A bold and adventurous journey to the end of the world

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Come face to face with wild Adelie Penguins

Conquer the final frontier with an Antarctica holiday, navigating the same routes as pioneering explorers aboard an Antarctic vessel - crossing the famous Drake Passage, island-hopping around the South Shetlands, and stepping foot on the Antarctic Peninsula, leaving your footprints in the snow.

Antarctica Holidays

Travel deeper, though epic landscapes, as well as through time. Prehistoric fossil fields found on islands in the Weddell Sea provide lessons on our planet’s heritage, whilst stories of bold explorers, such as Sir Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott, inspire with their astounding tales of survival.

Today, the least visited and most inaccessible continent on Earth is still playing an important role in our history, with the impacts of climate change clearly visible in melting ice, shrinking glaciers and collapsing ice cliffs. Yet, in this desolate and remote wilderness of freezing temperatures, stormy seas, seasons of total darkness and pure light, and home to one of the world’s driest deserts, there is an abundance of life. Hundreds of thousands of penguins dominate the icy shores, with fluffy chicks demanding to be fed in the spring and adults huddling together to keep warm in the winter.

Elephant seals engage in deadly duels, whilst pods of hunting orca stalk the inky waters looking for prey. As you kayak past giant bergs across serene Antarctic bays, you might even be lucky enough to spot a humpback whale jumping out of the ocean. 

Antarctica Cruises

Choose a route according to your preferences. If you’d rather skip the seasickness, then opt to fly the Drake and land on King George Island to start your Antarctic cruise from there. If you want to follow in the footsteps of Shackleton, then take a three-week tour of Antarctica, including stops at South Georgia and the Falklands. For a truly unique Antarctic experience, wildlife enthusiasts can even participate in citizen science on a research expedition, studying marine mammals.

Your polar journey doesn’t end once you disembark your cruise ship, as seeing Antarctica in the flesh will totally transform the way you see the world. From adorable penguin encounters to the shocking frigid temperatures of a polar plunge, to a newfound appreciation for the planet - you’ve journeyed to the end of the world and back, and you’ll never be quite the same.

Featured Antarctica Trips

A Classic Antarctica Holiday offers the highlights with a round trip from Ushuaia, time in the South Shetlands and on the Antarctic Peninsula. The Antarctic Circle Cruise follows a similar route, though an extra few days will take you further south and induct you into the elite group of adventurers who have crossed over into the Antarctic Circle. The unique Antarctica Wildlife & Whale-Watching Holiday offers more than just observation, as you’ll be participating in research about humpback whales.

Though Antarctica doesn’t have much of a beaten path, there are still options to explore where few visitors tread, with a Wild Antarctica Expedition to the peninsula’s east coast and the Weddell Sea. The three-week Spirit of Shackleton Adventure places you in the snow boots of the legendary explorer, whilst the one-week Fly the Drake Holiday cuts out the nauseating Drake Passage and means you make the most of your time on the continent.

Antarctic Circle Cruise
Josh Flatman
Josh Flatman Luxury Travel Specialist
Classic Antarctica Holiday
Kat Macleod
Kat Macleod Luxury Travel Specialist
Wild Antarctica Expedition
Kat Macleod
Kat Macleod Luxury Travel Specialist
Antarctic Express
Josh Flatman
Josh Flatman Luxury Travel Specialist
Great Antarctic Expedition
Kat Macleod
Kat Macleod Luxury Travel Specialist

Where to go in Antarctica

You’ll likely start your Antarctic adventure in Punta Arenas, Chile, or Ushuaia, Argentina. From there, you’ll fly or sail across the Drake Passage until you arrive in Antarctica. The South Shetland Islands are a great introduction to Antarctica, populated by research stations, wildlife-watching opportunities, and mysterious volcanic activity. The Antarctica Peninsula is usually explored from the scenic west coast with the option to venture far south and cross the line into the Antarctic Circle, though the east coast and the Weddell Sea have their own treasures in fossil fields and ship-wrecking histories.

Depending on your time and preferences, you might also like to add time in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, extending your Antarctic expedition and following the trail and legacy left by Sir Ernest Shackleton.

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"Our trip was a dream come true. The arrangements made by Wayfairer exceeded our expectations. The accommodations were as good or better than the descriptions in our trip documents. The staff at each camp were wonderful and the guides were knowledgeable and friendly. We will highly recommend Wayfairer to any of our friends who are considering an adventure vacation."

"Wayfairer are absolutely superb - from our initial consultation, the advice on destination, the booking process, the concierge service, the recommendation of hotels, organisation of transport, advice on activities to the friendliness of stay it could not have been better. We will look to book all big holidays with Wayfairer from now on and will recommend them to everyone."

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More Antarctica travel inspiration from Wayfairer customers and travel specialists