• 1. Which year should I travel in?

    Planning ahead for your trip to Antarctica is crucial, not least as the most popular departures and ships start to book up as soon as they become available around 18-20 months in advance. So the first question to decide is which year you intend to travel south. Note that Antarctic cruises only operate late October through to March, during the Austral summer when it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

    Start exploring your options for travelling in 2022 & 2023.

  • 2. When do I need to book?

    In short, it's a case of ‘the earlier the better’. To be confident of securing your first choice you need to be booking at least 10 - 18 months in advance; this is doubly important for the most popular trips and during peak times like the Festive Season. Being organised and booking ahead also means you may be able to take advantages of any early booking incentives.

    However, we know that many people aren’t used to planning holidays or simply aren’t able to commit to set dates this far ahead and it's perfectly possible to book an Antarctic trip only 3 - 6 months before you go. But expect to have less choice if you do due to restricted cabin availability.

    Ready to start planning? Get in touch and start the conversation with one of our experienced Polar Specialists who can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.

  • 3. How do I get to Antarctica?

    So you’ve decided to go to Antarctica, but now need to start looking at the logistics? Covering where you need to fly to, where these trips start from and the options available of how to actually arrive in Antarctica (fly or sail?), our guide to How to get to Antarctica will help to answer your questions.

    While sailing to Antarctica is the traditional route, and remains the most common, for those time short travellers or anxious sailors, Flights to Antarctica are becoming increasingly popular.

  • 4. Which trip should I choose?

    This is an important question. There’s an exciting selection of Antarctic cruises to choose from ranging from 6 - 35 days in duration. Our Guide to Antarctic Cruises is a good place to start in understanding the different trips on offer, whether you are considering the Antarctic Peninsula, the Polar Circle, South Georgia or the Ross Sea

    Alternatively, simply Get in Touch with one of our Polar Specialists who can talk you through the options and help speed up the process of matching you to the right trip.

  • 5. How much will it cost?

    A trip to Antarctica is a big ticket item in anyone’s book and it's important to understand from the outset what to expect and what influence on the final cost options you're considering will have. Swoop’s Guide to Antarctic Costs offers a comprehensive introduction to help you understand the likely costs and to accurately budget for this trip of a lifetime.

  • 6. Which month should I visit in?

    There isn't a definitive "best time" to visit Antarctica - each month during the visitor season of Nov - March has its own particular nuances in terms of weather, wildlife, ice and light conditions. Read our definitive guide on When to Go, which includes detailed notes on each month, plus our Weather Guide & Wildlife Guides.

  • 7. What wildlife will I see?

    This is a great question, as wildlife lies at the heart of every Antarctic trip. 

    On the Antarctic Peninsula you’ll get to see loads of penguins - chinstraps, gentoo & adelie - in their hundreds, if not thousands, as well as a number of different species of seal. You’ll also almost certainly see whales, with minke, humpbacks and orcas being the most frequently sighted. Our Antarctic Wildlife Guide provides a useful overview of each species you’re likely to encounter and what each is doing as the brief Antarctic summer progresses.

    For the real wildlife enthusiast, South Georgia - one of the world's great wildlife meccas - is the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’. If you can afford both the extra time and the larger price tag for these longer voyages, the answer to the question of ‘Should I include South Georgia?’ is: most definitely!

  • 8. How do I decide on a ship?

    Given the amount of time you’ll be spending on board ship, it's crucial to choose the right ship. We work with 21 different vessels offering you a wide choice. Our Guide to Antarctic Ships, which includes useful tips, profiles of each ship and some short videos, will help you find the right ship.

  • 9. Is there kayaking & camping?

    There certainly is! For those travellers who really want to maximise their Antarctic experience, there’s a glittering choice of exciting add-on adventure activities available

    The choice include camping out on the ice for a night, snowshoeing, kayaking and mountaineering. Note: These aren’t all offered on every trips, so check if you specifically want to do a particular activity.

  • 10. Can I combine Antarctica with Patagonia?

    Almost all Antarctic voyages depart from the southern tip of Patagonia, providing an unmissable opportunity to also explore this captivating region before or after your cruise. It’s a brilliant and proven combination.

    As both Patagonia and South America specialists, our sister company Swoop Patagonia, can provide you with ideas and help with booking this part of your trip. This has the advantage of all your travel plans coming under one roof, ensuring that nothing is missed or overlooked. With a dedicated Flights Department, we can also help you to book flights.

Our 3 bestselling trips

Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.

Original Fly & Cruise Luxury Adventure

Fly over the Drake Passage in just 2 hours, both to and from Antarctica. ​Ideal for those ​wanting a high comfort level, but ​who have limited time or ​are ​anxious sailors. ​An outstanding program, successfully operated for over 15 seasons.​…

  • 8 Days
  • $15,995
Antarctic Basecamp Adventure

The ultimate Antarctic adventure, this trip is specifically for the active traveller. Spend 7 days kayaking, hiking, camping, mountaineering and snowshoeing, all included in the price. A medium-sized expedition ship acts as your floating ‘basecamp’. Great value for money backed…

  • 13 Days
  • $10,200
South Georgia, Antarctica and Falklands Explorer

Looking for an Antarctic adventure without compromising on comfort and service? This stylish 139-passenger ship, with its cavernous suites, fine dining and compelling itinerary, offers a polished Southern Ocean adventure at a fair…

  • 21 Days
  • $19,795
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What our customers think of 10 questions to help you find the perfect voyage

Greg Mortimer could not have been more delightful. Every part of the ship was beautifully designed and tastefully furnished. And our room was totally lovely, spacious and comfortable. We would choose this ship again. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2023

Violetta Gianaras - USA

The arrangements were great. “Interviewing” us about our interests and goals and setting up an itinerary that addressed those interests. Generally good follow up to questions as the travel date approached. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2023

Michael Sanders - USA

Swoop were responsive and knowledgeable about what every ship offered and did a good job of steering us to the perfect ship. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2020

Marmie - United States Of America

John spent several minutes speaking to us prior to recommending a particular ship. His choice was exactly what we wanted and we are most appreciative of his advice. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2019

Michael Wims - United States Of America

John and the rest of the team have been great and very responsive at all times. From the initial moment seeking advice to ending up with a voyage choice that was well suited to me. Read the full review

Travelled: October 2019

Sonia Pazos de Diego - Netherlands

Do your research and be honest about exactly what you want. I wanted an adventure with open-minded people and it was exactly what I got! Read the full review

Travelled: December 2018

Stephanie Wong - United States Of America

For me, the bottom line is that I was much more comfortable making travel decisions on a trip of this magnitude because of the assistance Swoop was able to provide. I'd recommend them to a friend for sure.

Travelled: September 2018

Chris - USA

Excellent service from the first contact right through the process. Very happy with the boat and the cabin.

Travelled: February 2018

Alan - UK

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I could not have asked for better service than Swoop provided. You answered all my questions and concerns and provided me with all trip details and requirements.

Travelled: January 2018

Al & Natalia - Florida

We are well travelled, but Antarctica far exceeded our expectations. It was outstanding!

Travelled: January 2018

Carla & Ross - Canada

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Mind blowing, once-in-a-lifetime trip. I would go back in a heartbeat. It far exceeded any expectations I had and I absolutely fell in love.

Travelled: December 2017

Deidre - New York

Review:

Watch our introduction to Antarctica

Ready to plan your Antarctic adventure?

1
Listen

Listen

We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.

2
Match

Match

Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.

3
Reserve

Reserve

We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.

With over 100 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.

1-855-369-8288