Activities in Antarctica have come a long way since the first tourist vessels sailed to the 7th Continent in the late 1960’s. In the early days of expedition travel, shore landings were the sole activity offered. While shore landings are still included for all guests, there are now many more adventure options to choose from. Whether it’s kayaking through the ice, camping on shore for a night, snorkeling with penguins, stand up paddleboarding or taking a helicopter to an untouched lookout point, there is something for everyone. All the trips we offer are active expeditions but below we are highlighting the best Antarctica cruises for activities.
Basecamp Antarctica
- Onboard Plancius (108 guests), Ortelius (108 guests) and Hondius (170 guests)
- Various departures from Nov – Mar each season – 13 day trips
- Activities offered: Kayaking (one-time), Camping, Mountaineering, Snowshoeing/Hiking and Photography Workshop
- All activities are included in the voyage cost.
- Why we like this trip: This is the original “multi-sport” trip to Antarctica that has been operating for many seasons. It offers 7 full days in Antarctica, which is longer than most Antarctic Peninsula cruises. Basecamp is one of the only trips to offer a mountaineering option.
Antarctica All-Access
- Onboard Seaventure (139 guests)
- Nov 18 – 29, 2025 and Dec 8 – 19, 2025 (12 days)
- Activities offered: Kayaking (one-time), Camping, Snowshoeing, Citizen Science
- All activities are included in the voyage cost.
- Why we like this trip: In addition to the included adventure options, this trip is operated by the pioneers of Citizen Science in Antarctica. Guests will have the chance to participate in research with the expedition staff.
Antarctic Explorer
- Onboard Ultramarine (199 guests)
- Various departures from Dec – Feb – 12 day trip
- Activities offered: Kayaking (full program with multiple paddles), Paddling (one-time), Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Exclusive Heli-Landing, Flightseeing
- Adventure options are an additional cost & subject to availability at the time of booking as spots are limited.
- Why we like this trip: Ultramarine was built for activities with 2 helicopters, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards onboard. All guests receive one complimentary flightseeing tour (conditions permitting). In addition, an exclusive heli-landing is offered (additional cost) to take a small group of guests to even more remote locations via helicopter.
Antarctica Active
- Onboard Greg Mortimer (130 guests)
- Nov 20 – Dec 4, 2025 and Dec 3 – 17, 2025 (15 days)
- Activities offered: Kayaking (one-time), Snorkeling, Snowshoeing and Camping
- All activities are included in the voyage cost.
- Why we like this trip: This brand new itinerary offers 8 full days in Antarctica! One of only two ships offering a snorkeling option.
Please contact us for more information on the best Antarctica cruises for activities.
