What to pack for Antarctica: the packing list, and what the ship lends you

Packing for Antarctica is packing for two climates. Outside, on the Antarctic Peninsula, an average January day at Esperanza station runs from 41°F (4.8°C) down to 30°F (-1.1°C), and with the average wind that low feels like 20°F (-6.6°C).¹²³ Inside, Aurora keeps its ships between 59°F and 77°F (15°C and 25°C).⁴ Quark warns that the weather can swing from sun warm enough for T-shirts in a sheltered spot to wind, rain, snow or fog, often quickly.⁵ So the list below is built around layers you can add and peel off, and around what your ship already lends you. Month-by-month temperatures are in Antarctica weather by month.

What should you pack for Antarctica?

Layers for landings, casual clothes for the ship, and protection from sun and water. This list combines the published packing lists of Quark, Aurora, HX, Oceanwide and Seabourn; check the ship's own list, because most lines provide some of it.⁵⁴⁶⁷⁸

For landings and Zodiac rides

• Waterproof pants, worn over your other layers (required by Quark, Aurora, HX and Oceanwide; see below)
• A waterproof, windproof jacket with a hood, if your line does not give you one
• Two or more sets of thermal base layers, tops and bottoms. Aurora suggests at least three tops and two bottoms; Seabourn two sets.⁴⁸
• A fleece or wool mid-layer, and warm pants such as fleece or ski pants to wear under the waterproofs. Aurora says jeans are not suitable as an under-layer.⁴
• Thin liner gloves plus waterproof gloves or mittens, and a spare pair⁵
• A warm hat that covers your ears, and a scarf, buff or neck gaiter⁵
• Warm wool or synthetic socks, thick and thin, with a dry pair in your bag⁵⁴
• Sunglasses with UV protection and a cord to hold them on; ski goggles help on snowy or windy Zodiac rides⁵
• Sunscreen, lip balm with SPF and moisturizer
• A small waterproof backpack or dry bag; HX suggests about 20 liters⁶
• Binoculars, and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards

For the ship

• Casual clothes: jeans or casual pants and light long-sleeve tops⁴
• Closed, non-slip shoes. Quark asks guests not to wear flip-flops, sandals or slip-ons on board, and Oceanwide says no open-heeled footwear because decks get slippery.⁵⁹
• A swimsuit for the polar plunge, hot tub or sauna, and gym clothes⁵⁶
• Earplugs and an eye mask⁴
• Plug adapters, and a converter if your devices run only on 110 volts (see below)

Documents and health

• Passport, travel documents and a copy of your passport¹⁰
• Seasickness medication and your own prescriptions, with enough for delays; Aurora suggests keeping medicines in your hand luggage⁴¹⁰
• Credit cards and some cash; Oceanwide suggests euros or US dollars⁹

Leave at home

• Clothing and bags with Velcro or mesh, and muddy hiking gear (see the biosecurity rules below)
• Fresh food if you are visiting South Georgia
• Formal wear, on most ships
• A drone

What do Antarctica cruise lines provide?

Most give you a parka and lend you boots, but not all, and only Viking provides waterproof pants. This is what each line we cover says it provides for Antarctica:

Two lines need more planning. On Oceanwide, the free boots on its motor ships, such as Hondius, must be pre-ordered at least eight weeks before departure; without the voucher, you cannot get them on board.⁷ On Lindblad, boots are a rental through Ship to Shore Traveler, which recommends ordering at least 30 days before sailing and charges US$100 for boots lost or damaged.¹³ HX notes that its jacket is not built for warmth, so the layers underneath matter more.¹⁵

Do you need waterproof pants for Antarctica?

Yes. Quark, Aurora, HX and Oceanwide all require them for Zodiac rides, and HX warns that without them "you may not be allowed on a zodiac."^1141514 Quark explains that there is always a chance of getting wet and the conditions can be freezing, and suggests rain pants: affordable, fully waterproof and easy to pull over any pants.¹¹ For helicopter flights on Ultramarine, it recommends loose rain-pant style rather than fitted ski pants.⁵ Oceanwide sets a minimum waterproof rating of 15,000 mm, and Seabourn asks for zipped, elastic or buttoned cuffs instead of Velcro, for biosecurity.¹⁴⁸ Viking is the exception: it provides waterproof pants.¹⁸

What boots do you need for Antarctica?

Knee-high, waterproof rubber boots, and on most ships you borrow them. Landings are often wet: Oceanwide says stepping out of a Zodiac "almost always involves stepping into water," and that snow boots or any low boots will leave your feet wet.⁷ Quark lends insulated Muck boots or similar and suggests two pairs of socks inside them.¹¹ If you rent through Lindblad's partner instead, expect a boot of 4.5 to 6 pounds (2 to 2.7 kg), and the rental company pitches renting as a way to save luggage space.¹³

Hiking boots are optional. HX says you need them only for the Falkland Islands or stops in South America, and that its rubber boots work in the Falklands too.¹⁵

How many layers do you need in Antarctica?

Three main layers: a base layer that wicks moisture, an insulating fleece or wool layer, and a waterproof outer layer, as HX puts it.¹⁰ Aurora's version is two to four insulation layers under your waterproofs, depending on the day, and it notes that polar summer is similar to most ski fields in winter, so ski clothing works if it is fully waterproof.⁴ It also says polypropylene stays warmer when wet than silk or wool.⁴

Layers matter because you will warm up. Oceanwide warns that you will probably sweat on landings, which chills you once you stop, so pack breathable layers that come off easily into a day pack.⁹

Some trips need more. Aurora asks guests on East Antarctica voyages to add a down jacket, insulated pants and merino layers.⁴ Ponant says the sites Le Commandant Charcot visits have averaged 14°F (-10°C) over the past 20 years, and recommends even warmer clothing than for its other polar trips.¹⁷

Do you need sunscreen and sunglasses in Antarctica?

Yes, strong ones. The Australian Antarctic Division has measured UV index values of up to 14 at its stations, and tells its own expeditioners to use SPF 50+ sunscreen and glacier glasses.¹⁹ Near the Peninsula, a 2022 study recorded a noon UV index of 14.3 on King George Island on December 2, 2020, the highest measured in Antarctica in more than two decades.²⁰ Cloud cuts it, by up to 90% under heavy overcast on the Peninsula, but you cannot count on clouds.²⁰

Aurora recommends SPF 50+ sunscreen and lip balm, a dab of sunscreen around your nostrils against reflected UV, and two pairs of sunglasses on cords in case one breaks or goes missing.⁴ Oceanwide's list asks for SPF 30+.¹⁴

What should you wear on the ship?

Casual clothes. Aurora describes dress on board as informal, HX as "relaxed and informal, even for dinners," and Quark says no formal wear is needed, though something a little dressy suits its welcome and farewell cocktails.⁴⁶⁵ Ponant's fleet-wide dress code adds cocktail attire for gala evenings and white, or black and white, for the Officers' evening, though for expedition cruises it says to pack practical clothing and comfortable shoes.¹⁷

What can't you take to Antarctica?

Dirt, seeds and food going ashore, mostly. IAATO's boot, clothing and equipment cleaning procedures are mandatory on all its members' trips: ships provide a vacuum cleaner for backpacks, bags and pockets and a station to disinfect boots, and IAATO encourages operators to have guests sign a declaration that their gear is clean and that they will not take food ashore.²¹ What that means for your bag:

• Clean everything before you leave home. IAATO says this is especially important if you have been trekking, hiking or visiting farms, and lists boots, trouser cuffs, pockets, Velcro, fleece, backpacks, camera bags, poles and tripods as places seeds hide.²²
• Avoid Velcro. IAATO discourages clothing or gear with Velcro because it is particularly prone to collecting seeds, and the Antarctic Treaty's visitor guidelines single out boot treads, Velcro and pockets.²²²¹²³
• Expect to keep your gear off the ground. Because of bird flu, IAATO requires visitors at wildlife sites not to sit, crouch, kneel or lie down, and not to put equipment on the ground or snow.²⁴
• Leave the drone at home. IAATO members do not allow recreational drones in Antarctica's coastal areas.²⁴

