Carli
Carli
Going on a trip to Antarctica may seem daunting, but your packing doesn’t have to be. I’ll break down what are essentials on your packing list for Antarctica, which are nice to have, and what to leave at home.
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The notes below are all based on taking expedition ships though Antarctica. I went on a 9 day expedition with Albatros Expeditions, however most expedition tours will function similarly.
If you are interested in taking an Antarctica cruise but don’t know where to start. I am also a travel advisor and can help you plan your trip. You can fill out my intake form or contact me directly.
Be sure to read What to Wear on Long Haul Flights: How to Plan for Maximum Comfort
Packing list for Antarctica: Table of Contents
What not to bring to Antarctica
Before we get into what to pack for an Antarctica cruise, there is some Antarctica gear you do not need to pack. This will save you a lot of space in your suitcase.
First off, do not bring snow or hiking boots for the excursions as the ship will provide rubber boots to use off the ship.
Next, you do not pack your bulky winter coats for Antarctica, as the ship will provide you a large coat as part of the cost of the trip.
Unless you’re very particular about your own walking sticks, you can leave these at home. The ship has hiking poles available at the landing sites should you need them, especially helpful for areas with hills or inclines.
Last, you can leave the heavy layers at home. The cruises to Antarctica run from Spring (in the Southern Hemisphere) to late Winter and weather will typically stay in the 28-32 degree F range. Once you are off the boats on land and walking around you can get pretty warm.
Must have clothing items on your packing list for Antarctica
There are a few things you need to consider before working on your Antarctica cruise packing list. You will need cold weather clothing to wear for the off boat excursions, and clothes to wear around the ship.
Check with your cruise company to see if there are any special theme nights for parties on the boat.
How to dress for Antarctica off the boat
What to wear in Antarctica: Outer Layers
As mentioned above, a warm waterproof jacket will be provided with your tour, but you will still need the rest of your warm weather gear for exploring the Antarctic peninsula.
Waterproof pants
You must have waterproof pants to go off the boat and onto land. These can be ski or snowboard pants. If you do not have pants, and do not want to purchase pants, check with your cruise company as they will likely have rentals on board. If you are purchasing new, make sure they are thick, like ski pants, to keep out the wind and keep you warm on land and on the zodiac boats.
The excursion crew will review all the gear you plan to wear or bring to Antarctica and approve it prior to the first expedition off the boat. This includes all clothing, dry bags, tripods etc. If it is leaving the boat and has the potential to leave a trace with fibers or touch the ground (even accidentally) they will have to review. New, unworn, outdoor clothing does not have to be reviewed by the team, only previously worn items.
Hats & Gloves
For the rest of your outer layers you will need a warm hat or beanie. Waterproof gloves are recommended but not entirely necessary. Ski and snowboard gloves will be entirely too bulky for excursions if you plan to take a lot of photos. Lighter weight gloves will be sufficient for most of your outdoor activities.
Neck gaiters or buffs
Neck gaiters or buffs are strongly encouraged to help block out the wind while cruising through the bays on the zodiacs.
Sunglasses or goggles
You will definitely need either polarized sunglasses or some sort of ski goggle. On sunny days, the light can be blinding off the snow, which is why you will need some sort of polarized eye protection. Also, you will be spending a lot of time on the zodiac boats to get from the ship to your excursion landing site. Some of the excursions will also include 30-40 minutes of just boating time. It can get very windy while out on the open water, so this is where goggles or wrap-around glasses can be more useful to block out wind.
Antarctica clothing guide: Base layers
You’ll be surprised by how few layers you’ll need under your jacket and snowpants. The best way to think about it is to pack like you’re going skiing or sledding. You need something that will keep you warm, but you can also easily move in. You don’t want to wear anything that’s so bulky you have a hard time getting your jacket and pants on over them, or that you’ll get too hot.
