Kayaking in Antarctica
Imagine the swish of water as it passes your hull or the clack of brash ice against your paddle blade. Skim past penguin rookeries and seals sleeping on passing ice floes.
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5 reasons to book a helicopter tour of Antarctica
- You’ll get a bird’s eye view of the Frozen Continent – a perspective few can say they have had the privilege to experience
- Flying in a helicopter is exhilarating anywhere in the world, but seeing one of Earth’s most extreme environments from above feels even more exclusive and exciting
- You can truly appreciate the enormity of Antarctica by helicopter, as well as all its glittering ice rivers and undisturbed ridgelines
- Because helicopters cover vast distances so quickly, you can take in a variety of polar landscapes within a short space of time
- Certain heli excursions also drop you off on land, so you can traverse remote locations that few – if any – people have visited
Swoop says
Seeing the vastness of Antarctica from such an incredibly unique perspective is an experience pictures just can’t do justice. I 100% recommend a helicopter trip – it’s one of the top things I did during my multiple voyages to the White Continent.
Daniel Brooks Antarctica Specialist
The ship's helipad
How do helicopter tours of Antarctica work?
There are three main ways to tour by helicopter in Antarctica:
1. Heli flightseeing
A heli flightseeing excursion is a 10- to 15-minute ride that is included as a complimentary activity on all voyages on the Ultramarine ship. Your helicopter will not land on the Antarctic Continent, maximising your time in the air to witness its awe-inspiring grandeur.
Each excursion is weather dependent as high visibility and low wind are required. However, your onboard team will prioritise heli flightseeing over all other activities and the guides are largely successful in making sure all guests soar above the White Continent during their voyage.
If you choose to take part in a flightseeing tour, you'll be taken up to a deck where a state-of-the-art helicopter – the quietest in its class – will wait to take off. This high-tech vehicle has room for seven passengers, but to make sure everyone can experience unobstructed views from a window seat, numbers are usually capped at just five.
2. Heli landing activities
On select departures, the Ultramarine ship also offers a one-off heli landing activity for an extra fee. If you book this tour as an add-on, you’ll be whisked to an inland vantage point that would otherwise be inaccessible.
This activity allows you to experience an incredibly remote part of the continent as part of a small, exclusive group. After taking in the pristine wilderness, with a maximum of 48 travellers at a time at the landing location, you'll return to the vessel via the helicopter.
What our customers tell us about helicopter tours in Antarctica
3. Heli landing excursions
Specific itineraries, such as those aiming to visit the Snow Hill emperor penguin colony, use helicopters as a type of polar taxi service. This remote location in the little-visited Weddell Sea region of Antarctica is only accessible by air – and just a select number of ships in the polar fleet even attempt the journey.
The helicopters whisk travellers away from the ship, across the sea ice and closer to the penguin colony. Of course, to avoid any noise or disruption, the helicopters land at a safe distance and you then walk the remaining mile or two to the emperors.
Another of our unique Weddell Sea itineraries also includes flights to otherwise inaccessible areas, when conditions allow.
Voyages with helicopter tours
Price Match Promise - We’ll match any price you find elsewhere for the same trip
Planning your helicopter excursion in Antarctica
Who does heli flightseeing in Antarctica suit?
- Adventurers who want the exclusive experience of witnessing Antarctica from above or landing on some of its most remote parts
- Photographers who would like to capture the White Continent’s stark beauty from overhead
- Anyone keen to visit hard-to-reach destinations such as the Snow Hill emperor penguin colony
Is exploring Antarctica by helicopter safe?
These tours use top-notch, regularly maintained helicopters and only operate in excellent weather conditions. Your expedition guides will assess the state of play with the pilots and deck party officer before any flight takes place.
There are always two helicopters onboard, as well as a couple of pilots, for added safety. These highly trained individuals are some of the best in the business and have experience flying all over the world. As an extra precaution, you will attend a mandatory safety briefing that covers essential procedures, what to wear and how to safely enter and exit the helicopters.
You can also rest easy knowing that helicopters have been used across the White Continent for many years.
Helicopter flightseeing
What will you see from a helicopter in Antarctica?
