11 best cruises to Antarctica

As with any trip, a trip to Antarctica must start with preparation. In this case, it will not be enough to limit yourself to ordering and paying for the tour. We have prepared for you a detailed description of routes, programs, a list of things you need to take with you and other useful information. So, our review of the best and cruises to Antarctica, which will give a lot of impressions and emotions.

About the history of tourism in Antarctica

Not so long ago, our ideas about travel to the South Pole were limited to the achievements of expeditions by polar explorers and a few extreme sportsmen. But fascinating stories about the wild nature of Antarctica, bound by ice, photographs of its inhabitants, impressions of weather surprises - all this haunted many adventure lovers.

Maritime traffic with Antarctica began in the 1920s, when mail ships from the Falkland Islands began delivering mail and equipment for whalers to the mainland. And the first commercial expeditions began to transport tourists only in the 60s, but they were still rare lucky ones. After 10 years, the interest of tourists in this direction was supported by air carriers, having organized air flights to Antarctica. They were carried out from Australia and New Zealand.

The real tourist flow began in the 90s, when several operators began to draw up cruise routes to the land of icebergs. A real boom in extreme tourism was noted after 2000, and in recent seasons, Antarctica has been visited by about 50 thousand travelers. True, the percentage of Russians in this number is small, but the interest of our tourists is growing every season. Everyone has one dream - to see the endless rocky land, bound by snow, floating ice blocks-icebergs guarding the approaches to the coast, dark, restless ocean waters that have become home to seals and whales, and, of course, a colony of handsome penguins.

Antarctica carefully protects its territory from the intense human presence. Safety and environmental responsibility are monitored by an International Association formed by Antarctic tour operators. According to the Antarctic Treaty, today every tour operator must have a permit to visit the southernmost continent.

The main thing that you must understand is that a cruise to Antarctica will be an extreme vacation. After realizing and weighing your strengths and financial capabilities, you can begin to select a tour and get acquainted with the intricacies of the routes.

Choosing a route

You can get to Antarctica only by air or by sea. Today, the coast of the southern continent receives airplanes, cruise ships, private yachts and icebreakers.

Flights to the southern continent are made by:

• airline DAP (from Pointe Arenas, Chile)
• airline ALCI (from Cape Town, South Africa)
• airline Croydon Travel's Antarctica (non-stop sightseeing flights over Antarctica; duration 12-13 hours)

Delivery of passengers by sea is carried out by:

• Argentina, port of Ushuaia
• O. Tasmania (Australia), Port of Hobart
• South Africa, Cape Town
• Chile, Punta Arenas
• New Zealand, port of Lyttelton (many flights to Antarctica depart from here, including Macquarie Island)

Departure point - Argentina

From Argentina to the Antarctic coast, tourists can only get by sea. The main Argentine port, accepting ships of this direction, is located in the very south of the country, in the city of Ushuaia. For tourists, this is the most economical and shortest way. Different ships dock here: luxury, expeditionary and economy class.

When choosing a tour, pay attention to the class of the vessel. This is an important factor that should meet your needs. Remember that comfort on a sea voyage is directly proportional to the cost. From the port of Ushuaia to Antarctica about 2 days. A significant disadvantage that frightens many on this route is the Drake Passage or the “roaring forties”. It is known as a place of strong winds, and the captains of ships call a storm of 4 points a real calm for these places.

Of course, tour operators and ship owners are very responsible for the safety of tourists on the routes. By the way, the purchase of insurance, which includes the possibility of evacuating the injured person from the ship by helicopter, is obligatory for every tourist. First of all, safety and the possibility of timely medical assistance. This is facilitated by both weather reports and briefings for passengers. On board ships, a training alert in full equipment is required with a trial placement of passengers in lifeboats.

Exquisite 19-day voyage on Silver Explorer

Dates: from 16.01.2020 - 03.02.2020

Cost: from 25 380 €

The starting point is the Argentine port of Ushuaia, surrounded by virgin forests and a picturesque chain of mountains, whose name translates as “a bay at the end of the earth”. Departing from the quiet Beagle Channel on a luxury liner, you will enter the Drake Passage, which sailors call the "window" of the westerly winds. The entrance to Antarctic Sound Bay is a spectacular show of futuristic constructions of shining icebergs.

