Take an adventure many have only dreamed of with a luxury expedition cruise to Antarctica. Also known as the Seventh Continent, the White Desert, the Land of Penguins or the Base of the Globe, Antarctica is ready to be discovered.

Why travel to Antarctica

On a luxury cruise to Antarctica, you will explore and finally discover the continent. Penguins and seals come to breed and raise their young, fledging and suckling them in the new year. Whales frolic and feed in the rich waters, peaking in numbers in late February and March. Albatrosses circle on their never-ending quest for food while orcas and leopard seals take their place at the top of the food chain.

Travel south across the Drake Passage and you will be surrounded by huge icebergs crowning the waters around the South Shetland Islands. Giant sentries protecting their kingdom, these icebergs beckon visitors to the Antarctic Peninsula, a hugely diverse and reasonably accessible frozen finger of land.

To the east is the Weddell Sea, where Shackleton’s ship Endurance was recently located, from where you can visit the emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill. Travel further, into Queen Maud Land, and you will reach a handful of stunning camps that open for brief windows in the austral summer, accessible by plane from South Africa. Meanwhile the Ross Sea, accessed from New Zealand, is where Scott made his base camp on that fateful journey.
There is so much to see and do in Antarctica, knowing where to start can be tricky. Let our polar experts help you navigate which expeditions are the best fit for you.
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KEY FACTS

CURRENCY

United States Dollar, British Pound, Euro

LANGUAGE

English

TIMEZONE

GMT - 04:00 hours

TIPPING

Not customary

PEAK TIME

November - March

USEFUL PHRASES

Aft – back of the ship
Bow – front
Port – Left
Starboard – right
Arrghhh - I'm doing the Polar Plunge!
Growlers, Bergy-bits and tabular - all types of iceberg

COLDEST MONTH

August
-20°C on average

HOTTEST MONTH

January
3°C on average

ITINERARIES

Inspirational trip ideas

These are simply suggestions for the kind of luxury tailor-made holiday you might have. Your bespoke travel itinerary will be
personalised, tweaked and refined until it matches you completely.

Ideal Length: 12 days

Visit Another Planet in Luxury

Embark on the voyage of a lifetime to Antarctica on an exclusive 10-day luxury cruise. Sailing from Puerto Williams in Chile, this is your chance to see the most wondrously alien part of the planet in unparalleled comfort and opulence.

From £7,750pp From $9,222pp

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Ideal Length: 9 days

Fly to Antarctica

Flying over the Drake Passage, notorious for its big seas not only dodges the waves but also saves time without compromising your time in the White Continent. This 9-day itinerary does that...

From £12,750pp From $17,500pp

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Ideal Length: 18 days

Shackleton’s Antarctica

Follow in the footsteps of the legendary explorer, Ernest Shackleton on this epic journey to South Georgia, The Falkland Islands, and Antarctica. Perhaps the ultimate polar journey, this combination is not only perfect for any history enthusiast, it is also a wildlife lover's dream...

From £10,580pp From $13,950pp

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SUSTAINABILITY

We believe travel is precious

The world has transformed dramatically since cazenove+loyd was founded in 1993. On every trip we take, we wonder how that destination will look in another 30 years. We are passionate about our destinations and understand that it has become more important than ever to conserve their wildlife, habitats and communities for future generations.

Our Destination Expert’s top tip

Travel in November to early December to witness the penguins’ famous mating ritual (with some luck, you might see a penguin pebble proposal).

Caroline 130
Caroline Maber

Specialises in

Polar regions, Central + South America and The Caribbean
penguins in Antarctica
Local lowdown

There is no Antarctic time zone. At the South Pole, the lines of longitude, which give us different time zones around the globe, all meet at a single point. Most of Antarctica experiences six months of constant daylight in summer and six months of darkness in winter.

Uncover history

Antarctica has its own Treaty. In December 1959, 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, an unprecedented international agreement to govern the continent together as a reserve for peace and science. Since then, 41 other countries have signed the Treaty and participate in annual meetings, where decisions are made about how human activity in Antarctica is managed.

Let us plan your perfect trip

YOUR TRIP
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What our clients say
The trip was really amazing – it has been hard to adjust to real life! Antarctica can only truly be seen one way, through experience. Neither words nor pictures can describe this magical place.
What our clients say
cazenove+loyd has unique personal connections which means every journey has a unique aspect.
What our clients say
What is so important about a cazenove+loyd trip is creating total comfort in a strange situation otherwise it can all be quite stressful.

Chat to an expert to start planning your trip

Get in touch and one of our luxury travel experts will answer any questions you may have and help create your dream tailor-made holiday.