The Antarctic is a place of climatic extremes. Each year the area of Antarctica doubles as the pack ice in the seas surrounding the continent freezes solid in winter. The Antarctic summer (November to March) is the best time to visit. The sea ice has retreated, so it is possible to get to the continent itself and the wildlife is plentiful and active. During summer on the Antarctic coast, the daily temperature is usually about 0oC to 5oC.

Any time in summer is a good time to go and there is always something to see. In December you are more likely to see massive icebergs in the water and for the ship to have to crash through plates of ice on the water’s surface – if you want spectacular ice, this is the time to go. Penguins abound and are nesting their eggs. In January the penguins are hatching and there will be plenty of action around the colonies with penguin chicks galore and skus circling overhead waiting for the chance to swoop. In February the mammals will be out in force – seals, orcas, humpback whales and minke whales abound.