The first thing to understand about things to do in Antarctica is that “things to do” means something completely different here. There are no towns to wander, no restaurants to book, no roads to drive. What you do in Antarctica is get out into it — twice a day, in small boats, on foot, in a kayak, or, if you’re brave, in your swimsuit.
The headline things to do in Antarctica are the experiences your expedition is built around: cruising among icebergs in a Zodiac, landing beside colonies of unbothered penguins, watching whales feed beside the ship, kayaking through mirror-still bays, camping a night on the ice, and taking the heart-stopping polar plunge. Most of these come included in your voyage; a handful of optional adventure activities cost extra, ranging from around $150 to $2,200.
This guide covers all of it — what’s included versus what costs extra, every optional adventure explained, what each one is actually like, when to book the ones that sell out, how to choose, and what a typical day on the ice looks like. Whether you’re an armchair adventurer or already booked, here’s everything there is to do at the bottom of the world.
Last updated: June 2026 · Written and fact-checked by the AntarcticaTourism.org editorial team. Activity prices are typical 2026 add-on costs; confirm with your operator.
Things to do in Antarctica at a glance
Here’s the whole menu in one table — what’s typically included in your fare, what costs extra, and who each suits.
| Activity | Included or extra? | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Zodiac cruising & shore landings | Included | Everyone — the core experience |
| Wildlife watching | Included | Everyone |
| Hiking & snowshoeing | Usually included | Most travelers |
| The polar plunge | Included (usually free) | The brave |
| Photography program | Often included | Shutterbugs |
| Sea kayaking | Extra (~$700–$1,600) | Active, adventurous travelers |
| Camping on the ice | Extra (~$150–$300) | Story-collectors |
| Stand-up paddleboarding | Extra (~$200–$300) | The adventurous, in calm bays |
| Scuba diving / snorkeling | Extra (~$500–$1,000) | Certified, experienced divers |
| Mountaineering & ski touring | Extra (~$600–$2,200) | Fit, experienced adventurers |
Notice the pattern: the experiences that define an Antarctic trip are already in your fare, and the extras are intensifiers for those who want to get even closer or more active. Pair this with our guides to Antarctica cruises and the full trip cost.
Included vs optional: how activities work
Every reputable expedition includes a generous core of daily activities — you are not boarding a ship that then charges you for everything. The included program revolves around getting you off the ship and into the landscape: Zodiac cruises among the ice, shore landings at wildlife sites, guided walks, the lecture program, and, on most ships, the polar plunge and basic photography guidance. That alone is a complete, extraordinary trip.
The optional activities — kayaking, camping, diving, mountaineering, and the rest — are bookable extras, usually arranged in advance because places and equipment are limited. They’re wonderful, but none is essential: plenty of travelers do only the included program and come home blown away. Think of the extras as ways to deepen a specific kind of experience, not boxes you must tick. Let’s start with what everyone gets.
The experiences included in every voyage
These are the heart of an Antarctic trip, and they come with the fare. Most travelers find they’re more than enough.
Zodiac cruising
If there’s one signature Antarctic activity, it’s the Zodiac cruise. These tough inflatable boats carry about ten people and are how you actually reach the continent — nosing among icebergs and crackling brash ice, slipping into shallow bays the ship can’t enter, and idling beside feeding humpbacks and lounging seals. The magic moment comes when the guide cuts the engine and you simply drift, the only sound the fizz of ancient air escaping the ice. You’ll do this almost every day, and it never gets old. Our Zodiac cruise guide covers what to expect.
Shore landings and hiking
Most days also bring one or two shore landings — usually “wet landings” where you step off the Zodiac into a few inches of water (hence the rubber boots) onto a beach that may be carpeted with penguins. From there, guides lead walks ranging from gentle ambles along the shore to snowshoe hikes up to a ridgeline view. You keep to marked routes and the required distance from wildlife, but the animals, having no fear of humans, routinely close that gap themselves.