Passing through deep bays past artsy fjords, the ship will approach the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, where tourists will meet polar explorers working at scientific stations. From here, on inflatable boats, you will be lucky enough to observe penguins, seals and cormorant nests up close. The cruise will continue to the South Shetland Islands, an impressive whale cemetery on Aitcho Island and the smoking craters of volcanoes heating up the thermal lakes on Deception Island.

After enjoying the lunar exoticism of the Antarctic islands, the liner heads to the Falkland Islands, chosen by the families of the most loyal Magellanic penguins, populations of elephant seals and rare birds. After docking at Stanley Harbor, pay a courtesy visit to the Governor's House by signing the visitors' book.

Driving north, accompanied by black and white dolphins, dock at Puerto Deseado, where you will be captured by close-up observation of the habits of sea lions and the lives of thousands of penguin families lazily strolling along the coast, arguing over nests and cleaning feathers. Continuing along the route drawn by Magellan, you will arrive in Buenos Aires - the final destination of the cruise.

Magic voyage for 19 days on the ship Silver Explorer

Date: January 2019 - February 2020

Cost: from 21 960 €

The port on the Argentine island of Tierra del Fuego serves as the beginning of the journey to the mysterious snow-covered mainland of Antarctica. Sailing through the eternal stormy Drake Passage past rocky shores inhabited by penguins, seals and populations of rare birds, you will descend to the land of the Falkland Islands archipelago. They will impress with huge herds of sheep grazing on pastures, the most common habitat of Magellanic penguins and elephant seals.

Arriving at Port Stanley, enchanting with its brightly painted houses built from old ships, take in the sights and relax in cozy pubs after a tour. The South Georgia Archipelago, formerly the center of whaling, will amaze with snow-capped mountain landscapes, grandiose glaciers and picturesque fjords. You will admire the king penguins and the Gintu penguins, observe the habits of the fur seals that live on the coasts.

Picturesque landscapes of Mordvinov Island and breathtaking views of huge icebergs will certainly remain in the Antarctic cruise photo album.As you approach the Antarctic Peninsula with its many scientific stations, you will meet polar explorers. From here, sail to nearby islands by boat for a close-up view of fountain whales and penguin life.

In the South Shetland Islands, you will be amazed by the fantastic lunar landscape of Deception Island with a coastline enveloped in steam emanating from thermal lakes where you can swim fearlessly. The Antarctic cruise leaves in the memory a sea of ​​vivid impressions of the most mysterious continent of the planet.

Great voyage for 17 days on Silver Cloud Expedition

Cost: from 13 400 €

Dates: 11/24/2019 - 12/10/2019

The expedition ship will cruise to the snow-covered Antarctic landscapes from the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. Sailing along the route discovered by the famous navigator Fernand Magellan, the ship will make its first stop at the port of Puerto Madryn for an excursion to the habitat of the world's largest colony of Magellanic penguins. The island of New Island in the Falkland Archipelago will surprise you with a variety of penguins and marine animals not found in other parts of the world.

The area is filled with polyphony of thin-billed whale birds, magellanic gulls, black-browed albatrosses, and brown skuas. At Stanley Harbor, see the sights of the town and unwind in one of the cozy pubs. Passing the exotic island of Mordvinov, similar in outline to the head of an elephant, in the Antarctic Sound Strait, admire the beauty of shining ice and icebergs. On the most inhabited area of ​​Antarctica - the Antarctic Peninsula, there are many scientific stations, with which are adjacent rookeries of crabeater seals and leopard seals, noisy bird colonies.

On the coastal islands, tourists visit colonies of 3 types of penguins. There is something to surprise travelers in the rocky South Shetland Islands. Maneuvering between the small islands of the archipelago, the liner will practically enter the bosom of a volcanic crater - Deception Island. A picture of a deserted coast enveloped in steam will appear before your eyes. In this way, a volcano that has not gone out heats up the coastal pool, inviting daredevils to swim in Antarctica. From here, the ship, entering the Drake Passage, moves north to Ushuaia, meeting sea giants - whales on the way.

