Antarctica by Private Expedition Ship

From vast penguin colonies to blubbery seals and breaching whales, learn about the incredible animals you'll see on a journey to Antarctica!

On average, Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest continent on the planet. Check out this month by month breakdown of average temperatures on the White Continent.

Our comprehensive packing guide covers everything you'll need for an Antarctica adventure, from fleece hats to boots and everything in between.

—By Rebecca Self
In honor of World Penguin Day on April 25, here are five stories from across the planet of people, places and programs devoted to penguin conservation, where you can get involved and see penguins firsthand.

—By Laura Kiniry
From traveling aboard an intimate motor-sailing yacht with no more than a handful of passengers to opting for a larger ship chock full of creature comforts, there is a myriad of ways to explore polar waters. Sailing upon the vessel that fits you requires a bit of footwork.

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
“You can’t protect what you don’t know,” Lars-Eric Lindblad, leader of the first commercial Antarctica cruise in 1966, once said.

—By Laura Kiniry
While today’s Antarctic journeys are a welcoming mix of creature comforts and endless adventure, it’s the explorers who came before us that paved the way for these much more accessible experiences. Here are the stories of five such heroic explorers.

—By Elissa Poma
Here are my picks for the top items to pack for an Arctic expedition—to keep warm and keep you and your electronics properly functioning.

—By WWF
The southernmost continent has the most penguins of any region in the world, but it’s not the only place where you’ll find the tuxedoed bird. The Galapagos Islands, New Zealand and South Africa are three other WWF and Nat Hab destinations where you can see penguins in their natural habitat.

—By Madison Mitchell
Get a chance to test your knowledge and see penguins firsthand on the Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent Natural Habitat Adventures trip.

—By Sara Higgins
"The call echoed throughout the whole bay. We sat in our kayaks; still, eyes closed, barely breathing. A chill came over my whole body. It was the most beautiful, ethereal sound I’ve ever..."

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
"We often tend to think of marine and terrestrial realms as being separate, but this research shows that penguins and seals act as a sort of “ocean-to-earth conveyor belt,” bringing nutrients from the sea...

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
"In Antarctica—“the coldest, driest, windiest, and highest place on Earth”—I found manifestations of clarity that are rarely seen in the world that lies in the latitudes above. The water is so clear that the bases of icebergs..."