Once you know you want to go to Antarctica, the next question is where, exactly. The continent is vast, and the itineraries on the market range from a focused 10-day Peninsula trip to month-long ocean crossings between continents. Most first-time travelers will end up on the Peninsula. But knowing what else is out there helps you understand what you might be saving for next time, or whether a longer itinerary deserves a closer look on the first trip. Below are the broad route categories, but note that there are many variations on these themes!
The Antarctic Peninsula
The workhorse route of the expedition fleet. The vast majority of voyages go here, and for good reason: dramatic scenery, abundant wildlife, and accessible from Ushuaia in two days each way across the Drake. A standard Peninsula voyage runs 10-12 days and delivers four to six days on the continent. Most first-timers start here, and never feel the need to go anywhere else.
Typical voyage length: 10-12 days
Departure: Ushuaia or Punta Arenas
The Antarctic Circle
The Peninsula, but further south. Crossing the 66th parallel is both a milestone and a change of scenery. The ice gets more dramatic, the sites less visited, and the wildlife shifts toward Weddell seals and deeper pack ice. Circle crossings require sea ice to cooperate, which is why they are concentrated in January and February. Adding the Circle to a Peninsula voyage typically means a 14-18 day itinerary.
Typical voyage length: 14-18 days
Departure: Ushuaia or Punta Arenas
The Weddell Sea
The eastern side of the Peninsula, and a very different Antarctica from the popular western route. The Weddell Sea is where Shackleton's Endurance was trapped and crushed in 1915. It is home to emperor penguin colonies, enormous tabular icebergs, and some of the most remote expedition territory accessible to tourist vessels. These itineraries are special, often requiring purpose-built ice-strengthened vessels and experienced captains.
Typical voyage length: 17-23 days
Departure: Ushuaia
Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica (FSG)
The trip that changes people. The Falkland Islands offer windswept landscapes, British history, and extraordinary birdlife including enormous black-browed albatross colonies. South Georgia (roughly 800 miles east of the Falklands) is widely considered the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth: king penguin colonies numbering in the hundreds of thousands, elephant seals, fur seals, wandering albatross, and the grave of Ernest Shackleton. Antarctica comes at the end. Or do it counter-clockwise, starting in Antarctica, then South Georgia and then the Falklands. If there is any possibility of doing this itinerary on your first trip, it's worth serious consideration.
Typical voyage length: 18-23 days
Departure: Ushuaia or Stanley (Falkland Islands)
The Ross Sea
The opposite side of the continent from the Peninsula. Commonly accessed from New Zealand or Australia. This is where Scott and Shackleton launched their attempts on the South Pole, and their historic huts at Cape Evans and Cape Royds still stand. Seeing the Ross Ice Shelf, which is larger than France, is one of the most mind-bending experiences in the natural world. Unlike on the western side of the Peninsula, Emperor penguins can be seen here. These voyages are longer, more expensive, and serve a specific traveler. Most people who do the Ross Sea have already been to the Peninsula and are so in love with Antarctica that they want to see as much of it as possible.
Typical voyage length: 23-32 days.
Departure: Invercargill or Dunedin, New Zealand; Hobart, Australia.
Epic crossings
A small number of operators offer itineraries that connect continents: Ushuaia to Cape Town via South Georgia and sub-Antarctic islands, or South America to New Zealand across the full breadth of the Southern Ocean. These are collector's voyages that are extraordinary in scope, demanding in time, and priced to match. They attract experienced expedition travelers who have done most of the above and want something rare.
Typical voyage length: 28-40 days.
