Polar regions travel advice
Packing advice
Cassia Jackson, from our holiday specialist Heritage Expeditions, offers her Antarctic and Arctic travel advice: “Your tour operator should provide you with a comprehensive packing list. Personally, I find a balaclava or neck gaiter (wrap around scarf) to be very useful at keeping the draughts out and keeping your neck and face warm. Sunscreen and sunglasses are also essential as there is potential to get quite sunburned. Remember that you will probably spent quite a bit of time outside taking photos, so a thin pair of gloves (merino is fantastic) to wear underneath a thicker pair of gloves is a good idea, so that your hands keep warm but you are still able to operate your camera. Make sure that you have spare batteries for your camera, and preferably a back up as well. Take a good backpack to wear on excursions so that you have your hands free for transferring in and out of zodiacs.”
Research the researcher
Andrew Appleyard, at our holiday specialist Exodus: “Do your research on the size of the vessels you’ll be on – and on who is actually on board it, what guest lecturers are there. That will make or break a trip for many people. If you’re bound on the trip for a long time, you want to have people like Chris Packham and Mark Carwardine and Jonathan and Angie Scott that can sit and inspire people. It’s just brilliant having someone like that checking what ISO you’re using, and what shutter speed, and giving you tips on how to take better photographs. I think that’s the best thing – the educational side. The vessels we use have four decks and they’re all brilliant for photography. I’d go and hide out at the back with my camera and I’d only see one or two other people down there, even when there’s 100 people on board. So I’d spend half a day photographing birds on the back of the ship, which is absolutely brilliant.”Activity tips
Charlotte Caffrey, from our holiday specialist Aqua-Firma, offers her Antarctic and Arctic travel advice: “There’s a lot of different voyages that offer different activities. We offer trips where you can do diving and kayaking and snowshoeing and mountaineering and camping, and really get the best of every aspect of the environment. They’re very active, but you can do as little or as much as you please. You don’t have to go out every day – you can enjoy amazing wildlife and scenery just out on deck, especially on the smaller ships. Sometimes they put the bow of the ship practically over the beach and you can watch foxes dancing on the beach. There’s no need to be in the zodiacs to see that. Things like that are very special.”
Cold weather tips
Sarah Wightman, from our holiday specialist Pura Aventura: “Antarctica is not as cold as people think. In the summer months it very rarely drops below freezing, and when the sun is out there were a couple of days when I was in a t-shirt. Everyone starts off wrapped up in layers and a big parka jacket – and then they have to take it off! It’s not what you see on TV with the wind and biting cold and people with frost on their beards, but if the wind is up, that’s what makes it feel much colder. I got absolutely drenched going in and out of the ice formations on a zodiac ride though. Don’t sit in front – that’s a good tip. I was freezing! But when you get back on the boat they greet you with soup – or brandy!”Health & safety in the polar regions
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our Polar regions Holidays
Classic Antarctica cruise & South Shetland Islands
Experience all that this remarkable area has to offer!
From
US $5730 to US $7990
12 days
ex flights
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica cruise
The Ultimate Antarctica Experience!
From
€11150
21 days
ex flights
Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Wildlife-focused, expert-led small ship Arctic cruises
From
£2480 to £8795
8 days
ex flights
Antarctic Peninsula Cruises
An inspiring wilderness & wildlife journey of a lifetime
From
£4050 to £12360
11 days
ex flights
Falkland Islands wildlife tour
10 day Falklands birds and wildlife adventure
From
£2894
10 days
ex flights
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Polar regions or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700
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Polar advice from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Antarctica & Arctic travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Antarctica & Arctic travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.

Put handwarmers in your boots for the zodiac tour - cold temperature of the water transfers through the aluminium bottom of the zodiac.![]()

– Louise Yerbury
“If possible, take your laptop. Not only can you view and back up your own images, but many an hour was spent on our voyage sharing images with others on board.” - Judith Bewell
“Read all the literature carefully – it was comprehensive and covered practically everything one would wish to know. Do some long walks beforehand, especially uphill, if possible.” - Jane Mackay
“Be flexible and do not expect much of what written in the 'final itinerary' to happen. Decisions are made everyday depending on the weather.” - Annamaria Cozza
“Read all the literature carefully – it was comprehensive and covered practically everything one would wish to know. Do some long walks beforehand, especially uphill, if possible.” - Jane Mackay
“Be flexible and do not expect much of what written in the 'final itinerary' to happen. Decisions are made everyday depending on the weather.” - Annamaria Cozza

Learning about the cultures in these places was something life changing and the welcome we received everywhere was the best I have ever known.![]()

– Di Lammas
“Be prepared for long, action-packed days. Ensure your wellies are comfortable or bring walking boots to change into once you have left the Zodiac. Listen to your guide - he knows what he is talking about and is responsible for the safety of you and the rest of the group - don't wander off.” - Julie Davis
“Be sure to bring the right clothing. Being out on the water or a hill is COLD with the wrong clothes. Spend as much time on the bridge of the ship as possible. Go to all of the lectures. Meet new people.” - Stephen Kohn
“Don't hold back from going on some of the hikes and zodiac trips - these things are too good to miss. Our guides catered for everyone's abilities and the more able travellers seemed very happy to help those who needed a bit of support.” - Christine Symes
“Be sure to bring the right clothing. Being out on the water or a hill is COLD with the wrong clothes. Spend as much time on the bridge of the ship as possible. Go to all of the lectures. Meet new people.” - Stephen Kohn
“Don't hold back from going on some of the hikes and zodiac trips - these things are too good to miss. Our guides catered for everyone's abilities and the more able travellers seemed very happy to help those who needed a bit of support.” - Christine Symes