Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent, containing the geographic South Pole.
It is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents.
Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 inches) along the coast and far less inland.
Antarctica is divided in two by the Transantarctic Mountains close to the neck between the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea. The portion west of the Weddell Sea and east of the Ross Sea is called West Antarctica and the remainder East Antarctica. West Antarctica is covered by the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
East Antarctica lies on the Indian Ocean side of the Transantarctic Mountains and comprises Coats Land, Queen Maud Land, Enderby Land, Mac Robertson Land, Wilkes Land and Victoria Land. East Antarctica is largely covered by the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Antarctica has no government, although various countries claim sovereignty in certain regions. A number of governments maintain permanent manned research stations throughout the continent. The number of people conducting and supporting scientific research and other work on the continent and its nearby islands varies from about 1,000 in winter to about 5,000 in the summer.
Few terrestrial vertebrates live in Antarctica. The Snow Petrel is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in Antarctica. Antarctic sea life includes penguins, blue whales, orcas, colossal squids and fur seals. The Emperor Penguin is the only penguin that breeds during the winter in Antarctica, while the Adélie Penguin breeds farther south than any other penguin. The Rockhopper Penguin has distinctive feathers around the eyes, giving the appearance of elaborate eyelashes. King Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins, and Gentoo Penguins also breed in the Antarctic. The Weddell Seal, a “true seal”, is named after Sir James Weddell, commander of British sealing expeditions in the Weddell Sea.
Antarctica Custom Trips and Experiences
Antarctic Explorer’s Voyage
Join us for this exciting voyage of exploration aboard m/v Plancius. All itineraries are for guidance only and flexibility is key during these rare and thrilling expeditions. Since information about most of the landing sites is limited or unknown, this target itinerary can only mention scheduled landings and general information.
Antarctic Peninsula – Basecamp Plancius Expedition
The 12-day Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp Plancius cruise offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic Region. This expedition allows you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.
Antarctica Express Air-Cruise
Cross the mythical waters of the Drake Passage to King George Island in the South Shetlands for 6D/5N starting at $6,495.00 per person. Our Antarctica Express Air-Cruise Tour Package includes a visit to Cape Horn and a quick visit to Antarctica at a very affordable price.
Antarctica Whale Watching Cruise
This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise aboard the m/v Hondius will take you further south of Antarctica, crossing the Polar Circle. This expedition cruise passes through waters traveled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Including photo workshops with Massimo Bassano and video workshops with Myriam Casper. Acoustic with Sara Tores Ortiz and Lee Miller.
Classic Antarctica Expedition Cruise including Deception Island
Come to Antarctica and say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins. Your Antarctic expedition cruise will thoroughly acquaint you with Antarctica’s wondrous ice wildernesses, bringing out your inner explorer as you tour colossal glacier fronts, dazzling berg-filled bays, and shorelines surrounded by towering, snow-swept mountains.
Falkland Islands and South Georgia Small Ship Expedition
Start your high-end wilderness adventure in the Falklands Islands and South Georgia. Feeling more like private yachts than cruise ships, small expedition vessels give you privileged access to the islands of the South Atlantic, taking you where larger ships cannot. With a smaller number of passengers, disembarkation is fast and efficient so you spend time exploring, not waiting.
Polar Circle Air-Cruise – Ocean Nova
Flying over Cape Horn and the mythical waters of the Drake Passage, you are invited to a unique experience that will take you to one of the most remote places on earth, the coldest, highest, windiest, driest, and most inhospitable continent – Antarctica.
Polar Circle Antarctic Peninsula Expedition
M/V Plancius was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named Hr. Ms. Tydeman. M/V Plancius can accommodate 110 passengers in 53 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower: 26 twin cabins with window, 2 twin deluxe cabins, 10 superior cabins, 9 twin porthole cabins, 2 triple porthole cabins, 4 quadruple porthole cabins.
Ross Sea With Helicopters Expedition – West
Sail to the southern parts of the Antarctic Peninsula, Peter I Island, the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas into the Ross Sea. Visiting the Ross Ice-shelf, Dry Valleys, McMurdo Station, Campbell Island and the historic huts of Scott and Shackleton. The vessel is re-flagged and renamed Ortelius. Ortelius is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and flies the Cyprus flag.
Weddell Sea Antarctica – In Search of the Emperor Penguin with Helicopters
A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos. Ortelius was built in Gdynia, Poland in 1989, was named Marina Svetaeva, and served as a special purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science.
“As a kid, I read about Ernest Shackleton, and I have always been fascinated by the desolation of our southernmost continent. Even today, modern day adventurers can still get a sense of the history and astonishing bravery of those first explorers”.
All Antarctica Trips
- Antarctic Explorer’s Voyage
- Antarctic Peninsula – Basecamp Plancius Expedition
- Antarctica Express Air-Cruise
- Antarctica Whale Watching Cruise
- Classic Antarctica Expedition Cruise including Deception Island
- Falkland Islands and South Georgia Small Ship Expedition
- Polar Circle Air-Cruise – Ocean Nova
- Polar Circle Antarctic Peninsula Expedition
- Ross Sea With Helicopters Expedition – West
- Weddell Sea Antarctica – In Search of the Emperor Penguin with Helicopters
