Abercrombie & Kent's Antarctica journeys operate during the austral summer months - November through March.

This is the most comfortable period of the Antarctic year and a time when the continent is at its spectacular best.

However, within that period, each month has its special highlights. Choose your Antarctica departure date with these possibilities in mind:

November - Early December (late spring - early summer) Winter pack ice begins to melt and break up, creating new landscapes of sculpted ice with abundant pack ice and pristine icebergs.

~ Courting season for penguins and seabirds - whole colonies in spectacular displays of courtship rituals.

~ Seals visible on fast ice and shorelines.
~ Spring wildflowers blooming on the Falklands and South Georgia Islands.
~ Antarctica Research activity at its height.
~ Elephant and fur seals establish their breeding territories.

Mid December - January (full summer) Wildlife in full swing as Antarctica temperatures warm and activity levels rise. Late December and January are usually Antarctica's warmest months.

~ On South Georgia and the Falklands, first penguin chicks emerge and fur seals are breeding.

~ Longer Antarctica days create great light conditions for fabulous photo opportunities - read a newspaper on deck at midnight
~ Seal pups visible on South Georgia and the Falklands
~ Antarctic chicks hatch
~ Whales increasingly numerous
~ Receding Antarctica ice may open new channels for exploration
~ Christmas and New Year in Antarctica

February - March (late summer)
~ Beautiful Antarctica sunrises and sunsets create stunning photo opportunities

~ Whale sighting at its best ~ Penguin chicks begin to fledge

~ Receding Antarctica pack ice permits forays further south and into the Weddell Sea
~ Snow algae blooming
~ Falkland's chicks leaving the nest
~ Fur seals increasingly common on the Antarctic Peninsula

Contact the Travel Goddess for 'Antarctica aboard the Explorer II' brochures, itineraries, destination insights, fares and any other queries you may have about visiting Antarctica aboard the 'Explorer II'.

T.G. says - such wonderful choices, will it be stunning sunsets, or penguin chicks hatching or spring wildflowers….yes please to them all!