Wildlife watching
Ask anyone what the best thing to do in Antarctica is and the honest answer is simply watch the wildlife. It’s the included activity that overshadows all the paid ones: penguin colonies hundreds of thousands strong, whales surfacing beside the boat, leopard seals patrolling the ice, albatrosses on the wind. It happens from the deck, the Zodiac, and the shore, all trip long — our Antarctica wildlife guide is the full field companion.
Lectures and citizen science
The ship itself is a floating classroom. Expedition teams include marine biologists, glaciologists, historians, and photographers who deliver a rich program of talks, especially on the Drake crossing sea days. Many voyages go further with real citizen-science projects you can join — logging whale-fluke IDs, sampling phytoplankton, recording cloud cover for NASA — turning passengers into contributing researchers. It’s a genuine highlight for the curious; see our citizen science guide.
Sea kayaking
If I could book only one optional activity, it would be this. Sea kayaking lifts you out of the engine noise and the crowd and sets you on the water’s surface, gliding between brash ice and mirror-still reflections with a leopard seal eyeing you from a floe. Ships carry single and double kayaks, run small guided groups with a safety Zodiac alongside, and head out most days that conditions allow. It’s the most expensive of the common add-ons — roughly $700–$1,600 — and it sells out a year ahead, so book it with your cabin. The reward is the closest thing to silence Antarctica offers; full detail in our kayaking in Antarctica guide.
Camping on the ice
Far fewer travelers can say they slept on the Antarctic continent. Camping is less about comfort and more about the story — a single night ashore, usually in a bivy bag or basic shelter, with all the gear and guides provided to keep you warm and dry. There’s no campfire and, in the height of summer, no real darkness; what there is, once everyone settles, is a silence so absolute it rings in your ears, broken only by the distant crack of a calving glacier. It typically happens just once per voyage and is usually the cheapest add-on (around $150–$300). Our camping in Antarctica guide explains exactly how a night out works.
The polar plunge
The great rite of passage, and the best part is it’s usually free. The polar plunge is exactly what it sounds like: a leap from the ship or shore into water hovering around 28°F (−2°C), with a crew member holding a safety line and a hot drink waiting for your return. It lasts about three seconds and you’ll talk about it for thirty years. Not everyone does it, and that’s fine, but the whoop of disbelief as you surface is one of the trip’s communal joys. Our polar plunge guide has the how and the why (and the “should I?”).
Stand-up paddleboarding
A newer and more niche option, paddleboarding offers a similar waterline intimacy to kayaking but with the added challenge of staying upright on a board in near-freezing water. On a calm, sheltered bay it’s serene and a little surreal — you, a paddle, and a horizon full of ice. It’s weather-dependent (you need flat water), offered by fewer ships, and priced around $200–$300. For the confident and adventurous, it’s a memorable way to be alone with the silence; see our paddleboarding guide.
Scuba diving and snorkeling
Beneath the surface lies a world few ever see — ice walls plunging into deep blue, kelp forests, and bizarre cold-water invertebrates, with the occasional curious seal or penguin darting past. Polar scuba diving is a serious undertaking reserved for experienced, dry-suit-certified divers with cold-water logbook hours, and it’s offered by only a handful of specialist operators (around $500–$1,000 and up). Snorkeling is the far more accessible cousin: a dry suit, a guided float over shallow ice and wildlife, and a gasp-inducing look into the polar ocean without the certifications. Our diving and snorkeling guide covers the requirements.
Mountaineering and ski touring
For the fit and experienced, some expeditions offer guided mountaineering and ski touring on the Peninsula — roping up to climb an unnamed peak, or skinning uphill for a backcountry descent with an audience of penguins far below. These are the most physically demanding activities on offer, requiring good fitness and often prior experience with crampons, ropes, or ski-touring gear, and they run roughly $600–$2,200 depending on scope. The payoff is summiting or skiing terrain almost no one on Earth has touched. Details and prerequisites are in our mountaineering and ski touring guide.
