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Antarctica Calling: Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Icy Continent
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News18•24-09-2026, 18:30
Antarctica Calling: Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Icy Continent
- •Antarctica offers a unique travel experience with vast wilderness, abundant wildlife, and a sense of being removed from the everyday world.
- •The tourist season is limited to October-March, with carefully managed shore landings to minimize environmental impact.
- •Expedition cruises and luxury polar journeys have made Antarctica more accessible, with plush ships offering suites, fine dining, and expert-led excursions.
- •Travelers from India typically fly to South America (Buenos Aires or Santiago) then connect to gateway cities like Ushuaia to board an expedition vessel.
- •Costs range from ’8-12 lakh for entry-level cruises to ’90 lakh-’1.5 crore+ for ultra-luxury stays with private charter flights, excluding international flights and other expenses.
Key Questions Answered
The Antarctic tourist season runs roughly from October to March, which is when conditions are more suitable for expedition travel.
Since there are no direct commercial flights from India, travellers usually fly to South American hubs like Buenos Aires or Santiago, travel onwards to gateways such as Ushuaia, and then board an expedition vessel bound for Antarctica.
Approximate costs range from ₹8–12 lakh for entry-level expedition cruises, ₹15–30 lakh for luxury cruises, ₹35–70 lakh+ for ultra-luxury suites, and ₹90 lakh to ₹1.5 crore+ for private charter stays like White Desert.
