Can you travel responsibly to Antarctica?

14th November 2025

At Travel Differently, we believe when done right and when partners are chosen carefully, the White Continent can be visited sustainably and responsibly. But there are things to carefully consider and a responsibility to take on, for all of us.

Protecting fragile eco-systems

Promoting travel to one of the last pristine wilderness places on Earth is a conflicting feeling. Home to sculpted glaciers, ice-blue seas, curious wildlife, and raw, untamed beauty, Antar ctica is truly the last frontier.

On one hand, increasing popularity brings real concerns: fragile ecosystems under pressure, wildlife habitats disrupted, challenges in waste management, and the unavoidable contribution to greenhouse emissions, the list goes on. But on the other hand, if managed responsibly and with intention, tourism in Antarctica can be one of the most powerful ways to preserve and protect this White Continent.

Travelling better, travelling differently

In the end, it’s not about avoiding Antarctica, it’s about travelling there differently. Over the last decade, the quality and sustainability of Antarctic cruises have increased dramatically. Today’s pioneering hybrid ships have made environmental responsibility a fundamental part of every voyage.

Governed by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) travelling to Antarctica has strict safeguards to ensure the destination remains wild. This includes limiting the number of people permitted to shore at any one time, bio security checks, ensuring nothing is left behind when it comes to waste and materials, and making sure wildlife is observed from a safe distance.

Choosing partners carefully

All the expedition partners we work with host onboard experts on every voyage, including marine biologists, geologists, climatologists, and wildlife experts. Not only does this enrich the guest experience but directly supports scientific research.

Through collaborative programs, ships help collect data on: microplastic and ocean health, glacial retreat, penguin colonies and nest patterns, and whale sightings and migration. This information helps scientists understand how Antarctica is changing and what can be done to protect it.

A truly privileged experience

Steeping foot on the Antarctic peninsula for the first time is surreal. Feeling the ice crunch beneath your boots, seeing the expanse of white snow stretch endlessly before you and watching penguins waddle by completely unphased by your presence, is a life-changing experience and one you will take home with you.

Our Recommended Antarctica Cruises

We genuinely believe that travelling to Antarctica can be done respon sibly if choosing the right expedition cruise and with the right tour operator. Some of our favourite and most recommend cruises are as follows:

Greg Mortimor

A leading sustainable small-ship expedition with a maximum of 130 passengers on every voyage. The Greg Mortimer was purpose built for Antarctica with low energy consumption, high fuel efficiency, and a streamlined design to reduce emissions. It also uses virtual anchoring, combining GPS, steering, propellers, and thrusters to protect the seafloor and minimise damage from conventional anchors. We particularly love its offering of low-impact activities on offer for guests to explore the peninsula such as hiking, climbing, kayaking, and snowshoeing. Aswell as its close collaboration with Polar Citizen Science Collection, where guests can actively participate in data collection to aid research. See more on out Antar ctic And Patagonia Wilderness Holiday

Seaventure

We’ve chosen this ship as its purpose-built for the polar region, offers a more personalised small‑ship footprint and its operators are the pioneers of Citizen science in the region, working with research facilities such as NASA and the Scripps institute. Whilst on board, you can get involved in collecting data such as tracking whales or collecting seawater samples and get a real insight to what is happening in Antarctica.

Ultramarine

This is a larger ship with a capacity of 199 passengers, but its modern design has sustainability at the forefront with advanced hybrid systems and waste management, heat recovery systems, and low emissions. Like the Greg Mortimer and Seaventure, it also runs programs supporting research but with additional tech-enable activities to make research go that one step further. Talk more about this ship with our experts, as part of our Classic Anta rctica Highlights Holiday.

Summary

So, what are you waiting for? Give our experts a call, find the right expedition ship for you and help us lead the way in protecting Antarctica through responsible tourism.

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