An exquisite 19-day voyage on board the Silver Explorer

Cost: from 25 380 €

Dates: 01/16/2020 - 02/03/2020

Sailing from the port - "a bay at the end of the earth" with amazing sea, forest and mountain landscapes, the liner heads for the Falkland Islands, cutting through the raging waves of the Drake Passage. The picturesque landscapes of New Island have become a habitat for the rarest animals and numerous bird colonies. Tourists are delighted with handsome penguins, seals and sea lions, who are not at all afraid of people.

An excursion around the capital of the Falklands, the port city of Stanley, will remain in your memory and wonderful photos.
When approaching the island of Mordvinov, tourists expect a solid dose of adrenaline from the maneuvering of the ship between numerous icebergs, striking in their shape and beauty. Entering the Antarctic Sound, which stretches for 50 kilometers to the Antarctic Peninsula, you will be amazed not only by the beauty of the huge icebergs.

Mooring to the Antarctic Peninsula, reminiscent of the landscapes of the tundra, your head will go dizzy from the diversity of the animal world with the rare penguins Ghent and Adélie, unique Antarctic birds. The discovery will be the existence of predatory sea leopards that live only here, head-like tyrannosaurs and crabeater seals.

Antarctica will meet the fantastic landscapes of the South Scottish Islands with a whale cemetery and volcanic warm lakes of Despsion Island, in which brave tourists love to swim. From here, the liner turns north, once again fighting the raging waves of the Drake Passage, and arrives at the port of Ushuaia, closing the cruise circle.

Unique 16-day cruise with Silversea

Dates: 12/20/2019 - 01/04/2020

Cost: from 16 700 €

Departing from the southern gates of the world, the liner, overcoming the raging waters of the Drake Passage, which serves as an overpass from the archipelago "Tierra del Fuego" to the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, will make the first stops off the coast of the Falkland Islands. West Point, enchanted by the beauty of the wild, Saunders Island will surprise you with the number of populations of penguin species: crested rockhoppers, royal, Magellanic and a family of rare elephant seals.

Port Stanley will enjoy the picturesque houses built from shipwrecked ships, the old governor's residence and the cozy atmosphere of the pubs. On the way to the Antarctic Peninsula, tourists will experience a sea of ​​emotions from the passages through narrow corridors formed by grandiose ice icebergs and stone fjords.

Maneuvering between floating icebergs, you will get closer to the Antarctic Peninsula, in the vastness of which you will get acquainted with natural oases, scientific stations and the richness of the animal world with bird colonies, penguins of the Ghent and Adelie species and seal rookeries. The South Shetland Islands in Antarctica will surprise you with the futuristic landscapes of Deception Island, wrapped in vapor emanating from volcanic lakes. From here, the ship will return along the Drake Passage.

Scenic trip for 16 days

Date: 11/16/2020 - 12/01/2020

Price: 10 980 euro

The Argentine port, the southernmost city in the world, serves as the beginning and end of an exciting journey into the icy desert - Antarctica, comparable to an alien civilization. Moving through the restless Drake Passage, travelers make a landing in the Falkland Islands, inhabited by only 3 thousand inhabitants, more than 200 thousand 5 species of penguins, 500 thousand sheep, hordes of comorans and huge pigeons. On Sea Lion Island, sandy and pebble beaches are occupied by hundreds of elephant seals.

Moving towards the Antarctic Peninsula, bypassing scenic straits and ice tunnels, will live up to your expectations. The enthusiastic emotions caused by huge ice icebergs, shimmering blue in the sun, bizarre fjords, populations of penguins, fur seals and seals that settled on rocky islands, you will capture in photographs.

Landing on the Antarctic Peninsula will present memorable meetings with the staff of scientific stations, boat trips to nearby islands to visit penguins and other Antarctic inhabitants. After sailing to the South Shetland Islands, visit the island that has become a graveyard of whales. An unforgettable adventure in Antarctica will be swimming in the lakes of Deception Island, heated by undying volcanoes. Whales are often seen in the Drake Passage, making it an unforgettable end-of-cruise event.

Bright voyage for 13 days

Cost: from 15 700 €

Dates: January 2019 - March 2020

The Argentine port of Ushuaia, nestled at the end of the earth, opens the gateway to the snow-covered land of penguins and icebergs. A voyage on a cruise ship runs through the adrenaline-pumping Drake Passage, laid in ancient times by Magellan. Breaking through violent waves, breaking through thick fogs, tourists will be rewarded with heavens colored with fantastic rainbows, a spectacle with the noise of breaking ice floes and endless admiration for penguins, flights of proud petrels and albatrosses.

