You have booked the trip of a lifetime. Or maybe you are still deciding, scrolling through expedition options at midnight, wondering if you are really the kind of person who goes to Antarctica. Either way, you probably have questions. Lots of them.
I know because I was you. When I boarded my first Antarctic expedition in December 2023, I had researched for months and still felt unprepared. What would the days actually look like? Would I get seasick crossing the Drake? Would I be fit enough? Would I fit in with the other travelers?
Now, having experienced it firsthand and having helped countless travelers prepare for their own expeditions, I can tell you this: Antarctica delivers on its promise. But knowing what to expect makes the experience even better.
This guide covers everything from departure to return. Think of it as your orientation before the real adventure begins.
The Journey There: Getting to Antarctica
Most Antarctic expeditions depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. Some fly-cruise options depart from Punta Arenas, Chile, skipping part of the ocean crossing. Either way, getting to your departure point is an adventure in itself.
From Ushuaia, you will board your expedition ship and set sail across the Drake Passage. This legendary stretch of water between South America and Antarctica takes about two days each way. The Drake has a reputation for rough seas, but modern expedition ships handle it well, and many crossings are surprisingly calm. I experienced both extremes on my trip, and honestly, even the rough day was manageable.
Those sea days are not wasted time. The expedition team fills them with lectures on wildlife, history, and photography. You will attend mandatory briefings on zodiac operations and biosecurity. And you will spend time on deck watching for albatrosses and whales. By the time Antarctica appears on the horizon, you will be ready.
For a detailed look at the crossing, read our guide on what to expect when crossing the Drake Passage.
Daily Life Aboard Your Expedition Ship
Forget everything you know about traditional cruise ships. There are no formal nights, no casinos, no Broadway shows. An Antarctic expedition is focused entirely on the destination, and every day revolves around getting you out there.
Your day typically starts with a wake-up call from the expedition leader over the intercom. Sometimes it is a gentle good morning with the day's plan. Other times it is an excited announcement that whales have been spotted off the port side. You learn to sleep with one ear open.
Breakfast fuels you for the morning landing. You gear up in the mudroom, pulling on your waterproof boots and parka, grabbing your life jacket, and heading to the zodiac loading area. Landings usually last one and a half to two and a half hours, giving you time to explore penguin colonies, hike to viewpoints, or simply sit and absorb the landscape.
Back on the ship, lunch is followed by repositioning to the afternoon site. There might be a lecture during transit. Then another landing or zodiac cruise before dinner. Evenings bring a recap of the day, a briefing for tomorrow, and time to socialize with fellow travelers who quickly become friends.
The expedition team is the heart of the experience. Naturalists, historians, photographers, and zodiac drivers who genuinely love Antarctica and want to share it with you. By the end of the trip, they feel like family.
Wildlife Encounters: The Main Event
Let me be honest: the wildlife is why most people go to Antarctica. And it delivers beyond what photographs can capture.
Penguins are the stars. Depending on your itinerary, you will encounter gentoos, chinstraps, and adelies on the Antarctic Peninsula. Colonies are chaotic, smelly, noisy, and absolutely wonderful. You will watch penguins waddle along their highways to the sea, porpoise through the water, steal stones from each other's nests, and feed their demanding chicks.
Seals lounge on ice floes with complete indifference to your presence. Crabeaters and Weddells are common. If you are lucky, you will spot a leopard seal, the apex predator of these waters, watching you with intelligent eyes.
Whales appear throughout the season, but late summer brings them in numbers. Humpbacks breach and bubble-net feed. Minke whales approach zodiacs with curiosity. Orcas hunt in coordinated pods. I watched a humpback surface ten meters from our zodiac, close enough to hear it breathe, and that moment stays with me.
Seabirds fill the skies. Albatrosses with their impossible wingspans glide effortlessly over the Drake. Petrels dart between waves. Skuas patrol penguin colonies looking for an easy meal.
For detailed information on wildlife encounters, see our guide to Antarctic wildlife and our articles on penguin species and whale watching.
Weather and Conditions
Antarctic weather has a fearsome reputation, but the reality is more nuanced than you might expect. Summer temperatures on the Peninsula typically range from 25 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. That is cold, but not extreme. The challenge is the wind, which can make a relatively mild day feel bitter.
