The cheapest way to visit Antarctica is by cruising on a larger ship that sails by the continent but doesn't let passengers go ashore. Instead, you will sail to the Antarctic Peninsula and into some of the surrounding bays where you will see wildlife, mountains, icebergs, and more. It is truly a magical experience.
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A rough estimate for round-trip flights to Antarctica can range from $5,000 to $15,000 per person. It's important to note that traveling to Antarctica often requires specialized flights or cruises, and prices can be higher due to the remote location.
Why does an Antarctic cruise cost so much? There's no way around it, any trip to Antarctica is expensive and this is simply down to the remoteness of the destination and the costly logistics to get there.
Travelers do not need permission to go to Antarctica, but tourism operators must hold a valid permit. First, a bit of background on why it is legal to visit Antarctica. Antarctica is not a country. The continent is protected by the Antarctic Treaty, which preserves it for peaceful and scientific use.
Antarctica Travel For SolosIf you are planning a solo trip to Antarctica you won't be alone here as you need to join a tour to Antarctica to see the continent. It isn't the kind of destination that you can go to solo so you'll be guaranteed company with a small group on an Antarctica cruise if you decide to visit.
Unlike most traditional cruise lines, expedition cruises to Antarctica rarely charge any supplement fee for solo travellers. In fact, almost all expedition cruises offer solo travellers the chance to share with other solo travellers of the same sex in triple and quad cabins.
There are myriad reasons to visit Antarctica. First, the epic landscapes: vast stretches of pack ice, hulking icebergs, mirror-like bays and colossal mountains and glaciers. Second, the wildlife. You will see hundreds of penguins: Gentoo, Chinstrap and, if you're lucky, some penguin chicks too.
How many days do you need to visit Antarctica? Most cruises are 11-14 days but there is one Quark Expedition, the “Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake” that is only 8 days. I would recommend spending as many days as you can, because it's a once in a lifetime trip!
There are no hotels in Antarctica. All tourist accommodation is aboard expedition ships. Some tour operators include a one-night pre-tour stay in a hotel in Argentina, Chile, New Zealand or Tasmania.
Ushuaia is by far the most popular gateway city for tourism to Antarctica, accounting for 90% of all tourists to the continent. Nearly all of the passengers departing Ushuaia for Antarctica travel by cruise ship.
Thanks to the low visibility and undeveloped infrastructure, flying over Antarctica is extremely difficult. Specifically, because of the strong magnetic fields that surround the polar regions, navigating there, no matter how well-equipped the airplane is in terms of instrumentation, can be particularly challenging.
For children age 12 and up, Antarctica can be a fantastic experience. The landscapes, the adventure, and the wildlife are especially magical to young eyes. During navigations, many Antarctic cruises include presentations by ornithologists, photography coaches, geologists, adventurers, marine biologists, and historians.
As no commercial flights operate to Antarctica itself, you would have to book with a private charter operator and prices for a flight expedition can reach in excess of $30,000. Budget at least $1000 – $1500 for flights, slightly more for European travellers.