When is the Best Time to Visit Antarctica?

Antarctica’s Seasonal Highlights 

• November–December: The season begins with penguins 

• January–February: Wildlife at their busiest 

• Late February–early March: A season for whales and young wildlife 

November–December: The season begins with penguins

During the early Spring in Antarctica, conditions herald an abundance of fresh snow and floating sea ice melted from the season’s warmer climate. It is a particularly rewarding time for guests hoping to encounter Emperor penguins at Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea. Thousands of breeding pairs call this rarely visited location home, creating one of Antarctica’s most memorable wildlife spectacles. 

A helicopter flight and landing at Snow Hill Island may offer the opportunity to view Emperor penguins in their breeding grounds, where fluffy chicks remain close to their parents. The Discovery Team and on-board ornithologist will share deep insights to bring these encounters into focus, with their knowledge of these birds and the wider Antarctic environment. 

Elsewhere in the region lies South Georgia which is also alive with wildlife activity for the season. King penguins begin courtship, build nests and incubate their eggs, while elephant seals can be seen among the region’s dramatic landscapes. November is also the time to extend an Antarctic voyage into the Chilean Fjords, where temperate rainforests, cascading glaciers and the cultures in remote villages create a striking contrast to the polar scenery. 

January–February: Wildlife at their busiest 

As the season reaches its height, penguin rookeries become especially animated. Gentoo penguin chicks and their parents create busy scenes around the colonies, while skuas circle overhead and leopard seals patrol nearby waters. These months offer a vivid view of Antarctica’s wildlife cycle, with young birds, feeding activity and constant movement along the coast. 

In South Georgia, juvenile seals and penguin chicks are among the seasonal highlights. Magellanic penguin chicks emerge from burrows in the Falkland Islands, while King penguin chicks can be seen in large crèches. The landscape teems with life, from the shoreline to the slopes behind the colonies. 

This period can also offer the rare opportunity to explore East Antarctica and the Ross Sea, where the vast McMurdo Dry Valleys present another perspective on the continent’s extraordinary natural world. 

Late February–early March: A season for whales and young wildlife 

By late February and early March, the Antarctic season takes on a different rhythm. The weather can remain relatively mild in comparison with the colder months ahead, while the sea begins to refreeze. For many travellers, this is an exceptional time for whale watching. 

Humpback whales can be seen feeding in Antarctic waters, including around the Antarctic Peninsula, while other whale species may also be encountered. These sightings add a powerful dimension to days spent exploring by Zodiac, cruising among icebergs or watching the water from the comfort of the yacht. 

On shore, fur seal pups become more independent and increasingly explore the shoreline, and King penguin chicks are preparing to migrate North. Closer to the Antarctic Peninsula, penguin fledglings are learning to swim in sheltered areas as leopard seals remain close by. 

This is also an ideal time to consider combining an Antarctic expedition with a voyage into the Chilean Fjords. The journey allows you to experience the changing landscapes of the Southern Ocean, moving from Antarctica’s ice-bound wilderness towards the dramatic coastlines, glaciers and waterways of Chile.