Photography programs
Antarctica may be the most photogenic place on the planet — the light, the ice, the wildlife that lets you get close — and many expeditions carry a dedicated photography guide who runs workshops, offers one-on-one help, and leads photo-focused Zodiac outings. Even if you’re shooting on a phone, the on-board guidance noticeably lifts your results, and some premium voyages run specialist small-group photo departures. It’s frequently included or low-cost, which makes it one of the best-value ways to deepen the trip. Our Antarctica photography guide covers gear, settings, and the workshops.
Running the Antarctica Marathon
For a particular kind of traveler, the ultimate thing to do in Antarctica is run 26.2 miles on it. Two events headline the calendar: the Antarctica Marathon, held on King George Island in the South Shetlands and reached by expedition ship, and the more extreme Antarctic Ice Marathon, run in the continental interior near the Pole and reached by private flight (at a price to match). Both are bucket-list feats for runners chasing a seventh-continent marathon, with fields that book years ahead. It’s a niche pursuit, but a profound one — the full picture is in our Antarctica marathon guide.
What the optional activities cost
Pulling the add-ons together, here’s the budgeting picture — all per person, on top of your fare, and best confirmed with your operator. Factor these into your overall Antarctica trip cost.
| Activity | Typical cost (pp) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Polar plunge | Free (usually) | Included on most ships |
| Camping | $150–$300 | Cheapest add-on; once per voyage |
| Stand-up paddleboarding | $200–$300 | Calm conditions only |
| Snorkeling | ~$600 | Dry suit provided |
| Scuba diving | $500–$1,000+ | Experienced, certified divers |
| Mountaineering / ski touring | $600–$2,200 | Fit & experienced |
| Sea kayaking | $700–$1,600 | Most popular paid add-on; books out early |
When to book your activities
Here’s the rule that catches people out: the popular paid activities — kayaking above all, plus camping and diving — have strictly limited places and equipment, and they sell out long before departure, often 6 to 12 months ahead or more. If an add-on matters to you, book it at the same time as your cabin, not when you board. Two caveats worth knowing: everything is ultimately weather- and ice-dependent, so even a booked activity can be cancelled on the day if conditions turn (operators typically refund in that case), and the included program flexes daily around what’s possible. Plan around your dates with our best time to visit and when to book guides.
Which activities should you choose?
You genuinely don’t need to do everything — here’s how I’d steer different travelers, with more in our Antarctica for every traveler guide.
- First-timers: lean on the included program, add the camping night for the story, and do the polar plunge. That’s a full, unforgettable trip without overcommitting.
- Active & adventurous: book kayaking first — it’s the standout paid activity — and consider paddleboarding or a mountaineering outing if you’re fit.
- Divers: if you’re cold-water certified, a specialist diving voyage is a rare, extraordinary option; otherwise try snorkeling.
- Photographers: choose a ship with a strong photography program, and pair it with kayaking for unobstructed shots.
- Families & those with limited mobility: the Zodiac cruises, gentle landings, and wildlife watching are the core, require no special fitness, and are the best part anyway.
A typical day in Antarctica
So what does a day actually look like? No two are identical — the expedition leader rewrites the plan each morning around weather and ice — but the rhythm is reliable:
- Early morning: a gentle wake-up call over the PA, often with a report on conditions and the day’s plan, followed by a hearty breakfast.
- Morning excursion: the first outing — a Zodiac cruise among the ice or a shore landing at a wildlife site, with kayakers peeling off to their own group.
- Lunch back aboard, while the ship repositions to the afternoon site.
- Afternoon excursion: a second landing or cruise — and on the right day, the polar plunge.
- Evening: the daily “recap and briefing,” where guides review what you saw and outline tomorrow, then dinner.
- Night: a lecture, a nightcap, and — because the summer sun barely sets — the chance to stand on deck at midnight watching the light turn the icebergs gold. Campers head ashore here.
Two excursions a day, bookended by good food and great company, with the optional activities woven in — that’s the shape of a trip that will ruin every other holiday for you.
The art of the Zodiac cruise
Ask people what they did in Antarctica and they’ll mention the dramatic stuff — the kayaking, the polar plunge — but the activity that quietly defines the trip is the humble Zodiac cruise. These sturdy inflatable boats are the workhorses of every expedition, and when conditions don’t suit a landing (or when the best wildlife is in the water), the team takes you out to explore at sea level. It’s a completely different perspective from the ship’s deck: you’re down among the brash ice, close enough to hear it fizz and crackle as ancient trapped air escapes.
