âčïž Skipped - page is already crawled
| Filter | Status | Condition | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTTP status | PASS | download_http_code = 200 | HTTP 200 |
| Age cutoff | PASS | download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH | 0 months ago |
| History drop | PASS | isNull(history_drop_reason) | No drop reason |
| Spam/ban | PASS | fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0 | ml_spam_score=0 |
| Canonical | PASS | meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed | Not set |
| Property | Value | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| URL | https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/highlights-of-antarctica/ | |||||||||
| Last Crawled | 2026-04-27 17:26:15 (1 day ago) | |||||||||
| First Indexed | 2024-07-10 17:50:44 (1 year ago) | |||||||||
| HTTP Status Code | 200 | |||||||||
| Content | ||||||||||
| Meta Title | Highlights of Antarctica Cruise 2026 2027 2028 | HX Hurtigruten Expeditions US | |||||||||
| Meta Description | One of our most popular expeditions that gives you the ideal Antarctica experience â powerful, purposeful and packed with discovery. Witness incredible wildlife scenes as we spot seals, penguin colonies and whales against a backdrop of staggering natural beauty. Join the Expedition Team as they lead you on a journey of learning and adventure. | |||||||||
| Meta Canonical | null | |||||||||
| Boilerpipe Text | Why do I need to complete a Medical Screening Form?
At HX Expeditions - we explore some of the world's most remote locations and as such, in many of these locations, sophisticated medical services are few and far between. Medical care at sea is limited, and often emergency sea and air services may also be inaccessible, particularly in the polar regions. It is therefore vital that you make us aware of any current or past health issues, and as such we require a
Medical Screening Form
to be completed for
Expeditions to Antarctica
.
The Health, Safety and well-being of you our guests and our on-board crew are our top priority, and we want to ensure that all our guests are fit for travel. On board all our ships, we will have a qualified physician, which have a small, limited medical facility with basic medical supplies and equipment. Still, that makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat even the simplest conditions. This often leads to missed diagnoses, worsening conditions, a greater burden of chronic disease, and in some cases, unnecessary costly medical disembarkations.
What is the Medical Screening Form Promise?
Our promise to you is that if your Medical Screening Form is declined for medical reasons as determined by Vikand Solutions, we will refund you of all bookings made by HX up until the date of declinature. This includes all applicable flights, hotels and ground transportation. Rebookings can be made at no additional cost, subject to applicable booking conditions.
For more detailed information on this topic,
click here
.
How do I complete the Medical Screening Form?
We require all guests (including children) to submit and complete the Medical Form prior to departure to Antarctica.
Complete the form online through the
Vikand Medical portal
. It includes sections for both you and your doctor to fill out. You can begin the process up to
120 days
before your sailing start date. Group bookings: access opens 90 days before your sailing start date. To start, Vikand will verify your name against our passenger list. If your name isnât found, please contact HX or your local travel agent(if you booked through one) to ensure your name has been added to the booking exactly as it appears on your passport. For Doctorâs section - if your doctor can't sign the form, please consult an alternative or use Vikandâs online doctor service.
To make sure you receive important updates about your
Medical Screening Form, weâll send a verification email to the address you provided. Please check your inbox (and Spam/Junk folders) and click the verification link to continue. Once verified, you can complete the Guest Section of the form. If you donât receive the email, try using an alternative address for future updates.
Please note:
We only accept the Medical Screening Form available through Vikand portal and has been specially designed for HX sailings to remote destinations.
Whatâs included for suite guests?
A
suite with HX
is a premium, all-inclusive experience designed to elevate your expedition cruise. Suite guests enjoy priority boarding, access to the LindstrĂžm fine-dining restaurant, premium drinks, laundry, welcome champagne, and much more. Itâs the perfect way to indulge your inner explorer.
What does Antarctica look like?
Antarctica looks like little else on Earth! Itâs a stunning icescape of whites and blues that tower up out of the sea in all sorts of wonderful shapes. There are high, snow-covered mountains where the wind sweeps the steep dark rock clean of any snow that doesnât stick in the cracks. There are some rocky promontories too, however most of the land is covered in snow and ice with occasional rocks breaking through. With very little vegetation, Antarctica is vast and barren, however the warmer Antarctic Peninsula has some low vegetation in the summer.
From the sea, huge cliffs made of ice look like extra-bright and extra-white chalk cliffs. These vast ice shelves âcalveâ enormous icebergs of diverse sizes and shapes, each one a unique sight to behold. Around the continent, the sea freezes in winter and then thaws in summer, leaving a patchwork of floating, broken ice with channels of green-black water between them. Even the more open water is often dotted with small floating lumps of ice when you come here on a Hurtigruten Expeditionsâ cruise.
Where is Antarctica?
The southernmost continent in the world, Antarctica is located at and around the South Pole and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Almost all of Antarctica lies south of the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere, which means temperatures are consistently below zero throughout most of the year.
Antarctica is 1672 miles from Australia when measured between Hobart and the nearest research base, the French Dumont d'Urville Station.
The nearest neighbouring continent to Antarctica is South America, where the closest part is shared by Chile and Argentina. Part of Antarctica â called the Antarctic Peninsula â extends north beyond the Antarctic Circle. From here itâs about 600 miles to the southernmost tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego.
Apart from South America, Antarcticaâs other neighbours are the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Australia, and New Zealandâs South Island (Te Waipounamu).
Antarctica is sometimes confused with the Arctic, which surrounds the opposite pole of the Earth, the North Pole.
How to get to Antarctica?
To travel to Antarctica, the closest place to depart from is the southern tip of South America, from where you can take a ship or plane.
Most flights go from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island in Antarctica, which takes two hours. From King George Island, you then need to take a ship to reach the Antarctic continent or other islands. There are also limited flights to the interior of the continent, where you land on a runway of blue ice!
Alternatively, you can fly to Antarctica from Cape Town, South Africa, or sail from Australia, from South Island, New Zealand, or from Ushuaia, Argentina.
On a Hurtigruten Expeditions trip to Antarctica, you can cruise in comfort on one of our state-of-the-art ships that are outfitted for the purpose of making your trip as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. We offer expedition cruises with a variety of different itineraries so you can find the one that suits you best.
How to choose an Antarctic cruise?
We recommend choosing an Antarctic cruise provided by a reputable company with modern ships and top experts to help you understand and get the most from your incredible opportunity. Coming to such a pristine wilderness, we also consider it of the utmost importance to take care to protect the environment and keep it unspoiled.
At Hurtigruten Expeditions, we offer expedition cruises to Antarctica with a variety of different itineraries, so you can find one that suits you best. Simply get in touch with our knowledgeable experts â theyâre always happy to help. They can talk to you and ask you about your preferences to help you choose your dream trip to Antarctica.
Once youâve chosen a cruise, our friendly teams can give you expert advice on topics such as what you need to pack for Antarctica.
What animals live in Antarctica?
Antarctica is teeming with animal life. Even though itâs one of the least hospitable places in the world, the wildlife there is spectacular.
The largest animals of all are found around Antarctica â whales. The whales found here include blue, humpback, Minke, sperm, and beaked. Itâs also thought that Antarctica has the largest population of orcas (a type of dolphin) to be found anywhere in the world. In addition, many other types of dolphins are found here. Seals abound, including fur seals, leopard seals, elephant seals and sea lions.
Penguins are the most common birds in the Antarctic, where there are about 20 million breeding pairs (40 million birds). There are 18 different species of penguins in Antarctica, and while most are migratory, the Emperor Penguin and Adélie Penguin remain on the continent year-round, hatching their eggs among the bare rocks. Other birds found here include albatrosses, petrels, skua, prions, fulmars, shearwaters, gulls, terns and cormorants.
