In East Antarctica you may be able to visit the historic expedition huts of … As you head down south, you might be lucky to spot migratory species as they too make the same journey as you. Unless you are working for a government organisation, the only time to travel to Antarctica is in the summer. It’s considered the best month for Antarctic tourism, so if you’re looking for a more isolated experience, consider going in spring or fall. January and late December are incredibly popular, so you will need to book your expedition far in advance, especially if there are particular places you want to visit, as itineraries can vary from ship to ship. It's rare for cruises to visit Antarctica as early as October, and those that do will usually only arrive here... November. Need more information when to travel to Antarctica? However, within that period, each month has special highlights. Antarctica is one of the most intrepid destinations that you can visit in the world, and the great southern continent sees few visitors each year. But while the weather isn’t at its summery best yet, there are many positives to visiting in November. February is the end of summer, but this is Antarctica and the weather can change drastically, and quickly. This is a remote and isolated place, and travel to the region is very much dependent on the weather. Divergent Travelers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Emperor penguin rookeries are becoming populated in the Weddell Sea. February and March are the best times to visit Antarctica if you want to see whales, and the penguin rookeries are at their liveliest, which is something to keep in mind. The weather is a lot colder than in the previous summer months, and the days are starting to get shorter too. Late December and January offer up to 20 hours of sunlight in Antarctica. Well that depends on what you want to see, and what your expectations are. November is the start of the cruise season proper and the month when migrating wildlife return … You’ll have 24 hours of daylight in some places too, and with icebergs and pack ice melting, you can also enjoy plenty of shore excursions that might have been impassable earlier in the season. The best time to visit Antarctica is usually between December and March, due to the milder temperatures and greater likelihood of spotting penguins and whales. Of course, you’ll encounter bigger crowds if you head for the pole in December. For more on this, read AdventureSmith’s comprehensive How to Choose Your Antarctica Cruise guide or view our selection of Antarctica cruise deals. Landscape photography is ideal with the growing days offering more sunlight to illuminate icebergs and landscapes. If you want to see the wildlife at its most active then you’ll need to visit between December and February, when the weather is at its best. You can see the start of the penguin nesting and hatching season, and across the continent, penguin activity is constantly on the up in December. You can still see the whales in Antarctica too, and while many might be beginning their long voyage north for the winter months, on your crossing from South America you’ll certainly pass them. Temperatures tend to be colder and polar ice is … Playful fur seal and leopard seal pups are more commonly seen. Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins have found their mate (hopefully) and are starting to build their nests with eggs laid and incubation shortly after. In March though, ships are again less crowded and you’re likely to get a better deal than in peak season, so it’s a more cost-effective time of the year to travel, as long as you don’t mind braving the low temperatures. When March comes around, it’s the end of the tourist season in Antarctica, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a good time to travel here. Whales become predictable as they fatten up for the long voyage north, visiting the same blooming areas and often traveling in groups of 6-10. Temperatures can reach 10°C at the coast, accelerating the break-up of sea ice and making it easier for ships to navigate. Check Quark Expeditions for great deals on expeditions to Antarctica in January. The Best Time To Visit. Our experts can be your guide to the best time to visit the White Continent and help choose your perfect expedition. Combine this with the short Antarctic summer and you’ll see animals’ mating, laying and rearing cycles moving very fast. The days are their longest, the temperatures are the warmest and there are rarely sea ice issues preventing you from getting in anywhere. Get started finding your bucket list Antarctic trip! Taking into account each month's distinctive weather and wildlife characteristics can help you decide the best time of year to travel to Antarctica. The “Antarctic Season” is November to March. Temperatures are colder as Antarctica eases out of winter; average daytime temps of 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit. / Antarctica / Best time to visit Antarctica; Best time to visit Antarctica. These are two of our most popular destinations. But what month should you visit in? January is the warmest month of the year for Antarctica, so if you want a great adventure but want it to be as warm as possible, January is the best month for your expedition. Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Because of the frozen sea ice, cruises will only begin departing late in October when the ice has meted a... November. The best time to visit Antarctica is between November and March - the months when the sun rises above the horizon, the sea ice melts enough to allow access, and the temperatures nudge above freezing. Thanks. Best of Antarctica ; ... Antarctica is all about the wildlife. Aggressive mating rituals can be observed. View dynamic ice floes and large icebergs with deep aquamarine colors—all excellent for photography. Last year's King Penguin chicks are fledging while juvenile chicks are leaving to go to sea. You can expect clear sunny days and temperatures ranging from -1°C (30°F) to 5°C (41°F). The best time to visit Antarctica on an expedition cruise is between late October and late March — indeed, this is the only time when such travel is possible. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. November: The month of November (late Austral spring and early Austral summer) undoubtedly offers the most adventurous time to visit the Peninsula. Check out our packing lists and travel gear guide to ensure you’re bringing the right items on your trip.BOOK YOUR FLIGHT But within this period, each month has its own charms, including penguin chicks, vast iceberg "sculptures", rowdy elephant seals and the ability to cross the Antarctic Circle - find out more in our guide below. Best months to visit? No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. The best time to visit Antarctica is usually between December and March, due to the milder temperatures and greater likelihood of spotting penguins and whales. This is the prime month for orca… February in Antarctica. It is not possible to visit between April and October – Antarctica’s winter – when temperatures plummet, 24-hour darkness creeps in and ice locks up the continent. You’ll see enormous Blue Whales, packs of Orcas hunting, Minke Whales cruising through the waters and many more species too. Average temperatures are at their highest, ranging from 31-40 degrees Fahrenheit. The busiest month for tourism in Antarctica is December, followed by July and February. Small, sustainable travel options are at our core. We want to see the baby animals, plus we are going to tie it in with a trip to Machu Picchu. Fur seals lounge on the shores, mate and establish breeding territories. You should also check out our tips for finding cheap accommodation. Breeding activities of seabirds like skuas, albatross and petrels begin in the South Shetland Islands &Antarctic Peninsula. The high season, December to early February, brings the highest temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula and the most abundant wildlife; you can expect to … Temperatures warm, with averages reaching 21-32 degrees Fahrenheit. November Check Quark Expeditions for great deals on expeditions to Antarctica from Oct to Nov. December is when the tourist season begins, and this can be the best time to visit Antarctica if you want to experience more of the local wildlife, yet still catch the last remnants of the cold, dark winter that preceded spring earlier in the year. February is the best month to visit Antarctica for wildlife watching, as adorable penguin chicks can be seen learning to swim, migrating whale pods have now made Antarctica their temporary home and leopard seal sightings are also common. Our timing recommendations are highly contingent on individual needs, including considerations on budget, availability, activities you hope to do and wildlife you wish to see. Read on for our complete month-by-month guide; a quick overview of when to travel to Antarctica includes: Antarctica’s six-month sailing season (October through March) occurs in the austral spring and summer when the weather is surprisingly nice, daytime highs can reach between 20 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. (or the emperor penguins will be the only ones around to keep you warm in the -70C weather!) And of course, book a tour towards the end of the month and you can even spend Christmas in Antarctica, perhaps the only place in the Southern Hemisphere where you can guarantee that you’ll have a white Christmas! This is the only time when an expedition cruise there is possible. Camping options begin to be offered on select departures of certain ships and continue through February. There's a lot to take into account when planning an Antarctic cruise. Our trip to Antarctica was in partnership with Quark Expeditions, however all opinions are 100% mine, as always. Tourists are unlikely to visit Antarctica in November. Possible sightings of aurora australis, otherwise known as the southern lights (the closer to winter, the better chance of experiencing the phenomena). Discover the best time to visit Antarctica with our month by month guide. Warmest months (Dec-Jan) begin; temperatures range from 29-38 degrees Fahrenheit. Best time to go to Antarctica. Choosing the best time to visit Antarctica is a crucial part of the planning process. Receding ice opens up and allows for even more exploration. Disclosure: In accordance with FTC guidelines, we disclose that we may be compensated if consumers choose to utilize links located throughout the content on this site. Pack ice begins to melt, opening up the 7 million square miles of the frozen Southern Ocean. Temperatures can range from around 20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures can reach 10°C at the coast, accelerating the break-up of sea ice and making it easier for ships to navigate. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. 8 Best Places To Visit In Antarctica. Our most recent update occurred July 2019. With rising temperatures and almost constant sunlight, December is considered the very best time to visit Antarctica. Adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins return to land to begin the breeding cycle, starting with courtship rituals. When is the best time to go to Antarctica? Find more on the AdventureSmith Travel Blog. But what month should you visit in? Read below for more weather and travel details. Quark Expeditions offers a, You can still see the whales in Antarctica too, and while many might be beginning their long voyage north for the winter months, on your crossing from. November – March is the short expedition season This is not only the best time to visit Antarctica, it is the only time it’s possible – as the ice breaks up allowing ships to pass. No menu assigned; No menu assigned! Scroll through! This is when wildlife is most active and the days are at their longest. En route to Antarctica, ships typically call in at several sub-Antarctic islands, although there are long days at sea between landings. On South Georgia itself, they are also plentiful. December. ... 5 Trips to Visit Antarctica, From Photography Journeys to Luxury Ships. With the added bonus of seals and whales galore, this is an excellent month for watching wildlife. These are the summer months in the southern hemisphere, with temperatures in Antarctica ranging from 39°F-46°F. You might not want to venture too far south either, as the days are much shorter and the weather even colder. The voyage takes a month, and the exact itinerary will vary considerably according to conditions. The best time for penguin spotting is late December or early January. Together with February are some of the warmer months to visit this destination. November is the beginning of the expedition season in Antarctica, although some ships may begin to depart from Cape Horn to the southern seas in late October. But within this travel window, your experience can vary from month to month. We’ve visited nearly 100 countries on all 7 continents. UPDATED July 24, 2019 - Month by month description of the best time to visit Antarctica, including the best months, high/low seasons and the best/worst weather! The summer months and early winter months mark as a travel season for most of the North Americans and Europeans. The best time to visit Antarctica: A month-by-month guide October. It’s the perfect time to see the penguins in action, as well as their predators such as seals. Since these are large and comprehensive expeditions - a real a trip to Machu Picchu different. Help you find the best time for penguin spotting is late December austral summer months, is... 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