A good Zodiac driver is part naturalist, part artist, nosing the boat silently toward a leopard seal dozing on a floe, drifting beneath a towering blue iceberg sculpted into impossible shapes, or cutting the engine entirely so a curious humpback can surface beside you in total silence. There’s no fixed script — the cruise follows the ice and the animals — and some of the most magical moments of any voyage happen from these little boats rather than ashore. Dress warmly, keep your camera in a dry bag, and prepare to understand why veterans rate the Zodiac cruise among the very best things to do in Antarctica.
Things to do onboard the ship
Not every hour is spent ashore — there are sea days crossing the Drake Passage, and downtime between excursions, and the ship is built to fill them well. Beyond the lecture program, you can usually visit the bridge to watch the officers navigate the ice, browse the library of polar literature, swap photos and stories in the bar or lounge, and on the more upscale ships unwind in a sauna, hot tub, or small spa. Above all there’s the deck: some of the best wildlife watching of the whole trip happens from the rail with a hot chocolate, scanning for whale blows and the albatrosses that shadow the ship. The sea days are not dead time — they’re part of the rhythm that makes the landings hit so hard.
Unique experiences beyond the standard landings
Some voyages unlock things to do that go well beyond the classic Peninsula day, depending on where and how far you sail — coordinate with our regions guide.
- Visiting research stations: some itineraries call at working bases — like Ukraine’s Vernadsky, home to the southernmost bar in the world, or historic Port Lockroy with its post office and museum, where you can mail a postcard with an Antarctic stamp.
- Historic huts: on far-side Ross Sea voyages you can step inside the perfectly preserved huts of Scott and Shackleton, frozen in time since the Heroic Age.
- Crossing the Antarctic Circle: push south of 66°33′S on a longer voyage to earn the latitude few travelers reach.
- Helicopter flightseeing: a couple of premium expedition ships carry helicopters for aerial excursions over the ice — a spectacular, big-ticket way to grasp the scale.
- South Georgia’s mega-colonies: the king-penguin spectacle on a combined voyage is an experience all its own.
Citizen science you can take part in
One of the most rewarding ‘activities’ on a modern voyage doesn’t feel like an activity at all — it’s the chance to contribute to real science. A growing number of IAATO operators run citizen-science programs that turn passengers into data collectors, and the work is genuinely useful to researchers who struggle to get enough observers into this remote region. You don’t need any expertise; you just need to pay attention.
The programs vary by ship but commonly include photographing whale tail flukes for global identification databases (each fluke is as unique as a fingerprint), collecting seawater samples to track microscopic phytoplankton, logging cloud cover to help calibrate satellites, and counting seabirds and seals for long-term population studies. Beyond the warm feeling of helping, taking part deepens the whole experience — you start to look at the environment as a scientist might, noticing patterns you’d otherwise sail straight past. If this appeals, ask prospective operators which programs they run; it’s one of the markers of a thoughtful expedition, as our operators guide notes.
Do the activities change with the season?
The menu stays broadly the same across the season, but the flavor shifts with it — worth weighing against our best time to visit guide. Early-season (November) outings traverse more pristine sea ice and deeper snow, ideal for snowshoeing and dramatic Zodiac cruising through the floes, though some landing sites are still locked up. Mid-summer (December–January) opens the most sites and brings the warmest, longest days for camping and kayaking. Late season (February–March) is the whale-watching peak, so Zodiac cruises increasingly become whale encounters, and calmer days can favor paddleboarding. Whenever you go, the core activities run throughout — you’re choosing the backdrop and the wildlife stage, not a different set of things to do.
