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Not sure which Antarctic itinerary is right for you? Use this guide on ways to explore Antarctica to find your dream itinerary. Whether you want to see the steep-sided mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula, the enormous king penguin colonies of South Georgia or venture as south as the Antarctic Circle, we’ve got an Antarctica expedition for you.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the most popular location to explore on an adventure to the region. An epic wonderland full of penguins, whales, seals, birds and breath-taking ice formations. The stunning landscape features steep-sided mountains that descend dramatically into the sea. The area is actually a part of the Scotia Arc and a continuation of the Andes mountains – resulting in beautiful steep mountain scenery. You’ll be in awe around every corner.
This itinerary sails both directions of the Drake, so you can experience a more traditional crossing like the seafarers of old. Travelling earlier in the season (late October to early January), this is the perfect trip for those who wish to see penguins building nests and forming colonies, seals having pups on the ice and seabirds forming their nests with chicks hatching.
In 2026, embark on our Special Edition Spirit of Antarctica: In Partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours and embrace the spirit of polar exploration on this classic expedition to the white continent.
You can enjoy snorkelling and kayaking on these voyages, and because they are earlier in the season, take advantage of our special camping on the ice, snowshoeing and ski/snowboard additional activities (additional costs apply).
This is a fantastic option for those who wish to incorporate a flight component into their trip, with fly/sail, sail/fly and even fly/fly options available. This itinerary travels later in the season (early January to late March). This means you will have near 24 hours of daylight, there will be more whales in the Peninsula and penguin chicks will be hatching and fledging.
For travellers who are short on time, fly across the Drake Passage in at least one direction for a condensed version of the Antarctic Explorer voyage. This voyage is tailored for travellers seeking a quick adventure to the frozen continent. Enjoy Zodiac excursions to explore rugged coastlines, where unexpected appearances from curious whales are known to occur.
Discover the underwater world of Antarctica by snorkelling or kayaking on this expedition (additional costs apply).
Sail across the famed Drake Passage to and from Antarctica, admiring spectacular seabirds and approaching the ice as the explorers of old did – by sea. With one eye on the sky, watching for skuas, terns or cormorant chicks, you will also need one eye on the water’s surface. This time of year is when humpback whales are peaking in numbers and when you may see penguin chicks heading out for their first swim.
You can enjoy snorkelling, kayaking, paddling and diving on these voyages, and because they are earlier in the season (additional costs apply).
On this voyage, the splendid scenery extends from the Antarctic Peninsula through to the Chilean Fjords, with channels flanked by majestic mountains. This itinerary travels later in the season, in March. This means you will have near 24 hours of daylight, there will be more whales in the Peninsula and penguin chicks will be hatching and fledging.
The ultimate expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula that seeks to include visits to some well-known locations and opportunities for surprise discoveries. Enjoy nine full days to discover the wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula in the peak of summer, when tiny penguin chicks are growing quickly, fur seal pups are being weaned and whales start to arrive in larger numbers to feed on krill.
Near-endless hours of daylight means more time for exploration – Zodiac cruising, walking, snowshoeing, snorkelling and kayaking (additional costs apply).
For expeditioners who prefer to focus their energy on adventures in Antarctica, flying over the Drake Passage in both directions is the ideal way to reach the white continent. In the safe hands of experienced pilots, your pulse will quicken as you glimpse the first icebergs in the Southern Ocean, where your vessel awaits, ready to take you on an exhilarating adventure.
You can enjoy snorkelling, paddling and kayaking on this voyage (additional costs apply).
Behold the stunning landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and icy waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. This unforgettable journey offers the perfect introduction to one of the most remote and beautiful regions on earth, where every moment is filled with wonder and discovery. Sail across the famed Drake Passage to and from Antarctica, admiring spectacular seabirds and approaching the ice as the explorers of old did – by sea.
You can enjoy snorkelling, paddling, scuba diving and kayaking on this voyage (additional costs apply).
Adventure lovers can aim to tick two boxes off their bucket list with this unique expedition combining an Antarctic voyage with a trek through Chile and Argentina’s Patagonian region. Witness spectacular, towering cliffs and glittering icebergs, and see playful penguins and ice seals such as leopard and crabeater seals resting on ice floes. Then shake off your sea legs with a small-group trek, focusing on the natural wonder and stunning sights of Los Glaciares National Park and Torres del Paine National Park.
Take your adventure to the next level with our kayaking, paddling and snorkelling additional activities (additional costs apply).
