Antarctica provides its visitors with unique landscapes, adventure, and thriving wildlife, making it an attractive destination for almost anyone who likes to travel to far-off locations. If your idea of the best travel experience includes seeing amazing sights, exploring incredible one-of-a-kind places, and being off the grid, then Antarctica is the best place for your travels.
The off-the-grid icy wilderness provides visitors with a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure. If you’re looking to see the White Continent in all its glory, with pristine views and extraordinary biodiversity, it promises a most unforgettable experience.
Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a luxury traveler craving a bespoke journey, these ten must-do activities offer the perfect blend of thrill, awe, and comfort.
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1. Kayak Adventures Among Icebergs
Gliding silently through the icy waters of Antarctica in a kayak is one of the most serene and intimate ways to explore its beauty. Paddle among towering icebergs, pristine glaciers, and hidden coves, staring at their amazing reflections on the glassy water. Cruising along, you might see seals lounging on ice floes and penguins diving into the water. You can also enjoy the peacefulness of being surrounded by the endless white landscape, far away from city noises and crowds.
Antarctica offers a range of stunning kayaking routes. The specific location your group paddles in will depend on conditions and your interests, but each offers its own allure.
Explore the serene waters of Paradise Bay, where glaciers tumble into the sea, creating a maze of ice. Or navigate the Lemaire Channel, known as “Kodak Gap” for its picture-perfect views. Adventurous paddlers might aim for the Antarctic Circle, crossing this iconic boundary while surrounded by dramatic scenery. With EYOS Expeditions, your route can be tailored to your interests and the conditions, ensuring an experience that’s truly yours.
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2. Hike Near Antarctica’s Expansive Glaciers
Guided hikes through this frozen wonderland offer an intimate, up-close experience with some of the planet’s most breathtaking ice formations. Join your expedition team onshore to view the many forms of ice that actively shape the landscape of Antarctica.
With EYOS, these hikes are anything but one-size-fits-all. Each landing is curated to suit your pace, fitness, and sense of adventure, whether you’re seeking a gentle coastal walk to witness glacial lagoons or a more rigorous expedition through jagged glacial terrain. Our expert guides are deeply versed in the nuances of Antarctica’s ever-changing landscape and ensure that every step you take is safe, awe-inspiring, and entirely your own.
While nearly any stop on an Antarctic expedition offers great hiking, both Neko and Orne Harbours offer breathtaking views and varied terrain for short, long, and more challenging hikes. Donning proper snowboots, plenty of layers, snowpants, and sun protection ensures an enjoyable hike along this breathtaking and dynamic terrain.
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3. Get Up Close to Antarctic Wildlife
Antarctica’s wildlife is as unique as its landscapes. From colonies of penguins to migrating whales, the opportunities for close encounters are unmatched.
You’ll see different types of penguins, including Adélie, chinstrap, and possibly even emperor penguins with colonies numbering from dozens to tens of thousands. During their summer feeding season and yearly migration, you will likely spot humpback, minke, and orca whales. You’ll also be sure to see seals like Weddell, leopard, and elephant seals resting on the ice or swimming through the icy water.
Antarctica trips are scheduled during the Austral Summer from November to March. Each month varies in what is possible and what wildlife is most common; check the best time to visit to decide what works best for your group’s specific interests. Keep your camera ready so you can quickly snap pictures when you see the animals, but be mindful and maintain a respectful distance to avoid disturbing them in their natural habitat.
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4. Zodiac Cruises Along the Antarctic Coast
Small inflatable boats called Zodiacs are ideal for navigating the ice-strewn waters while getting closer to the coastline and ducking into coves not accessible by larger cruise ships
Explore wildlife-rich waters with flexibility, gliding through narrow channels surrounded by towering icebergs, keeping a close eye for porpoising gentoo penguins or blue-eyed shags overhead.
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5. Camping in the Antarctic Interior
For the ultimate adventure, you can spend a night camping on the Antarctic ice! While the Antarctic Peninsula is the most popular place for visitors, it is also possible to access the interior of the continent, where base camps provide access to a world of possibilities. This once-in-a-lifetime experience allows you to truly immerse yourself in the vast silence and beauty of the continent.
Highlights for a camping experience include falling asleep under the midnight sun, or if you’re traveling later in the season, you can sleep beneath the sky full of stars. The pure tranquility and peace of Antarctica’s wilderness is serene and unmatched.
When camping, our guides and experts understand that precautions are necessary for both safety and comfort, and campsites are carefully selected with both in mind. At Three Glacier Camp, for example, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. Guests stay in luxury double-walled sleeping tents that are roomy and comfortable. They are well suited to Antarctic conditions and are based on a design used by Shackleton’s Endurance expedition. Each tent houses two guests and you sleep in your polar sleeping bag with a mattress, pillow, and linens. The tents are naturally heated by the 24-hour sunlight and interior temperatures range from 25°F – 68°F (4°C – 20°C).
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6. Mountaineering and Ice Climbing Adventures
For thrill-seekers, mountaineering and ice climbing provide ways to explore Antarctica’s rugged terrain and get your adrenaline pumping. You can climb ice walls or scale snow-covered peaks, see unmatched views, and feel a true sense of accomplishment.
You can expect guided climbs on ice cliffs and challenging ascents on glaciated peaks. Our experts can provide detailed instructions for beginners and advanced routes for more experienced climbers so everyone can climb at their level of comfort.
Some of the best locations for ice climbing are Vinson Massif, Antarctica’s highest peak, for the ultimate climbing challenge for those who want to truly experience a thrill.
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7. Visit Historical Sites and Modern Research Stations
Antarctica also has a fascinating polar exploration history. From the huts of early explorers to cutting-edge research stations, visiting these sites offers insight into the location’s past and present.
Several expeditions include historical sites such as Port Lockroy, where you’ll see a restored British research station turned museum and post office. The Huts of Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott showcase preserved relics from early expeditions.
There are research stations to explore working scientific outposts like the U.S. McMurdo Station or the Argentine Esperanza Base to learn about ongoing glaciology, biology, and climate science studies.
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8. Dive Into Antarctica’s Mysterious Waters
If you’re a certified diver, you can explore Antarctica’s underwater world, home to unique life forms and icy landscapes. Ice diving is a truly thrilling way to experience an area of the continent few have ever seen.
There is so much to see here! You can look at ice formations from below, dive through kelp forests, and encounter marine wildlife in their natural habitat, including leopard seals, seastars, and sea spiders. Here, sunlight filters through the ice, creating an ethereal underwater vista for your viewing pleasure.
Due to extreme conditions, ice diving requires specialized training in safety and equipment. Therefore, only those who have been trained and received advanced certification or licensure can go diving.
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9. View Antarctica’s Vast Landscapes from Above
If you want to sightsee while flying, it offers a different perspective of Antarctica’s scale and beauty. Whether via helicopter or small plane, aerial views are always breathtaking in person (pictures can’t do them justice).You can fly over the South Pole or along the Antarctic Peninsula to view glaciers, icebergs, and mountain ranges for extraordinary views of the vast White Continent below.
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10. Cross the Antarctic Circle
Crossing the Antarctic Circle is a milestone “must-do” for adventurers. This achievement signifies reaching the southernmost latitudes and experiencing one of the most remote parts of the planet.
As you move further south, you’ll witness the dramatic landscape changes from icy coastlines to vast white deserts. You’ll also view rare wildlife and phenomena like the midnight sun.
Exploring Antarctica with EYOS
Since pioneering the category in 2008, EYOS remains the world leader in private superyacht expeditions. Known for curating highly personalized Antarctic expeditions, EYOS provides once-in-a-lifetime adventures with unmatched polar expertise.
We deliver the thrill of adventure to those ready to explore the unknown. Our private yacht charters are equipped with expert guides and expedition yachts with exploration tools and state-of-the-art amenities.
With EYOS, you can explore the wild, vast expanse of Antarctica aboard an expedition superyacht for an extraordinary personal experience.
Don’t Wait – Plan Your Antarctica Adventure Now!
When the allure of the White Continent calls, there’s no better way to answer than by embarking on an adventure expedition that combines luxury with untamed wilderness. Antarctica promises an experience that’s as exclusive as it is unforgettable.
Antarctica is a destination that challenges perceptions of adventure and beauty. From kayaking among icebergs and hiking glaciers to diving under the ice and flying over vast landscapes, it offers unparalleled experiences for the most avid travelers, adventurers, and thrillseekers. With careful planning and the right expedition provider, your journey to the White Continent will be extraordinary.
Ready to embark on your Antarctic adventure? Start planning now and prepare for the trip of a lifetime!