When you hear the word expedition, you might imagine frostbitten explorers chewing on seal blubber and writing emotional letters to loved ones by candlelight. But let me stop you right there. Antarctica in 2025? It’s less “survival story” and more “fine dining with penguins.”

Welcome to the new era of expedition travel, where you can kayak alongside icebergs by day and soak in a hot tub under the midnight sun by night. Whether you’re flying in on a private jet or gliding through the Southern Ocean aboard a six-star stunner, there are more ways than ever to reach the ends of the Earth without sacrificing one ounce of style.

This is your definitive guide to getting to Antarctica the luxury way, by land, sea, and sky.

Wait, Where Is Antarctica and How Do We Get There?

Let’s get logistical for a second. As in, where IS Antarctica? We know. Seems like a rudementary question, but there are plenty of people who have it. Antarctica is South. The Arctic is North. Antarctica = penguins. The Arctic = polar bears. Antarctica has no permanent residents, no public airports, and not a single Starbucks. You don’t just go to Antarctica,you're on an expedition.

There are three luxe launch points:

By sea – From Ushuaia, Argentina (the southernmost city in the world)
By air – Fly over the roughest waters on Earth and land on King George Island.
By private jet – Yes, you can bypass the Drake entirely in style. More on that below.

All of these paths come with varying degrees of penguin proximity, Champagne-to-glacier ratios, and bragging rights.

Option 1: Sail There on a Luxury Expedition Ship

This is the OG way to get to Antarctica—and it’s come a long way since rickety icebreakers and buffet-style dining. Today’s expedition ships are like floating boutique hotels with helicopters, saunas, and sommeliers who know the difference between oaky and buttery.

Departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, these ships take you across the Drake Passage (a.k.a. the emotional rollercoaster of seasickness and sea birds) and into the shimmering, icy dreamscape that is the Antarctic Peninsula.

Here’s who’s doing it best:

HX Expeditions

Ships: MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen, MS Fram
Style: Stylish Scandinavian minimalism with an eco-conscious heart
Highlights: Science Center, Citizen Science Projects, large outdoor hot tubs, optional flight add-ons

HX walks the perfect line between cool Nordic design and serious expedition cred. You’ll find fewer tuxedos and more Gore-Tex, but don’t be fooled, this is luxury for people who actually want to learn something while sipping their biodynamic Chardonnay.

Their hybrid ships are among the greenest in the world, and their onboard Science Center makes you feel like you’re part of the crew. Think less "Love Boat," more "Attenborough-core with better lighting."

Swan Hellenic

Ships: SH Diana, SH Vega, SH Minerva
Style: Chic, modern, and unapologetically nerdy in the best way
Highlights: Staterooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, high-level onboard experts, fewer than 200 guests

Swan Hellenic is for the traveler who still remembers their Classics degree fondly and likes their ice with a side of Socratic dialogue. Their ships are museum-quality, sleek, with contemporary interiors and spacious observation decks designed for contemplative moments (or influencer-level selfies, as you prefer).

With a strong focus on cultural enrichment, scientific lectures, and proper afternoon tea, this is the cerebral traveler’s cruise, with a killer wine list and spa to match.

Premium Veranda Suite on the Silver Endeavour

Silversea Expeditions

Ships: Silver Endeavour, Silver Wind
Style: All-suite opulence with private butlers and crystal chandeliers
Highlights: Zodiac landings, sea kayaking, epic gastronomy, nearly 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio

Silversea basically said, “What if a Ritz-Carlton had babies with a polar research station?” and then built Silver Endeavour. This ship is stacked: firepit lounges, wraparound balconies, indulgent spa treatments, and even afternoon tea with scones that defy physics in polar air.

For those who want to step off the ship in a waterproof parka and step back on to foie gras and a foot rub, this is your vibe.

Ponant – Le Commandant Charcot

Style: The world’s first hybrid electric luxury icebreaker.
Highlights: French design meets polar exploration; go where no other ship can.

If Antarctica had a VIP section, Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot would be hosting bottle service. It can venture deeper into the ice than any other luxury ship on Earth, meaning access to rarefied routes like the Weddell Sea and the Ross Sea.

Oh, and did I mention the Alain Ducasse menu? Oui, monsieur.

