Photo: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Cmdr. Kry, public domain Antarctica Le Commandant Charcot
PONANT's polar icebreaker, with elegant suites and the ability to reach places few ships can.
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arctic & antarctica
The polar regions are very different from each other, and the right choice depends on what you’d most like to see and when you can travel.
Antarctica is the ultimate expedition: penguins, whales and ice on a vast scale. Most voyages sail from Ushuaia across the Drake Passage between November and March, and a few fly directly onto the ice, saving time and avoiding the crossing.
In the Arctic, Iceland is the easiest place to begin, with glaciers, waterfalls and hot springs close to hand. Greenland has towering icebergs and colourful Inuit villages, Svalbard is home to polar bears and walruses, and Lapland offers husky sledding and the northern lights in winter.
We work with the best expedition ships and lodges, and help with everything from choosing the right cabin to what to pack.
where to go
Five destinations at the top and bottom of the world. Hover over one to see what it's like and when to go.
Hover over or tap a destination to explore
where to stay
The ships and lodges we trust at the ends of the earth, where comfort matters more than ever. We'll help you choose the right cabin, room or route.
Photo: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Cmdr. Kry, public domain Antarctica PONANT's polar icebreaker, with elegant suites and the ability to reach places few ships can.
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Photo: Virtual-Pano, CC BY-SA 4.0 Antarctica An all-suite expedition ship with butler service and a fleet of Zodiacs for landings.
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Photo: Hotel Rangá, CC0 Iceland A warm, timber-built hotel in south Iceland, with its own observatory and a wake-up call when the aurora appears.
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Photo: Buiobuione, CC BY-SA 4.0 Greenland On the edge of Ilulissat, with igloo rooms looking out over the icebergs of Disko Bay.
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Photo: steffen l, CC BY 2.0 Arctic Circle Architect-designed rooms suspended among the pines of Swedish Lapland, including a mirrored cube and a UFO.
Ask us about this hotelLooking for something different? We work with many more hotels and villas in this part of the world, and we'll happily suggest the right one for you.
From roughly late September to March, when the nights are long and dark. Clear skies matter most, so we suggest at least three or four nights to give yourself the best chance.
Most expeditions sail from Ushuaia and cross the Drake Passage in around two days. Fly-cruise options from Punta Arenas skip the crossing, and a few camps are reached by private jet from Cape Town.
It can be, although modern ships have stabilisers and many crossings are calm. If you’re worried, a fly-cruise avoids it altogether.
Layers are everything. Expedition ships usually provide a parka and boots, and we’ll send you a detailed kit list for Arctic trips too.
Many ships welcome children from around eight to twelve, depending on the operator, and Iceland and Lapland are wonderful for families in winter.
get in touch
Tell us which pole is calling and when you'd like to go, and we'll suggest the right ship or lodge.
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Travel advice: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has up-to-date advice on health and safety across the globe, as well as local laws, and passport and visa information. Please check travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and follow @FCDOtravelGovUK and Facebook.com/FCDOtravel regularly for updates ahead of travel, as the advice can change.
