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Experience the North Pole in a way few will ever experience –
soaring above the Arctic in a hot air balloon (weather
permitting).
When weather permits, we’ll take you up for a breathtaking
bird’s eye view of 90 Degree North. Don’t forget your camera!
Combining surfing with kayaking or canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding will give you a very personal and unique perspective on Antarctica. Paddleboard in Antarctica to enjoy the cool waters up close! By getting so near the water, guests may see seals, whales, and many unique ice formations.
Available on selected Antarctica Voyages. Limited space presents an issue, so please reserve your spot as soon as possible. Pricing is subject to change based on season. Guided by experienced staff in small groups in good weather conditions on calm bays and harbors, reservations for 10 paddleboarders will be taken at the time of booking. Find other opportunities to paddleboard in Antarctica via sign-up request, onboard the ship, and on a first-come-first-serve basis. Contact us today to book your polar paddleboarding experience!
As if visiting Antarctica were not otherworldly enough, there is a whole other world for you to explore under the water’s surface. Sign up for polar diving to adventure into a seascape like no other. The Antarctic waters team with krill, meaning quite a lot of marine life visit the area. In addition to seals you’ll also have a good chance to make friends with some the penguin population on your dives. We do not dive with walruses in the area because they can get aggressive – though you may observe them from the Zodiac boat.
Aiming for 1 or 2 dives per day, depending on weather and ice conditions, you will dive under shallow ice, down along walls, from the beach, or from a Zodiac. You’ll reach a maximum depth of 60 feet. Polar diving is like no other dive. The combination of water, sunlight, and ice formations creates an ever-shifting spectacle of colors.
Bring your camera and learn tips from the pros! Polar Holidays cruises include a photography activity. This experience provides a dedicated photography coach who will be at your disposal. Watch our experts in action and receive instruction to perfect your shots with workshops and seminars. Photos let you share your incredible Polar Holidays adventure with your friends and family, why not give it a try! Looking for inspiration? Take a look at our Arctic Gallery or our Antarctic Gallery! Our founder, Thomas Kokta, is a professional adventure photographer and his photos can be found here!
If you can handle a four-hour trek across rugged terrain, consider a polar trip featuring mountaineering tours. All equipment, guides, and instructions are provided. Mountaineering hikes take you into glaciated areas which can possibly expose you to crevasses. These areas require a little more caution than non-glaciated regions. As you reach more vertical climbs you’ll switch out your snowshoes for crampons (spikey boot additions). Guests rope up with their crew members for their protection around the glacial crevasses. This activity offers some of the best views available on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Ask your Polar Holidays Travel advisor about trips that include mountaineering!
Antarctica and South Georgia are truly the best frontiers for kayaking. Paddling in these pristine, icy, wilderness areas will excite even the most seasoned adventurer. It is a rare opportunity as few have experienced these magical regions by kayak. We will paddle amid icebergs, through brash ice, along pristine beaches and narrow channels. Silently, we can maneuver into places Zodiacs may not go. Kayaks are truly the best way to see marine life.
We will do our best to provide you with the opportunity to kayak at two or more locations in and around the landing sites we visit on your voyage. We cannot guarantee specific locations. Kayaking opportunities depend on expedition logistics. This includes weather and ice conditions – which are variable and uncontrollable.
We will have (a) experienced kayak guide(s) on the vessel who will lead the trips and will safely guide you in the kayaks. The safety Zodiacs will keep a safe but unobtrusive distance. Your expedition guides select paddling sites for their protected waters, wildlife and scenic values. All excursions are, of course, weather dependent and your safety is our first priority.
Most times we will be paddling near the Zodiac landing and shore excursion site. At all times we will travel at a safe distance from ice shelves and icebergs. Kayaks will also keep a respectful distance away from wildlife. Crews will conduct all operations in accordance to IAATO guidelines. We will also follow any recommendations from the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is important to understand and follow the guides’ instructions on safe distances. Kayaks may be embarked from shore or from a Zodiac. This depends on sea and wind conditions.
Explore Antarctica through one of the best and most traditional methods – on foot! Most trips offer a walk or hike, often with snowshoes offered, of varying difficulty. You can choose between an easy stroll or strenuous hike to see the spectacular sights. Hiking or snowshoeing participation is optional. Your Expedition Team will advise you of what you can expect prior to each excursion. Hiking and snowshoeing allows guests the opportunity to stretch their legs and explore! The polar regions harbor specific dangers including wildlife, glaciers and difficult weather conditions, so passengers must follow guide instructions for walks and excursions. Our professional guides will offer both safety and advisement on all outings.