What you should do is dress in your warmest clothes on your first excursion to gauge how you’re feeling. If you are too warm, then you can adjust and put on lighter layers. If you are just right, there is no need to change. But you were too cold, then see where you can add an additional layer for warmth.
Workout gear
My daily uniform consisted of a sports bra, workout shirt/tank, leggings, lightweight but warm long sleeve and wool socks. Basically, plan to dress like you’re going to the gym, then add an extra layer on top for warmth.
Warm long sleeve shirts
One of the most important parts of your packing list for Antarctica are your warm base layers. This is the long sleeve layer that you will wear directly under your expedition jacket. I suggest packing layers of varying thicknesses, this way if you are too hot, or too cold during an excursion off the boat, you can quickly change and correct that for the next outing. Lightweight, but warm, breathable layers will be your friend. Consider merino wool or lightweight fleece sweaters and jackets.
Socks
You no longer need to wear the super bulky socks like you did back in the day for skiing. Now you can wear lightweight merino wool socks and stay warm and make sure your feet don’t get super sweaty.
Antarctica cruise packing list: What to wear on the boat
It is unlikely that your boat has a dress code. Our boat was casual, including while dining. There are two modes while traveling to Antarctica. Days at sea, and excursion days.
For excursion days, you’ll dress to be outside about half the day, with a long lunch break mid day. The evenings will have a group recap, dinner and possibly a special event. Otherwise, it is your own time to enjoy as you please.
Comfy clothes
The days at sea will be pretty quiet. There will be optional lectures during the day, and some mandatory meetings the first couple of days but otherwise there is a lot of free time. You may also feel ill due to motion sickness, so comfort is key for days at sea. I recommend living in loungewear. Make sure it is warm enough as some areas of the boat can be cooler than others.
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Slippers
While on the boat, hard soled slippers are very popular. These are lightweight, comfortable and easy to slip on and off, especially for excursion days when you just need to get to and from the mud room.
Shoes
On deck, you should be wearing close toed shoes with hard soles. The decks can be slippery from weather, or even people leaving the pool and hot tubs. I mainly wore my Vessi Weekend sneakers. Like the quilted slippers, they’re very lightweight and comfortable but with the benefit of being waterproof as well.
Swimsuits
Your Antarctica cruise clothing list should include a swimsuit. The boat includes a heated pool and hot tubs on the aft deck, where you can enjoy some of the best views from the boat. And of course, you can’t miss the opportunity to polar plunge in Antarctica.
If you don’t get affected by motion sickness, you may want to bring some additional workout gear for the days at sea to stay active and pass the time.
How to dress for Antarctica while Kayaking
Many boats offer kayaking as a bonus excursion (with an additional fee) . However, planning what to wear to kayak is different than the daily excursions.
For kayaking, you are given a lightweight drysuit to wear over your clothes. This means no snow pants or jacket so you will need to layer up much more than a regular outing.
I suggest (2) layers for pants and socks and 3 layers on top (unless you have something really heavy to wear on top. For the bottom layers, I wore workout leggings with sweatpants on top. The sweatpants were crucial because you are sitting in a plastic kayak in water that’s around 28F. You’ll need the extra insulation for the 2 hour experiences.
For socks, I would stick to two layers of lightweight wool socks over heavy thick socks. The reason for this is your drysuit will have attached feet, and you have to put your rubber boots on over the drysuit. If the layers on your feet are too thick, you might have difficulty getting your boots on properly.
On top, I recommend using 1-2 underlayers, with a thicker top layer or sweatshirt. I wore a workout tank top, a warm (but still lightweight) sweater and an oversized long sleeve shirt on top. Do not wear a turtleneck or anything with a tall collar. The dry suits have a tight, thick rubber neck to seal water from getting in the suit. This neck can be very uncomfortable on its own, but worse if you have fabric underneath. Crewnecks are the best option for kayaking attire.
Be sure to bring a warm hat, sunglasses and gloves or mittens. Waterproof mittens would work well in this situation to keep your fingers warm while gripping the paddles.
