, covering early exploration, political treaties, and the continent's environmental importance.

 

"The Crystal Desert: Summers in Antarctica" by David G. Campbell

A beautifully written exploration of Antarctica’s natural history, with insights into its wildlife, ecosystems, and scientific significance.

 

"Big Dead Place: Inside the Strange and Menacing World of Antarctica" by Nicholas Johnson

A candid, often humorous look at life in the research stations, revealing the human side of the Antarctic experience.

 

"Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of the World's Most Mysterious Continent" by Gabrielle Walker

An engaging mix of science, adventure, and personal stories from scientists working on the continent.

 

"Of Penguins and Polar Bears: A History of Cold Water Cruising" by David Hirzel

An introduction to polar wildlife and the unique challenges of life and travel in these extreme regions.

 

BOOKS ABOUT EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE

"The Worst Journey in the World" by Apsley Cherry-Garrard

A gripping account of the Terra Nova Expedition (1910–1913), including the infamous winter journey to collect penguin eggs.

 

"Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage" by Alfred Lansing

A classic retelling of Ernest Shackleton's harrowing expedition and the incredible survival story of his crew.

 

"South: The Endurance Expedition" by Ernest Shackleton

Shackleton’s own account of his epic Antarctic adventure and his leadership under extreme conditions.

 

"Scott's Last Expedition: The Journals" by Robert Falcon Scott

The firsthand account of Captain Scott’s ill-fated race to the South Pole, providing insights into his motivations and the challenges faced.

 

"Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night" by Julian Sancon

THIS IS A CNH TOURS FAVOURITE.  

This riveting narrative recounts the harrowing story of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–1899, led by Adrien de Gerlache aboard the ship Belgica. It was the first expedition to overwinter in the Antarctic, albeit unintentionally, when the ship became trapped in pack ice.

The crew, including a young Roald Amundsen (who would later achieve fame as the first person to reach the South Pole), faced extreme isolation, freezing temperatures, and the psychological toll of perpetual darkness. Sancton's book is based on meticulous research, including diaries and journals, and brings to life the endurance and madness of this groundbreaking yet perilous mission.

 

"The Quest for Frank Wild"  by Angie Butler

The Quest for Frank Wild including his original Memoirs tells the gripping story of one woman's determination to unravel the truth of the final years of Frank Wild, one of the greatest British Edwardian Polar explorers of all time. The Memoirs stand alone as a unique account of Edwardian Polar exploration

 

"Mawson's Will: The Greatest Polar Survival Story Ever Written" by Lenard Bickel

Sir Douglas Mawson is remembered as the young Australian who would not go to the South Pole with Robert Scott in 1911. Instead, he chose to lead his own expedition on the less glamorous mission of charting nearly 1,500 miles of Antarctic coastline and claiming its resources for the British Crown. His party of three set out through the mountains across glaciers in 60-mile-per-hour winds. Six weeks and 320 miles out, one man fell into a crevasse—along with the tent, most of the equipment, the dogs’ food, and all except a week’s supply of the men's provisions.

 

CULTURAL AND REFLECTIVE WORKS

"Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica" by Sara Wheeler

A reflective travelogue blending personal insights with historical and scientific narratives.

 

"The White Darkness" by David Grann

A modern narrative of Henry Worsley’s solo trek across Antarctica, interwoven with stories of Shackleton and early explorers.

 

"Antarctica: A Call to Action" by Sebastian Copeland

A visual and written account emphasizing the environmental challenges facing Antarctica and its critical role in climate science.

 

"The Home of the Blizzard" by Douglas Mawson

An account of Mawson’s 1911–1914 expedition, highlighting the brutal realities of Antarctic exploration.

 

FICTION INSPIRED BY ANTARCTICA 

"Antarctica" by Kim Stanley Robinson

A speculative novel set in a near-future Antarctica, blending exploration with environmental and political intrigue.

 

"The Birthday Boys" by Beryl Bainbridge

A fictionalized retelling of Scott’s expedition through the eyes of five team members, offering a deeply human perspective.

Antarctic tourism operates within the Antarctic Treaty System (1), but there is no single Antarctic tourism authority issuing licenses or policing visitors. The Antarctic Treaty parties collectively establish environmental principles, visitor rules and operating guidelines through their annual meetings. The 1991 Environmental Protocol is particularly important because it designates Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science and requires tourism, like other human activity, to be planned so as to limit environmental harm. Tourism is therefore permitted, but it is subordinate to environmental protection and scientific use of the continent. 

The actual authorization of a cruise normally takes place through the laws of an individual Treaty country. An operator must apply to the appropriate national authority—often in the country where the company is established—and provide advance information about its itinerary, proposed landings, environmental effects, emergency arrangements and waste-management procedures. The authority may require an environmental evaluation, permits for particular activities and evidence that the operator can respond to accidents. Thus, a cruise is not formally approved by “Antarctica”; it is authorized by a national government implementing its Antarctic Treaty obligations through domestic law. 

Once in Antarctica, tourism is managed through general visitor rules and detailed site guidelines for frequently visited places. These can prescribe where passengers may walk, where Zodiacs may land, which areas are closed, how visitors should approach wildlife and how many visits a site should receive. Current visitor guidance provides that vessels carrying more than 500 passengers should not make landings, that normally no more than 100 passengers from one vessel may be ashore at a time, and that landings should maintain approximately one guide for every 20 visitors. Boots, clothing and equipment are cleaned to reduce the risk of introducing seeds, microorganisms or diseases between sites. 

A second layer of governance comes from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, or IAATO. Most established expedition-cruise companies belong to it (CNH Tours works only with those) and agree to operating standards covering passenger-to-guide ratios, wildlife interactions, biosecurity, staff experience, emergency cooperation and the scheduling of landings. Its ship-scheduling system helps prevent several vessels from arriving at the same small site simultaneously, while post-visit reports create a record of where passengers actually went. IAATO is an industry association rather than a government regulator, however, so its rules are binding principally on its members; their wider authority depends on incorporation into national permits, Antarctic Treaty measures or established operating practice. 

Finally, every cruise ship remains subject to international maritime law. The International Maritime Organization’s SOLAS and MARPOL conventions govern safety and pollution, while the mandatory Polar Code adds requirements for polar navigation, vessel equipment, crew training, voyage planning, survival capability and environmental protection. Heavy fuel oil may not be used or carried for use as fuel in Antarctic waters. In practice, Antarctic cruise tourism is therefore governed by several overlapping systems: the Treaty parties establish the environmental framework, national governments authorize expeditions, the IMO regulates the ships, and IAATO coordinates much of the day-to-day conduct ashore. This layered arrangement has enabled tourism to function, although the rapid growth and increasing variety of Antarctic voyages continue to create pressure for more comprehensive and consistently enforceable international regulation. 

(1)The Antarctic Treaty System is the network of international agreements governing Antarctica, centered on the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which reserves the continent for peaceful purposes and scientific cooperation while setting aside disputes over territorial claims. It also includes agreements and measures covering environmental protection, wildlife conservation, fisheries, inspections, tourism, and other human activities in and around Antarctica.