Antarctica Tours and Travel

YPT Tours to Antarctica – 2024, 2025 and 2026

As well as being the company that brings you to “destinations your mother would rather you stay away from”, Young Pioneer Tours is also one of the few tour companies covering all seven continents! Embark with us on a journey of a lifetime and discover the pristine landscapes, incredible wildlife, and the unique stories of exploration that define Antarctica.

In Antarctica, the southernmost and only uninhabited continent, you will see stunning ice formations, colossal glaciers, and an abundance of wildlife. It is a destination like no other where full of penguins, seals, and a variety of seabirds in their natural habitats. For the thrill-seekers, our trips offer opportunities for kayaking, camping on the ice or diving, giving you a taste of the extreme environment.

Our voyages are expedition-style cruises, which means that our goal is to spend as much time on shore as possible. Our itineraries are therefore designed to be flexible, taking advantage of wildlife and weather opportunities. Be careful, after going to Antarctica, you may be hooked for life!

Group Tours to Antarctica

YPT currently proposes one group tour per year to Antarctica. Setting sail from Ushuaia, it crosses the Drake passage to arrive at the Antarctica Peninsula. Here, depending on the ice and weather conditions, we stop on many different locations, sailing through the Schollaert, Lemaire and Neumayer channels, stopping at Anvers or Melchior islands, or visiting the former British research station at Port Lockroy. Antarctica trips are always unique and breathtaking.

Antarctica Frozen Continent Expedition – 17-27 November 2025 – €6350

Antarctica Frozen Continent Expedition – November 2025

We also propose an epic cruise crossing the whole South Atlantic, from Ushuaia (Argentina) to Cape Verde, via the South Georgia Islands, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena and Ascension Island. From the cold Antarctic seas to the tropics, you’ll be snapping photos in penguin colonies, watching albatrosses control the skies, spotting whales and maybe even dolphins tailing our ship, marvelling at green turtles on the beaches and tropical fish in the seas off Saint-Helena.

The Grand South Atlantic Tour: South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha & Saint Helena – March 23rd – April 25th 2025 – €8095

The Grand South Atlantic Tour: South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha & Saint Helena

Discounted cruises to Antarctica

Young Pioneer Tours not only offer the cheapest Antarctica cruises that are scheduled, but can also offer the cheapest FIT and group rates through our partners. We also sometimes offer discounted cruises to Antarctica, with prices up to 50% off!

Those cruises have very limited availability, so be sure to contact us as soon as possible to get more information and to secure a spot.

No current cruises on discount, check this page closer to the Antarctica Cruise season

Independent cruises to Antarctica

If our scheduled Antarctica group tours don’t match your travel dates or interests, we can offer independent options to cruise to Antarctica. Get in touch to receive the itineraries and availabilities. Those cruises include:

– Cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula

Those 9 nights/10 days or 10 nights/11 days “classic” cruises are one the cheapest and best way to visit Antarctica. They take you into various landscapes of either dark rugged rock or pure white snow and allows you to witness a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins!

Sample map of our Antarctica Peninsula cruises — Example map of our Peninsula cruises

Price: from €6190
Available dates: 30 November-10 December 2024 ; 6-16 January 2025 ; 22 January – 1 February 2025 ; 1-11 February 2025 ; 3-13 February 2025 ; 14-23 March 2025 ; 17-27 November 2025 ; 1-11 December 2025 ; 8-18 January 2026 ; 9-19 January 2026 ; 18-28 January 2026 ; 22 January-1 February 2026 ; 6-16 February 2026 ; 10-20 March 2026

– Activity-focused cruises to Antarctica

Those 12 nights/13 days trips are for travellers who wish to do more than taking photos of penguins (not that we have anything against that, as our tour gallery shows!). Our activity-based expeditions allow you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.

Sample map of our Antarctica activity-based cruises — Example map of our activity cruises

Price: from €7490
Available dates: 1-13 November 2024 ; 25 November-5 December 2024 ; 5-17 December 2024 ; 29 December 2024-10 January 2025 ; 10-22 January 2025 ; 13-25 February 2025 ; 25 February-9 March 2025 ; 27 November-9 December 2025 ; 9-21 December 2025 ; 16-28 December 2025 ; 28 December 2025 – 9 January 2026 ; 29 December 2025 – 10 January 2026

– South Georgia cruises

This 14 nights/15 days cruise is dedicated to the incredible territory of South Georgia. There, you’ll see an abandoned whaling station, Shackleton’s grave, and thousands, if not tens of thousands, of penguins. If you thought the polar regions are empty, the South Georgia’s thriving wildlife will blow your mind.

Price: from €8995
Available dates: 13-27 November 2025

– Deep South Antarctica cruises

Offering a more in depth stay in Antarctica, those cruises go where almost no other ships go – even by Antarctica standards. They include a visit of the vast George IV and Wilkins ice shelves. More than other cruises, this is the perfect way to get a scale of the real size of Antarctica. The Wilkins Ice Shelf alone is approximately the size of Jamaica!

Antarctica Deep South cruise map — Map of our Antarctica deep South cruises

Price: from €6795
Available dates: 21 March-5 April 2025 ; 13-27 March 2026

– Whole Antarctica cruises: Falkland islands, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula

The trip of a lifetime for country collectors and adventurers. Those journeys take you, in 19 to 20 days, to the Falkland Islands, then South Georgia, before you go to the Antarctic Peninsula. Those expeditions explore one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife. By the end of the trip, you’ll have a least six different penguin species!

