Do I need a visa to go to Antarctica? What should I pay attention to when traveling to Antarctica?
Actually, traveling to Antarctica is quite interesting. Everyone knows that to go to Antarctica, you have to go abroad. However, how to visit the scenic spots when going abroad, and the most important thing is whether to go to Antarctica. If you want to apply for a visa, let’s go and see it together. When to go
There are no four seasons in Antarctica, only warm and cold seasons. The warm season is from November to March; the cold season is from April to October. In the warm season, the average temperature in the coastal zone rarely exceeds 0°C. The average temperature in the warm season is between +5 and -5 degrees Celsius, and in extreme weather conditions the temperature can be -10 degrees Celsius.
The Antarctic travel season lasts for about 5 months, which is the warm season of the year, and each month has unique highlights.
In November the ice breaks and penguins court.
The daytime at this time in December and January is the warmest time on the Antarctic continent. You can enjoy up to 20 hours of sunshine every day, and the most important wave of tourists to Antarctica arrives during this time of the year.
The best time to watch whales is from February to March, when the penguin chicks begin to grow their feathers. When to book
At least six months in advance! January to May is the best booking period. Tickets for better times sell out quickly, so the earlier you book, the more options you have and the more discounts you can enjoy. Choose the appropriate flight based on your vacation; choose different cabin classes based on your preferences and capabilities.
Choose different routes and travel methods according to your time and taste
1. Cruise travel
This is where 90% of tourists choose to go to Antarctica way, and most depart from Ushuaia. The cruise ship you choose must be a member of IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators). This organization promotes environmentally friendly tourism in Antarctica, has strict requirements for ship operators, and can also ensure the safety of your trip. The general price is between 7W and 20W, depending on the route chosen, the class of travel, and the departure time.
Ships going to Antarctica are divided into two categories according to size:
Small ships, carrying about 100 passengers. The shore trip takes much longer, and you can sail closer to the islands near the North and South Pole. You can also sail in some famous fjords and enjoy the magnificent polar natural scenery more closely on the ship. You can more flexibly arrange sailing routes and activity schedules based on weather, ice floes and other conditions to make full use of every day in the North and South Pole. Large ships, more than 200 people. Generally speaking, this kind of cruise ship is more comfortable, more stable in rough seas, and can cross the Drake Passage faster, but larger ships have a greater impact on the environment.
(PS: Generally, no more than 100 people are allowed to land at the same time at Antarctic landing sites. Ships with less than 200 people can dock at most locations, and cruise ships with more than 500 people are prohibited from docking at any location.)< /p>
The picture below shows the travel route under normal circumstances. In addition to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, etc. are all commonly used departure points for the domestic section. It doesn’t have to be Beijing.
The travel routes for traveling to Antarctica by cruise ship are probably the following three common routes:
Line 1 (red line): The vast majority of conventional itineraries can be called Antarctic Peninsula cruise. It is estimated to take about 16 days from home;
Line 2 (blue line): Crossing the Antarctic Circle. This trip will pass through the Antarctic Circle. It takes longer than Line 1 and allows you to see more scenery. . Call it a journey across the Antarctic Circle. It is estimated that it will take about 19 days from home;
See the picture below
Line3: Three Antarctic islands: Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula. It is expected to take about 25 days;
See the picture below
It can be seen from the time that the prices of the three lines increase sequentially. Of course, in addition to the route, the price depends more on the cabin! The ticket is the main cost of the Antarctic trip.
The three cruise routes above cover almost the vast majority of Antarctic travel routes.
Advantages: There are many shipping schedules and a wide range of choices.
Disadvantages: You need to pass through the 900-kilometer Drake Strait, the world-famous "Roaring Strait"! Because it is in the westerly belt, the wind is high and the waves are strong, and most people will get seasick to a greater or lesser extent. Most of my clients have experienced discomfort in the past two years. Of course, there are very few people whose body has no reaction at all. The four-day round trip across the Drake Passage is the biggest obstacle for many people on their trip to Antarctica. In fact, there is no need to worry at all. This discomfort will be instantly replaced by boundless tranquility and stunning scenery after arriving at the Antarctic Peninsula.
Really: the end of the world, the beginning of everything!
2. Air-sea travel If you don’t want to take a boat across the Drake Strait, you can first start your journey by plane, and then board a tanker . But this method is rare and more expensive. AntarticaXXI uses a 70-seat BAE-146 aircraft to fly from Punta Arenas, Chile to Frei Station on King George Island (1.5 hours). Before returning, we took the 68-seat Ocean
Nova for a several-day trip to Antarctica. This way of excursion not only avoids the need to cross the Drake Strait and avoids seasickness, but also saves at least 4 days of crossing the strait.
This itinerary goes from Europe to Santiago, Chile (not Argentina on the regular route!). Fly from San Diego to Punta Arenas in the south, where you will fly across the Drake Passage to King St. George Island. Start your trip to Antarctica with a cruise on King St. George Island. The return journey is similar.
The advantage of this trip is that you don’t need to take a boat to cross the Drake Passage, and you don’t need to get seasick! It can also save four days.
The disadvantage is: the price is more expensive. WeChat platform: xzy-trip, which contains this itinerary.
3. Air travel Generally, air travel is used when going to the Antarctic point or hiking in Antarctica. Take a flight to Union Glacier and then fly to the South Pole. At the South Pole, you have enough time to feel the end of the world and take photos. At Union Glacier, you can hike, ski, camp, etc. to experience a variety of polar experiences. This type of trip has fewer options and is more expensive. The price of Antarctica and Antarctic hiking is generally 40W+. I won’t go into details. Notes on Antarctica
The following are specially compiled notes on Antarctic travel:
1. Weather
It is winter in China, but it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so we Different climate states will be experienced during the journey.
