Crossing the Antarctic Circle

The Antarctic Circle is one of the three imaginary axes of our Earth, along with the Equator and the Arctic Circle. It is located at a latitude of 66° 33′ 46”.

Very few tourists who visit Antarctica travel this far south. The trips can only be offered in late Antarctic summer, when the ice is at its thinnest, allowing ships with ice-strengthened hulls to break through.

The line forms the boundary of the sun, which remains above the horizon for at least 24 hours once a year. The midnight sun does not set on this day; it remains light all day and all night. But while we celebrate midsummer night in the north at the end of June, the "white nights" in the southern hemisphere take place during the Antarctic summer—in December.

In the Antarctic winter, however, i.e. in June, the sun does not rise. It remains dark for 24 hours.

Trips beyond the Antarctic Circle are only offered by traditional expedition cruise lines within a very narrow time frame. The ships must have a special ice class rating to break through the thick pack ice around the Antarctic Circle. But the guests on board are rewarded for this:

With gigantic icebergs, penguins on the frozen shores, whales gliding through the dark blue waters of the South Polar Sea, which is over 30 km deep. Always enveloped in the magnificent colors of the midnight sun, which refracts in the deep blue water and the bright white of the bizarre ice formations.

The southernmost point of your expedition beyond the Antarctic Circle is Detaille Island, opposite the Loubet Coast and north of the Arrowsmith Peninsula in Graham Land. An English research station called STATION W was also established here. It was closed due to severe weather and ice conditions when supply ships were no longer able to land. It can be visited if you land in this area.

There is no 100% guarantee that you will cross the Antarctic Circle. As always during expeditions through Antarctica, success depends on the weather and currents. Your expedition team wants to bring you back home safely. Of course, they will do everything possible to make your South Polar Circle expedition the trip of a lifetime.

Your southern geographical milestone is celebrated with a polar circle baptism and certificate. A great souvenir.

Trips beyond the Antarctic Circle take approximately 11–14 days.

Sample route to the Antarctic Circle

Photo: Antarctic landscape and Arctic Circle I (c) Jamie Scherbeijn I Oceanwide Expeditions