Ice, wildlife and journeys shaped by the elements
Antarctica is a continent of very different journeys: coastal expedition ships, remote historic sites and specialist flights to the interior. Choose the experience first, then the route—and leave room for the ice and weather to have their say.
The places below are expedition regions and sites. Routes, landings and wildlife encounters depend on conditions and current access arrangements. Plan with current Antarctic visitor guidance.
Begin with a glimpse of Antarctica
IAATO’s short film asks why this continent matters. Begin with the Antarctic Peninsula, then decide which kind of expedition matches the journey you have in mind.
Explore Antarctic Peninsula →
02FIRST-TIME FAVOURITE
A chain of islands north of the Peninsula, with volcanic landscapes and distinct landing sites.
Explore South Shetland Islands →Usually part of a longer Peninsula expedition.
03FIRST-TIME FAVOURITE
A world of sea ice and broad horizons on the eastern side of the Peninsula.
Explore Weddell Sea →Choose a voyage specifically covering this region.
The Ross Sea, Queen Maud Land and the South Pole call for distinct specialist itineraries.
04BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH
Historic expedition country, immense ice scenery and a very different approach to Antarctica.
Explore Ross Sea →Plan a dedicated extended expedition.
05BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH
Mountains, exposed rock and blue-ice country reached through specialist fly-in operations.
Explore Queen Maud Land →A specialist fly-in itinerary with arranged accommodation.
06BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH
An interior destination requiring a dedicated expedition, flight plan and seasonal support.
Explore South Pole →Choose a specific South Pole programme.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER · Antarctica
South Shetland Islands
A flooded volcanic caldera, dark beaches and the remains of a complicated human past.
Explore this discovery →*christopher* · Attribution 2.0 Generic · Display cropped/resized.
Goudier Island · Antarctic Peninsula region
A small historic base, a museum and the human scale of early polar work.
Explore this discovery →Andrew Shiva / Wikimedia Commons · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Western Antarctic Peninsula
Mountains close in around a narrow waterway, with reflections when the sea chooses to cooperate.
Explore this discovery →CHK46 · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
SEE HOW THE PLACES FIT TOGETHER
Select a pin or place name to open its guide directly. Gold marks the first-time highlights, teal the places beyond the beaten path.
Outline: Natural Earth, public domain · Approximate place markers; callouts separate nearby places. Orientation only, not navigation. South-polar projection; no territorial claims shown.
Build your own journey
Choose a Peninsula voyage, with the South Shetlands and Weddell region included only where the actual itinerary and conditions allow.
Give this different Antarctic approach its own extended trip and gateway arrangements.
A specialist fly-in programme can combine a Queen Maud Land base with a South Pole visit where booked.
These are different expedition styles and regions, not a connected road itinerary. All specific visits depend on the operator’s programme, access, ice and weather.
More local planning & practical information →
Who will you meet in Antarctica? →
Antarctic stays: pods, camps & ships →
The useful companions to an Antarctic trip are its gateway destinations: southern Argentina or Chile for many Peninsula and interior journeys, Cape Town for some fly-in programmes, and New Zealand for certain Ross Sea voyages. Add time there according to your operator’s actual departure and return plan.
A few useful essentials
Visitor journeys are seasonal. Confirm the operating window for the exact voyage or interior programme you are considering.
Planning a visit →Coastal visitors usually sleep aboard ships. The interior also has specialist seasonal camps and heated pod stays.
Pods, camps & ships →Follow current briefings, clean your gear and respect site restrictions. Let the expedition team set the approach to wildlife.
Visitor briefings →Discuss preparation, insurance, authorisations and contingency arrangements with the operator for your exact itinerary.
Official travel advice →Current official travel advice ↗Ask ATA about your itinerary →
Peninsula: CHK46 · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
South Shetlands: *christopher* · Attribution 2.0 Generic · Display cropped/resized.
Weddell Sea: Hannes Grobe · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Ross Sea: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA · Public domain · Display cropped/resized.
Queen Maud Land: Andrew Shiva / Wikimedia Commons · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
South Pole: USAP · Public domain · Display cropped/resized.
Port Lockroy: Andrew Shiva / Wikimedia Commons · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Film: Film: IAATO / Royal Geographical Society. Sources reviewed 28 October 2026.