Some of the most notable differences between Antarctica and the Arctic are the differences between the animals found there. While penguins are emblematic of the Antarctic, there are no penguins in the Arctic. Moreover, there are no land mammals, reptiles or amphibians in Antarctica, so there are no Polar Bears! In fact, the only terrestrial vertebrates in Antarctica are birds that are found on the sub-Antarctic islands â the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.
Further down the food chain are huge numbers of krill, fish and squid that nourish the marine ecosystem. In fact, the vertebrates living in Antarctica are almost entirely dependent on the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent for sustenance.
Invertebrates in Antarctica include earthworms and molluscs, as well as spiders, beetles and flies â though these are mainly confined to the warmer sub-Antarctic islands. There are no flying insects on the Antarctic continent itself â only tiny nematodes and the Antarctic springtail arthropod are able to survive and complete their lifecycles there.
Do people live in Antarctica?
Yes, they do, but there are no people living permanently in Antarctica.
In Antarctica, there are many permanent research facilities, and some of them are constantly occupied. However, the individual people in these facilities typically stay for the summer before returning to their home country. While some people stay on through the winter and into the next summer, and sometimes through two or even three winters in a row, no one lives in Antarctica permanently.
During the short summer period, the population of researchers staying in Antarctica typically numbers around 4,000 people â a number that falls to around 1,000 during the winter.
The largest scientific base in Antarctica is McMurdo Station, which has about 1,000 people staying there during the summer. This number falls to about 200 during the winter.
Interestingly, women have given birth to babies at some of the scientific bases in Antarctica. At least 11 children are known to have been born there, to Argentinian and Chilean parents. However, they became citizens of their respective countries rather than of Antarctica and left soon afterwards, because Antarctica is not a country.
Who owns Antarctica?
No single country owns Antarctica, and there are no native inhabitants.
Many different countries have historically claimed certain areas of Antarctica as their territory. These are Norway, Australia, Argentina, the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand and Chile. However, these claims have never been universally recognised.
The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is over 2 million square miles, which is nearly 80% the size of Australia. The AAT covers about 42% of Antarctica.
A unique international partnership â the Antarctic Treaty â has existed since 1959 to protect it. This sets aside any disputes over territorial sovereignty and binds the signatories to keep Antarctica as âa natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.â
Under the agreement of the Antarctic Treaty, the countries that are active in Antarctica consult each other on the uses of the continent, guarantee each other the freedom to perform scientific research, and prohibit the establishment of mineral mining, military bases, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal. Consequently, there has never been war in Antarctica, and there are strong environmental protections in place.
Many countries have built research facilities in Antarctica in order to study the unique environment. In addition to the countries mentioned above, these include Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, India, Italy and the USA.
No one lives permanently in Antarctica, and while there are some people in the buildings and research stations of Antarctica year-round, individual people stay for a limited time and then return to their own countries.
How cold is Antarctica?
It gets very cold. In fact, Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth. The lowest temperature ever recorded at the surface of the Earth was recorded at Vostok research station, where the temperature once fell to â89.2 °C during winter.
However, the temperature varies considerably with the location, weather and seasons in Antarctica.
The coldest parts of Antarctica are in the interior of the continent, away from the coasts. Even during the summer, the interior remains below freezing with an average temperature of between â20 °C and â35 °C. The average temperature here during the coldest months is between â40 °C and â70 °C. It gets so cold because the sun doesnât rise here in winter. Ever in summer, the sun remains low in the sky, so its rays are spread out over a wider surface area than they are in warmer parts of the world.
The warmest parts of Antarctica are the coastal areas, where the maritime climate keeps temperatures slightly higher. The average temperature during the coldest months here varies from â20 °C to â30 °C, while the mid-summer average temperature is about 0 °C on the coast.
The Antarctic Peninsula and the islands around it extend the furthest northwards towards the equator. Here, midsummer temperatures remain mostly below 0 °C, but can reach as high as 15 °C on occasion.
Research indicates the rate of climate change in Antarctica is greater than the global average.
How big is Antarctica compared to Australia?
At 5.4 million square miles of land mass, Antarctica is roughly twice the size of Australia and about 1.3 times as large as Europe. Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world, with 11,164 miles of coastline, about 45 percent of which is fringed with ice shelves.
In addition, Antarctica almost doubles in size during the winter. This is because itâs 98 percent covered with an ice sheet, which extends out from the land as ice shelves that float on the water of the Southern Ocean. During the winter, these ice shelves become extended as the sea freezes on a vast scale. At its peak, around 12.4 million square miles of the surface of the sea around Antarctica is frozen into sea ice. Much of this frozen sea ice melts during the Antarctic summer, leaving only around 1.8 million square miles of the sea frozen.
On land, the Antarctic ice sheet holds over seven million cubic miles of ice. If all the ice melted, global sea levels would rise by about 60 metres.
Antarctica is a high continent too, with significant mountain ranges. The highest mountain is Vinson Massif in the Ellsworth Mountains, which reaches up over 16,000 ft. Some of Antarcticaâs mountains are entirely buried beneath the continental ice sheet.
Are there Polar Bears in Antarctica?
No, polar bears donât live in Antarctica. In fact, there are no land mammals living there.
Polar bears are found in the Arctic, which is located around the northernmost region of the planet, and while they do move south of the Arctic Circle, they remain in the colder northern latitudes.
Interestingly, the name âArcticâ comes from the Greek word for bear. This is because the constellation Ursa Major â also known as the Great Bear â is always visible there. The name âAntarcticâ means âopposite to the Arcticâ.
If youâre interested in spotting polar bears, you might like to see our expedition cruises to Arctic destinations such as Svalbard.
Is Antarctica a desert?
Yes, much of Antarctica is a âcold desertâ or âpolar desertâ. This is because it is a large and extremely barren area where little precipitation occurs. In fact, as well as being the worldâs coldest continent, itâs also the worldâs driest.
Despite being a place with an abundance of ice covering the ground and sea, the interior of the Antarctic continent only gets an annual snowfall of a few inches. Whatâs more, the constantly low temperature in the interior keeps water frozen, making it very difficult for most forms of life to access it.
The coastal areas of Antarctica receive higher levels of precipitation and higher temperatures than the harsher interior of the continent. On the coast, temperatures can even rise high enough that precipitation falls as rain, while snowfall is typically measured in feet.
Plant life is only to be found along the coastal areas and islands where temperatures can rise above freezing. However, these plants donât support any mammals, reptiles or amphibians. Most of the wildlife found in Antarctica such as penguins and seals depend on the ecosystems of the Southern Ocean for sustenance. The only terrestrial vertebrates are birds that inhabit the sub-Antarctic islands â the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.
How does IAATO protect Antarctica?
IAATO (The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators)
protects Antarctica by advocating and promoting safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to Antarctica that has no more than a minor or transitory impact on the Antarctic environment.
IAATO does this by providing a forum for more than 100 travel companies in the travel industry to cooperate and share their expertise, opinions, and best practices.
You can read more about
the work of IAATO here
. | |||||||||
| Markdown | [130th Anniversary Offers: Up to 35% off expeditions or a free upgrade to a suite in Antarctica. Book now â offer ending soon.Read more](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/campaigns/anniversary-offers/)
Why HX?