Option 2: Skip the Drake—Fly-Cruise Expeditions

Let’s be real. Not everyone wants to spend two days crossing the Drake Passage, no matter how many spa appointments or Dramamine cocktails are involved. If your idea of roughing it is limited to a weak WiFi signal, you’ll love the fly-cruise model.

Here’s how it works: You fly from Punta Arenas, Chile, directly to King George Island, smack dab on the edge of Antarctica. No swells. No seasickness. Just a quick hop over the rough stuff, and you’re Zodiac-bound with your dignity intact.

Aurora Expeditions

Style: Adventurous spirit with polished comfort
Highlights: Fly-sail and sail-fly options, expert guides, immersive excursions

Aurora offers flexible fly-cruise itineraries with a strong focus on exploration. Their small ships (like the purpose-built Greg Mortimer) feature hydraulic viewing platforms and expert-led Zodiac landings. It’s expedition-forward, but with lovely creature comforts and one of the most experienced teams in the polar world.

Silversea Antarctica Bridge Program

Silversea took the luxury cruise model and asked, “But what if you didn’t have to sail the whole time?”

On this itinerary, you fly business class to King George Island and step directly onto the Silver Endeavour. You’ll still get your full Zodiac experience and wildlife encounters, just without the, uh, “character-building” two-day boat ride.

Option 3: Private Jet Journeys and Fly-In Land Expeditions

If ships aren’t your thing, or if you just want to touch down, get your boots dirty, and get out, there are fly-in options that trade sea legs for sky miles. This isn’t just travel. It’s an entrance.

White Desert

Style: Jet-set glamping for explorers with taste
Highlights: Gulfstream jet from Cape Town, designer eco-domes, ice climbing, South Pole visits

White Desert is the Beyoncé of Antarctic experiences. Their space-age dome camps are somehow luxurious and eco-conscious at once, with plush bedding, en-suite bathrooms, and staff who remember your wine preference from night one.

Want to walk in the footsteps of Shackleton, but without eating pemmican? Book their South Pole & Emperors itinerary. You’ll toast at the bottom of the Earth with actual Champagne, not a freeze-dried protein shake.

TCS World Travel: Around-the-World by Private Jet

Yes, you can visit Antarctica as one stop on a round-the-world itinerary. TCS offers globe-circling trips on a customized Boeing 757 with lie-flat leather seats, an onboard chef, and a dedicated luggage concierge (because lifting your own Rimowa is simply not the vibe).

Most itineraries offer a stop in Chile and a fly-in experience to King George Island or beyond, allowing you to tick Antarctica off your Seven Continent list—without ever stepping foot on a cruise ship. This is peak bucket list energy.

When Should You Go?

Antarctic travel season runs from late October to early March, but each month has its own perks:

November: Pristine ice landscapes, fewer travelers, dramatic lighting for photography.
December–January: Peak wildlife season. Expect penguin chicks, warmer weather, and 20+ hours of daylight.
February–March: Whale watching heaven and fewer crowds.

If you’re a photographer, go early. If you’re a birder or whale fanatic, go late. If you’re Beyoncé, you go whenever you damn well please.

Final Thoughts: Why Antarctica Is Worth It

There’s no place like it. Antarctica rewires your sense of scale and silence. It’s not about Instagram (though, yes, the content is chef’s kiss). It’s about connection to the planet, to your inner explorer, and to something much bigger than yourself. And thanks to this glorious new age of expedition travel, you don’t have to suffer to experience it. You can go farther, see more, and indulge the entire way.

So go ahead. Get the parka. Charge the camera. And get ready to whisper “Are you kidding me?” every five minutes. This is adventure, unfiltered, and with turn-down service.

I’ll be putting all of this luxury expedition theory to the test next week as I head to Alaska with HX Expeditions, because what better way to prep for Antarctica than by starting with glaciers, fjords, and grizzly-level wilderness a little closer to home? I’ll be sharing the real deal: what life on an expedition ship actually looks like, how luxe it really feels, and yes, all the dramatic scenery and sea otter cameos. Follow along on our socials for an inside look at expedition cruising in Alaska, before we go all in on the White Continent.

Ready to talk Antarctica? Shoot us an email at info@bestetravel.com

Ice, Ice, Bougie: The Luxe Guide to Taking an Expedition to Antarctica

Four Days in Big Sky, Montana: Wide Open Luxury