When to visit Antarctica?

The best time to visit Antarctica is from October to March, but with a luxury yacht charter Antarctica delivers a magical experience no matter which month of the year. The Antarctic season is relatively short and requires careful planning, but with three distinct periods within the season, the time of year to visit will largely depend on the types of wildlife and landscapes that you’re keen to spot.

November

From mid-October, the Antarctic pack ice starts to break up and melt leaving a clear, white landscape in its wake. It’s a beautiful time to embark on a private yacht charter as the melting ice enables expedition vessels to navigate the icy waters more easily. This is the start of the season, when elephant and fur seals begin to mark their preferred territories and penguin courtship rituals, when they bow, preen and call to each other, commence. 

December 

Calling all twitchers! The courting season for Antarctica's seabirds lasts from November to December making this a good time for birders to visit. There are over 45 species in the White Continent, including seabirds and albatrosses. If heading to South Georgia and the Falklands to try to spot seal pups, travel to Antarctica between mid-December and January. You’ll also see spring flowers beginning to emerge, so make sure to squeeze in some ice trekking. You'll need binoculars and plenty of stamina. 

January

It’s not surprising that January is one of the most popular times to visit Antarctica. It sees the longest periods of daylight – more than 20 hours a day when the sun sits just below the horizon, never truly setting – combined with the warmest temperatures. It’s also prime penguin hatching season. An incredible 18 species are found in the sub-Antarctic, though on the continent the main four to spot are the Emperor, Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo. It’s also around now that the bravest of the seal pups take their first steps onto the ice floes. 

February

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing whales up close and personal, the month of February is for you. It’s an excellent time to spot majestic orcas and minkes as well as sperms and the mighty humpback. In fact, southern right, blue, sei, fin and beaked whales are all found in Antarctic waters. The best area for sightings of orcas and minkes is around the Antarctic Peninsula. 

March

Think of Antarctica and you picture glaciers, icebergs, jagged mountains, valleys and endemic wildlife. Towards the end of the summer in February and March, however, it’s fur seals that are abundant on the peninsula, with a whopping 95 percent of the world's population breeding at South Georgia. 

Why should you consider an Antarctic yacht charter?

An explorer yacht charter is an adventurous way to travel, providing an abundance of life affirming experiences wherever you are in the world. But if you’ve longed to follow in the footsteps of explorers Shackleton and Scott and to experience life on one of Earth’s driest deserts, then Antarctica is the only place to be. Braving the freezing icy tundra and even a polar plunge is rewarded with the exceptional warmth, comforts and amenities found aboard a superyacht. It’s the best of both worlds, where fearless adventure meets zero degrees and zero compromise. 

What else can you do on a luxury yacht charter to Antarctica?

From sailing through the stunning icescape of the Lemaire Channel to visiting the Vernadsky Research Base where scientists first discovered the hole in the ozone layer, an Antarctica yachting holiday will bring a wide variety of thrilling excursions. No doubt one of the most exhilarating activities is heli-skiing powder fresh snow, not only heading off the beaten track by yacht, but taking a helicopter to places where tracks have never been made. On your return to the yacht, massage therapists, personal trainers, pools, private gyms and gourmet delights from Michelin-trained chefs await.

Discover yachts available for charter

Our collection of explorer yachts forms a core component of the Burgess fleet. Whatever your requirements, we’re sure to find an expedition yacht with the range, stability, equipment and comfort to match all your yachting needs. 

PLANET NINE

Although designed for exploration, PLANET NINE’s interior includes every facet of modern superyacht luxury. Her hull is ice classed and comes with a superb specification including her MD 600 Explorer helicopter, hangar and helipad. Equipped with VIP cabins, jacuzzi, and an elevator including a fleet of three tenders, SeaBobs, kayaks, snorkelling gear and an inflatable platform. 

NAIA

Built to deliver exceptional experiences, NAIA is a proven charter yacht offering superb interior volume and a wheelchair-friendly layout. A helipad, fully equipped gym, jacuzzi, elevator and private master deck bring unique levels of comfort, while her fleet of five tenders, raft of watertoys, dedicated diving room stocked with an extensive inventory of equipment, and ice class 1D hull make Antarctic expeditions a dream come true.