Cruises
Destinations
Offers
Ships
Help & FAQs
Change country
Australia
United Kingdom
United States
Germany
Switzerland
France
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
Global
\+1 888 568 9793
Contact
Login
[My Account](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/my-account/)
Logout
[Why travel with HX?](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/why-travel-with-hx/)
[130 Years of Adventure](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/130-years-of-adventure/)
[Science & Education program](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/science-and-education-program/)
[Sustainability](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/taking-sustainability-seriously/)
[What is Expedition Cruising?](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/campaigns/what-is-expedition-cruising/)
[Expert led webinars](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/campaigns/webinar-sign-up/)
[Expedition Suites](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/expedition-cruise-our-suites/)
[Adventure is All-Inclusive](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/adventure-is-all-inclusive/)
[Exploring with HX as a solo traveler](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/traveling-solo/)
[Inspirational Stories](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/)
[Foundation](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/foundation/)
[In partnership with Audubon](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/campaigns/audubon-members/)
[HX/UTAS Antarctic Courses](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/campaigns/hx-and-utas-antarctica-science-course/)
[Travel Advisors](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/campaigns/welcome-travel-advisors/)
Help centre
[Help & FAQs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/)
[Request a brochure](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/order-brochures/)
[Request a quote](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/request-a-quote/)
Become a HX Explorer
[A loyalty program and community for all travel enthusiasts\!](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/hx-explorers/)
[](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/hx-explorers/)
[View all cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/)
[Excursions](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/?contentType=excursion)
[Pre/Post Programs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/?contentType=program)
Most popular cruises
[Highlights of Antarctica](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/highlights-of-antarctica/)
[Antarctica \| In-depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia Expedition](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/in-depth-antarctica-falklands-south-georgia-expedition/)
[Grand Greenland \| Mythical Lands of the North](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/grand-greenland-mythical-lands-north-new-york/)
[Alaska and British Columbia \| Wilderness, Glaciers and Culture (Southbound)](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/alaska-and-british-columbia-inside-passage-bears-and-aleutian-islands-southbound/)
[GalĂĄpagos Islands \| Nine of the Best Isles plus Machu Picchu](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/galapagos-islands-nine-of-the-best-isles-plus-machu-picchu-2026-2027/)
[Request a brochure](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/order-brochures/)
Featured cruise
[Highlights of Antarctica](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/highlights-of-antarctica/)
[](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/highlights-of-antarctica/)
[Alaska](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/alaska-cruises/)
[Antarctica](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/antarctica-cruises/)
[British Isles](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/british-isles-cruises/)
[Europe](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/europe-cruises/)
[GalĂĄpagos Islands](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/galapagos-islands-cruises/)
[Greenland](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/greenland-cruises/)
[Iceland](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/iceland-cruises/)
[Northwest Passage & Arctic Canada](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/northwest-passage-cruises/)
[Norway](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/norway-cruises/)
[South America](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/south-america-cruises/)
[Svalbard](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/svalbard-cruises/)
Featured articles
[HX Greenland Promise](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/greenland-promise/)
[What to pack for an HX cruise](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/what-to-pack-for-a-hx-expedition/)
[Explore Antarctica with HX](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/travel-guide-antarctica/)
[Request a brochure](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/order-brochures/)
Destination spotlight
[Antarctica \| The Immense and Inspiring 7th Continent](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/antarctica-cruises/)
[](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/antarctica-cruises/)
[View all offers](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/offers/)
Our current offers
[130th Anniversary Offers: Up to 35% off or free upgrade to a suite in Antarctica](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/campaigns/anniversary-offers/)
[Last-minute expeditions](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/campaigns/last-minute-expeditions/)
[Solo Traveler Benefit\!](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/traveling-solo/)
Sign up for our newsletter
[Be the first to hear about our latest offers, exciting itineraries, and inspirational articles.](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/newsletter/)
[Sign up here](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/newsletter/)
[MS Santa Cruz II](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/ships/santa-cruz-ii/)
[MS Spitsbergen](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/ships/spitsbergen/)
[MS Fridtjof Nansen](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/ships/fridtjof-nansen/)
[MS Roald Amundsen](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/ships/roald-amundsen/)
[MS Fram](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/ships/fram/)
Life Onboard
[Expedition Suites](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/expedition-cruise-our-suites/)
[Adventure is All-Inclusive](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/adventure-is-all-inclusive/)
[Request a brochure](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/order-brochures/)
Sign up for our newsletter
[Be the first to hear about our latest offers, exciting itineraries, and inspirational articles.](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/newsletter/)
[Sign up here](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/newsletter/)
Browse our collection of help topics and FAQâs
[Flights and Transfers](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/faq/#flights-transfers)
[Medical Screening Form](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/practical-information/entry-requirements/?tab=medical-screening-form)
[Antarctica FAQs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/antarctica-faqs/)
[British Isles FAQs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/british-isles-faqs/)
[GalĂĄpagos FAQs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/galapagos-faqs/)
[Greenland FAQs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/greenland-faqs/)
[All FAQS including Visas, Documents, Payments and Destinations](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/faq/)
Site search
[Find cruises, articles and more](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/search/)
Contact us
USA & Canada Toll-free
[\+1 888 568 9793](<tel: +1 888 568 9793>)
Phone opening hours (PST): MondayâFriday 6:00amâ7:00pm
Saturday 6:00amâ7:00pm
Sunday 7:30amâ4:00pm
Best time to call: 10:00amâ12:00pm
Need help planning your trip
Booking/enquiries
[us.expeditions@travelhx.com](mailto:us.expeditions@travelhx.com)
[Request a quote](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/request-a-quote/)
[Request a brochure](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/order-brochures/)
[Press & Media Center](https://www.mynewsdesk.com/hx-group-ltd%20)
Help center
[Help & FAQs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/)
[Make a payment](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/make-a-payment/)
[Feedback/Refund Request](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/request-a-refund/)
1. [Home](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/)
2. [cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/)
3. highlights of antarctica
Schedule call
# Highlights of Antarctica Expedition Cruise
12-day all-inclusive Antarctica expedition cruise from Ushuaia with round-trip flights from Buenos Aires
[Free Suite Upgrade + more](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/highlights-of-antarctica/#offers)
From
\$9,518pp
[Request a quote](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/request-a-quote/)
Show all photos
One of our most popular expeditions that gives you the ideal Antarctica experience â powerful, purposeful and packed with discovery.
Witness incredible wildlife scenes as we spot seals, penguin colonies and whales against a backdrop of staggering natural beauty.
Join the Expedition Team as they lead you on a journey of learning and adventure.
## Breathtaking icescapes
Marvel at colossal glaciers and icebergs on this incredible Antarctica expedition cruise. Experience nature's majesty as we navigate ever-changing icescapes on our hybrid-powered ship. Your Expedition Team will bring you close to your stunning surroundings on ice-cruising and landing activities.
## Antarctic wildlife
It's a busy time for the wildlife of Antarctica between November and March. In October and November, penguins court and nest, while December and January are when penguins hatch. February and March offer peak whale watching opportunities.
Read more
12 days
33 departures between Oct 2026 and Mar 2028
[All-inclusive](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/highlights-of-antarctica/#included)
MS Roald Amundsen,
MS Fridtjof Nansen
From
\$9,518pp
Find Sailings
[Overview]("Overview")[Itinerary]("Itinerary")[What's included]("What's included")[Extras]("Extras")[Ships]("Ships")[Offers]("Offers")[More info]("More info")
From\$9,518pp
Find Sailings
## Highlights of Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Loading...
Loading dates. Thanks for your patience.
## Itinerary
Your adventure at a glance. Daily highlights, included activities, and optional extras to make it unforgettable.
Day 1
The beat of Buenos Aires
**Feel the rhythm of bustling Buenos Aires**
Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or âpeople of the portâ, Buenos Aires is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendour and Latin American panache. An overnight stay here is the ideal way to start your adventure.
There are plenty of places to explore, including many parrillas serving authentic Argentine steak. Or maybe youâd like to practise your dance moves in the famous hometown of the tango.
Why not consider arriving a few days early to see all this vibrant city has to offer.
Day 2
Early start in Ushuaia
**Setting off from the bottom of the world**
Your adventure begins with an early morning flight to Ushuaia, where youâll meet our hybrid electric-powered expedition ship, specially designed for sustainable cruising in polar waters.