Elevate your experience in Antarctica with sea kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling and paddling additional activities (additional costs apply).
Further South as you cross the Antarctic Circle, it feels more remote and even colder, with great swathes of pack-ice and dreamlike icebergs.
As the name suggests, this extraordinary itinerary ventures where few dare. You’ll explore not only the wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula, but you’ll also join a privileged few who can claim to have crossed the Antarctic Circle (as far south as 66 33’ S). Here you will enter a different world that will give you sensory overload like you’ve never felt before.
In addition to snorkelling and kayaking, you can also do scuba diving, alpine trekking, snowshoeing and camping on the ice (additional costs apply).
The Weddell Sea has a very different appearance to the Peninsula, with mountains set further back from the coast coming down to gravelly plains, in what some describe as having a similar look as the Wild West or Badlands – arid terrain eroded by wind and water.
With harsher weather conditions, it can be more difficult to travel to this side. That also means there will be fewer other ships in the area as you explore the incredible landscapes that characterise the Weddell Sea. Plus, you will be rewarded by richer paleontology discoveries as the area is home to many fantastic fossils dating back to 200 million years ago.
The Wild Antarctica itinerary explores the icy perimeter of the Weddell Sea, as well as the more traditional Antarctic Peninsula region. These voyages depart later in the season (February and March) so expect somewhat shorter days, tremendous tabular icebergs as you head further and further south, and an immense array of wildlife, which play and hunt in the Antarctic Sound.
In 2027, embark on our Special Edition Wild Antarctica featuring the Weddell Sea: In Partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours to embark on an adventure to the Antarctic Peninsula with like-minded travellers (curious-minded, that is!).
Additional activities on offer include kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving (additional costs apply).
Participate in sea kayaking or attempt to repeat Shackleton’s crossing in South Georgia by foot (additional costs apply).
This is the perfect voyage for history buffs who crave an adventurous expedition. With favourable conditions we hope to spend more time enjoying the mind-blowing icy landscapes of the Weddell Sea region than on any other voyage in our collection. Follow in the footsteps of polar pioneers Otto Nordenskjöld and Sir Ernest Shackleton, and hear their tall tales of heroic exploration, tragedy and triumph.
Let our experienced Expedition Team guide you through kayaking, snorkelling or scuba diving in this region (additional costs apply).
South Georgia is known for its enormous king penguin colonies (the largest in the world) and beaches lined with elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals, so this is certainly the area to visit if you are a wildlife enthusiast. In South Georgia, you will also have the opportunity to trace the history of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s perilous journey and, if conditions allow, retrace parts of his footsteps from Fortuna Bay to Stromness.
The Falklands~Malvinas are steeped in history and are also a beacon for bird lovers, with an incredible diversity of charismatic penguin species including king, macaroni, Southern rockhopper, Magellanic and gentoo. If conditions permit, you will have the chance to visit Stanley, capital of the Falklands~Malvinas, full of terraced town houses, pioneer cottages and even an iconic red telephone box.
This voyage encompasses the best of the Antarctic Peninsula and the enchanting wildlife haven of South Georgia. Discover the historic Falklands~Malvinas and stand in awe before the world’s largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia. In Antarctica, experience the serenity and grandeur of the most remote place on earth, where penguins nest, whales feed and captivating seals frolic in ice-speckled seas.
In addition to kayaking, snorkelling and showshoeing, this itinerary offers the special activity of Shackleton’s crossing (additional costs apply).
Take in the wonders of South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, but add in the Falklands too! Similar to the above itinerary, you will have one less day in South Georgia but additional time in the Falklands~Malvinas to discover the fascinating history of the islands and encounter the spectacular birdlife found there.
On this voyages, you will be able to participate in kayaking, snorkelling and alpine trekking (additional costs apply).
On this epic voyage, not only will you explore the famed white continent, discover the Falklands~Malvinas and South Georgia, you will also sail to the South Sandwich Islands, a chain of seldom-visited volcanic islands located 740 km (460 miles) south-east of South Georgia. Simply reaching these wild, far-flung islands is an adventure.
Go kayaking or snorkelling in a corner of the world rarely visited by travellers. (additional costs apply).
Embark on an odyssey that traces the footsteps of legends like Scott, Shackleton and Mawson, as you navigate through the icy realms of the Ross Sea, Commonwealth Bay and the enigmatic coast of East Antarctica on a small, purpose-built expedition ship.