The best thing to do in Antarctica (my honest verdict)
After all the options, here’s where I land. The single best “thing to do” in Antarctica isn’t a paid add-on at all — it’s the included combination of Zodiac cruising and simply being among the wildlife, unhurried, with the engine off. That’s the soul of the trip, and it’s already in your fare. If you add one optional activity, make it sea kayaking, which deepens that same waterline intimacy more than anything else. And do the polar plunge — not because it’s comfortable, but because the story is free and lasts forever. Everything beyond that is icing: wonderful if it fits your budget, energy, and interests, but never the difference between a great trip and a poor one. In Antarctica, the headline acts come included.
What you can’t do in Antarctica
Part of knowing what to do is knowing the firm limits — the rules that keep this place pristine, detailed in our wildlife guide. You can’t touch or feed any wildlife, or approach closer than five meters (you must let curious animals close the gap themselves). You can’t wander off on your own — all shore time is guided and within marked areas. You can’t fly a recreational drone, take any “souvenir” (not a rock, a bone, or a feather — the rule is take only photos, leave only footprints), eat ashore, or smoke on land. And you can’t swim with the wildlife — the polar plunge is a quick solo dip on a safety line, not a snorkel with the seals. These limits are light to live with, and they’re exactly why the continent stays as extraordinary as it is.
Hiking, snowshoeing and the polar walk
One included activity that deserves its own mention is simply walking on Antarctica. On most landings, guides offer a choice of walks: a gentle stroll along the shoreline among the wildlife, or a more ambitious climb up to a ridgeline or viewpoint overlooking the bay, the ship, and the ice stretching to the horizon. When the snow is deep — common early in the season — ships loan snowshoes that let you crunch up slopes you’d otherwise posthole into. None of it is strenuous mountaineering; it’s accessible to most reasonably mobile travelers, and the summit views, with a penguin colony far below and your tiny ship at anchor, are some of the most memorable moments of the trip. For anyone skipping the paid add-ons, the guided walks alone make every landing an adventure — and they cost nothing extra.
Special occasions on the ice
Antarctica has quietly become one of the world’s great bucket-list backdrops for life’s big moments. Travelers propose on the deck as the ship noses through the Lemaire Channel, renew vows on a snowy landing, and mark milestone birthdays and anniversaries with a continent few of their friends will ever see. Some operators are happy to help arrange a discreet bottle of champagne or a quiet moment apart from the group. There’s something fitting about it: a place this rare and this overwhelming makes the perfect setting for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. If you’re plotting a surprise, a word with the expedition team in advance goes a long way — and see our Antarctica for every traveler guide for romance-focused planning.
The quiet things to do that no one books
For all the talk of activities to sign up for, some of the most memorable things to do in Antarctica cost nothing and appear on no booking form. Chief among them is simply standing on deck and watching — the scenery slides by in such overwhelming abundance that hours vanish while you scan for whales, study the ever-changing ice, or watch the light move across a glacier. Many travelers say the moment Antarctica truly hit them was an unscheduled one: a pod of orcas at breakfast, or absolute silence broken only by a calving glacier.
Make room for the unstructured, too. Keep a journal — you’ll want to remember the details that photos miss. Strike up conversations with the expedition staff, who are often working scientists with extraordinary stories. Late in the season, when a little darkness returns, watch for stars over the ice. And at least once, find a quiet corner of the deck, put the camera down, and just let the scale of the place sink in. These quiet moments are, for many of us, the real reason to come — and they pair beautifully with deciding what kind of trip suits you.
Things to do in Antarctica: FAQ
What is there to do in Antarctica?
The core activities are Zodiac cruising among the ice, shore landings beside wildlife, hiking and snowshoeing, wildlife watching, and the polar plunge — all usually included. Optional paid add-ons include sea kayaking, camping on the ice, scuba diving or snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, mountaineering, and photography programs.
What activities are included in an Antarctica cruise?
Almost always: daily Zodiac cruises and shore landings, guided walks, the full lecture program, wildlife watching, and on most ships the polar plunge and basic photography guidance. Kayaking, camping, diving, and mountaineering are the usual paid extras, booked separately and in advance.
How much do the optional activities cost?