This bustling port is the capital of Argentinaâs Tierra del Fuego Province. Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Martial Glacier, Ushuaia is a contender for the title of the worldâs southernmost city.
After a briefing from your Expedition Team, youâll have time to locate your cabin and explore the comforts and amenities on board.
Day 3-4
Get ready for Antarctica
**Cross the Drake Passage**
On the two-day crossing through the Drake Passage, the Expedition Team will equip you with everything you need to make the most of your polar expedition.
Visit the onboard Science Center and find out what lies ahead. Listen as experts talk passionately about Antarcticaâs history, the science beneath the ice, and the impact of climate change and plastic pollution. Learn how to make your visit as safe and as low-impact as possible and discover the Citizen Science projects you can join.
Thereâs plenty of time to relax, so unwind in the spa and wellness area, enjoy delicious cuisine, and meet fellow travelers in the Explorer Lounge & Bar.
Day 5-9
Antarctica: another world
**Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty**
Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarcticaâs immense, frozen beauty. Antarctica will fill you with wonder, surrounded by looming glaciers and icebergs the size of floating cathedrals. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. The stillness that reigns is broken every so often by the locals â the wildlife.
Whales begin to arrive in greater numbers by December and January. This is also when the first penguin chicks hatch. Seeing those clumsy clumps of feathers running around is always a charming sight. February and March are peak whale watching months, when huge amounts of krill lure whales to the area.
Nature is king here and we are mere observers. Our experienced Captain will continually monitor conditions to create the best possible itinerary for your adventure. Rest assured that each day will offer something different and thrilling.
Join the Expedition Team on landings and while ice cruising. You may even have the chance to kayak among the icebergs.
Back on board, the Expedition Team will continue their lectures, helping expand your insight into the frozen continent. Over five magical days, experience this amazing world in a way that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Day 10-11
Returning to warmer waters
**Heading back north across the Drake Passage**
After five incredible days, youâll have experienced so much in Antarctica. Your head will likely be filled with a swirling kaleidoscope of special memories and impressions. The next couple of days will be a chance to reflect on your adventure to the seventh continent.
As your mind tries to conjure up the magical Antarctic scenery, now could be a good time to sift through your photos and videos to recapture a sense of its magnitude. Why not take the chance to unwind in the sauna, or enjoy a few relaxing spa treatments in the wellness area.
Day 12
Ushuaia and Buenos Aires
**From Ushuaia to Buenos Aires**
Your expedition cruise ends in Ushuaia, the main city in Tierra del Fuego, Argentinaâs southernmost province. From here, youâll take a flight back to Buenos Aires, but it doesnât have to be the end of your adventure.
Why not join our optional [Post-Programme](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/?contentType=program394) before heading home.
Extend your trip with Pre & Post-Trip Programmes
1 Pre-trip & 1 Pre-trip Available
1 Pre-trip
1 Post-trip
The Highlights of Buenos Aires (Pre)
\$88pp
The IguazĂș Experience (Post)
\$3,347pp
## Included activities & excursions
These activities are included with your trip. Dates and times will be confirmed closer to departure, youâll just need to reserve your spot after booking.
### Landing Sites in Antarctica
### Onboard Science Program
### Daily Lectures
### Landing Sites in Antarctica
### Daily Lectures
### Onboard Science Program
## What else is included?
What's not included?
### Hotel
Overnight in Buenos Aires before the expedition cruise, including breakfast
### Flights
Flights in economy class between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
### Exclusively for Suite Guestsâ
Relax and recharge in the hours before your Antarctic adventure
Read more
### Food & Beverages
Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, beer, and spirits
Read more
### HX Expedition Gear
Wind and waterproof expedition jacket
Read more
### Ship Facilities
Use of sauna, hot tubs, pool, fitness room, lounges and more
### Complimentary Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi. Please note, streaming is not supported
### Extras
Professional photos from your trip taken by our onboard photographer
Read more
### Onboard Activities
In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by our knowledgeable Expedition Team
Read more
### Landing Activities
Escorted landings with small expedition boats
Read more
### Transfers
Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Buenos Aires before the expedition cruise
Read more
### Notes
All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
Read more
## What's not included?
- International flights
- Additional overnight(s) if required due to international flight timings
- Travel insurance
- Luggage handling
- Optional shore excursions with our local partners
- Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team
- Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area
## Optional extras
Enhance your journey with optional extras. Some activities are only bookable onboard and canât be reserved online or by phone. Subject to availability.
All
Excursions
Programmes
[Excursion   Camping â Tent (Only Bookable Onboard) \$505](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/camping-in-antarctica-an-amundsen-night/)
[Excursion   Guided Sea Kayaking Adventure (Only Bookable Onboard) \$229](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/kayaking-adventure-in-antarctica/)
[Excursion   Snowshoeing (Only Bookable Onboard) \$91](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/snowshoeing-in-antarctica/)
[Excursion   Discovery Kayak (Only Bookable Onboard) \$148](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/antarctica-discovery-kayak/)
[Excursion   Camping â Bivvy Bag (Only Bookable Onboard) \$402](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/antarctica-camping-amundsen-night-bivvy-bag/)
[Excursion   Arakur Resort & Spa (Included for All Suite Guests) \$0](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/arakur-resort-spa-pre/)
[Post-program   The IguazĂș Experience (Post) \$3,347](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/the-iguazu-experience-post/)
[Pre-program   The Highlights of Buenos Aires (Pre) \$88](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/enhance-your-cruise/catalog/the-highlights-of-buenos-aires-pre/)
## Our Antarctica ships
Get a taste of what life is like on board the ships that sail on this itinerary
[See all ships](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/ships/)
### MS Roald Amundsen
Year built 2019Capacity 490
### MS Fridtjof Nansen
Year built 2020Capacity 490
## Offers
Enjoy limited-time savings on selected sailings. Combinable on select offers.
Book by Thu Apr 30
### ANTARCTICA IN 2026 â Free Suite Upgrade
Book by Thu Apr 30
### Save up to 35% with our 130th Anniversary Offers
## Know before you go
[  Expedition Health & Safety](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/help-topics/health-and-safety/)
[  Travel Requirements & Medical Forms](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/practical-information/entry-requirements/)
[  What to pack?](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/what-to-pack-for-a-hx-expedition/)
## Frequently Asked Questions
[View all FAQâs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/faq/)
Why do I need to complete a Medical Screening Form?
At HX Expeditions - we explore some of the world's most remote locations and as such, in many of these locations, sophisticated medical services are few and far between. Medical care at sea is limited, and often emergency sea and air services may also be inaccessible, particularly in the polar regions. It is therefore vital that you make us aware of any current or past health issues, and as such we require a [Medical Screening Form](https://vikandmedical.com/hurtigruten-en-stripe/) to be completed for [Expeditions to Antarctica](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/antarctica-cruises/).
The Health, Safety and well-being of you our guests and our on-board crew are our top priority, and we want to ensure that all our guests are fit for travel. On board all our ships, we will have a qualified physician, which have a small, limited medical facility with basic medical supplies and equipment. Still, that makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat even the simplest conditions. This often leads to missed diagnoses, worsening conditions, a greater burden of chronic disease, and in some cases, unnecessary costly medical disembarkations.
What is the Medical Screening Form Promise?
Our promise to you is that if your Medical Screening Form is declined for medical reasons as determined by Vikand Solutions, we will refund you of all bookings made by HX up until the date of declinature. This includes all applicable flights, hotels and ground transportation. Rebookings can be made at no additional cost, subject to applicable booking conditions.
For more detailed information on this topic, [click here](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/offers/medical-screening-form-promise/).
How do I complete the Medical Screening Form?
We require all guests (including children) to submit and complete the Medical Form prior to departure to Antarctica.