Packing list for Antarctica: Additional things to take to Antarctica
Beyond clothes for Antarctica, there are other crucial items you should have with you for on and off the boat.
What to bring to Antarctica: Medication
No packing list for Antarctica should be without seasickness medication. Even if you are not someone that is prone to seasickness, you should bring some with you. The Drake Passage is no joke even on its good days. If you are generally not affected, these over the counter patches are a good back up. However I strongly recommend getting a prescription for either the scopolamine patch (motion sickness) or Zofran (anti-nausea). Our doctor on our boat ran out of prescription meds because enough people did come prepared.
Unfortunately between the close proximity and cold weather, these cruise ships can also be a breeding zone for germs. The boats to Antarctica are usually 200 people or less, so you tend to interact with a majority of the people on the ship. This however means that once someone is sick, it moves quickly throughout the boat. You should also bring some over the counter cold meds with you just in case you start to feel sick. You may also consider bringing an extra Covid test as just in case.
It also doesn’t hurt to take some Airbourne or Emergen-C at the start of the trip to help boost your immunity.
Do not forget to bring sunscreen! This is another must have on our packing list for Antarctica. Even though it will feel cold outside, the sun will be extra intense bouncing off the snow and water. When you’re outside for 4-5 hours a day without any SPF, it is easy to quickly get sunburnt. For US residents, as a reminder, you can also buy sunscreen with your FSA or HSA money.
What to pack for Antarctica: Camera gear and phone accessories
Antarctica is truly one of the most amazing places you will visit on this planet. The terrain is far more diverse than I had expected. You’ll want to remember this visit forever.
You do not need to have fancy camera equipment to enjoy this trip or take great photos. Unless you are planning to sell your photos or publish them, a phone camera is fine. If you happen to have a nicer DSLR camera that you already know how to work with then yes, I strongly recommend packing that along with a larger lens.
Camera Lenses
I have a pretty entry level Canon Rebel DSLR that came equipped with a 35-55mm and 75-300mm lens. These lenses worked well for my skill level. I considered renting a more powerful lens however, with the length of the cruise and my stays in Buenos Aires on either end of the trip, I would have needed a rental for just over 2 weeks. For that amount of time a rental from a local camera shop would have been over $400. At that rate I should have tried to buy a used lens. However, keep in mind: every piece of equipment you bring is more weight to pack and carry. My pictures came out just fine with the lenses I already own.
Additional camera gear
If you’re bringing a larger camera with you each day, you’ll want to bring either a dry bag, or a backpack with you. I brought my existing travel backpack that is made to house cameras and equipment while also being waterproof.
Keep in mind, you are not supposed to have anything touching land in Antarctica with the exception of your boots, hiking poles and possibly a tripod, if you’ve gotten it approved and sanitized for use on land.
For tripods, I use this tripod, because it is lightweight and easy to travel with. It also has an adapter to use your phone or with the threading at the top you can attach a DSLR camera, DJI Osmo Pocket 3 or an Insta 360.
Phone Accessories
There are a few phone accessories that are helpful to have while out on the zodiac boats. The first is a phone lanyard. This will go around your neck and make sure you do not drop your phone while peering over the side of the boat to get a photo of a whale or penguin zipping by.
It’s very likely that you wouldn’t need a waterproof phone case, but in the event of snow (or worse, rain) this can function like a lanyard while also keeping your phone dry from the elements.
Additional electronics
On the boat, there should be universal electrical outlets, meaning they can adapt to your normal power plug-ins, however your hotels in Argentina will not. The standard for new outlets in Argentina is the type I, which is the same type of plug used in Australia and New Zealand. This is what you’re most likely to find in your hotels. Make sure to have an adaptor in order to charge your electronics.
I also always travel with this multi-plug outlet. This is cruise ship approved, and allows you to charge multiple devices at once.
To keep warm on and off the ship, consider bringing rechargeable hand warmers. These were super popular on my ship and a much more sustainable alternative to the single use ones.
