An Antarctica cruise is the ultimate journey. Filled with awe-inspiring wildlife encounters and sensory experiences of indescribable beauty. To see Antarctica is to experience your place in the world from a whole new perspective.
Breathtaking, otherworldly, and life-changing are common phrases travellers use to describe an Antarctic expedition. But when it comes to Antarctica, language fails us. We simply do not possess the capacity to articulate the profound experience of setting foot on the Great Southern Continent. To truly understand, you must see it for yourself.
We have incredible deals available across a wide range of small-ship expedition cruises for both 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 Antarctic seasons, search for your ideal trip in the search filter above or contact us and we'll find it for you.
WHICH TRIP IS BEST FOR ME?
Once you’ve decided to go to Antarctica, the next step is to determine which trip is best suited to you.
The key considerations are:
WHICH ITINERARY SHOULD I CHOOSE?
As genuine Antarctica specialists, we have the largest range of Antarctica expeditions on offer, and Chimu staff have first-hand knowledge of the many ways to experience this incredible destination. Depending on your interests, availability, and budget, we can help you decide which itinerary is right for you.
To help get you started, we have listed the 4 main itineraries that operate in Antarctica:
LOCATIONS
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
(10 - 12 days)
Due to its proximity to South America, the Antarctic Peninsula is the best value and most popular Antarctic destination. The peninsula is renowned for its stunning scenery and abundant wildlife.View Cruises
ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
(14 - 22 days)
Cross the fabled Antarctic Circle to the land of the midnight sun. Home to desolate, beautiful landscapes, continually shifting ice, and hardy Weddell seals.View Cruises
SOUTH GEORGIA
(18 - 23 days)
One of the world’s truly great wildlife areas. South Georgia is home to over 30 million breeding birds, thousands of seals, 4 penguin species including large colonies of King penguins and macaroni penguins rarely encountered elsewhere, plus many more amazing creatures. South Georgia is a must-see for many wildlife enthusiasts.View Cruises
FALKLAND ISLANDS
(18 - 23 days)
Often visited alongside South Georgia, the Falklands Islands offers up plenty of natural beauty, wildlife, and intriguing history.View Cruises
ANTARCTICA FLY CRUISES
(5-9 days)
For the time poor, or those not keen on a crossing of the famous Drake Passage, yet still keen to visit the last frontier of Antarctica. Flying to King George Island to begin your journey to the Antarctic Peninsula is a fantastic option.View Cruises
EAST ANTARCTICA & ROSS SEA
(30+ days)
Perhaps the ultimate Antarctica experience. Voyages to East Antarctica & Ross Sea embrace an icy world of extreme weather, wildlife, scenery and fascinating history as you visit some of the most remote places on earth.View Cruises
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HOW DO I GET TO ANTARCTICA?
CRUISE FROM SOUTH AMERICA
Have you heard the phrase ‘getting to Antarctica is half the fun?’ If so, you can bet they were referring to crossing the infamous Drake passage between South America and the South Shetland Islands. These expedition cruises departing from Ushuaia, at the southern tip of South America are the most popular way to get to Antarctica.
FLIGHT & CRUISE OPTIONS FROM SOUTH AMERICA
For those hesitant to cross the Drake, there is an option to fly from Patagonia to the South Shetland Islands. From here you can join an expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula.
PRIVATE JET FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Leaving Cape Town via a Gulfstream private jet, you can fly to the inland of Antarctica landing on Wolf's Fang Runway to experience Antarctica in complete luxury.
EXPEDITION CRUISES FROM AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Antarctica cruises departing from Australia & New Zealand offer the most exclusive and unique journey to Antarctica of all. Departing from Hobart (Australia) and Bluff (New Zealand) these expeditions are usually longer and provide exceptional opportunities to see more remote regions of the peninsula.
SCENIC FLIGHTS FROM AUSTRALIA
Departing from select Australian capital cities, a scenic flight is a fun and easy way to see Antarctica in a day! Travelling aboard a comfortable Qantas Dreamliner, equipped with larger windows than traditional aircraft, you'll fly over vast icebergs, glaciers, and iconic Antarctic landscapes.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO TO ANTARCTICA?
The best time to travel to Antarctica will depend on the type of experience you are after. Wildlife highlights, length of daylight hours, and the overall feel of your expedition will change dramatically throughout the cruising season (October to March). Read More
EARLY SEASON
(OCTOBER - NOVEMBER)
Getting ahead of the pack is a great way to experience the splendour of Antarctica. As an early-season visitor, be rewarded with pristine landing sites, dramatic ice formations, animal courtship routines, and excellent photographic opportunities courtesy of the lightly setting sun. You may see packs of elephant and fur seals marking their breeding territories in the sub-Antarctic islands, and if you’re lucky, you could witness the first major iceberg calvings of the year, a truly breathtaking event.
Beautiful frozen scenery
Less Penguin mess
Affordable pricing
Ice can sometimes restrict
MID SEASON
(DECEMBER - JANUARY)
Mid-summer is the most popular time to visit Antarctica. Temperatures are at their warmest, and longer days means there are more opportunities for landings. Expect to see sunbathing seals, adorable penguin hatchlings, and increasing numbers of whales arriving for the summer. Coupled with calmer seas and less sea ice to prevent you from reaching the shore, you can see why many people choose to travel at this time of year. As the mid-season is the busiest time, booking early is highly recommended.
Wildlife at its prime
20 hours of sunlight
Peak season pricing
More ships/tourists
LATE SEASON
(FEBRUARY - MARCH)
The weather may be getting colder, but there are plenty of wildlife highlights during the late season. February is peak whale spotting season, seal numbers are up on the peninsula, and penguin rookeries are bursting at the seams on South Georgia. The shorter days provide sensational sunsets, awesome night-time sky gazing and some of the best value-for-money expeditions of all. February is also the busiest month for cruises departing from Australia and New Zealand headed for East Antarctica.
Peak season for Whales
Baby penguin & seal pups
Snow melting - can be slushy on landing sites
Penguin mess
WHAT SHIP IS BEST FOR ME?
Your choice of expedition vessel will play an essential role in your overall Antarctic experience. For many people setting off on an Antarctic expedition, this is one of the most critical questions. As genuine Antarctica specialists, we have the knowledge and experience to help you get this decision just right.
SIZE
Arguably, the most crucial consideration for any Antarctic expedition. In our opinion, smaller ships are ideal. There are many restrictions placed on Antarctic expeditions, and the number of passengers on your ship will impact when, where, and how often you can make landfall. For example, vessels carrying more than 500 guests are prevented from landing at all. Being able to get off the ship and experience Antarctica up close and personal offers the most immersive and memorable experience. Read More
SMALL SHIPS (200PAX and under)
- MORE ACCESS TO REMOTE LOCATIONS
- LESS TIME QUEUEING MORE TIME EXPLORING
- MORE INTIMATE
- BETTER SELECTION OF UNIQUE SHORE TOURS
- LESS ENTERTAINMENT ONBOARD
LARGE SHIPS (200+PAX)
- MORE STABILITY IN ROUGH SEAS
- MORE FEATURES
- RESTRICTED ON-SHORE TIME
- RESTRICTED ACCESS
- CAN BE CROWDED
Want a deeper look - > WATCH THIS VIDEO
"Best adventure ever! The staff were incredible, so helpful and knowledgeable, they went beyond expectations to make our cruise one in a million..." - Anita