Complete the form online through the [Vikand Medical portal](https://vikandmedical.com/hx-en/). It includes sections for both you and your doctor to fill out. You can begin the process up to **120 days** before your sailing start date. Group bookings: access opens 90 days before your sailing start date. To start, Vikand will verify your name against our passenger list. If your name isnât found, please contact HX or your local travel agent(if you booked through one) to ensure your name has been added to the booking exactly as it appears on your passport. For Doctorâs section - if your doctor can't sign the form, please consult an alternative or use Vikandâs online doctor service.
To make sure you receive important updates about yourMedical Screening Form, weâll send a verification email to the address you provided. Please check your inbox (and Spam/Junk folders) and click the verification link to continue. Once verified, you can complete the Guest Section of the form. If you donât receive the email, try using an alternative address for future updates.
**Please note:** We only accept the Medical Screening Form available through Vikand portal and has been specially designed for HX sailings to remote destinations.
Whatâs included for suite guests?
A [suite with HX](https://www.travelhx.com/en/stories/expedition-cruise-our-suites/) is a premium, all-inclusive experience designed to elevate your expedition cruise. Suite guests enjoy priority boarding, access to the LindstrĂžm fine-dining restaurant, premium drinks, laundry, welcome champagne, and much more. Itâs the perfect way to indulge your inner explorer.
What does Antarctica look like?
Antarctica looks like little else on Earth! Itâs a stunning icescape of whites and blues that tower up out of the sea in all sorts of wonderful shapes. There are high, snow-covered mountains where the wind sweeps the steep dark rock clean of any snow that doesnât stick in the cracks. There are some rocky promontories too, however most of the land is covered in snow and ice with occasional rocks breaking through. With very little vegetation, Antarctica is vast and barren, however the warmer Antarctic Peninsula has some low vegetation in the summer.
From the sea, huge cliffs made of ice look like extra-bright and extra-white chalk cliffs. These vast ice shelves âcalveâ enormous icebergs of diverse sizes and shapes, each one a unique sight to behold. Around the continent, the sea freezes in winter and then thaws in summer, leaving a patchwork of floating, broken ice with channels of green-black water between them. Even the more open water is often dotted with small floating lumps of ice when you come here on a Hurtigruten Expeditionsâ cruise.
Where is Antarctica?
The southernmost continent in the world, Antarctica is located at and around the South Pole and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Almost all of Antarctica lies south of the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere, which means temperatures are consistently below zero throughout most of the year.
Antarctica is 1672 miles from Australia when measured between Hobart and the nearest research base, the French Dumont d'Urville Station.
The nearest neighbouring continent to Antarctica is South America, where the closest part is shared by Chile and Argentina. Part of Antarctica â called the Antarctic Peninsula â extends north beyond the Antarctic Circle. From here itâs about 600 miles to the southernmost tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego.
Apart from South America, Antarcticaâs other neighbours are the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Australia, and New Zealandâs South Island (Te Waipounamu).
Antarctica is sometimes confused with the Arctic, which surrounds the opposite pole of the Earth, the North Pole.
How to get to Antarctica?
To travel to Antarctica, the closest place to depart from is the southern tip of South America, from where you can take a ship or plane.
Most flights go from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island in Antarctica, which takes two hours. From King George Island, you then need to take a ship to reach the Antarctic continent or other islands. There are also limited flights to the interior of the continent, where you land on a runway of blue ice\!
Alternatively, you can fly to Antarctica from Cape Town, South Africa, or sail from Australia, from South Island, New Zealand, or from Ushuaia, Argentina.
On a Hurtigruten Expeditions trip to Antarctica, you can cruise in comfort on one of our state-of-the-art ships that are outfitted for the purpose of making your trip as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. We offer expedition cruises with a variety of different itineraries so you can find the one that suits you best.
How to choose an Antarctic cruise?
We recommend choosing an Antarctic cruise provided by a reputable company with modern ships and top experts to help you understand and get the most from your incredible opportunity. Coming to such a pristine wilderness, we also consider it of the utmost importance to take care to protect the environment and keep it unspoiled.
At Hurtigruten Expeditions, we offer expedition cruises to Antarctica with a variety of different itineraries, so you can find one that suits you best. Simply get in touch with our knowledgeable experts â theyâre always happy to help. They can talk to you and ask you about your preferences to help you choose your dream trip to Antarctica.
Once youâve chosen a cruise, our friendly teams can give you expert advice on topics such as what you need to pack for Antarctica.
What animals live in Antarctica?
Antarctica is teeming with animal life. Even though itâs one of the least hospitable places in the world, the wildlife there is spectacular.
The largest animals of all are found around Antarctica â whales. The whales found here include blue, humpback, Minke, sperm, and beaked. Itâs also thought that Antarctica has the largest population of orcas (a type of dolphin) to be found anywhere in the world. In addition, many other types of dolphins are found here. Seals abound, including fur seals, leopard seals, elephant seals and sea lions.
Penguins are the most common birds in the Antarctic, where there are about 20 million breeding pairs (40 million birds). There are 18 different species of penguins in Antarctica, and while most are migratory, the Emperor Penguin and Adélie Penguin remain on the continent year-round, hatching their eggs among the bare rocks. Other birds found here include albatrosses, petrels, skua, prions, fulmars, shearwaters, gulls, terns and cormorants.
Some of the most notable differences between Antarctica and the Arctic are the differences between the animals found there. While penguins are emblematic of the Antarctic, there are no penguins in the Arctic. Moreover, there are no land mammals, reptiles or amphibians in Antarctica, so there are no Polar Bears! In fact, the only terrestrial vertebrates in Antarctica are birds that are found on the sub-Antarctic islands â the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.
Further down the food chain are huge numbers of krill, fish and squid that nourish the marine ecosystem. In fact, the vertebrates living in Antarctica are almost entirely dependent on the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent for sustenance.
Invertebrates in Antarctica include earthworms and molluscs, as well as spiders, beetles and flies â though these are mainly confined to the warmer sub-Antarctic islands. There are no flying insects on the Antarctic continent itself â only tiny nematodes and the Antarctic springtail arthropod are able to survive and complete their lifecycles there.
Do people live in Antarctica?
Yes, they do, but there are no people living permanently in Antarctica.
In Antarctica, there are many permanent research facilities, and some of them are constantly occupied. However, the individual people in these facilities typically stay for the summer before returning to their home country. While some people stay on through the winter and into the next summer, and sometimes through two or even three winters in a row, no one lives in Antarctica permanently.
During the short summer period, the population of researchers staying in Antarctica typically numbers around 4,000 people â a number that falls to around 1,000 during the winter.
The largest scientific base in Antarctica is McMurdo Station, which has about 1,000 people staying there during the summer. This number falls to about 200 during the winter.
Interestingly, women have given birth to babies at some of the scientific bases in Antarctica. At least 11 children are known to have been born there, to Argentinian and Chilean parents. However, they became citizens of their respective countries rather than of Antarctica and left soon afterwards, because Antarctica is not a country.
Who owns Antarctica?
No single country owns Antarctica, and there are no native inhabitants.
Many different countries have historically claimed certain areas of Antarctica as their territory. These are Norway, Australia, Argentina, the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand and Chile. However, these claims have never been universally recognised.
The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is over 2 million square miles, which is nearly 80% the size of Australia. The AAT covers about 42% of Antarctica.
A unique international partnership â the Antarctic Treaty â has existed since 1959 to protect it. This sets aside any disputes over territorial sovereignty and binds the signatories to keep Antarctica as âa natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.â
Under the agreement of the Antarctic Treaty, the countries that are active in Antarctica consult each other on the uses of the continent, guarantee each other the freedom to perform scientific research, and prohibit the establishment of mineral mining, military bases, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal. Consequently, there has never been war in Antarctica, and there are strong environmental protections in place.