In the Antarctic Sound, stand on deck and enjoy an impressive view of shimmering icebergs as you pass a narrow corridor formed by fjords and glaciers. On the Antarctic Peninsula, stay for a few days to meet with polar scientists and observe leopard seals - seals with spotted skin. You will experience an indescribable feeling while gazing at the futuristic snowy landscape, climbing to the top of one of the mountains, which stretch along a chain near the coast.

There are many islands scattered around the peninsula. Tourists go to them by boat to get acquainted with the habits of the Gentu and Chinstrap penguins, to visit the places chosen by blue-eyed cormorants. The final chord of the cruise will be a visit to the islands of the Shetland archipelago. The most spectacular of them - Deception Island, due to a volcanic eruption, has acquired the shape of a horseshoe. According to the tourist legend, visiting the island brings good luck. Having rounded the archipelago by the Drake Passage, the ship returns to Ushuaia.

Radiant voyage for 16 days on Silver Cloud Expedition

Dates: 01/04/2020 - 01/19/2020

Price: 20 430 €

Departing from the southern tip of Argentina, tourists begin their voyage through the hectic Drake Passage, heading for the rocky shores of South Georgia. Entering the water area of ​​the cozy bay of Neko, tourists are amazed at the beauty of the icebergs casting blue, then they are charged with adrenaline, passing through the narrow ice tunnel of the Lemer Canal.

South Georgia conquers with fantastic landscapes with powerful glaciers and picturesque fjords. On the islands, the behavior of amusing little Adélie penguins and large king penguins amuses. It is curious to see seals and elephant seals napping on rocky beaches. Tourists will see the only settlement in the archipelago of Grytviken, which was previously a whaling base, where only 30 people live, and there are empty soldiers' barracks left over from the Falklands War.

Sailing through the Antarctic Sound with populations of penguins and unique northern birds on rocky shores, you will encounter a succession of drifting icebergs and pieces of ice crunching from glaciers. The Antarctic Peninsula will be remembered for meetings with scientists at polar stations, a variety of species of seals, the beauty of the mountains and swimming to the islands inhabited by 3 species of funny penguins.

In the water area of ​​the peninsula there are whales - humpback whales, minke whales and killer whales. Unexpected surprises will be presented by the South Shetland Islands, formed by volcanic eruptions and landing on Deception Island, shrouded in vapor emanating from hot volcanic lakes. From here, the voyage will continue along the Drake Passage to the port of Ushuaia.

A radiant journey for 11 days

Date: January 2019 - March 2021

Price: 10 710 euro

A ten-day journey through the breathtaking corners of Antarctica is a unique chance to feel the mysterious atmosphere of the snow-covered continent with eternal ice. Departing from the port of Ushuaia, sheltered from the winds in the quiet harbor of Beagle, the ship will sail through the turbulent Drake Passage, blown by westerly winds. The mesmerizing beauty of rocky cliffs with snow-capped peaks and icebergs shimmering in the sun appears before the eyes of tourists.

From the deck of the ship, it is fascinating to observe crowds of penguins, populations of fur seals, sea lions, cormorants and albatrosses that have settled down on the shores and small islands. The first landing on the land of the Antarctic Peninsula will turn into a sea of ​​emotions from meetings with polar scientists, from breathtaking landscapes opening from a mountain peak and observing leopard seals that inhabit this land. An exciting adventure will be sailing on boats to the islands inhabited by 3 types of penguins.

Tourists are warned that it is possible to approach penguins at a distance of at least 5 meters, but curious birds often approach people themselves. The further journey will be remembered by the meeting with humpback whales and killer whales, announcing the space with their voices. Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands will remain in photographs as unrealistic cosmic landscapes formed by volcanic eruptions and steaming lakes. Along the raging waves of the Drake Passage, the liner will complete the cruise with an arrival in Ushuaia.

Unmatched voyage for 16 days Silver Cloud Expedition

Dates: 01/05/2021 - 01/20/2020

Price: 16 650 €

Maneuvering between floating icebergs on the stormy Drake Passage, it will moor off the coast of the South Georgia archipelago. Tourists will visit the village of Grytviken, seeing the remains of a former whaling base, the grave of the conqueror of Antarctica, the navigator Shackleton, and enjoy the landscapes of grandiose glaciers and wave-polished fjords. Further, tourists will feel the solid ground under their feet on the island of Mordvinov (Elephant), similar in outline to the head of an elephant.

