Polar cruises

Antarctica is best visited in the summer months from November to March when the weather is warmer and the sea ice has melted enough to get closer to the island shore.

The climate in Antarctica is the coldest on Earth, with cold summers and freezing winters. The warmest month is January with averages of around 10°C.

Deciding on the Antarctica cruise that suits you best comes down to figuring out the time of year you want to go, the itinerary, and how long you want the cruise to be.  

While you can't embark on an expedition to the world's seventh continent alone, you can travel solo on a group trip to Antarctica.  

This means you'll still have plenty of free time to do your own thing (and use the ship's excellent amenities) but also have the comfort of knowing expert leaders are handling the pesky logistics.  

You can also choose from a variety of accommodation arrangements, from single cabins to room-sharing, depending on your preference. 

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Yes, all Intrepid trips support The Intrepid Foundation. In this destination, we partner with Eden: People + Planet. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar matching all traveller donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden: People + Planet

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries, including Kenya and Nepal.

Learn more or make a donation

The best time to visit the Arctic region is during the high summer season (between June and September) as the weather is warmer and it is more enjoyable to spend long periods of time outside.  

It's generally cold in the Arctic but the summer season does see temperatures rise above freezing and most people find being outside tolerable and sometimes enjoyable.

Arctic tours tend to book out quickly and further in advance than trips to other destinations. Our advice is to book as soon as you've made the decision to travel – you can find the departure dates and availability underneath the itinerary on the page of your chosen trip.  Contact us to discuss your options.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of their physical or mental limitations.

Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair access on our polar vessels. Some ships have lifts, but these may not access all decks on the ship. There are often stairways, and passengers must be mobile enough to keep themselves steady and get around reasonably without assistance. We can help you to clarify further whether the trip you’re interested in is right for you. 

However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.