Many countries have built research facilities in Antarctica in order to study the unique environment. In addition to the countries mentioned above, these include Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, India, Italy and the USA.
No one lives permanently in Antarctica, and while there are some people in the buildings and research stations of Antarctica year-round, individual people stay for a limited time and then return to their own countries.
How cold is Antarctica?
It gets very cold. In fact, Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth. The lowest temperature ever recorded at the surface of the Earth was recorded at Vostok research station, where the temperature once fell to â89.2 °C during winter.
However, the temperature varies considerably with the location, weather and seasons in Antarctica.
The coldest parts of Antarctica are in the interior of the continent, away from the coasts. Even during the summer, the interior remains below freezing with an average temperature of between â20 °C and â35 °C. The average temperature here during the coldest months is between â40 °C and â70 °C. It gets so cold because the sun doesnât rise here in winter. Ever in summer, the sun remains low in the sky, so its rays are spread out over a wider surface area than they are in warmer parts of the world.
The warmest parts of Antarctica are the coastal areas, where the maritime climate keeps temperatures slightly higher. The average temperature during the coldest months here varies from â20 °C to â30 °C, while the mid-summer average temperature is about 0 °C on the coast.
The Antarctic Peninsula and the islands around it extend the furthest northwards towards the equator. Here, midsummer temperatures remain mostly below 0 °C, but can reach as high as 15 °C on occasion.
Research indicates the rate of climate change in Antarctica is greater than the global average.
How big is Antarctica compared to Australia?
At 5.4 million square miles of land mass, Antarctica is roughly twice the size of Australia and about 1.3 times as large as Europe. Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world, with 11,164 miles of coastline, about 45 percent of which is fringed with ice shelves.
In addition, Antarctica almost doubles in size during the winter. This is because itâs 98 percent covered with an ice sheet, which extends out from the land as ice shelves that float on the water of the Southern Ocean. During the winter, these ice shelves become extended as the sea freezes on a vast scale. At its peak, around 12.4 million square miles of the surface of the sea around Antarctica is frozen into sea ice. Much of this frozen sea ice melts during the Antarctic summer, leaving only around 1.8 million square miles of the sea frozen.
On land, the Antarctic ice sheet holds over seven million cubic miles of ice. If all the ice melted, global sea levels would rise by about 60 metres.
Antarctica is a high continent too, with significant mountain ranges. The highest mountain is Vinson Massif in the Ellsworth Mountains, which reaches up over 16,000 ft. Some of Antarcticaâs mountains are entirely buried beneath the continental ice sheet.
Are there Polar Bears in Antarctica?
No, polar bears donât live in Antarctica. In fact, there are no land mammals living there.
Polar bears are found in the Arctic, which is located around the northernmost region of the planet, and while they do move south of the Arctic Circle, they remain in the colder northern latitudes.
Interestingly, the name âArcticâ comes from the Greek word for bear. This is because the constellation Ursa Major â also known as the Great Bear â is always visible there. The name âAntarcticâ means âopposite to the Arcticâ.
If youâre interested in spotting polar bears, you might like to see our expedition cruises to Arctic destinations such as Svalbard.
Is Antarctica a desert?
Yes, much of Antarctica is a âcold desertâ or âpolar desertâ. This is because it is a large and extremely barren area where little precipitation occurs. In fact, as well as being the worldâs coldest continent, itâs also the worldâs driest.
Despite being a place with an abundance of ice covering the ground and sea, the interior of the Antarctic continent only gets an annual snowfall of a few inches. Whatâs more, the constantly low temperature in the interior keeps water frozen, making it very difficult for most forms of life to access it.
The coastal areas of Antarctica receive higher levels of precipitation and higher temperatures than the harsher interior of the continent. On the coast, temperatures can even rise high enough that precipitation falls as rain, while snowfall is typically measured in feet.
Plant life is only to be found along the coastal areas and islands where temperatures can rise above freezing. However, these plants donât support any mammals, reptiles or amphibians. Most of the wildlife found in Antarctica such as penguins and seals depend on the ecosystems of the Southern Ocean for sustenance. The only terrestrial vertebrates are birds that inhabit the sub-Antarctic islands â the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.
How does IAATO protect Antarctica?
[IAATO (The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators)](https://iaato.org/) protects Antarctica by advocating and promoting safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to Antarctica that has no more than a minor or transitory impact on the Antarctic environment.
IAATO does this by providing a forum for more than 100 travel companies in the travel industry to cooperate and share their expertise, opinions, and best practices.
You can read more about [the work of IAATO here](https://iaato.org/faqs/).
## More Antarctica expeditions
Photos
Route map
[Life ReturnsâSpringtime Expedition Cruise to Antarctica 23-day all-inclusive Antarctica expedition cruise from Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile 23 days 2 departures between Oct 26 and Oct 27 MS Fram Free Suite Upgrade More From\$20,955\$16,943 pp](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/life-returns-springtime-expedition-to-antarctica/)
[Iconic Antarctica Expedition Cruise â The Explorerâs Route 16-day all-inclusive Antarctica Expedition Cruise with round-trip flights from Buenos Aires 16 days 9 departures between Oct 26 and Dec 27 MS Roald Amundsen Free Suite Upgrade More From\$10,708 pp](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/iconic-antarctica-the-explorers-route/)
[In-depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia Expedition Cruise 23-day all-inclusive Antarctica Expedition Cruise with round-trip flights from Santiago de Chile 23 days 12 departures between Nov 26 and Feb 28 MS Fram Free Suite Upgrade More From\$17,305 pp](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/in-depth-antarctica-falklands-south-georgia-expedition/)
[Antarctica & Falklands Expedition Cruise 16-day all-inclusive Antarctica Expedition Cruise with round-trip flights from Buenos Aires 16 days 4 departures between Nov 26 and Mar 28 MS Roald Amundsen Free Suite Upgrade More From\$11,101 pp](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/cruises/antarctica-falklands-expedition/)
All Antarctica expeditions
### The newsletter loved by explorers
Join one million subscribers â sign up for destination guides, offers and live webinars with expedition experts
Signup
Read our [privacy policy](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/terms/privacy-policy/) to learn more.
## Contact
USA & Canada Toll-free
[\+1 888 568 9793](<tel: +1 888 568 9793>)
Phone opening hours (PST): MondayâFriday 6:00amâ7:00pm \| Saturday 6:00amâ7:00pm \| Sunday 7:30amâ4:00pm \| Best time to call: 10:00amâ12:00pm \|
- [Contact us]()
## Support
- [Help & FAQs](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/)
- [Make a payment](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/make-a-payment/)
- [Brochures](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/order-brochures/)
- [Request a quote](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/request-a-quote/)
- [Feedback/Refund Request](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/request-a-refund/)
## About
- [HX Explorers](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/hx-explorers/)
- [Expedition Suites](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/stories/expedition-cruise-our-suites/)
- [Sustainability](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/sustainability/)
- [Investors](https://www.travelhx.com/investors/)
- [Careers](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/careers/)
- [Press](https://www.mynewsdesk.com/hx-group-ltd)
- [Travel Agent Portal](https://agentportal.travelhx.com/)
Change country
## HX Expeditions
- [Expedition Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/)
- [British Isles Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/british-isles-cruises/)
- [Alaska Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/alaska-cruises/)
- [Antarctica Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/antarctica-cruises/)
- [Europe Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/europe-cruises/)
- [GalĂĄpagos Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/galapagos-islands-cruises/)
- [Greenland Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/greenland-cruises/)
- [Iceland Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/iceland-cruises/)
- [Northwest Passage Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/northwest-passage-cruises/%20)
- [Norway Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/norway-cruises/)
- [South America Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/south-america-cruises/)
- [Svalbard Cruises](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/svalbard-cruises/)
© 2026 HX Expeditions
[Terms and conditions](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/terms/)[Privacy policy](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/terms/privacy-policy/)[Cookie policy](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/terms/cookie-compliance/)
Manage preferences | |||||||||
| Readable Markdown | Why do I need to complete a Medical Screening Form?