Roughly $150 to $2,200 per person depending on the activity. Camping is cheapest (around $150–$300), kayaking runs about $700–$1,600, diving $500–$1,000+, and mountaineering up to $2,200. The polar plunge is usually free. Budget these on top of your cruise fare.
Is kayaking in Antarctica worth it?
For active travelers, absolutely — it’s the standout paid activity, lifting you out of the engine noise to glide silently among ice and wildlife at the waterline. It’s the priciest common add-on and sells out a year ahead, so book it with your cabin if it appeals.
Can you camp overnight in Antarctica?
Yes, on many voyages — a single guided night ashore in a bivy bag, with all the gear provided. It’s usually the cheapest add-on and happens just once per trip. There’s no campfire and little darkness in midsummer, but the silence and the story are unforgettable.
What is the polar plunge?
A quick, optional jump into roughly 28°F (−2°C) Antarctic water, done from the ship or shore on a safety line with a warm drink waiting. It lasts seconds, it’s usually free, and it’s one of the trip’s great rites of passage — though entirely optional.
Do you need to be fit or experienced?
Not for the core activities — Zodiac cruising, gentle landings, and wildlife watching suit almost everyone, including older and less mobile travelers. The paid extras vary: camping and kayaking need only moderate ability, while scuba diving and mountaineering require genuine experience and fitness.
Can you scuba dive in Antarctica?
Yes, but it’s for experienced, dry-suit-certified cold-water divers and offered by only a few specialist operators. Snorkeling is the far more accessible alternative, with a guided float over shallow ice and wildlife in a provided dry suit — no certification required.
When should I book activities?
As early as possible — ideally when you book your cabin. Kayaking, camping, and diving have limited places and equipment and routinely sell out 6–12 months ahead. Even booked activities depend on daily weather and ice, so build in flexibility.
Can you do activities independently?
No. All Antarctic activities are guided and run by your IAATO-member operator within strict rules — there’s no independent hiking, camping, or exploring. This keeps both you and the environment safe, and it’s part of why the wildlife remains so approachable.
Things to do in the gateway cities
Your Antarctic adventure usually includes a day or two at the gateway — Ushuaia or Punta Arenas — and that buffer time (which you should build in anyway against flight delays) opens up its own activities. In Ushuaia, you can cruise the Beagle Channel to sea-lion colonies and the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, ride the “End of the World Train,” or hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park; our things to do in Ushuaia guide has the shortlist. Many travelers also bolt on Patagonia — Torres del Paine, the Perito Moreno Glacier — turning the trip into the ultimate Southern Hemisphere adventure (see our Patagonia add-on guide). It’s the perfect way to ease into, or decompress from, the intensity of the ice; plan it with our getting to Antarctica guide.
Is wildlife watching really the main activity?
Yes — ask returning travelers and the wildlife, not any paid add-on, is what they rave about. Penguin colonies, whales beside the boat, and seals on the ice are the heart of every day, included for everyone, and they overshadow even the most thrilling optional activity. In a real sense, watching wildlife is the thing to do in Antarctica.
Can you visit research stations or send a postcard?
On many Peninsula itineraries, yes. Stops like historic Port Lockroy include a museum and a working post office where you can mail a postcard home with an Antarctic postmark, and some voyages visit active bases such as Ukraine’s Vernadsky station, famous for the southernmost bar in the world. It’s a charming, human counterpoint to the wilderness.
What is there to do on the sea days?
Plenty. Crossing the Drake and repositioning between sites, you’ll have lectures from the expedition team, bridge visits, a polar library, wildlife watching from the deck (superb for albatrosses and whales), and the bar and lounges for swapping stories. On upscale ships there may be a sauna or spa. The sea days set the pace and the anticipation.
Are there activities for families and children?
Yes — the Zodiac cruises, wildlife watching, landings, and the polar plunge are a hit with kids old enough to join (many ships set a minimum age around 8). Citizen-science projects engage curious teenagers, and family-friendly departures exist. Some paid add-ons have age or experience limits, so check when booking.
Can you take a helicopter flight or fly over Antarctica?