Cross-country skiing in Antarctica or the Arctic provides travelers an opportunity to experience spectacular frozen landscapes. Travelling quickly and quietly across the snow, you can explore deeper into the wilderness than you’d be able to reach on foot. Ski tours also take advantage of the long daylight hours which provide ample visibility. Our guests can navigate the terrain with confidence led by our extremely knowledgeable and experienced guides. Have questions? Contact us today!
In order to partake in this activity we require previous cross country skiing experience. Ski outings last a few hours, so it is imperative to be in good physical shape. Some ships that offer this activity involve strenuous uphill routes. This may require bringing your own ski equipment for specific conditions- contact us for more information as this depends on your specific trip.
Skiing in Antarctica or the Arctic adds an additional cost to your trip (amount depending on the ship). Making reservations in advance are required and subject to availability at the time requested. Contact Polar Holidays today for advisement on availability and booking opportunities!
Experience a camping trip that few others have had – a night under the deep silence of the Antarctic sky! Your overnight adventure on a pristine ice shelf of Antarctica will be tranquil and peaceful, with only by the call of a penguin or the sound of cracking icebergs in the distance. To camp on Antarctica is to experience this region as closely and as in-depth as any Antarctic explorer.
After dinner you’ll board a Zodiac with an experienced guide, who will choose your tent’s spot and provide setup instructions. The location, weather, and number of passengers will dictate how many nights you might spend sleeping on the ice. Therefore, please ask a Polar Holidays Travel Adviser about the different options.
After a full day of exciting excursions followed by a delicious dinner onboard the ship, jump back in the Zodiacs
and head ashore for a night of camping in Antarctica! After helping to set up camp, enjoy the sounds of the
waves and brash ice on the beach, the creaking of the glaciers, maybe even the blow of a passing whale. Warm
and cozy in your sleeping bag under the midnight sun, you will be breathing the cleanest air in the most
beautiful place on the planet. Glimpse the same Antarctica as experienced by the early explorers, while
knowing that in the morning you’ll enjoy a hot shower and a hearty breakfast back on board your warm ship.
Anyone age 12 or over, with an adventurous spirit and a willingness to rough-it for a night can camp on Antarctica. Sleeping on the
snow in this polar region is the ultimate outdoor experience! Our seasoned expedition team will select a campsite that is snow-covered and away from any breeding wildlife. We provide all necessary gear to ensure your comfort during your night ashore – including expedition-weight sleeping bags, four-season tents, a few bivy bags and insulated sleeping pads.
We will do our best to provide you with the opportunity to camp once overnight at a snow-covered site chosen
by our experienced team, away from wildlife and protected or vulnerable areas. Like your expedition, your
camping experience will take place in one of the roughest and toughest environments in the most remote part
of the world. Despite our experience in organizing camping programs, we cannot guarantee any particular
location because our ability to do so very much depends on the weather and ice conditions, which can be
changeable, and over which we have no control. Although rare, it may be impossible to camp during a
voyage if conditions are not safe. Should the camping program be cancelled for weather or safety
reasons, we will refund all camping fees. If not enough people choose to participate in the camping program,
we reserve the right to cancel the camping program prior to your expedition and advise you accordingly.
We take a limited number of campers, so sign up now if you haven’t already! If the camping program is already
full and you wish to camp, we’re happy to waitlist you – please notify your agent immediately. Upon
embarkation, all confirmed and waitlisted campers will be briefed on the expected conditions and procedures
for the camping. Depending on if any spaces open up prior to the camping taking place, our expedition team will clear
passengers from the waitlist, based on the date waitlisted (as well as gender, number of people in party, etc.). If upon
embarkation camping spaces are still available, an onboard waitlist will be collected, and a lottery process will
determine any additions to the camping program. Any additions to the Antarctica camping program onboard will field
partners as one entry, and singles will pair up in one tent with the same gender. Anyone added to the
camping program after embarkation must pay the camping fee prior to participation in the camping.
Because we have limited space on which to pitch tents, we cannot confirm single occupancy of a tent while
camping. To reserve your ability to camp on Antarctica please contact us today!