At HX Expeditions - we explore some of the world's most remote locations and as such, in many of these locations, sophisticated medical services are few and far between. Medical care at sea is limited, and often emergency sea and air services may also be inaccessible, particularly in the polar regions. It is therefore vital that you make us aware of any current or past health issues, and as such we require a [Medical Screening Form](https://vikandmedical.com/hurtigruten-en-stripe/) to be completed for [Expeditions to Antarctica](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/destinations/antarctica-cruises/).
The Health, Safety and well-being of you our guests and our on-board crew are our top priority, and we want to ensure that all our guests are fit for travel. On board all our ships, we will have a qualified physician, which have a small, limited medical facility with basic medical supplies and equipment. Still, that makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat even the simplest conditions. This often leads to missed diagnoses, worsening conditions, a greater burden of chronic disease, and in some cases, unnecessary costly medical disembarkations.
What is the Medical Screening Form Promise?
Our promise to you is that if your Medical Screening Form is declined for medical reasons as determined by Vikand Solutions, we will refund you of all bookings made by HX up until the date of declinature. This includes all applicable flights, hotels and ground transportation. Rebookings can be made at no additional cost, subject to applicable booking conditions.
For more detailed information on this topic, [click here](https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/offers/medical-screening-form-promise/).
How do I complete the Medical Screening Form?
We require all guests (including children) to submit and complete the Medical Form prior to departure to Antarctica.
Complete the form online through the [Vikand Medical portal](https://vikandmedical.com/hx-en/). It includes sections for both you and your doctor to fill out. You can begin the process up to **120 days** before your sailing start date. Group bookings: access opens 90 days before your sailing start date. To start, Vikand will verify your name against our passenger list. If your name isnât found, please contact HX or your local travel agent(if you booked through one) to ensure your name has been added to the booking exactly as it appears on your passport. For Doctorâs section - if your doctor can't sign the form, please consult an alternative or use Vikandâs online doctor service.
To make sure you receive important updates about yourMedical Screening Form, weâll send a verification email to the address you provided. Please check your inbox (and Spam/Junk folders) and click the verification link to continue. Once verified, you can complete the Guest Section of the form. If you donât receive the email, try using an alternative address for future updates.
**Please note:** We only accept the Medical Screening Form available through Vikand portal and has been specially designed for HX sailings to remote destinations.
Whatâs included for suite guests?
A [suite with HX](https://www.travelhx.com/en/stories/expedition-cruise-our-suites/) is a premium, all-inclusive experience designed to elevate your expedition cruise. Suite guests enjoy priority boarding, access to the LindstrĂžm fine-dining restaurant, premium drinks, laundry, welcome champagne, and much more. Itâs the perfect way to indulge your inner explorer.
What does Antarctica look like?
Antarctica looks like little else on Earth! Itâs a stunning icescape of whites and blues that tower up out of the sea in all sorts of wonderful shapes. There are high, snow-covered mountains where the wind sweeps the steep dark rock clean of any snow that doesnât stick in the cracks. There are some rocky promontories too, however most of the land is covered in snow and ice with occasional rocks breaking through. With very little vegetation, Antarctica is vast and barren, however the warmer Antarctic Peninsula has some low vegetation in the summer.
From the sea, huge cliffs made of ice look like extra-bright and extra-white chalk cliffs. These vast ice shelves âcalveâ enormous icebergs of diverse sizes and shapes, each one a unique sight to behold. Around the continent, the sea freezes in winter and then thaws in summer, leaving a patchwork of floating, broken ice with channels of green-black water between them. Even the more open water is often dotted with small floating lumps of ice when you come here on a Hurtigruten Expeditionsâ cruise.
Where is Antarctica?
The southernmost continent in the world, Antarctica is located at and around the South Pole and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Almost all of Antarctica lies south of the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere, which means temperatures are consistently below zero throughout most of the year.
Antarctica is 1672 miles from Australia when measured between Hobart and the nearest research base, the French Dumont d'Urville Station.
The nearest neighbouring continent to Antarctica is South America, where the closest part is shared by Chile and Argentina. Part of Antarctica â called the Antarctic Peninsula â extends north beyond the Antarctic Circle. From here itâs about 600 miles to the southernmost tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego.
Apart from South America, Antarcticaâs other neighbours are the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Australia, and New Zealandâs South Island (Te Waipounamu).
Antarctica is sometimes confused with the Arctic, which surrounds the opposite pole of the Earth, the North Pole.
How to get to Antarctica?
To travel to Antarctica, the closest place to depart from is the southern tip of South America, from where you can take a ship or plane.
Most flights go from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island in Antarctica, which takes two hours. From King George Island, you then need to take a ship to reach the Antarctic continent or other islands. There are also limited flights to the interior of the continent, where you land on a runway of blue ice\!
Alternatively, you can fly to Antarctica from Cape Town, South Africa, or sail from Australia, from South Island, New Zealand, or from Ushuaia, Argentina.
On a Hurtigruten Expeditions trip to Antarctica, you can cruise in comfort on one of our state-of-the-art ships that are outfitted for the purpose of making your trip as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. We offer expedition cruises with a variety of different itineraries so you can find the one that suits you best.
How to choose an Antarctic cruise?
We recommend choosing an Antarctic cruise provided by a reputable company with modern ships and top experts to help you understand and get the most from your incredible opportunity. Coming to such a pristine wilderness, we also consider it of the utmost importance to take care to protect the environment and keep it unspoiled.
At Hurtigruten Expeditions, we offer expedition cruises to Antarctica with a variety of different itineraries, so you can find one that suits you best. Simply get in touch with our knowledgeable experts â theyâre always happy to help. They can talk to you and ask you about your preferences to help you choose your dream trip to Antarctica.
Once youâve chosen a cruise, our friendly teams can give you expert advice on topics such as what you need to pack for Antarctica.
What animals live in Antarctica?
Antarctica is teeming with animal life. Even though itâs one of the least hospitable places in the world, the wildlife there is spectacular.
The largest animals of all are found around Antarctica â whales. The whales found here include blue, humpback, Minke, sperm, and beaked. Itâs also thought that Antarctica has the largest population of orcas (a type of dolphin) to be found anywhere in the world. In addition, many other types of dolphins are found here. Seals abound, including fur seals, leopard seals, elephant seals and sea lions.
Penguins are the most common birds in the Antarctic, where there are about 20 million breeding pairs (40 million birds). There are 18 different species of penguins in Antarctica, and while most are migratory, the Emperor Penguin and Adélie Penguin remain on the continent year-round, hatching their eggs among the bare rocks. Other birds found here include albatrosses, petrels, skua, prions, fulmars, shearwaters, gulls, terns and cormorants.
Some of the most notable differences between Antarctica and the Arctic are the differences between the animals found there. While penguins are emblematic of the Antarctic, there are no penguins in the Arctic. Moreover, there are no land mammals, reptiles or amphibians in Antarctica, so there are no Polar Bears! In fact, the only terrestrial vertebrates in Antarctica are birds that are found on the sub-Antarctic islands â the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.
Further down the food chain are huge numbers of krill, fish and squid that nourish the marine ecosystem. In fact, the vertebrates living in Antarctica are almost entirely dependent on the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent for sustenance.
Invertebrates in Antarctica include earthworms and molluscs, as well as spiders, beetles and flies â though these are mainly confined to the warmer sub-Antarctic islands. There are no flying insects on the Antarctic continent itself â only tiny nematodes and the Antarctic springtail arthropod are able to survive and complete their lifecycles there.
Do people live in Antarctica?
Yes, they do, but there are no people living permanently in Antarctica.
