When is the best time to visit polar regions?

The timing depends on where you're heading. Antarctica welcomes visitors from November to March, with the warmest and brightest days falling between December and February when you'll get more than 20 hours of daylight and temperatures around 32-35°F (0-2°C). If you're interested in the Arctic, plan your trip between June and September when temperatures are mild at 35-50°F (2-10°C). Summer in places like Disko Bay, Greenland gives you clear skies, plenty of whale sightings, and the unique experience of the midnight sun.

What wildlife will I see?

You'll see different animals depending on which pole you visit. In Antarctica, you'll spot several types of penguins including Gentoo, Adelie, Chinstrap and King penguins waddling about. Keep your eyes peeled for seals lounging on ice floes - Weddell, leopard, and elephant seals are common sights. In both polar regions, you might spot whales like humpbacks, minkes and orcas, plus lots of seabirds. One TourRadar traveler shared their excitement about "watching six whales doing a synchronized performance" during a Zodiac boat trip.

How much exploring can I do off the ship?

Most days you'll have two chances to leave the ship, usually for 2-3 hours each time, using small Zodiac boats to get around. The weather plays a big part in what's possible each day. If you're visiting the Antarctic Peninsula, you'll likely spend 4-5 days going ashore to check out wildlife and landscapes. Arctic trips often mix nature exploration with visits to small communities like Itilleq or Qeqertarsuaq, giving you a taste of local life.

You'll need waterproof pants, warm layers, waterproof gloves, sun protection, and a camera with extra batteries. Many ships provide boots (usually US sizes 4-16) and expedition jackets as part of your trip. Pack for temperatures between 20-35°F (-6 to 2°C) in Antarctica, or 35-50°F (2-10°C) in the Arctic summer. The key is bringing clothes you can layer - you'll want to add or remove layers as conditions change throughout the day.

How rough is the sea journey?

The roughest part is usually crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica - sailors joke it's either the "Drake Lake" when calm or the "Drake Shake" when rough. While ships have stabilizers to help smooth things out, you might experience some rocky moments. The good news is that ship doctors have effective seasickness medication if you need it. The Arctic waters around Greenland's Disko Bay tend to be calmer, especially in summer.

What's included in the trip cost?

Your ticket covers your cabin, three daily meals plus snacks, guided trips off the ship, educational talks, expedition gear (boots and jackets), and transfers. Some companies, like Albatros Expeditions, include flights between Copenhagen and Greenland. You'll need to budget extra for your flights to the departure point, travel insurance, optional activities like kayaking (about $345-400), and anything you buy on the ship. Most trips cost between $7,000-40,000 depending on how long you're traveling and what kind of cabin you choose.

Polar Tours & Trips

348 Results348 Result for 1 Adult for {{adults}} Adults for 1 Adult and 1 Child for 1 Adult and {{children}} Children for {{adults}} Adults and 1 Child for {{adults}} Adults and {{children}} Children

View Map
Polar
NORWAY AT A GLANCE
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Oslo, Myrdal, Flam, Voss, Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Norwegian FjordsWestern Norway+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
EUROLATINO Tour Operators
From
US$1,924per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
6 day Yellowstone Winter Wonderland Tour
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Bozeman, Mammoth, Gardiner, Yellowstone National Park,West Yellowstone+1 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Western USAYellowstone National ParkRocky Mountains+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Bindlestiff Tours
From
US$3,995per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Iceland and Greenland Explorer
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Reykjavik, Dynjandi, Grimsey, Akureyri
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ship
Scenic Eclipse
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
From
US$14,777per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Antarctica and the Weddell Sea
Duration
16 days
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ship
Scenic Eclipse
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
23% Off
From $26,935
US$20,804per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Crossing 66º South Latitude
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"The best adventure ever."
Nataly, traveled in January
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula,Crystal Sound+1 more
Age Range
Ages 6+
Ship
M/V Sea Spirit
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
Poseidon Expeditions
15% Off
From $18,395
US$15,636per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Quest for the Antarctic Circle
4.3 (13 traveler reviews)
"Antarctica was way more awesome than I could ever have imagined. The Expedition Crew were amazing!"
Jan, traveled in February
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
G Expedition
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
15% Off
From
US$12,099per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (Ultramarine), Operated by Quark
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"Expedition team were good. Food was very good."
Jhansi, traveled in December
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, King George Island,Antarctic Peninsula+1 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ship
Ocean Endeavour
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
14% Off
From $17,242
US$14,880per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Finnish Lapland Discovery
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Helsinki, Rovaniemi
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
25% Off
From $2,799
US$2,099per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Winter in Finland: Lapland & Northern Lights
5.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Helsinki, Rovaniemi
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
25% Off
From
US$3,299per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Antarctic Peninsula: Crossing the Circle, Operated by Quark
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"we loved our crossing the circle via Buenos Aires trip, we had greattest expenerices in Antarctica."
Shauna, traveled in January
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, King George Island,Antarctic Peninsula,Hornos Island+2 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
13% Off
From $27,217
US$23,575per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Antarctica Classic
4.7 (34 traveler reviews)
"The food more than excellent. The pinguins. Whales and seals all showed up for us in large numbers."
Aleksandra, traveled in March
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
G Expedition
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
13% Off
From
US$9,399per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Antarctica Classic in Depth
4.0 (5 traveler reviews)
"G expedition team members are very passionate, professional and knowledgeable!"
CHEN-WEI, traveled in November
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
G Expedition
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
13% Off
From
US$11,199per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
SCANDINAVIAN SUSTAINABLE TOUR
5.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Denmark Norway Sweden Finland
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
EUROLATINO Tour Operators
13% Off
From
US$4,374per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Classic Antarctica - 10 days
5.0 (4 traveler reviews)
"Antarctica is a breathtaking experience we would recommend it to everyone. The penguins are super cool and elephant seals were hilarious."
Clarence, traveled in March
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Ushuaia, South Shetland Islands, Deception Island,King George Island,Livingston Island,Paradise Harbor,Paulet Island,Melchior Islands,Cuverville Island,Neko Harbor,Pléneau Island,Petermann Island,Antarctic Peninsula+10 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Ship
MV Ushuaia
Country Region
Antarctica / South Pole
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
13% Off
From
US$8,450per person
Price based on Shared Room
View tour
View Map
Polar
Svalbard Arctic Adventure - Polar Summer
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Spitsbergen
Age Range
Ages 16+
Regions
Arctic / North PoleSvalbard+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
7% Off
From $4,498
US$4,170per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour