Hiking in Antarctica

Imagine standing high up on a slope, overlooking an ice-filled bay. Wind ruffles the surface of the bay, kayaks glide across it and you smile as you realize that Antarctica is everything you imagined it would be. Images of snow, ice, mountains and glaciers dominate our ideas of what we will experience on a voyage to Antarctica — we'll introduce you to a new view of it. On every voyage, we plan to offer hikes for the more active traveller. This won't happen on every excursion, but with our extensive experience in the peninsula region, we have some good hikes in mind for each voyage.

Who can do it?

Anyone can participate in our hiking program — largely due to our commitment to offer varied hikes depending on what people want to do. Where possible we tailor the options to offer a contemplative walk (for those wanting to stay close to shore and not hike up-slope), a mid-range hike, and a longer hike. The longer hikes can range from two to three hours in duration, and may involve challenging terrain without the assistance of trails. If you are unsure about your ability to participate in any activity, please discuss your concerns with our hiking guide and opt for the most suitable option. There are always options on most excursions for shorter walks, often up to excellent viewpoints, or along a beach.

Do I need to be experienced?

For the basic walks you just need to be in reasonably good shape and health. The hikes usually last somewhere between 2 and 6 hours. Keep in mind that there are no paths, that you'll be travelling over fairly rugged terrain, and will be taking on some hills. There are usually 1 to 3 different types of walks offered per landing, ranging from a casual stroll to a challenging hike. We do reserve the right to suggest that a passenger try another activity if it seems like they won't be able to enjoy a particular hike — partly for the enjoyment of the other passengers, and partly for safety, since there is no help beyond basic first aid in the vicinity. Our experienced guides will be able to recommend the right option for you.

What is provided?

Although our hikes take place only in areas where we have deemed it safe to travel, our guide does carry safety equipment. We also have trekking poles onboard for your use and snowshoes to help improve your traction on slick surfaces and deep snow. You do, however, want to bring clothing suitable for the changeable weather of the Polar Regions. Layers are your friend — you're going to get hot as you work your way around the tundra, and you'll want to be able to shed a layer or two without losing a big percentage of your elemental protection. With that in mind we suggest:

• Hiking/walking poles
• Rubber boots high enough for the Zodiac-to-shore landing, with a good gripping sole (provided on some ships)
• A waterproof bag, especially for cameras — you're likely to get splashed on the Zodiac ride
• Straps for tying snowshoes onto your back or backpack
• Ankle-high sturdy hiking boots for the treks and for wearing snowshoes
• Sunblock and sunglasses
• Gaiters (knee-high waterproof protection) to keep your lower legs dry
• A backpack (25 litres is a good size)
• Thin under-socks and thick over-socks, with dry spares
• A 1-litre water bottle
• Thermal under-gloves plus warm outer-gloves or mittens (a spare set is wise)
• A turtle-neck or neck gaiter
• A urine-collection bottle — regulations forbid leaving human waste behind
• Thermal underwear
• A fleece jacket or vest, plus a down jacket or spare fleece
• A breathable (e.g. Gore-Tex) jacket and trousers, and trekking trousers
• A warm fleece hat

Optionally, you might also want to bring along binoculars and a thermos bottle.