On a couple of premium expedition ships, yes — helicopter flightseeing offers a spectacular aerial perspective for a premium price. Separately, scenic overflights from Australia fly over the continent without landing. Both are covered in our flights to Antarctica guide.
What’s the most unusual thing to do in Antarctica?
Contenders include running the Antarctica Marathon, scuba diving beneath the ice, camping out overnight, and getting married or proposing on the ice. For most, though, the “unusual” that lingers is quieter — a kayak drifting past a dozing leopard seal, or midnight sun turning an iceberg gold.
Do activities ever get cancelled?
Yes — everything bends to weather and ice. A planned landing, kayak outing, or camping night can be moved or scrapped if conditions turn, and the expedition leader reshapes each day accordingly. Operators generally refund pre-booked activities that can’t run. Flexibility is part of the deal, and the team is expert at finding a great alternative.
Do you go ashore every day?
Once you reach Antarctica, typically yes — usually one or two excursions a day, weather permitting, whether a landing or a Zodiac cruise. The exceptions are the sea days crossing the Drake at the start and end, when there’s no land to reach and the focus shifts to lectures and deck-based wildlife watching.
Is there anything to do if I have limited mobility?
Yes. The Zodiac cruises — arguably the best activity of all — require only the ability to step in and out of the boat with a steadying hand, and much of the wildlife watching happens from the ship’s deck. Many landings have gentle, flat options, and crews are experienced at helping less mobile guests make the most of the trip.
Can you go hiking in Antarctica?
Yes, on guided walks during shore landings — from easy shoreline ambles to climbs up to a viewpoint, with snowshoes loaned when the snow is deep. There’s no independent or long-distance trekking, but the guided walks are a wonderful, included way to explore on foot.
What should I not miss in Antarctica?
Don’t miss the unhurried Zodiac cruises with the engine off, time simply watching a penguin colony, and — if you’re game — the polar plunge. If you book one paid extra, make it kayaking. Those few things capture the soul of the place better than any checklist of attractions.
How active is a day in Antarctica?
As active as you want. A typical day offers two excursions, and you can throw yourself into kayaking and ridgeline hikes or take it gently with Zodiac cruises and deck-based wildlife watching. The pace is flexible and entirely yours to set, which is why the trip suits everyone from athletes to relaxed observers.
Do you need to book the included activities in advance?
No. The Zodiac cruises, landings, walks, lectures, and usually the polar plunge are part of your voyage and run automatically — there’s nothing to reserve. Only the paid extras like kayaking, camping, and diving need booking ahead, ideally when you reserve your cabin, because their places are limited.
Can you swim or snorkel with the wildlife?
No — getting in the water with penguins, seals, or whales isn’t permitted, for your safety and theirs (leopard seals and orcas are serious predators). The polar plunge is a brief solo dip on a safety line, and guided snorkeling floats you over shallow ice and scenery rather than chasing animals. Wildlife encounters happen from shore, Zodiac, or kayak.
Final thoughts
The paradox of Antarctica is that a place with “nothing to do” — no sights to tick, no nightlife, no shopping — ends up being the most engaging trip of your life. The things to do here aren’t attractions; they’re encounters. You cruise into a bay and the engine cuts and a humpback surfaces beside you. You sit in the snow and a penguin inspects your boot. You leap into a freezing sea and surface laughing. Whether you add a single paid activity or a stack of them, the magic is in being present for it.
My advice: book the one or two extras that genuinely excite you, then relax — the included program is already a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary. Plan the rest with our guides to choosing a cruise, the best time to visit, and the wildlife waiting for you. Then stop planning and start packing — because the best thing to do in Antarctica is the one you can’t quite picture until you’re standing in it, jaw open, camera forgotten in your hand. There is genuinely nowhere else like it left on Earth.
About the author
Photo credits
All images via Wikimedia Commons, used under their respective licenses: Zodiac & iceberg — LBM1948 (CC BY-SA 4.0); kayaking — Christopher Michel (CC BY 2.0); camping — public domain; polar plunge & diver — U.S. Navy (public domain); ski mountaineering — Dryococelus (CC BY-SA 4.0); photographer — Gordon Leggett (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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