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Seasons & Climate
The Antarctic cruise season lasts barely five months, from late October to early April. Each part of it has its own light, its own ice and its own wildlife. Here is how to choose.
The Antarctic Climate
Imagine a whole world covered in ice and snow: ice on the mountains, ice capping the sea, ice tumbling off the cliffs in great blue slabs, ice crunching under your boots and tiny crystals glittering in the air. That is Antarctica in the southern summer, and it is every bit as extraordinary as it sounds.
Because of the tilt of the Earth, the polar regions really only have two seasons. In winter the sun barely rises and the sea around the continent freezes, roughly doubling the area covered by ice. In summer the sun hardly sets, the sea ice breaks up and retreats, and the long days trigger an explosion of life. Phytoplankton bloom in the cold, nutrient rich water, krill feed on the phytoplankton, and everything else, from penguins and seals to the great whales, feeds on the krill. It is this short burst of plenty that the cruise season is built around.
Antarctic cruises therefore run only from late October to early April, the southern spring, summer and early autumn. Outside those months the sea ice closes in, the light disappears and no passenger ships go. Within the season there is no bad time to travel, only different ones, and the right choice depends on what you most want to see.
Less cold than most people expect. The voyages visit the Antarctic Peninsula, the mildest part of the continent, and in midsummer air temperatures there typically sit somewhere between minus 2°C and plus 3°C. Early and late in the season, expect a few degrees colder. The air is very dry, and on a still, sunny day in a sheltered bay it can feel surprisingly warm, so warm that you will be peeling off layers on a hike up a snow slope.
The wind is the thing to watch. Antarctica is a windy place, and a breeze off the ice can make it feel far colder than the thermometer says. The answer is layers: a thermal base layer, a fleece or wool jumper and a windproof, waterproof expedition jacket (most expedition lines provide one, and HX give you one to keep), so you can add or remove a layer as conditions change. Our packing list has the details.
Month by Month
The first ships arrive as the sea ice begins to break up. The landscape is at its whitest, with deep, unmarked snow on every slope and plenty of pack ice, which can make some sites hard to reach but makes for wonderful scenery. Penguins return to their colonies and start claiming nest sites, often on top of the snow. Daylight is already around 15 hours. On South Georgia the elephant seal breeding season is in full swing, and the beaches are a spectacle of huge bulls, harems and newborn pups. Expect temperatures of a few degrees below freezing on the Peninsula.
HX voyages sailing: the Life Returns, Springtime Expedition on 16 October, then the first Highlights of Antarctica and Iconic Antarctica departures at the end of the month.
This is penguin courtship season. Gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins build their nests out of pebbles, which they steal from each other with great enthusiasm, and the first eggs are laid. Snow still lies thick, the icebergs are fresh and the colonies are clean. Days stretch towards 18 hours of light. On South Georgia the king penguins are courting and fur seal bulls start fighting over territory on the beaches. Temperatures rise to around freezing.
HX voyages sailing: Highlights of Antarctica, Iconic Antarctica, the In-Depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia voyage and the late November Antarctica & Falklands Expedition.
Around the solstice the sun is up for 20 hours or more on the Peninsula, and what passes for night is a long golden twilight. Penguins sit patiently on their eggs and the first chicks hatch towards the end of the month. The pack ice is breaking up fast, opening more landing sites, and whales start to arrive in growing numbers. It is a popular time to travel, and Christmas and New Year departures sell early.
HX voyages sailing: Highlights of Antarctica, Iconic Antarctica (12 December), In-Depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia, and the first Antarctic Circle Expedition on 26 December.
The warmest month, with temperatures often a degree or two above freezing and the most open water of the season. That is why most attempts to cross the Antarctic Circle run now, when the ice is most likely to let the ship through to Marguerite Bay. Penguin colonies are busy, noisy and, it has to be said, smelly, as parents shuttle back and forth to feed their fluffy chicks. Leopard seals patrol the shallows, and humpback and minke whales are becoming common.