There is a good amount of downtime on the ship. You have two days each way crossing the Drake Passage. While the expedition leaders have educational lectures, sometimes it’s nice to just be in the lounge and read a book while enjoying the views. Pack your Kindle and pre-load it with books as there is no WiFi available for free. Same goes with your tablet. Load it up with as much video content as you can for your flights and the cruise.
What to pack for Ushuaia
When gathering your packing list for Antarctica, you should also be thinking about packing for Ushuaia. This is the small port city where the boat is docked, and where you will sail in and out of to get to t
I strongly encourage arriving in Ushuaia at least one day before the boat is set to leave port. Airlines in Argentina have a history of being a little flaky, and flights are often cancelled or late. Also, if you are planning to travel from the US (or elsewhere) straight through to Ushuaia without a stayover in Buenos Aires, then you run additional risk of missing connections due to delays. If you miss the boat there is no other port option to meet them later, you’ve just wasted $10,000 on a trip you won’t experience.
The “summer” weather in Ushuaia is very similar to that of the Pacific Northwest or the UK in winter. It is cold, often in the 40s, with a lot of rain. While I was there, the mornings were usually beautiful and sunny, but then the rain would roll in by mid-day, often downpouring.
I highly recommend bringing a mid-weight rain jacket to keep you warm and dry while exploring the city or the nearby national park. Even though you will get a jacket on the boat for excursions, having a second jacket is nice to have when you want to take in the views from the decks. This way you can leave your other jacket in the mudroom during the day.
You should also make sure you have some sort of rain appropriate footwear. Whether that is a waterproof sneaker, or rain boot is your choice. But you’ll be much happier with dry shoes than without.
Packing for Buenos Aires
If you are planning to visit Buenos Aires either before or after (or both) your Antarctica cruise then you’re going to have to bring a large suitcase, or be extremely strategic in what you pack. Your Antarctica packing list and Buenos Aires packing list are on two completely opposite ends of the spectrum.
The Antarctica cruise season runs from November through mid March, because this is summer in South America. While summer in Antarctica will feel like a brisk 30 degrees, Buenos Aires might be a muggy 92 degrees. Your packing list for Antarctica won’t be very useful with the exception of the sunglasses, sunscreen and a swimsuit if your hotel has a pool.
Aside from those items I recommend comfortable walking shoes to explore the city, lightweight shorts and dresses and breathable shirts. Basically, wear something you’ll be comfortable moving and sweating in, because it will likely be hot and humid.
Be sure to read Long Haul Flights Tips: How to Survive the Long Distance Journey
Packing list for Antarctica FAQs
What equipment do you need to go to Antarctica?
You don’t need any equipment, except for a camera or your phone to capture the memories. Cruises to Antarctica will include a heavy duty jacket to keep, muck boots to use through the entirety of the cruise and hiking poles if needed. Packing for Antarctica is similar to packing as if you are going skiing or snowboarding, which includes waterproof trousers (ideally snow pants).
What to pack for an Antarctic expedition?
When planning your Antarctic expedition clothing, you should pack warm (but not overly heavy) layers, snow pants, hats, gloves, and polarized sunglasses (or ski goggles). Make sure to pack a swimsuit for the hot tub and polar plunge. Plan to dress for comfort, over style, on the boat.
How to plan a trip to Antarctica?
A trip to Antarctica should be planned through a travel advisor, ideally one that has experience traveling to Antarctica. These trips will be set up with an expedition cruise line. There are options to visit the South Georgia Islands and Antarctica, or just Antarctica. If you are interested in traveling to Antarctica, I can help plan your trip.
Additional travel tips and resources
- What to Wear on Long Haul Flights: How to Plan for Maximum Comfort
- Long Haul Flights Tips: How to Survive the Long Distance Journey
- 10 Practical Gifts for Travelers That They Will Actually Use
- How to Use Your Phone while Traveling Internationally
- Where to book your travel
- The Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners
