We offer some of the industry's most exciting, experience-focused Antarctica tours, with great diversity in locations, activities, trip length, and things to see along the way! While our entire Antarctica program is full of great adventure-filled options, the budding Antarctica explorer might ask, "What's the best Antarctica tour?"
'Best' can be pretty subjective, depending on what you want to see, do, and experience. So, instead of giving you a simple number one (partly because we really can't choose ourselves), we've selected some of our best Antarctica tours. You'll find adventurous voyages across the Sub-Antarctic, unmissable opportunities to spot whales and iconic wildlife, and Basecamp trips featuring iconic polar activities in our Antarctic program - meaning the best Antarctic tour for you is waiting to be discovered!
The best Antarctica tour for every ambition
Our Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica itinerary is a firm favorite. It is a wide-ranging expedition cruise that voyages across the Southern Ocean, visiting the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula. One of the best Antarctica tour options for wildlife photographers, this trip visits locations populated by over six penguin species and various seal varieties. You'll also see dozens of bird species and, if lucky, the many whales that call the Antarctic waters home.
Picture by Régis Perdriat
For a taste of life in the dramatic seas of the South, this 20-night voyage transports you into another world, bringing you closer to nature and the spirit of adventure. If you want an even more unforgettable Antarctic adventure, our Falkland Islands – South Georgia – Elephant Island – Antarctica – Polar Circle trip navigates the same route but extends your trip further south, including a visit to the legendary Elephant Island. As your journey takes you through the Gerlache Strait, famous for its varieties of icebergs, you'll see one of the most beautiful parts of Antarctica, best known for its photographic opportunities, before crossing the polar circle!
The best Antarctica tour to see whales
One of the big draws for visitors to Antarctica is the chance to see the giants of the seas, whales, among flotillas of icebergs, below snowy mountains, and in glacier-filled bays. Our Antarctica – Whale watching nine-night excursion offers one of the best Antarctica tour opportunities to see whales in these regions. It takes you to the Antarctic Peninsula, navigating well-known islands and inlets to search for humpback, minke, and other whale species. For wildlife enthusiasts, this journey into the wild heart of the frozen continent is not to be missed!
If this whale-focused expedition cruise sounds good, our Antarctica – Polar Circle – Whale watching trip might best it! Not only will you explore the same areas, following in the footsteps of Antarctic explorers of the past, but you will venture even further south, crossing the Antarctic Circle - a significant achievement!
Picture by Meike Sjoer
Get active during your Antarctica tour
Land-based activities have become one of the things out guests love the most about some of our trips. Our Antarctica - Basecamp tours might be the best Antarctica trip option if you are seeking the thrill of outdoor pursuits! While exploring the beautiful landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula, on our Basecamp trips, you'll also have the chance to take part in a variety of activities, including snowshoeing, camping, kayaking, mountaineering, and photo workshops, all free of charge. These activities are in addition to the standard excursions included in all expeditions, such as Zodiac cruises and hiking.
The best tour to learn more about Antarctica
Following the theme of adventure and experience, our Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage is perfect for those seeking to not only experience the polar regions but also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of them. This itinerary includes the best of the best - some classic Antarctica locations, such as Deception Island, the Gerlache Strait, Paradise Harbor, and the Lemaire Channel. You'll get closer to nature than you believed possible and have the best opportunity to explore some of Earth's most remote and breathtaking locations!
Picture by Sara Jenner
The best of Antarctica: Into the Weddell Sea
An iconic region in Antarctica is the Weddell Sea. This section of wild, beautiful southern ocean is full of wildlife, vast, often impenetrable stretches of sea ice, and stunningly beautiful ice shelves. In the Weddell Sea, you'll see various types of ice, including icebergs of every shape and size imaginable. It's also one of the best locations to spot many species of seal, including its namesake, the Weddell seal. You'll also be exposed to the drama and harshness of life in Antarctica.
Not only is the circle of life more evident here than anywhere else on our planet, but the power and absoluteness of nature are clear. Indeed, in 1915, Ernest Shackleton and his crew found themselves ice-bound and trapped in the Weddell Sea for over two years. Today, his ship, the Endurance, lies preserved in its icy depths.
Observe emperor penguins in Antarctica
You can explore the Weddell Sea on a number of our trip itineraries. One, in particular, offers one of the best and extremely rare opportunities to view the iconic emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island. Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor penguin, incl. helicopters is a trip itinerary not to be missed. You will venture into the Weddell Sea, skirting pack ice and navigating icebergs, before penetrating further south by helicopter, viewing the emperor penguin colony, including chicks in their downy coats.
Picture by Sara Jenner
The best tour to explore the Weddell Sea
Much of the Weddell Sea's beauty lies in its remoteness, mazy pack ice, and windswept shorelines. Our Remote Weddell Sea Explorer itinerary takes you deeper into the Weddell Sea than any other, passing first by South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands before heading to Neuschwabenland and the ice shelves Riiser-Larsen, Lyddan, and Brunt. Then, you'll cross the Weddell Sea, passing by the Larsen Ice Shelf, Snow Hill, and James Ross Island, before crossing Erebus and Terror Gulf and towards Paulet and Elephant Island. At 27 nights, it best embraces the daring spirit of Antarctic adventure!
The best Antarctica tour (is entirely up to you!)
While not exhaustive, this selection of some of our best Antarctica tours gives you a flavor of what you can expect when exploring the frozen South with us. What defines the best Antarctica trip is entirely down to you - all our trips offer excitement, wonder, adventure, and memories that will last a lifetime! Some focus more on wildlife, others on the remote, dramatic landscapes of the South and exciting not-to-be-missed Antarctic activities.
Perhaps there isn't one 'best' Antarctica tour. Rather, experiencing an Antarctica tour is simply the best!
Main image by unknown photographer