In this remote and seldom-travelled region, prepare to uncover the secrets of history hidden within the iconic huts of explorers past. Brace yourself for tales of extraordinary endurance against the harshest elements, and bear witness to the breathtaking majesty of Antarctic ice shelves that seem to defy belief.
Experience one of the most remote, historic sectors of the deep South. Spot yellow-eyed penguins waddling through wizened rātā forests and royal albatross nest amid megaherb moors. Cross the Antarctic Circle and cruise the pack, keeping watch for emperor and Adélie penguins porpoising along the ice edge, and snow petrels soaring against a backdrop of the vast Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Participate in our kayaking activity to see this unique area though a different prerspective (additional costs apply).
Retrace the historic voyage of Sir Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) and experience the grandeur of remote East Antarctica. Cross the Antarctic Circle and cruise the pack ice, skirting majestic ice cliffs and marvelling at beautifully sculpted icebergs. Conditions permitting, make landfall to explore what remains of Mawson’s main base, and be transported back to the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Then onwards to the ruggedly beautiful New Zealand subantarctic islands, nesting royal albatross, the endemic yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho), and lush megaherb meadows await.
Go kayaking in a corner of the world rarely visited by travellers (additional costs apply).
Calling all pioneers, history buffs and adventure lovers for an epic adventure across the southern seas. Follow in the footsteps of explorers such as Scott, Ross, Amundsen and Shackleton and embark on a journey very few people on this planet have made. Sail beyond the Antarctic Circle, uncover wonders of the Ross Sea, explore the Peninsula and the incredible sights in between! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the beauty and majesty of this remote and pristine environment.
Enjoy sea kayaking on this in depth-voyage (additional costs apply).
That’s OK, we’ve crafted the ultimate voyage for you!
If you just can’t decide between the wonders of the Subantarctic Islands, the majesty of the Antarctic Peninsula or the thrill of crossing the coveted Antarctic Circle – this itinerary covers them all.
Over 23 Days, you will have the chance to step ashore on the Antarctic continent to experience unforgettable vistas, raise a glass as you join a small club of people as we attempt to cross the Antarctic Circle and stand in awe at the world’s largest king penguin rookeries of South Georgia.
Take your adventure to the next level with our kayaking and snorkelling additional activities (additional costs apply).
Antarctic adventurers can aim to tick two boxes off their bucket list on this voyage, where you have the opportunity to visit regions in Antarctica that most people will never experience, not even among those who have been to Antarctica – below the Antarctic Circle and attempting to forge a path through the ice into the Weddell Sea.
Marvel at some of the most dazzling icy landscapes from above or below the water by kayaking, snorkelling or scuba diving (additional costs apply).
We’re pleased to present a collection of Special Edition Expeditions focusing on a variety of unique themes and interests. Each expedition has been specially designed to offer unique insights and perspectives as you explore the calving glaciers and iridescent icebergs of Antarctica, from a focus on photography, activities and science, to our all-new Women-Only Voyages.
Early Antarctic explorers returned from their voyages to the deep south with tales of a magnificent, ice-covered land teeming with life, and you’ll have the opportunity to do the same AND capture it all on your camera.
Immerse yourself in the unimaginable beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula, where vast glaciers tumble into the sea, penguins are dwarfed by soaring peaks, and humpback and minke whales feast on abundant krill.
Aurora Expeditions is renowned for the variety and volume of activities offered to expeditioners on our voyages. On these activity-packed sailings, you will experience the wonders of Antarctica on a deeper level. Not only will you enjoy Zodiac excursions and guided walks offered on all our voyages, but you will also sample a suite of our renowned activities. Experience unspoiled Antarctic wildlife up close; creatures that are equally as curious about you as you are about them.
you will also paddle in among icebergs in protected bays and perhaps glimpse wildlife close up. Step into your snowshoes for a gentle hike and pack a sleeping bag for a sleepover on the ice.
Embark on an Antarctic adventure with like-minded women, sailing on our small-ship expedition vessel the Sylvia Earle.
We are proud to launch this new voyage, designed by women, led by women, for women. Travelling to Antarctica will open the door to new experiences, new challenges, and with the Aurora-style of travel, new friendships too. Late summer is a great time to visit Antarctica, with active wildlife, melting ice, and generally good weather.
Take your adventure to the next level with our kayaking snorkelling, scuba diving or paddling additional activities (additional costs apply).
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