Scientists live here at polar stations and penguins waddle about, not paying attention to people. An unforgettable experience will be landing on the Antarctic Peninsula with colonies of amazing crabeater seals and leopard seals, sailing on boats to a scattering of islands - the habitats of crested, macaroni and gentoo penguins, to bird nests of cormorants, petrels and other Antarctic birds.

On the way to the South Shetland Islands, tourists will admire, like alien landscapes, they will be amazed by the elephants falling with an ominous crash into the ocean and the singing songs of elephants sailing not far from the ship. The horseshoe-like volcanic island of Deception will surprise you with thermal lakes, from where the ship with tourists, being impressed by what they saw, will return along the Drake Passage.

Expedition to Antarctica from Argentina on L'Austral

Dates: 11/15/2019 - 11/30/2019

Cost: from 12 310 €

In the city of Ushuaia, located on the southern tip of the island of Tierra del Fuego, after a walk through the Cerro Alarken reserve, tourists sail on a ship on an expedition to the kingdom of eternal ice and penguins. The first landing on land - the capital of the Falkland Islands, the port city of Stanley will surprise you with the absence of stone buildings and local fauna with large colonies of penguins - rockhoppers and Magellanic penguins living in burrows, sea lions and nesting sites of rare birds - black albatrosses.

Passing the gloomy cliffs in the strait, the liner will stop near the island of South Georgia with the only settlement of Grytviken. Hikers will take stunning photos of formidable fjords, snow-capped peaks and smoking volcanoes.The excursions to the former whaling station, the habitat of albatrosses and king penguins with yellow-orange feathers on the chest and head, will be remembered.

In the South Shetland Islands, he will conquer the volcanic landscape of Deception Island with a harbor sheltered from the winds and warm lakes inviting to swim in Antarctica. From an emotionally charged boat voyage to the penguins' abode of the Antarctic Peninsula, walking along the valley of icebergs - the Lemer Canal with ice walls hanging over the ship, tourists take a breath in the quiet harbor of Neko.

Against the lush backdrop of wildlife, they will take amazing pictures and see the amazing sight of the whales feeding. The Antarctic Expedition ends with a sailing tour of the stormy Drake Passage with penguin seabird watching and arrival at the port of Ushuaia.

Departure point - Chile

From the capital of Patagonia, the city of Punta Arenas, both sea vessels and commercial flights leave for Antarctica. Air carriers for these flights are intended for aircraft with accommodation on board from 7 to 70 passengers. Air travel from the Chilean coast is designed for one or two days.

Departing from Punta Arenas to Antarctica, you can bypass the dreaded Drake Passage. These routes transit through King George Island, which you will reach after a 2-hour flight from the north coast of the Strait of Magellan. You can see the Storm Channel from the plane's window, however, if you are lucky with the weather. After visiting the Russian Research Station Bellingshausen, located on the island, with an excursion, you will be accommodated on a ship plying in the direction of Antarctica. This route significantly saves the time of the sea route.

Departure point - New Zealand

New Zealand's two major transport hubs, Lyttelton and Christchurch, offer both sea and air connections to Antarctica. New Zealand air carriers perform both non-stop flights (sightseeing tours) and flights with a landing on the ice strip named after I. Wilkins. Australian aircraft also land in Antarctica, but they are intended only for scientific expeditions.

Expeditionary ships - amenities

Expeditionary ships sailing towards the South Pole have their advantages and disadvantages. As a rule, these are ships that have lost their relevance for scientific work and converted to carry passengers.

The advantages of these icebreakers (Plancius, Akademik Sergei Vavilov, Clipper Adventurer) include maneuverability. It allows the ship to wade through the ice to hard-to-reach places, and tourists to land more often ashore. Their capacity ranges from 100 to 130 people, not including crew members.

Cabins can be either with or without conveniences; free access to the restaurant, the lecture hall and the rest room is provided. Communication with the outside world via the Internet or by satellite phone. For shooting equipment, you will definitely need: additional batteries (the cold quickly "eats up" the charge), a UV filter or a light filter.

On board the ship, depending on the class, there may be: a gym, a sauna with a swimming pool, a massage room.

Nuclear icebreakers (Kapitan Khlebnikov, Kapitan Dranitsyn, 50 Years of Victory) have their own characteristics. In addition to rescue boats, such icebreakers are also equipped with helicopters for disembarking passengers ashore. The "green light" is on for them in all weather conditions and navigation for them is possible in the most inaccessible places of the Antarctic coast.

Sailing ships also ply in the direction of the southern continent. There are about two dozen of them, and the main task that is set before them is the work of expeditions. In this case, passengers-tourists are taken on board, but their number is extremely limited, from 5 to 20 people. There is no need to talk about comfort. As a rule, these are bunks in a shared cabin. The full compensation for the inconvenience on such yachts will be the absolute freedom of movement along the coast of Antarctica, depending only on weather conditions.

Cruise liners are the most popular option for Antarctic travel. But here all the advantages of comfort will be associated with limitations. The cruise ship takes on board from 200 to 1000 passengers. You should be aware that landings are allowed only from those ships, the number of passengers on which does not exceed 500 people. In general, all cruise ships are subject to restrictions. And even liners that carry from 200 to 500 tourists have the right to anchor only in certain places and for a limited time.

Such restrictions are primarily associated with the protection of the ecosystem, prescribed in the Antarctic Treaty. The conditions of stay of tourists on cruise ships are very comfortable. The main thing is that on such a ship seasickness is more easily tolerated during a storm. Other pluses - a standard set of "stars": recreation areas with observation decks, swimming pools, gyms and beauty salons, restaurants, halls for entertainment evenings. For a comfortable stay, everything is provided in the cabins.

When to go

When thinking about Antarctica, one should always remember that this is the opposite hemisphere of the Earth, and, therefore, the opposite is true: when it is winter in our latitudes, it is summer there. The mainland is the coldest, the air humidity is low, precipitation is mainly in the form of snow, and the temperature in January, the warmest month, does not rise above 10 °. For tourists, the season opens in November and lasts until March inclusive.

October November

Time of the beginning of the Antarctic spring. The ice shackles still do not allow ships to enter small bays, the navigation situation is unstable, the weather presents many surprises, but the feeling of spring awakening is present in many ways. Low clouds are carried by the winds, allowing the bright sun to illuminate the rugged coastline with searchlights. At this time, the owners of the continent, penguins, choose a mate for themselves. First, they give stones to their chosen ones as a sign of love, and then they begin to build their nests from the same stones, not hesitating to steal a couple of stones from a neighbor. A funny sight!

December - January

The time of spring bloom. At this time, the sun is already very active, and icebergs are dazzlingly shining in its rays. The activity of penguins is purposeful: they are looking for food for already hatched chicks. The peak of the season is found by the participants of New Year's cruises. At this time, tour operators organize special family trips, where a program for children with Christmas gifts and a festive menu is thought out.

February March

End of the Antarctic season. The weather is less and less happy with sunny days, the sky is getting heavier, but this has not yet stopped the stormy life of the coast. Walruses and seals boldly pose in front of cameras, grown-up penguin chicks demonstrate their character, and a real whale safari can be observed in the dark waters of the ocean. At this time, by the end of the day, the sun already goes beyond the horizon, and frosts begin at night.

Landings on the Antarctic coast

It became clear that not only nature lovers, but also adventure seekers, extreme lovers and photo hunters go to Antarctica for vivid impressions and thrills. In addition to all the "delights" of sea travel, the most important thing awaits tourists - access to the coast.

The number of tourist walks on the Antarctic coast directly depends on the capabilities of the vessel (the fewer the number of passengers, the more often you can disembark), and on the weather (how lucky you are).Therefore, the more time you want to spend with penguins and walruses, the more preferable an expedition ship will be. Anchored, rubber motor boats "Zodiac", which have high maneuverability in difficult weather conditions, are lowered into the water. In addition to expeditionary and rescue purposes, they can be used for excursion walks and tourist disembarkations. On these mobile boats, tourists are taken in small groups to seals and walrus rookeries, to bird colonies on the rocks, and simply ride among the accumulation of icebergs.