In Antarctica, there are many permanent research facilities, and some of them are constantly occupied. However, the individual people in these facilities typically stay for the summer before returning to their home country. While some people stay on through the winter and into the next summer, and sometimes through two or even three winters in a row, no one lives in Antarctica permanently.
During the short summer period, the population of researchers staying in Antarctica typically numbers around 4,000 people â a number that falls to around 1,000 during the winter.
The largest scientific base in Antarctica is McMurdo Station, which has about 1,000 people staying there during the summer. This number falls to about 200 during the winter.
Interestingly, women have given birth to babies at some of the scientific bases in Antarctica. At least 11 children are known to have been born there, to Argentinian and Chilean parents. However, they became citizens of their respective countries rather than of Antarctica and left soon afterwards, because Antarctica is not a country.
Who owns Antarctica?
No single country owns Antarctica, and there are no native inhabitants.
Many different countries have historically claimed certain areas of Antarctica as their territory. These are Norway, Australia, Argentina, the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand and Chile. However, these claims have never been universally recognised.
The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is over 2 million square miles, which is nearly 80% the size of Australia. The AAT covers about 42% of Antarctica.
A unique international partnership â the Antarctic Treaty â has existed since 1959 to protect it. This sets aside any disputes over territorial sovereignty and binds the signatories to keep Antarctica as âa natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.â
Under the agreement of the Antarctic Treaty, the countries that are active in Antarctica consult each other on the uses of the continent, guarantee each other the freedom to perform scientific research, and prohibit the establishment of mineral mining, military bases, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal. Consequently, there has never been war in Antarctica, and there are strong environmental protections in place.
Many countries have built research facilities in Antarctica in order to study the unique environment. In addition to the countries mentioned above, these include Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, India, Italy and the USA.
No one lives permanently in Antarctica, and while there are some people in the buildings and research stations of Antarctica year-round, individual people stay for a limited time and then return to their own countries.
How cold is Antarctica?
It gets very cold. In fact, Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth. The lowest temperature ever recorded at the surface of the Earth was recorded at Vostok research station, where the temperature once fell to â89.2 °C during winter.
However, the temperature varies considerably with the location, weather and seasons in Antarctica.
The coldest parts of Antarctica are in the interior of the continent, away from the coasts. Even during the summer, the interior remains below freezing with an average temperature of between â20 °C and â35 °C. The average temperature here during the coldest months is between â40 °C and â70 °C. It gets so cold because the sun doesnât rise here in winter. Ever in summer, the sun remains low in the sky, so its rays are spread out over a wider surface area than they are in warmer parts of the world.
The warmest parts of Antarctica are the coastal areas, where the maritime climate keeps temperatures slightly higher. The average temperature during the coldest months here varies from â20 °C to â30 °C, while the mid-summer average temperature is about 0 °C on the coast.
The Antarctic Peninsula and the islands around it extend the furthest northwards towards the equator. Here, midsummer temperatures remain mostly below 0 °C, but can reach as high as 15 °C on occasion.
Research indicates the rate of climate change in Antarctica is greater than the global average.
How big is Antarctica compared to Australia?
At 5.4 million square miles of land mass, Antarctica is roughly twice the size of Australia and about 1.3 times as large as Europe. Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world, with 11,164 miles of coastline, about 45 percent of which is fringed with ice shelves.
In addition, Antarctica almost doubles in size during the winter. This is because itâs 98 percent covered with an ice sheet, which extends out from the land as ice shelves that float on the water of the Southern Ocean. During the winter, these ice shelves become extended as the sea freezes on a vast scale. At its peak, around 12.4 million square miles of the surface of the sea around Antarctica is frozen into sea ice. Much of this frozen sea ice melts during the Antarctic summer, leaving only around 1.8 million square miles of the sea frozen.
On land, the Antarctic ice sheet holds over seven million cubic miles of ice. If all the ice melted, global sea levels would rise by about 60 metres.
Antarctica is a high continent too, with significant mountain ranges. The highest mountain is Vinson Massif in the Ellsworth Mountains, which reaches up over 16,000 ft. Some of Antarcticaâs mountains are entirely buried beneath the continental ice sheet.
Are there Polar Bears in Antarctica?
No, polar bears donât live in Antarctica. In fact, there are no land mammals living there.
Polar bears are found in the Arctic, which is located around the northernmost region of the planet, and while they do move south of the Arctic Circle, they remain in the colder northern latitudes.
Interestingly, the name âArcticâ comes from the Greek word for bear. This is because the constellation Ursa Major â also known as the Great Bear â is always visible there. The name âAntarcticâ means âopposite to the Arcticâ.
If youâre interested in spotting polar bears, you might like to see our expedition cruises to Arctic destinations such as Svalbard.
Is Antarctica a desert?
Yes, much of Antarctica is a âcold desertâ or âpolar desertâ. This is because it is a large and extremely barren area where little precipitation occurs. In fact, as well as being the worldâs coldest continent, itâs also the worldâs driest.
Despite being a place with an abundance of ice covering the ground and sea, the interior of the Antarctic continent only gets an annual snowfall of a few inches. Whatâs more, the constantly low temperature in the interior keeps water frozen, making it very difficult for most forms of life to access it.
The coastal areas of Antarctica receive higher levels of precipitation and higher temperatures than the harsher interior of the continent. On the coast, temperatures can even rise high enough that precipitation falls as rain, while snowfall is typically measured in feet.
Plant life is only to be found along the coastal areas and islands where temperatures can rise above freezing. However, these plants donât support any mammals, reptiles or amphibians. Most of the wildlife found in Antarctica such as penguins and seals depend on the ecosystems of the Southern Ocean for sustenance. The only terrestrial vertebrates are birds that inhabit the sub-Antarctic islands â the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.
How does IAATO protect Antarctica?
[IAATO (The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators)](https://iaato.org/) protects Antarctica by advocating and promoting safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to Antarctica that has no more than a minor or transitory impact on the Antarctic environment.
IAATO does this by providing a forum for more than 100 travel companies in the travel industry to cooperate and share their expertise, opinions, and best practices.
You can read more about [the work of IAATO here](https://iaato.org/faqs/). | |||||||||
| ML Classification | ||||||||||
| ML Categories |
Raw JSON{
"/Travel_and_Transportation": 990,
"/Travel_and_Transportation/Specialty_Travel": 865,
"/Travel_and_Transportation/Specialty_Travel/Adventure_Travel": 797
} | |||||||||
| ML Page Types |
Raw JSON{
"/Core_Page": 417,
"/Core_Page/Services_Page": 412
} | |||||||||
| ML Intent Types |
Raw JSON{
"Transactional": 486,
"Commercial": 451,
"Informational": 315
} | |||||||||
| Content Metadata | ||||||||||
| Language | en-us | |||||||||
| Author | null | |||||||||
| Publish Time | not set | |||||||||
| Original Publish Time | 2024-07-10 17:50:44 (1 year ago) | |||||||||
| Republished | No | |||||||||
| Word Count (Total) | 4,945 | |||||||||
| Word Count (Content) | 2,813 | |||||||||
| Links | ||||||||||
| External Links | 9 | |||||||||
| Internal Links | 89 | |||||||||
| Technical SEO | ||||||||||
| Meta Nofollow | No | |||||||||
| Meta Noarchive | No | |||||||||
| JS Rendered | Yes | |||||||||
| Redirect Target | null | |||||||||
| Performance | ||||||||||
| Download Time (ms) | 62 | |||||||||
| TTFB (ms) | 55 | |||||||||
| Download Size (bytes) | 75,877 | |||||||||
| Shard | 184 (laksa) | |||||||||
| Root Hash | 9755729757668954984 | |||||||||
| Unparsed URL | com,travelhx!www,/en-us/cruises/highlights-of-antarctica/ s443 | |||||||||