Activities in Antarctica: what you can do on an expedition cruise

Hiking ashore

Once you are on land, there is often, though not always, the chance to hike up to a viewpoint or a point of interest. Each landing site has its own rules to protect it, so the routes vary, but you might climb to a hilltop for a wide view across the ice, or walk to a research station and get a feel for what it is like to live here for a season. There is no extra charge, and a member of the expedition team always goes with you.

Camping in Antarctica

Swapping your warm cabin for a night on the ice is one of the most memorable things you can do down here. HX Expeditions, AE Expeditions and Quark Expeditions all run camping ashore, with the kit provided. HX has just expanded its programme for the 2025/26 season, doubling its camping spots and offering a choice between a bivvy bag under the open sky, the closest thing to true expedition camping, and a polar tent if you would like a little more shelter. AE Expeditions bundles camping with its other active options on its Antarctica Active departures, an all-inclusive-activities itinerary worth a look if you want to try several of these in one trip. Camping is usually booked on board and depends on the weather, and you fall asleep to the sounds of wildlife going about its night.

Sea kayaking in Antarctica

Paddling among the ice, with seals and penguins surfacing alongside, is about as close to Antarctica as you can get. Kayaking is available with every operator we work with, National Geographic-Lindblad, Silversea, Quark, HX and AE Expeditions, among them. On most ships, it runs as a short taster, signed up for on board and sometimes at an extra charge, with a support zodiac alongside for safety. If you are keener, some lines go further. AE Expeditions runs a fuller programme at a higher price, booked in advance, that gets you out paddling several times across the voyage. HX has expanded its kayaking too for 2025/26, with inflatable kayaks for solo paddlers and hard-shell sea kayaks for longer outings.

Helicopter flights

A handful of ships carry helicopters and they open up Antarctica in a way nothing else can. Quark and Scenic both use theirs for flightseeing, lifting you over the icebergs, glaciers and mountains for a view you cannot get from the water. Both also fly the same extraordinary trip, out across the frozen Weddell Sea to land near the emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island, one of the rarest wildlife encounters in travel. Quark flies from Ultramarine, Scenic from Scenic Eclipse, Scenic Eclipse II, and from 2028 Scenic Ikon. Conditions have to be right, so it is never guaranteed, but when it happens, it is unforgettable.

Snorkelling and diving in Antarctica

For the truly fearless, the clear Antarctic water is open to you. AE Expeditions offers snorkelling for those happy to pull on a dry suit and slip in, as well as diving for experienced dry suit divers. It is a rare way to see how fast and graceful penguins are underwater, and to look up at the sculpted underside of an iceberg. AE's Antarctica Active departures include snorkelling as part of their bundled activities, so they are a good place to start if this appeals.

The polar plunge

This one is a rite of passage, and almost everyone does it. The polar plunge is a quick, supervised jump into the freezing ocean, included in the price on nearly every expedition. The main exception is Ponant, which offers it only on its icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot. Pack a swimming costume and steel yourself. Most of us here have done it, and it takes your breath away, in the best possible way.

Stand-up paddleboarding

If you have paddleboarded before, you can take a board out among the ice while penguins and seals cruise past. Stand-up paddleboarding is offered only by Quark, at an extra cost, on its ships Ultramarine, the one we tend to recommend, and World Voyager. Outings run in small groups when the weather allows, with a support zodiac alongside and dry suits and stable boards provided.

Submarine dives

Scenic carries a submersible aboard their expedition fleet, and a dive takes you beneath the surface for a perspective almost no one else in Antarctica gets. To be clear about what it is, though, this is about the experience and the bragging rights more than a guarantee of what you will see down there, and it comes at an extra charge. For many guests, the thrill of slipping under the ice is reason enough.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a simple way to reach the best viewpoints and get away from the landing site, out across snowfields the early explorers would recognise. No experience is needed. It is offered by HX Expeditions and AE Expeditions, and it is a lovely way to feel the scale of the place underfoot.

Alpine trekking and climbing

For the keen and the fit, the Peninsula has hundreds of unclimbed peaks rising thousands of feet from the ice. AE Expeditions is the line for this, on selected itineraries only, with ascents of alpine peaks and ice climbing for those who have the experience. It is fitting: AE was founded by Greg Mortimer, one of the first Australians to climb Everest, and that mountaineering spirit runs right through the company. These trips need to be arranged in advance, so talk to us early if they tempt you.

Cross-country skiing

Skiing across the snow is how Amundsen and Shackleton travelled, and you can do the same. AE Expeditions offers both cross-country skiing and snowboard touring for the more experienced, allowing you to venture farther from your landing site. Like the climbing, it is for the keenly interested and needs to be discussed and arranged before you sail.

Plan your Antarctica adventure

That is a lot of choice, and not every activity is on every ship or every sailing. Some are included, some cost extra and some need booking well ahead. Untangling that is exactly what we are here for. Tell us what you would love to do, and we will match you to the ship and the itinerary that makes it happen.

Have a look at our Antarctica cruises, or for how the lines compare, see our guide to the best Antarctica expedition cruises. Better still, give us a call.