Some excursion landings include a visit to a research base and an acquaintance with the life of scientists working in Antarctica for months. At the request of tourists, a hike can be organized to the dilapidated shelter of whalers, where the imagination will help to imagine the conditions in which whale hunters once worked.

Antarctic tourism in the program often includes trials for extreme lovers. These include skiing and snowmobiling among the icy slopes of the coast, kayaking for the skilled, spending the night on the ground in small tents and sleeping bags, snowshoe hiking, and even diving under the ice shelves.

Taking into account the degree of risk of such tourist attractions, each cruise participant must first fill out and certify with his doctor the IAATO medical questionnaire. This procedure must be completed before the registration of documents for the tour. The questionnaire must be in the hands of the tourist for submission to the ship's doctor.

What to take on a trip

Understandably, for a trip to a cold continent, you would prefer to pack warm clothes. But take your time, the wardrobe should be thought out. On a trip to snow, cold winds and storms, you will definitely need: thermal underwear, waterproof insulated jacket and trousers, warm hat and gloves. It is advisable that all outerwear is waterproof. The basic rule of keeping warm is the layering of clothing. Remember how in childhood our grandmothers dressed us as "cabbage". This is exactly the case.

When choosing a tour, be sure to clarify the issue of equipment, since many companies have all or part of the overalls already included in the price. For disembarkation, the ship's crew provides all tourists with special rubber boots with insulation. It is likely that you will return from the cruise with a gift - a warm polar jacket.

By the way, if your travel itinerary includes the port of Lockroy, then do not forget to take your passport with you. Here they put down the company seals-stamps with the image of a penguin, indicating your official stay in Antarctica.

How much does a ride cost

Before seeing the ice shelves and Antarctic fauna with their own eyes, everyone wonders about the budget for the trip. Independent calculations, even based on the prices set by tour operators, are indispensable. A cruise to Antarctica is almost always individually oriented.

Of course, the information on the websites of tour operators will guide you on the cost of the package and indicate what is included in this package of services. Almost all agencies do not include the cost of flights and the cost of insurance, and Russian-speaking groups, as a rule, gather at the point of departure of the ship or aircraft. Remember, the smaller the group size, the more expensive the tour.

The tour cost depends on:

• group size
• tour durations (weekly, 10-12 days, two weeks, even up to 30 days)
• ship class (sea, air)
• service level
• departure dates
• richness of the program

The average price for 10 days will be approximately in the range from $ 5,000 to $ 10,000, and the budget for a long trip can go up to $ 20,000.

At present, the formation of Russian tourist groups in Russia with a flight from Moscow or St. Petersburg is already practiced. But in this case, additional payment for flights and transfers to the cruise ship is provided.

An unforgettable experience

Fortunately, in recent years, Russian tourists more and more often step on the cold coast of Antarctica and bring a lot of impressions pouring out reviews on the Internet. They infect with their stories those who have not yet decided on such a trip, and the feelings of the pioneers received. Every year the possibilities of Antarctic tourism only expand and open up new horizons for adventure lovers. Even if you have to save some time and save money for such an outing. Trust me, it's worth it.

The first people who are attracted by Antarctica are people interested in the ecosystem of our planet. It is difficult to describe the uniqueness and pristine nature of this continent in words. It must be seen and felt. Fans of extreme sports show a special interest in the Antarctic travel for another test of their own capabilities, photographers for whom the ice coast becomes a real film set, and divers who realize their desire to see the world from under the ice.

Travel advice

• Talk to your doctor about a travel permit to Antarctica.
• Before traveling, check the type of insurance and pay for it.
• Remember, it's cold out there. Clothes should be in season.
• The Antarctic Agreement should be carefully studied. Don't be formal about it.
• The conditions of stay of tourists in Antarctica are changing, tour operators are adjusting. Even if you have been saving money for a trip for more than one year, stay tuned for changes in the conditions of the tours.

Remember that Antarctica is a “common” continent for all inhabitants of the planet. By entering this land, you will represent your country. Strictly observe the rules of conduct on the continent established by the agreement on Antarctica (do not disturb the inhabitants, do not litter, do not destroy buildings, do not leave autographs on the rocks, do not take anything with you as souvenirs). Your legacy after the trip is a baggage of impressions and beautiful photographs.

Video: Cruise to Antarctica aboard Le Boreal