Expedition to Antarctica 2024 - 11 Days

For this trip, your deposit CANNOT BE REFUNDED in the event that you’re unable to attend. This includes any offers of partial refunds or credits, these are not possible for this trip.

However, if you’re able to find someone to take over your space on the trip, a refund may be possible.

Yes – Travel Insurance is required for this trip with a minimum coverage of USD250,000. This protects you before & during the trip, if anything causes you to not be able to come or you get sick during the trip. As this trip does not offer a refund on your deposit, travel insurance is also beneficial for this.

Rachel recommends getting a quote from Aardy and reviewing the options – Travel Guard by AIG is her favorite.

Rachel will send out a roommate matching form as we get closer to the trip. If you want to room with someone, just put their name on your form and you’re good to go. Otherwise Rachel will do her best to match you with someone compatible to make for the best trip possible. While this trip is co-ed you will not be randomly matched with someone of opposite sex.

The only single spaces available are Cat 4A – Single Porthole. Its a single private cabin with a porthole & no roommate.

Although the ice-strengthened ships are big and sturdy, the Antarctic waters can be unpredictable and rough. Some people may experience seasickness, especially through the Drake Passage and other open water crossings, so please be prepared with medications to combat this. There is also a doctor on board should you need further assistance.

Believe it or not, temperatures in the Antarctic can be freezing. And yet it can get surprisingly warm when the sun comes out, for instance, or with increased physical activity. It’s best to dress in layers when you journey outside and we’ll provide you with waterproof boots that are sturdy and warm. Please see the trip notes for information about what to bring.

Depending on the weather, you’ll be zipping around in a Zodiac boat quite regularly to explore the area and search for wildlife. It can get very cold and wet on the Zodiac, so make sure you dress appropriately and keep your camera safe and dry. Waterproof protection and camera strap or wristband are highly recommended for your camera or phone whilst on the Zodiacs. A minimum level of mobility is required and sturdy sea legs are preferable for wet and dry landings from the Zodiacs. The expedition team will assist people with mounting or dismounting the zodiacs for landings. Should people wish to remain closer to shore, we will have a range of walking speeds and thus distances explored available for all. The Ocean Endeavour has a lift, but you’ll need to take the stairs to get to the gangway and some other parts of the ship that the lift does not provide access to.

A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially in such a remote area. The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure, and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. There are nearly 200 recognised sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands; the places mentioned in the itinerary may need to be changed to others (which are equally as interesting). We may also be confined to the ship during rough weather. The ship’s library and educational lectures are ideal ways to stay entertained, while the wellness spa, saunas, gym and yoga classes will keep you fresh for when the weather clears.

Breakfast will always be buffet style with lots of options to choose from (eggs, bacon, sausage, bread, fruits, salads, pastries etc.)

Lunch will typically always be buffet style as well, again with a wide variety of options to choose from. They like to change it up day by day – sometimes with an “international food” theme based on a certain country.

Dinner is typically always a la carte with a set menu (appetizer, entrée and dessert). The set menu will commonly have 3 options to choose from for each (always includes a vegetarian option).

The ship can accommodate vegan & vegetarian diets for all meals with a variety of options .
Prior to the trip please share any specific dietary needs/restrictions so theres enough time to prepare for the requests.

July 29th, 2023 all payments are due!

You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date, we will require your passport information a few months prior to departure, so please ensure you sort any replacements that may be required asap.

No visas are required for Antarctic at the time of writing this, however, port authorities will need to see your passport so ensure you always know where it is.

The waters of the Drake Passage can be some of the roughest seas in the world, although at other times they are so smooth that it is referred to as the ‘Drake Lake’!
Although our vessel is among the most stable ships in its class, we will still inevitably encounter motion. Unless you are certain you are impervious to the problem, you should take precautions against seasickness. Your doctor can advise you as to the best methods for avoiding this uncomfortable condition.

There is no currency in Antarctica, but onboard the ship they accept USD.
During your time onboard, you will accrue a tab that will need to be paid off at the end of the trip, and this can be done via card.

Although tips are not required, the team onboard are the hardest working crew on the seas, and spend most of their time ensuring everything is absolutely perfect for you, so we would like to suggest a tip of $15-20 per person per day, however this is at your discretion. We can arrange collection of this towards the end of the trip if this is what you would like.

As you may have seen from our 2023 photos, Rachel wore a dress in Antarctic, so anything you’re comfy in! The ship is well heated, and does not require anything special to lounge around in. Prior to the trip beginning, we will send you a full recommended packing list, so make sure to keep an eye out for all the tips and tricks we have!

However, should you want to go exploring the outside, or do some incredible whale or penguin spotting, we do recommend packing some warmer clothes handy to throw on in a minute’s notice! If you’re looking to keep your luggage light, you could just layer some of your thinner layers when going outside, or pack up some bulkier warmer clothes for those times ashore. We would also recommend bringing some wet weather gear to protect you from the Zodiacs and any rough weather we may encounter.

We would rate this trip a 2.5 out of 5 on our physical rating scale. There are several easy physical activities included on this trip, and no real physical prep is required for the adventure, but having good physical health will help you make the most of this journey.
Should you wish to partake in activities such as kayaking, you will need to be able to pull yourself into the kayak from the ocean, so please bare this in mind when booking onto this excursion. There are also several opportunities to hike in the snow, and this can be extremely physically demanding, but so rewarding and makes the days go by super quickly.

The more you enjoy adventuring around and being on the go all day long, the more adventures you will have!