South Georgia is stricter. Its government asks visitors to choose, where possible, clothing without Velcro, mesh or webbing, boots with open treads that are easy to clean, smooth bags rather than mesh panels and waterproof gloves rather than knitted ones. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and unpasteurised dairy may not be brought for personal use, and government officers inspect a sample of passengers on every ship.²⁵ Lindblad's rental partner swaps in Velcro-free pants and an approved boot sole for South Georgia trips.¹³ More on the rules ashore is in Antarctica visitor rules.

How much luggage can you take to Antarctica?

On a fly-cruise, very little: the charter flights to King George Island allow 33 to 44 pounds (15 to 20 kg) of checked luggage on most lines, plus a small carry-on, and Quark and Lindblad do not sell extra weight. Sea voyages are looser, but the flight to Ushuaia may not be.

Quark and Lindblad both say you cannot pay for extra baggage on the Antarctic flights. Excess bags can be stored at Quark's Punta Arenas hotel and, on Lindblad's trips, in Puerto Natales, but not in Ushuaia on its sail-and-fly trip.²⁶²⁷ On sea voyages, Aurora recommends one bag of 55 lb (25 kg) or less plus hand luggage, and warns that some domestic flights, such as Aerolíneas Argentinas between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, allow only 33 lb (15 kg) of checked bags.²⁸ HX says many travelers prefer soft bags, which are easier to store in a cabin.¹⁰ Borrowed boots and a provided parka save a lot of weight and space, so check the table above before you buy. On a fly-cruise, fly dressed for the landing. Quark and Lindblad hand out their parkas at the hotel before the flight, and Lindblad warns that checked bags may reach your cabin after you do; Aurora's jacket waits in your cabin, so it says to bring your own waterproof, windproof jacket for the walk from the King George Island airstrip.²⁶²⁷⁴ Fly-cruises are compared in fly or sail the Drake Passage.

Is the packing list different for women?

The list is the same; the sizing is what to check. Aurora's parka comes in male and female sizes, and Lindblad's rental partner offers men's and women's packages and boots.⁴¹³ Boot ranges start small: HX lends from EU 35 (US 3.5), and on Le Commandant Charcot Ponant's parkas run from XXS to 5XL and its boots from size 37 (US 5) to 48 (US 14).¹⁵¹⁷ If you fall outside those ranges, Aurora and HX ask you to contact them before the voyage.⁴¹⁵

What camera gear and electronics should you bring?

A camera or phone in a waterproof case, spare batteries, binoculars and the right plug adapter. HX notes that batteries run down faster in the cold, and recommends binoculars of 8x or 10x magnification with a 32 mm or 42 mm lens.⁶¹⁵ Aurora asks guests to bring their own: its shared binoculars stay on the Observation Deck, and only Junior and Captain's Suites get a free pair.⁴¹⁶ Lindblad points out that plenty of guests travel with just a smartphone.¹²

For power, Oceanwide and HX use European two-pin sockets.⁹⁶ Aurora's ships run on 220 volts and it asks you to bring a converter for 110-volt devices, while Ponant has both 220-volt and 110-volt outlets and provides plug adapters at reception.²⁸¹⁷

What should you pack for the Drake Passage?

Seasickness medication, started early. Aurora suggests using it for the first 24 to 36 hours at sea and taking it before you feel very unwell, because by then tablets are poorly absorbed.⁴ If you forget, Oceanwide and HX sell remedies on board.⁹⁶ For the crossing itself, see Drake Passage seasickness and how many days you need in Antarctica.

Which month to go, and what it brings besides the cold, is in the best time to visit Antarctica.