What surprised me most was how quickly conditions change. You might experience sunshine, clouds, snow, and sunshine again within a few hours. Locals call it four seasons in one day, and it is not an exaggeration.
Weather dictates everything on an expedition. Landings get modified or cancelled. Itineraries shift. Flexibility is not optional; it is essential. The expedition teams are masters at adapting, always with backup plans ready. Some of my best experiences came from changed plans.
My advice: embrace the uncertainty. The dramatic weather is part of what makes Antarctica feel like another planet.
For detailed information on temperatures and conditions by month, see our Antarctic weather guide.
Activities and Excursions
Every expedition includes zodiac rides and shore landings. These are the core of the Antarctic experience, getting you off the ship and into the landscape. Our guide on zodiac rides covers what to expect in detail.
Beyond the basics, most operators offer optional activities for additional fees. These vary by company but often include:
Kayaking lets you paddle through ice-filled waters at eye level with seals and penguins. It is peaceful, immersive, and unforgettable. Read more in our kayaking guide.
Camping puts you on Antarctic soil overnight, sleeping in a bivy bag under the midnight sun. It is cold, it is uncomfortable, and it is one of the most memorable things you can do. See our camping guide.
Snowshoeing takes you to higher viewpoints and deeper into the landscape. Our snowshoeing guide has the details.
The polar plunge is exactly what it sounds like: jumping into Antarctic waters. It is a shock, a rush, and a rite of passage. Our polar plunge guide explains what you are getting into.
My recommendation: choose one or two activities that genuinely excite you rather than trying to do everything. The standard landings and zodiac cruises provide an incredible experience on their own.
Staying Connected
Internet in Antarctica has improved dramatically. Many ships now offer Starlink connectivity, which actually works for video calls, photo uploads, and staying in touch with home.
I chose a middle path on my trip. I saved my data allowance for a few days, then connected to share photos with family and check in briefly. Having the option felt important, but I was glad not to be constantly online.
For a detailed breakdown of which operators offer what connectivity, see our guide on internet in Antarctica.
Packing and Preparation
Here is the good news: most operators provide the expensive, specialized gear. You will likely receive an expedition parka to keep and waterproof boots to borrow. This means you do not need to invest in technical polar equipment.
What you do need is a good layering system. Base layers that wick moisture. Mid layers that insulate. Your provided outer layer handles wind and water. The key is avoiding cotton, which holds moisture and makes you cold.
Beyond clothing, bring good sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, and seasickness remedies. Extra camera batteries are essential because cold drains them fast.
For a complete packing breakdown, see our Antarctica packing guide.
The Return Journey
Crossing the Drake again feels different heading home. You are tired in the best way. Your camera is full. Your mind is processing experiences that do not quite fit into normal life.
The expedition team often shows a slideshow of the voyage. People exchange contact information. There is a sense of having shared something significant with strangers who became friends.
I will not lie: returning to regular life feels strange. Antarctica stays with you. The silence, the scale, the wildlife, the ice. Many travelers start thinking about their next polar trip before they even reach Ushuaia.
What Makes Antarctica Different
I have traveled to many places, but Antarctica sits in its own category. It is not just the landscapes or the wildlife, though both are extraordinary. It is the feeling of being somewhere genuinely remote, somewhere humans are visitors rather than residents.
The other travelers add to it. People who go to Antarctica tend to share a certain curiosity and openness. Dinner conversations range widely. Friendships form fast.
The environmental awareness lingers too. Standing on a glacier, watching penguins, breathing air that feels cleaner than anywhere else, you understand viscerally why this place matters. Most travelers return as advocates for protecting it.
I went to Antarctica hoping for an adventure. I came back with something harder to name. A sense of perspective. A recalibration of what counts as beautiful and wild. A memory bank I draw from on ordinary days.
Ready to Start Planning?
If you have read this far, you are serious about going. The research phase can feel overwhelming because there is so much to consider: timing, operators, ships, itineraries, activities, budget.
Our AI assistant Flipper can help you sort through options based on your priorities. Whether you care most about wildlife, photography, budget, or comfort, Flipper can point you toward expeditions that match.
And when you are ready for detailed advice from someone who has been there, our team is available to answer questions, compare options, and help you find the right trip.
Feeling overwhelmed is normal. Everyone starts there. But Antarctica is more accessible than it seems, and the experience is worth every bit of planning that goes into it.
Start with what matters most to you, and build from there.