This border, that is located at Latitude 66° 33′ South, marks the Antarctic Territory according to one of the definitions.
The Antarctic Circle experiences a period of 24 hours where the Sun is above the horizon during the summer solscice on 21st December. The reason for this phenomenon is that the axis of the earth is tilted by 23.5 degrees.
South of the Polar Circle at Detaille Island in Crystal Sound is the farthest south that we will probably reach at Latitude 66°52' South.
Cruises to the Antarctic Circle
Antarctica - Polar Circle
Crossing the Polar Circle
PLA30-24 This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Anchoring in various spots around the region, the expedition offers the chance to hike, kayak, and dive in the iceberg-heavy waters.
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
25 Feb - 7 Mar, 2024
Berths start from:
11150 USD
Antarctica - Elephant Island - Weddell Sea - Polar Circle
Venture beyond the polar circle, visiting some of Antarctica’s most wildlife-filled waters and islands
PLA31-24 This expansive expedition takes you into the Antarctic Circle, combining the rich animal life of the Weddell Sea with the surreal shores and islands of the Antarctic Peninsula. Such key landing sites as the legendary Elephant Island and Crystal Sound...
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
7 Mar - 21 Mar, 2024
Berths start from:
10500 USD
Antarctica - Beyond the Polar Circle - Wilkins Ice Shelf
Visit places discovered by De Gerlache on his polar expedition onboard the Belgica
HDS30-24 This voyage explores a number of historically significant Antarctic areas, such as the very rarely visited Bellingshausen Sea, Marguerite Bay, and Alexander Island. We focus on places discovered by Adrien De Gerlache on his Belgian Antarctic Expedition...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
13 Mar - 28 Mar, 2024
Berths start from:
10400 USD
Antarctica - Polar Circle - Deep South Discovery Voyage
Explore the farthest waters of the far south as you cross the Antarctic Circle in search of various whale species, including humpbacks, minkes, and fin whales
OTL32-24 This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise will take you further south of Antarctica, crossing the Polar Circe. This expedition cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Anchoring in various spots around the region,...
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
16 Mar - 29 Mar, 2024
Berths start from:
9100 USD
Antarctica - Polar Circle - Whale watching
Crossing the Polar Circle
PLA32-24 This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Anchoring in various spots around the region, the expedition offers the chance to dive in the iceberg-heavy waters.
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
21 Mar - 1 Apr, 2024
Berths start from:
7700 USD
Video
Fan(tastic) photo
Blog
Guide’s Choice for Binoculars: Swarovski Optik
Our guests often ask us what they should pack when it comes to the more optional polar travel gear, such as cameras or b
Highlights
See the highlights you may experience:
Antarctic Circle wildlife
See the highlights you may experience:
Map of
Antarctic Circle cruise reviews
Incredible Oceanwide
I loved every second. The ship, the crew, the expedition team, fellow travellers. To visit the expedition huts was a dream come true. The wildlife was incredible and the scenery awe inspiring. I'll be back!!
Deep South
Great trip. The Captain was super. The staff and crew were great. I loved the expedition trip and not just hanging out.
Read full review »Oceanwide Expeditions
Trip of a lifetime. Crew was outstanding, knowledgeable, professional, genuine and passionate about their work. Absolutely amazing. Meals were first class. Would highly recommend this expedition. Thank you.
Trip of a lifetime!
Amazing trip aboard the m/v Plancius. Special thanks to Michael, Roman, Rick and Lotties, our diving leaders.
Read full review »The best trip of my life!
Thank you for the most wonderful trip of my life! My cabin was very comfortable and clean with ample space to store clothing and gear. All meals far exceeded expectations with plenty of choices and a wide varie
Read full review »Trip of a Lifetime
As a kid, I read up on everything I could about the South Pole, then as I got older, I started to read about all the expeditions to Antarctica. Time went by and my interest in the White Continent grew, so much
Antarctic Circle FAQ
Where is the Antarctic Circle Located?
The Antarctic Circle, which is also referred to as a polar circle, is one of the five latitude circles that are used to divide maps of Earth. An expedition cruise to the Antarctic Circle will take travelers south of the Equator to the 66°33&prime
Read more »What is the Average Temperature and Weather of the Antarctic Circle?
Due to the range of the Antarctic Circle, the average weather conditions can vary greatly. However, most expedition cruises that go near the Antarctic Circle stop at Detaille Island. This area can be warmer than many travelers would imagine. For exam
Read more »How Big is the Antarctic Circle?
The Antarctic Circle is slowly moving southward. This movement changes its exact coordinates by approximately 15 meters (49 feet) every year. At the current time, the entire area beneath the Antarctic Circle takes up 20 million square km (7.7 million
Read more »Who Discovered the Antarctic Circle?
Although we do not know which individual determined the existence of this Polar Circle, history does tell us that James Cook was the first person to travel to the Antarctic Circle. Cook reportedly crossed the circle via boat in 1773 as part of his se
Read more »What Wildlife Can Be Seen in the Antarctic Circle?
The exact area of the Antarctic Circle that you visit will directly impact the type of wildlife that you might encounter. During a cruise to the Antarctic Circle, it is possible that you will see a variety of penguin species, along with whales, seals
Read more »What Are the Unique Features of an Antarctic Circle Cruise?
A cruise to the Antarctic Circle is definitely a unique experience, and you may see a variety of photo-worthy things. Examples include wildlife, glaciers and icebergs. One of the most intriguing facts about the Antarctic Circle is the region’s
Read more »
About
Antarctic Circle Weather
While much is said about just how frosty it can get in the Antarctic, your Polar Circle trip will happen in a more hospitable time of year. When you visit the islands and the continent you can expect temperatures to range from around 0°C up to about 5°C.
However, when you’re thinking about what clothes to bring don’t forget about the famous Polar Circle winds which can whisk away your body heat.
Facts about the Antarctic Circle
- The magnetic South Pole is constantly on the move, travelling about 8 km a year.
- The southern Polar Circle contains the driest, coldest, and windiest continent on Earth – Antarctica!
- The western portion of Antarctica is actually an archipelago (chain of islands) that are all joined together into one big mass by ice.
- The South Polar Circle is defined by anything south of 66°30’ S line of latitude.
- This line of latitude was first crossed by Captain James Cook on January 17, 1773.
- The hours of daylight on any particular day in the southern Polar Circle are matched by hours of night in the northern Polar Circle.
- Winds in some places within the South Polar Circle can reach 320 km per hour.
Travel to the Antarctic Circle
Your Polar Circle cruise to the Antarctic region brings you to one of the coldest, windiest, and driest places on Earth… and yet one that is teeming with a huge variety of wildlife and fantastic rugged landscapes.
Our Polar Circle expeditions are a trip to Heaven for bird watchers. You’ll be able to go ashore on islands and the continent, and the experienced can even go diving into waters shared by seals and whales. On your Polar Circle holiday you’ll be able to kayak, join photography workshops, make friends with thousands of penguins, an enjoy great whale watching opportunities.