Map of our Antarctica Falkland and South Georgia cruises

Price: from €11,995
Available dates: 18 October-7 November 2024 ; 10-29 December 2024 ; 14 December 2024 – 4 January 2025 ; 4-22 January 2025 ; 16 January – 3 February 2025 ; 1-20 February 2025 ; 20 February – 14 March 2025 ; 27 November – 16 December 2025 ; 11-29 December 2025 ; 21 December 2025-8 January 2026 ; 19 January-6 February 2026 ; 28 January-16 February 2026 ; 16 February-10 March 2026

Example of a 10-day Antarctica Cruise Itinerary

Day 1 – Ushuaia, the end of the world!

Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, the largest in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago to the south of South America. YPT can advise on the best way to get here and arrange pre-tour accommodation.
In the afternoon we will board the ship from Ushuaia
For the rest of the day we will be sailing through the Beagle Channel, flanked by the southern reaches of the Andes Mountains

Day 2 and 3 – the Drake Passage

We’ll be sailing the Drake Passage and get our first hint of what it’s like to be out at sea heading towards the Antarctic.
A program of lectures by experienced expedition staff about the Antarctic, the environment and marine life, is offered on the sea during sea days.
Watch out over the seas for whales, orcas and albatrosses!

Day 4 to 7 – Into Antarctica

We are getting into Antarctica proper, and we’ll see stone peaks covered in snow and towers of ice, the sights we’ve all been waiting for
Over the next few days we’ll sail past the Melchior Islands and through the Schollaert Channel, between Brabant and Anvers Islands
Sites you may visit include, but are not limited to:
– Danco Island – Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be found nearby.
– Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
– Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales.
– Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.

Day 8-9 – The Drake Passage

We will be departing frozen Antarctica for the long voyage home
We’ll take the time to look out for seabirds and marine mammals and taking in the views and experience of the Antarctic seas as we head back to terrestrial life

Day 10 – Ushuaia

Our ship will arrive back at the end of the world at Tierra del Fuego where we disembark and say our goodbyes.

Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Antarctica

What kind of tours do you offer in the polar regions?

How big are your ships?

Depending on the cruise, we travel on the M/V Hondius, which can accommodate 174 passengers, or the M/V Plancius, which can embark 116 passengers. Both vessels offer a restaurant/lecture room and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) with large windows, offering full panorama view. Don’t worry, you won’t be floating on a giant cruise ship: we don’t like them either!

Do I need to be really fit to join an expedition cruise?

You need to be in good general health and be able to walk on the ship, get up and down the gangway, and get in and out of the Zodiacs. During activities, you can choose to stay on the vessel if you prefer. For safety and logistical reason, landings in Antarctica only cover small areas, in which you can walk freely at your own pace. For people who want a more active experience, our activity-based cruises are the perfect choice: they include long hikes, mountaineering, diving, kayaking, etc.

Do I need to bring special clothing to survive the polar cold?

We require you to bring a waterproof jacket and pants (minimum 15,000mm rating) for Zodiac cruises to shore. Apart from that, our advice is to take warm, windproof, waterproof clothes that you can easily add or remove in layers. Antarctica is obviously very cold, but keep in mind that we’ll be there during the summer season, where temperatures usually range from -5°C to 5°C. If you are used to skiing, mountaineering or hiking in winter, the gear you use for those activities should be enough.

What kind of activities are offered on the cruise?

Our goal is to be off the vessel as much as possible, with a landing in the morning and one in the afternoon. The program usually focuses on Zodiac excursions, shoreline walks, and wildlife spotting. We also offer kayak and diving opportunities, on selected cruises.

Will I see polar bears and penguins?

You’ll see thousands, if not tens of thousands, of penguins on our Antarctica cruises. But not polar bears, because they live in the Arctic region. Antarctica actually means “the land with no bear”, as opposed to the Arctic (which names comes from the Greek word for bear).

Can I see Southern lights?

While there are southern lights in Antarctica, we usually cannot see them on our cruises due to the midnight sun. The only exception Is our Deep South Expedition, taking place on 21 March – 5th April 2025. While we cannot guarantee they will happen, this cruise takes place at the beginning of the polar night.

Do I need a visa to visit Antarctica?

There is no visa for Antarctica, any necessary permits will be arranged by YPT beforehand. Most tourists do not need a visa to enter Argentina – this includes visitors from the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the UK, member countries of the European Union, etc.

Is it safe to travel to Antarctica?

During landings in Antarctica, penguins often come to us out of curiosity, without any fear. The reason is that there are no land predators there. Antarctica is thus totally fine to travel to. You just need to follow safety precautions on the ship (do not lean over the edge…) and on land (do not leave the perimeter of the landing, as there may be crevasses hidden by the snow).

Can I stay connected in Antarctica?

Our ships are equipped with Internet and phone facilities (subject to satellite connection and coverage). Wi-Fi access is available throughout the ships. There are also laptops available for public use. You can purchase full access to the internet or purchase a ship-specific email account for the duration of the voyage.

Do I need travel insurance in Antarctica ?

We strongly recommend that travellers to all our destinations have travel insurance. Accidents or medical conditions can happen anywhere and it’s best to be prepared since medical facilities in Antarctica are basically non-existent. A proper travel insurance should include coverage for (medical) evacuation/repatriation costs by helicopter, plane or ship.

You should always do your own research about insurance, but we at YPT use IATI. Using our referral link below will give you a 5% discount off their usual price: https://www.iatitravelinsurance.com/en/?r=23612524710385

Why travel to Antarctica with Young Pioneer Tours?

No matter which Polar Region you choose to explore with us, you can be assured of an incredible adventure. Our experienced guides and expedition leaders will ensure your safety while providing insights into the unique ecosystems and histories of these remote and captivating destinations. Young Pioneer Tours not only offer the cheapest Antarctica Cruises that are scheduled but can also offer the cheapest FIT and group rates through our partners.