HX voyages sailing: Highlights of Antarctica, the Antarctic Circle Expedition and In-Depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia.
Whale watching gets better by the week. Humpbacks gather in the bays to feed on krill, sometimes in large numbers, and orcas are seen regularly. Penguin chicks gather in crèches while both parents go fishing, and by the end of the month the first are losing their down and heading for the sea. Much of the snow has melted from the lower slopes, revealing rock, moss and lichen. On South Georgia the beaches are crowded with fur seal pups. Days are still long, around 16 hours.
HX voyages sailing: Highlights of Antarctica, the last Antarctic Circle and In-Depth departures, and the late season Iconic Antarctica on 20 February.
Late season is a favourite of photographers and whale lovers. The sun sets properly again, painting the ice pink and gold, and humpback whales are at their most numerous before they head north for the winter. Penguin chicks fledge and the adults begin their moult. Towards the end of the month the first new ice forms on calm water. Temperatures drop back below freezing and there are fewer ships about. The final voyages of the season return in early April.
HX voyages sailing: the last Highlights of Antarctica (9 March), the Antarctica & Falklands Expedition (6 and 20 March), Punta Arenas to Buenos Aires (12 March) and the Northbound voyage on 19 March.
At a Glance
| Month | Peninsula temperature | Daylight | Ice and landscape | Wildlife highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | About −6°C to 0°C | About 15 hours | Deep snow, most sea ice | Penguins returning, elephant seals breeding on South Georgia |
| November | About −4°C to +1°C | About 18 hours | Pristine snow, pack ice breaking up | Penguin courtship, nest building and eggs, king penguins courting |
| December | About −2°C to +3°C | 20 hours or more | Ice opening, more sites accessible | Penguins on eggs, first chicks, whales arriving |
| January | About −1°C to +3°C | About 19 hours | Most open water, best for the Antarctic Circle | Penguin chicks, leopard seals, more whales |
| February | About −2°C to +3°C | About 16 hours | Less snow, exposed rock and moss | Whales plentiful, chicks in crèches, fur seal pups |
| March | About −5°C to +1°C | About 12 hours | New ice forming late in the month | Peak humpback whales, chicks fledging, sunsets |
Temperatures are typical daytime air temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula and daylight is approximate for around 65° south. Wind chill can make it feel much colder, and every season is different.
Choosing Your Dates
If your dates are fixed, the Highlights of Antarctica is the easiest fit, with fourteen departures spread from the end of October to early March. If you have a particular experience in mind, the calendar narrows things down:
Popular dates, especially around Christmas and New Year, fill well in advance, and suites and balcony cabins tend to go first. Call us on 0333 405 0194 and we can tell you what is still available, or browse every itinerary on our Antarctica cruises page. For more on what you will see, read our guide to Antarctic wildlife.
Questions
There is no single best month, because each part of the season offers something different. November gives you pristine snow and courting penguins, December and January bring the longest days, the warmest weather and penguin chicks, and February and March are best for whales and sunsets. If you are not sure, December to February is the most rounded choice.
On the Antarctic Peninsula in summer the air temperature is usually between minus 2°C and plus 3°C, a little colder in October, November and March. Wind can make it feel much colder, so dress in layers that you can add or remove.
Gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap chicks hatch from around late December. January and February are the best months to see them, when the colonies are full of fluffy, hungry chicks. King penguin chicks can be seen on South Georgia throughout the season.
Whale sightings increase steadily through the season. February and March are the peak months, when humpback whales gather in the Peninsula's bays to feed on krill before migrating north, and orcas and minke whales are also seen regularly.
No. Between April and October the sea ice closes in, the days are short or dark and passenger ships do not operate. The cruise season runs from late October to early April, with the first and last voyages sometimes starting or finishing a little either side.
More answers on our Antarctica cruise FAQ page.