How Much Does It Really Cost to Visit Antarctica?

Traveling to Antarctica is probably the most unique trip that you can do in your life, but it’s definitely not your typical vacation. Antarctica is the most remote and least visited continent on Earth, and the only one that does not have a permanent human population. The weather conditions are extreme even in the best months, the trip is not cheap, so why do people travel there? And how much does it cost to go to Antarctica?

Keep reading and learn how much it costs to go to Antarctica.

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Why do people travel to Antarctica?

For most people, Antarctica seems like a terrible destination, especially when you can choose warmer and easier destinations from the dozens available. But if you’re interested in off-the-beaten-path destinations, you won’t find a better one. There’s literally not a place on Earth that’s less remote and wild. It’s isolated, harsh, and yet there’s life there, with penguins, seals, and whales, and so much beauty.

You’ll see icebergs the size of skyscrapers, glaciers glowing blue under the soft light of the sun, frozen mountains, and endless white deserts. It’s like setting your foot on a different planet! And way more affordable than going into space.

Finally, to be a true globe-trotter, you have to visit all seven of the continents. For many experienced travelers, this is their final trip, a crowning achievement for a live dedicated to the adventure.

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Trip to Antarctica: How much does it cost?

Unlike many other destinations, it’s easier to estimate the total cost of a trip to Antarctica. There are no hotels or restaurants, just the ship that will take you there and back, and where you’ll be sleeping and eating.

• Budget Expedition: It’s your cheapest option, a trip on a ship like Swoop Antarctica will cost between $5,000-$10,000 per person, and usually lasting 7-10 days. Most of them have shared cabins, and the amenities are pretty basic. So keep that in mind when choosing.

• Mid-Range Expedition: A bit more expensive, but for most travelers it has more value for the price and choose companies like Silversea bridge cruises or Atlas Ocean Voyages. The cost ranges from $10,000-$20,000, and you’ll enjoy a 10-14 day trip to the Antarctic regions. The amenities and activities are more varied as well, with private cabins, onboard lectures, Zodiac excursions, and more.

• Luxury Voyage: In a ship like the Silver Endeavour, you’ll be experiencing the best of what Antarctica has to offer. Enjoy the balcony suites, gourmet dining, helicopter and submarine tours, and multiple expeditions. The prices usually start at $20,000 per person, but they can go significantly up depending on the itinerary length and extras.

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Factors that Will Make or Break Your Budget

Cruise duration, and why longer is not always better

As you could see, the usual trips to Antarctica are not exactly short, with most cruises spending over a week at sea. To that, you have to add the time to travel to and from the point where the cruises start, usually in Ushuaia, which can add a day or two. In total is a lot of time away from your work and personal life. Are you sure that you want to spend 10-15 days in the cold waters? You can save money by choosing a shorter trip instead.

Cabin class, balcony dreams, or budget bunks?

Would you be okay sharing a cabin with a stranger during the whole trip? It’s usually the cheapest option, but not all travelers are OK with it. Although getting a private room doesn’t mean that you’ll have that much space. You’re on a ship after all, and the big rooms are expensive. Just consider that you’ll be spending a lot of time outside of your cabin, during the landings, lectures, or staying in the social spaces, and choose accordingly. The views from the luxury cabins are beautiful, but are they worth it for you personally?

What is the best season for the best prices?

The trip is never cheap, but you can get significant discount if you travel when the demand is lower. This usually is from late October to mid November, or from March to April. The weather might be more unpredictable, but so are the prices! And you can get a good deal with a last-minute discount.

Ship type, ice-class expedition or luxury liner?

Since you’ll be spending your whole trip on the ship, let’s talk about two of the main kinds you can choose. The Ice-Class Expedition ships are excellent if you want to navigate deeper into the icy regions and do more landings. It’s usually led by scientists, like naturalists and explorers, so you’ll meet plenty of interesting people to talk with. But they do have fewer amenities and luxuries, and can also be quite rocky.

On the other hand, the luxury liners do often more spacious suites, spas gourmet dining, lounges, and even butler services! The trip is usually smoother as the vessels have stabilizers and the experience is much comfortable. But some of them are so large that they can’t land, and you’ll spend more time in the luxury inside than experiencing nature.

Activities: The joy of the trip

Now we’ve reached the fun part! Just seeing the landscape is not enough for most travelers, but how much can the trip to Antarctica cost if you add lots of activities? Depending on the package you reserve, some activities should be included. Like zodiac landings, where you can go ashore the continent, or cruise near the icebergs and wildlife, and guided shore walks.

Now, if you want to camp in Antarctica, it’s going to be around $250-500 per night. Like that, for paddling a kayak through the still bays and near the icebergs, it is $200-600 per cruise. In the luxury ships, you can even take a helicopter ride or a submarine tour for $500-1000 per person, a truly unique experience that you’ll remember all your life.

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Extras people tend to forget

There are a few key extras that travelers often overlook and can add a few extra hundreds or thousands of dollars to your budget for traveling to Antarctica.

• The flights to Ushuaia: It’s the port where most cruises start the trip, and not exactly close to most cities. That alone can be $800-1,300 if you’re from the U.S…

• The cold weather gear: This can be another $300-1,000, depending on the items you already have. Even if the ship you choose rents it, it can be $250-300.

• Travel insurance: It’s not an option, and you’ll need really good insurance. We’re talking about $100,000 coverage as a minimum. Keep in mind that if anything happens there’s no hospitals or ambulances in Antarctica.

Tips to save money on your trip to Antarctica

• Book early for the best cabins: And we mean early, like 12-18 months before the time you plan your trip. This often guarantees significant discounts, and you can choose the best cabin!

• Book last minute: If you have more flexibility, it’s a great deal, but you won’t be able to choose your cabin and the last-minute planes are a bit unpredictable.

• Pack light but bring enough layers: It’s a tricky thing, for sure, but that way you avoid the overweight charge from the airlines, as well as the multiple laundry bags, which are also costly.

• Stay connected with mobile data: Wi-Fi on the ships is usually quite expensive, like $50-300, depending on the ship you choose. You can save all that money if you try a FREE Yoho Mobile eSIM instead! It comes with affordable data plans for over 100 countries, including Argentina and Chile, and it’s easy to set up.

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Final Thoughts

So, how much does it cost to travel to Antarctica? Quite a lot indeed, but is it worth it? For some people, not really, but for the odd travelers that can’t be quiet and need to see all that our earth has to offer? This is a trip for people who look for the extraordinary, the unique places barely touched by human hands, the raw landscapes, and harsh nature, and the breathtaking beauty of Antarctica. If you’re one of such travelers, you already know how much it costs, so what are you waiting for to start planning the most incredible trip of your life?