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Antarctica is not a place to just jump up and decide to go one weekend; there are many factors that effect when you travel.
Not only is weather a big factor, but the behaviour and abundance of animals. If Antarctica is a must do on your bucket list, then you need to think about what the most important aspects are. If whales are a passion, then a voyage in November isn’t going to end well, when your vessel turns back and you have seen just a few flukes. Or if vast white landscapes are what you seek, then late summer with millions of breading animals populating the area is the wrong time for you. The extreme weather of the Antarctic means that animal migration and behaviour is closely related to seasons and will change your viewing experience. Below you will find a summary of the three distinct travel seasons in Antarctica and the experience each one brings. After all, timing is everything right?
Early summer: October – Early-Summer
Pristine landscapes | Abundance of sea ice | Perfect twilight hues for photography | Good wildlife in South Georgia
In early summer, the Antarctic is just waking from the depths of a long dark winter, leaving the landscape cloaked in beautiful white snow that reaches all the way to the shoreline. When your vessel lands, you will be confronted with a vast white landscape and abundant sea ice, draped in soft twilight hues, perfect for photography and making first tracks in the snow. This is the way the early explorers experienced it, untouched, perfect and overwhelming. Fewer ships sail this time of year, meaning fewer tourists and a true Antarctic experience.
This is the time before the penguin highways begin on the Peninsula, bringing with them abundant noise and stench. Although the mainland still seems to be sleeping, South Georgia Island is a buzzing hive of wildlife. The warmer weather means the island hosts the most wildlife in the Antarctic and breeding season begins much earlier. It is said that at the height of breeding season there is more wildlife per square metre, than any other place on the planet. Here you will experience many different penguin species, seals and over 10 million birds. Later in the season, many of the landing sites become inaccessible due to the Elephant Seal breeding season.
Discover voyages: Early Summer 2019/20 & Early Summer 2020/21
Summer: December – January
Whales | Midnight Sun | Christmas & New Year in Antarctica | Penguin chicks | Seal pups | Most southern voyages
If wildlife and warmer weather is your desire, then cruising in midsummer is the itinerary for you. This is when Antarctica comes alive, warmer weather makes travel more comfortable, whales arrive in vast numbers, penguin chicks hatch and seal pups are born. The sea ice begins to melt, opening up narrow channels allowing us to explore further south.
This is the time to experience the midnight sun and celebrate the summer festivities in a way you will never forget. What better way to celebrate than experiencing the ultimate white Christmas or see in the New Year at the end of the world.
During December, the first of the East Antarctic voyages to Commonwealth Bay depart, discovered in 1912, it’s listed as the windiest place on earth, with winds regularly exceeding 240km/h. It's one of the most remote and least frequented coasts in the world and was the fascination of Australian Antarctic explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson. Early January sees the first trips to the Ross Sea, the most southern sea in the world and home to the spectacular Ross Ice Shelf. These destinations are the most southern you can travel without flying and are only possible once the sea ice has had a chance to melt and break away.
On South Georgia Island, the breeding cycles begin and Elephant Seals put on ferocious displays as they protect their harem from younger males.
Discover Summer Voyages: Summer 2019/20 & Summer 2020/21
Late summer: February – March
Whale breaching displays peak | More active Penguin chicks & Seal pups | Leopard Seals | Perfect twilight hues for photography | Lower prices
Late summer is the time when many elements come together and create a truly magnificent experience. During February, the weather is still welcoming, the days reasonably warm and the wildlife in absolute abundance. The penguin chicks and seal pups are more active as they learn to swim and prepare for the impending winter. Animals prepare to return to the sea or begin their winter migration. Whale activity is at its peak and leopard seals arrive for a quick snack. This is the time where the sun begins to set lower in the sky, creating magnificent twilight hues and shadows across the landscape, like a day long sunset.
March sees the penguin and seal numbers decline, however this is the time to view whales. During February, the algae in the Antarctic waters begins to clear and by March, the clear cold waters allow krill to surface. This brings with it the giants of the deep to have a feeding frenzy on the surface. March is the time when whale encounters are at their peak with spectacular breaching displays and close encounters most likely. The sun is lower and the weather colder, which just ads to the wild Antarctic experience. During these later months, you will see flight and cruise prices drop significantly compared to the December and January options.
Discover Late Summer Voyages: Late Summer 2019/20 & Late Summer 2020/21
Still not sure when the right time is for you to explore Antarctica? Click here to organise to speak with one of our dedicated Antarctica specialists today or call us on 1800-960-577 / +61-7-3150-4017. Our team have personally travelled to Antarctica, they know the vessels and experiences intimately and look forward to helping you find the perfect Antarctic experience.