The best time to visit Antarctica is during the the austral summer and Antarctic travel season run from mid-October through to March. Outside these times, it is not possible to travel to Antarctica. Weather, sea conditions, sunlight and wildlife sightings vary greatly as the continent’s climate can change from minute to minute, a true wilderness.
October to Early December is springtime with pristine landscapes and a surge of life. The austral summer is mid December to mid February with calmer seas, mild temperatures and an abundance of wildlife. Autumn is mid February to mid March, whale sightings are at their peak and penguins colonies are very active.
Limited capacity on our carefully selected expedition ships means that booking early and careful planning is essential when travelling to Antarctica.
Young penguin chick are now fluffy and grey and becoming more independent, whilst beaches are busy with adult penguins rushing back and forth to the rookery with food for their demanding offspring.Young penguin chick are now fluffy and grey and becoming more independent, whilst beaches are busy with adult penguins rushing back and forth to the rookery with food for their demanding offspring.
January is the best time to travel to Antarctica for relatively warm temperatures, calmer seas and an abundance of wildlife.
At 15C, much of the sea ice has receded and the melted snow reveals grey rocks so this is not the best time to see the spectacular ice formations. Instead, focus on photographing the hive of activity in the penguin rookeries and the baby seals sunbathing alongside their parents.
Springtime brings a surge of life; minke, southern right and humpback whales return to Antarctic waters to feed, along with albatross, petrels and comical blue-eyed shags. Landscapes are at their most pristine, still covered in sparkling snow, while the sea ice is at its most impressive; penguins are busy courting and nest building. It’s a great month for photographers; lengthening days are concluded with fantastic rose-coloured sunsets over dramatic landscapes.
The height of the austral summer sees 18 to 20+ hours of daylight and penguin chicks hatching, chasing after their parents. Spot seal pups on the beaches of South Georgia and baleen and toothed whales along the Antarctic Peninsula. (Generally) calmer seas, milder temperatures and an abundance of wildlife all mean that this is typically seen as the best overall time to visit Antarctica, and can be booked up years in advance.
Autumn brings receding ice and with that you can venture further south. Penguin chicks begin to moult and lose their fuzzy down but the colonies are very active; most parents have abandoned their chicks and have headed out to sea. Whale sightings are at their peak and fur seals can be found along the Peninsula with abundant young fur seals playing in South Georgia.
An encounter with a whale is one of the most memorable experiences out there, catching eye-contact always brings a sense of understanding between the two species, creating a connection and memory that will last long after your encounter ends.
Read more about Whales
The remote region of Antarctica is a photographer's paradise. From stunning ice statues and breath-taking reflections to peppy penguins and unique marine mammals there will be something to catch your photographic eye at every turn. The rugged wilderness landscape is unlike anything you will experience anywhere else in the world.
Read more about Antarctica Photography
Widely heralded as one of the world’s most understated wildlife sanctuaries, the sheer isolation of this island is just part of its appeal. A wonderland of snow, ice and inquisitive wildlife, South Georgia offers its visitors magnificent and pristine scenery.South Georgia
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Become one of only a few guests to ever stay at the most luxurious camp in the Polar Regions. The camp has a very easy and friendly feel to it and is run to strict environmental guidelines to minimise the impact on the environment. Accessible only by private charter flight, and with space for just 12 guests, Whichaway Camp is a once in a lifetime experience.
Read more about Whichaway Camp
You hear them before you see them. A loud and almost brash call that alone would be shrill enough to make you jump. As the Emperor penguins call out to each other it sounds almost like a welcoming song
Read more about the migration
Set parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, across a stretch of ocean of 540 kilometres, this archipelago is formed of some 20 islands and islets, first discovered in February 1819.
Read more about the South Shetland IslandsAt the beginning of the season in November, stay at Whichaway Camp and photograph the Akta Bay emperor penguins in spring as the chicks are just leaving their parents feet for the first time and venturing out to explore. Explore the ice waves beneath the camp, delving into the series of ice tunnels that are as surreal as they are beautiful.
There are eight species of whale found in Antarctic waters, the Orca, Blue, Minke, Fin, Humpback, Sei, Southern Right and Sperm. Whale sightings are at their peak at the end of the season; February and March.
An adventurous hike along a winding cliff face shows you stunning views of the extraordinary waves of ice that have been created over millennia by constant pressure from the ocean. Our world-class mountain guides will lead you on this challenging hike, ensuring your safety at all times.
