Two versions exist: a full sea kayaking program spanning the entire voyage, or a single 2-hour paddling experience. Both require advance sign-up and an additional fee.
The full kayaking program
Who it's for
Paddlers with prior kayaking experience. You don't need to be expert-level, but comfort in a boat is expected.
What it looks like
You join your kayaking group each morning, don a drysuit, and head out before other passengers board the zodiacs. Groups are typically 10 tandem kayaks with 2 guides. You spend the excursion period paddling through brash ice, along shorelines, and among wildlife at water level.
The view
Different from anything you'll see from a zodiac or shore. Penguins dive under your hull. Humpbacks surface nearby. The scale of the ice reads differently from water-level.
Going ashore
You don’t have to kayak every session. If you prefer to join a shore excursion one morning or afternoon, you can.
Cost
Roughly $500–$1,400 per person for the full program.
The single paddle experience
Who it's for
Anyone curious, regardless of experience. Sit-on-top kayaks, stable and forgiving.
What it looks like
One guided session of about 2 hours. Drysuit provided. A taste of the full program.
Cost
Roughly $295–$500 per person.
Included On both
- All equipment and guides are included in the cost.
- A standby zodiac accompanies the group at all times.
- Wind and fog can cancel sessions. Kayakers join zodiac cruising as the alternative.
- Solo travelers are paired with a partner; single kayaks are rare.
A common question
Will a whale tip me over? Humpback whales are, despite everything, spatially aware animals. The risk of physical contact is close to zero. If one gets curious, it may surface nearby, look you in the eye, and exhale directly on you. The breath is memorable.
Kayaking in Antarctica is governed by IAATO's Guidelines for Sea Kayaking