Emperor penguins en masse
If you take a heli flightseeing trip, you'll see the jagged mountaintops poking out through the heavily crevassed glaciers that pour down to the sea. Only from the air is it possible to truly appreciate the size and extent of the ripples that these crevasses form.
Getting into the air also provides a distinctive sense of the enormous scale of Antarctica as your ship looks like a tiny bath toy bobbling in the ice-strewn ocean. Even from the ship itself, seeing the helicopters look like gnats against the glacial backdrop is a profoundly humbling sensation.
Additionally, on a heli landing trip you'll get a bird's eye view of the continent and the added bonus of being able to touch down in a remote, otherwise inaccessible location.
If you choose an itinerary that includes Snow Hill, you'll fly to this emperor penguin rookery and see this iconic Antarctic species in all its glory.
Swoop says
Take photos or videos when the sun is behind you, otherwise you'll get the yellow glare of doom in your images. The pilot usually rotates the helicopter to make sure everyone gets a good view.
When to go
There’s no single best time to fly in a helicopter in Antarctica. Whether flights take off depend on the hour-by-hour conditions, so there isn't a certain month that's more suitable than others.
How much does it cost?
Heli flightseeing and landing excursions are included for free on certain Antarctic ships and select departures. When offered as an additional activity, heli landings are priced from around USD $395. When compared to the cost of more commonplace tourist helicopter trips elsewhere in the world, this unique experience offers incredible value for money.
The ship's helipad
What to pack for helicopter excursions in Antarctica
Particularly if the sun is out, it can get warm inside the helicopter, so it's best to keep your underlayers relatively minimal. You'll be provided with a dry suit to wear over your clothing, and will need to wear your parka jacket on top. We recommend removing the inner lining from your coat.
To avoid excess clutter on the helicopter, you can only bring items that will fit into your pockets or around your neck, such as cameras and phones.
When to book
We recommend booking your cruise at least a year in advance, especially if you’re keen to take a helicopter excursion to the Snow Hill emperor penguin colony, as there are only a handful of trips to this location every year.
How to book
As opportunities to explore Antarctica by helicopter are limited to certain voyages, it’s best to let our experts know you’d like to soar through the polar skies when planning your trip to the White Continent. They can take you through the various options available. To chat about this, please do get in touch.
Antarctic helicopter tours: FAQs
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Will I definitely experience Antarctica by helicopter on my trip?
Heli flightseeing excursions are usually prioritised over other activities, so the chances are high that you will be able to enjoy at least one trip per voyage. However, this will completely depend on weather conditions as minimal wind and good visibility are required for the flight.
If you have paid for a helicopter landing as an optional extra activity, you will receive a refund in the unlikely event it’s completely cancelled.
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How many times will I be able to go heli flightseeing on my Antarctic trip?
On voyages that include flightseeing, one excursion is offered per guest. However, the expedition team might add more trips if weather conditions allow.
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How long does an Antarctic helicopter journey last?
If you opt for a voyage that includes heli flightseeing, your trip will last around 10 to 15 minutes.
For heli landings, the length of time in the air depends on where the expedition team has planned for you to visit.
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Which helicopter models are used in Antarctica?
The Ultramarine ship, which offers a complimentary flightseeing excursion and an additional heli-landing experience (extra fee), carries two twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters. These are the quietest in their class. Just 30 seconds after lift-off you can no longer hear them from the ground.
On the Ortelius, models may include the Eurocopter or the Messerschmitt-Bolkow.
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Will I see wildlife on an Antarctic helicopter tour?
On a general flightseeing or heli landing tour in Antarctica, seeing wildlife isn't guaranteed. Helicopters abide by IAATO guidelines, which stipulate that flights are banned from taking off near animals. However, if you choose an itinerary that includes the Snow Hill rookery, you will see emperor penguins (as long as weather conditions hold up enough for your flights to take place).
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Do the helicopters disturb the Antarctic wildlife?
Flying is forbidden anywhere near wildlife. At Snow Hill, for example, you will land a 45-minute walk away from the colony to avoid disturbing the emperor penguins. The best-in-class helicopters used are also incredibly quiet – you can't hear them just 30 seconds after lift-off. They're also not permitted to operate within five nautical miles of any other cruise ship, so they won't disturb any humans in Antarctica either.
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Discover MoreReady to plan your Antarctic adventure?
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2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
