When is the best time to travel to Antarctica?
The most important information first: Tourist expedition ships sail the Southern Ocean only in the Antarctic summer. During this time, the ice retreats, allowing passenger ships to pass. Landings are also possible at this time of year in good weather. In principle, Antarctic trips take place from October to March. December and January are considered high season. Possible animal sightings vary significantly depending on the location and month.
Best time to travel
for wildlife observation in Antarctica
If you are planning a trip to the hard-to-reach colonies of emperor penguins, for example to Snow Hills Island, you should choose early summer (October, November). Emperor penguins breed in winter, so by this time the chicks will have hatched and grown a bit.
A journey to the animal kingdom Antarctic Peninsula offers various highlights throughout the Antarctic summer (October to March). Which month is best for you depends on what you want to see. Also a visit to the sub-Antarctic island South Georgia is possible from October to March and highly recommended.
In the following short articles you will find out what the wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula and game viewing in South Georgia have to offer from early to late summer.
October to March
Best time to travel
for animals on the Antarctic Peninsula
The seals give birth to their young in early summer (October, November). Larger groups can often be seen during this time. Mating season for long-tailed penguins is in early summer. Penguin chicks can be seen in midsummer (December, January). However, the cute seal children spend most of their time under the ice with their mother. In midsummer and late summer, individual seals usually rest on ice floes. Penguins offer fun photo opportunities in late summer (February, March) when they are in the midst of moulting. This is also the time when you have the best chance of spotting whales in Antarctica.
As always in nature, the usual times can change, for example due to changed weather conditions.
October to March
Best time to travel
for wildlife observation South Georgia
The animal stars of the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia are the king penguins. Some breed in November, others as late as March. The chicks take a year to change juvenile plumage. This breeding cycle allows you to marvel at large colonies and chicks throughout the cruise season (October to March).
In early summer (October, November) thousands of elephant seals populate the beaches to mate. An impressive spectacle. However, sometimes aggressive males make landing impossible. Antarctic fur seals also mate in spring. In the summer there are small newborns to see. In late summer (February, March) the elephant seals molt and are lazy and peaceful. Cheeky groups of baby seals cavort on the beach, discovering the world.
Best time to travel
Icebergs & Snow in the Antarctic Summer
In early summer (October, November) there is fresh snow. Radiant photo motifs are guaranteed. However, snow masses can make landing more difficult.
Most of the Antarctic continent is covered by snow and ice all year round. On the much warmer Antarctic Peninsula, on the other hand, many coasts thaw in summer. Most Penguins of Antarctica actually need ice-free spots to breed.
You can marvel at icebergs throughout the season: for example in the Antarctic Sound. A shore leave Portal Point in March 2022, Antarctica showed deep snow, as if from a picture book. In addition, large amounts of drift ice can be driven into the bays by the wind at any time of the year.
October to March
Best time to travel
regarding the length of days in Antarctica
At the beginning of October, Antarctica has around 15 hours of daylight. From the end of October to the end of February you can enjoy the midnight sun on your Antarctic trip. From the end of February, the days quickly become shorter again.
While there are still around 18 hours of daylight at the beginning of March, it is only 10 hours of daylight by the end of March. On the other hand, in late summer, when the weather is good, you can admire fantastic sunsets in Antarctica.
In the Antarctic winter, the sun no longer rises and there is a 24-hour polar night. However, no tourist trips to Antarctica will be offered during this period. The values given relate to measurements by the McMurdo Station. This is on Ross Island near the Ross Ice Shelf in the south of the Antarctic continent.
Tourists can also discover Antarctica on an expedition ship, for example on the Sea Spirit.
Enjoy the Antarctic wildlife with our Biodiversity of Antarctica Slideshow.
Explore the lonely kingdom of the cold with the AGE™ Antarctica & South Georgia Travel Guide.
Antarctica • Antarctic trip • Best travel time Antarctica & South Georgia
sunrise-and-sunset.com (2021 & 2022), sunrise and sunset times at McMurdo Station Antarctica. [online] Retrieved on 19.06.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX, from URL: https://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/de/sun/antarktis/mcmurdo-station/