Are there flights to antarctica

Instead of crossing the Drake Passage from South America to Antarctica by ship —a journey of approximately 50 hours—you can opt for a direct flight to Antarctica.

These regional jets are designed for short landings and takeoffs on unprepared surfaces. The engines are unusually quiet. The BAe regional jet has a maximum capacity of 72 passengers, with a wingspan of Maximum cargo capacity onboard the BAe is kilograms. Luggage weight limits are usually set at 20 kilograms 44 pounds per passenger this limit is strictly controlled.

On board meal service is provided. Premium seats—window seats coveted by photographers—can be booked at request. The Beechcraft King Air is a twin-engine, turbo-prop aircraft, with a These regional aircraft are suitable for short landings and takeoffs on unprepared surfaces. The King Air has a maximum capacity of six passengers, in addition to its two pilots.

The cabin is pressurized. Premium seats—window seats coveted by photographers— can also be booked. These Antarctica flights take approximately two hours.

Once in the Antarctic, board a cruise ship for sailing in the calmer, protected waters between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Two companies now offer Antarctic flight plus cruise options, allowing travelers to fly over the Drake Passage, substituting a 2-hour flight to Antarctica for the approximately hour journey by ship. Other itineraries comprise a flight to Antarctica one direction and a ship crossing of the Drake Passage in the opposite direction—usually on the return.

Its remote wilderness featured on nature documentaries and in our science and history books. And for those reasons, it might seem somewhat abstract and hard to reach.

Perhaps even impossible. And so can you! Passengers on a hike, during a landing on the Antarctic Peninsula. Photo: David Merron. Despite its seemingly impossible remoteness, Antarctica has never been so accessible to adventurous travelers.

In fact, more than 45, people traveled to Antarctica in the season from all over the world, including the United States, China, Australia, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, India, and many, many more.

As the timeless idiom indicates: knowing is half the battle. Throughout this piece, I hope to convey the knowledge that not only can you visit Antarctica from almost anywhere in the world, but just as importantly, how you can do it.

Maybe some of us have heard of researchers flying on military aircraft from New Zealand, or month long sailing adventures from South Africa or Australia. But the easiest way to get to Antarctica is simple. Both are cosmopolitan cities with international airports and regular service to the rest of the world. The majority of Antarctic voyages depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, a three-and-a-half-hour direct flight from Buenos Aires.

Throughout the summer, the Port of Ushuaia embarks and disembarks expedition vessels bound for the southern wilderness as seamlessly as any harbor in the Virgin Islands, the Mediterranean, or Alaska. Voyages departing from Ushuaia, Argentina access Antarctica by sea. They traverse the infamous Drake Passage, a mile 1, kilometer body of water that separates South America from the Antarctic Peninsula. Depending upon conditions, this crossing often takes a day and a half at sea and is a prime opportunity to view iconic wildlife such as the great wandering albatross.

Alternatively, travelers preferring to skip the Drake Passage can fly out of Punta Arenas, Chile directly to an airstrip on an island adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula. Passengers stand at the hull of the ship as they cruise through sea ice. Photo: Sam Crimmin. The best time to visit Antarctica is from late spring to early fall, which in the southern hemisphere is from October to March.

The first voyages of the season reach Antarctica in late spring end of October or early November when the sea ice opens up just enough to allow ships into the pristine glacial landscapes. Voyages operate continually from late October, until the summer comes to an end, and the wonderfully powerful Antarctic autumn begins to arrive by the middle of March.

Learn more about the unique highlights of visiting Antarctica during its different seasons here. Among these, you will find expeditions that travel directly to Antarctica, and others that include the spectacular sub-Antarctic regions of the Falkland Islands Islas Malvinas and South Georgia. The most common expeditions last approximately nine to ten days, including five full days of exploration in Antarctica. Rather than fly from South America, these voyages embrace the power and the beauty of the Drake Passage and its rich and abundant bird life , sailing from Ushuaia.

Time spent at sea varies depending on sea conditions and wind, but often take from one and a half to two days at sea, each way. The rest of the voyage is spent in the seemingly endless coastal environment of the Antarctic Peninsula.

For those with extended holidays and a thirst for a deeper exploration of this remote wilderness, there are expeditions that spend twenty or more days exploring in the Southern Ocean and its unique islands. These extended voyages include visits to the wildlife-rich Falkland Islands and the otherworldly wilderness of South Georgia, in addition to the days spent in the Antarctic Peninsula, making these expeditions the most thorough exploration of the wild environments at the bottom of the globe.

The best way to immerse yourself in the Antarctic experience is aboard an authentic expedition ship. Different from traditional cruise ships, expedition vessels are much smaller and allow travelers to not just get closer to the continent, but to actually travel into and set foot on the glacial landscapes that make it so famous.

Alternatively, expedition ships typically carry between just 70 and passengers, but never more than Smaller group sizes comply with tourism regulations on the 7 th Continent, and allow for a substantially wider array of activities, including daily landings on islands and the physical continent itself, and intimate, Zodiac cruises amongst icebergs and wildlife.

This type of exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula is not possible on larger cruise ships. The flights cover around square kilometers square miles of coastlines, glaciers, mountain ranges and several research stations, he said. Former passengers Galaxidis and Shen felt the flight was worth the ticket price, though both expressed wanting to take a cruise to Antarctica in the future.

Skip Navigation. Ever thought about going to Antarctica for the day? Plus, the mood on the flight is more convivial than most. Explorers and researchers, many with experience living on Antarctica, are aboard every flight to speak with passengers. Iceland takes a swipe at Zuckerberg's 'Meta' announcement in new viral tourism video. Monica Buchanan Pitrelli 6 hours ago. Travel writers name 7 places that are better in person than in pictures.

Over land with many airports, this is no problem. However, things become tricky over the Antarctic. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily aviation news digest.

There are a few flights that normally go close to Antarctica , but none that regularly overfly it. Firstly, several aircraft will fly to Antarctica and even land on the ice to support operations at the bottom of the world.