The Antarctic Peninsula is generally dry and cold, windy and sometimes snowy. The average summer temperature is between +5 and -5 degrees Celsius, and in extreme weather conditions the temperature can be -10 degrees Celsius. However, even warm days can be cloudy and windy. The Antarctic Peninsula is very windy, with wind speeds of about 6 kilometers per hour in summer, and there is considerable humidity. You need to bring a jacket with good texture, breathable, rainproof, and fleece. It is best to prepare two jackets in case you sweat or accidentally get your clothes wet.
During your trip to Antarctica, you will most likely also visit summer cities like Argentina and Chile, so be sure to prepare one or two T-shirts and light jackets for spring and autumn.
2. Items that need to be prepared in advance
It is summer when we go to South America, so we need to prepare winter and summer clothing. A cruise ship is equivalent to a hotel, and the temperature is very comfortable. It is usually set between 20°C_26°C.
It is recommended to prepare some comfortable casual clothes.
During the Antarctic landing and play, the lowest temperature will generally not be lower than minus 10°C.
3. Bring equipment
1. Jacket: waterproof and windproof Fleece jacket.
2. Warm pants: preferably ski pants or warm casual pants that can be worn under waterproof pants.
3. Waterproof pants: Wear waterproof rain pants over your regular clothes
4. Wool sweaters: especially turtleneck cashmere sweaters
5. Thermal underwear: used to keep warm and light.
6. Warm gloves: Finger gloves are convenient for photography.
7. Hat and scarf: The hat should be long enough to protect your ears.
8. Warm socks: high-quality cotton socks or wool socks, you can bring more pairs.
9. Waterproof backpack: keep the camera from being soaked in water
10. Sunglasses: deal with the large amount of glare reflected by ice and water surfaces
11. Telescope: Binoculars are also highly recommended (optimum magnification is 7x or 8×30).
12. Sunscreen: The Antarctic sun’s ultraviolet rays are very strong, so be sure to take sunscreen measures to avoid sunburn.
13. Medicines: seasickness patches, acupoint massage anti-seasickness wristbands and personal medicines. There is a small chance of seasickness on the flight route, but there is a chance of mild seasickness.
14. Swimsuit: Antarctic travel has polar swimming events, so prepare a swimsuit.
15. Trekking poles: They are very useful when landing on the Antarctic continent and climbing snow-capped mountains.
16. Photography equipment: camera, telephoto lens, UV filter, spare battery and charger, prepare digital photo storage space twice as much as expected: polarizing filter can solve the problem of glare on the water surface and darkening the sky; also prepare waterproof zippered plastic bags for this equipment. A telephoto lens of over 400mm is excellent for photographing Antarctic animals.
17. Patience: Your itinerary is determined by weather, ice and unpredictable oceans, so having more patience will make your trip to Antarctica easier and more enjoyable.
18. Others: Waterproof boots will be provided on the ship and are free to use. You do not need to bring your own.
3. Communication: There is no mobile phone signal in the Antarctic region, and all communications are conducted through satellites. Generally, you can register a separate email account on the ship to send and receive English emails without attachments through satellite communication, and the fee is based on the email byte; there is a satellite phone for emergency contact, and the fee is per minute. There is also WIFI on the ship, which costs about 100 US dollars and 130M. In terms of speed, it is normal for it to take an hour or two to post a Nine Palaces Picture to Moments.
4. The most important rule when landing: don’t leave anything but footprints! Don’t take anything away except memories!
1. Please protect Antarctic wildlife. Respect protected areas. Respect scientific investigation.
2. Follow all safety tips.
3. Please help maintain the original state of Antarctica: pay special attention not to throw garbage in the Antarctic, and not to carve your name on rocks or buildings.
Special note: The staff of the Antarctic cruise ship are very experienced and will always keep an eye on tourists when they land. If anyone tries to take away a stone, the staff will shout at him! Travel is an experience, You have been here before, so why do you have to leave or take something with you? In the borderless and pure Antarctic continent, during a trip where there may be tourists from all over the world, if something like this happens, it must be embarrassing to the whole world. Yes! It is seriously recommended not to try to take away even a stone when traveling to Antarctica! Visa
Antarctica does not belong to any country, so you do not need a visa to enter Antarctica. The visa application mainly depends on where you depart from to Antarctica. . Nowadays, trips to Antarctica generally depart from Argentina. In addition, you can also depart from Chile, Australia, New Zealand, etc. South American visas are inherently difficult, and Argentina is especially difficult. It can be said to be the most difficult visa to apply for if you hold a Chinese passport.
First of all, visas are not open for personal travel; secondly, there are a lot of materials that need to be prepared and the process is very complicated;
Furthermore, there are many visa refusals. If you can't sign out, the money spent on the ferry tickets and air tickets will really be wasted. But the steps cannot be reversed! Because with the booking confirmation of air tickets and ferry tickets, the possibility of obtaining a visa is greater. (A tangled process!)
Therefore, the most important thing in the entire preparation work is to carefully prepare the visa application materials. The processing time should be at least one and a half months in advance. It is recommended to find a professional travel agency with experience in South American visas. Supplementary questions
About the budget for budget travel:
Personally, I feel that the Antarctic itinerary is not complicated, but the preparations are very complicated. A popular way to travel on a budget in Europe and the United States is to stay in Ushuaia and wait for a ship to leave soon, but there is still room, so you can buy a so-called "last-minute ticket" with a special discount to get on the ship. Maybe if you're lucky, it will be available the next day, but if you're not lucky, you'll have to wait for months and still not find low-price tickets (accommodation fees are money too). As Antarctic travel has heated up in recent years, such opportunities have become increasingly rare. Nowadays, tickets for slightly better sailing schedules may be sold out a year in advance. Even so, it only saves part of the ticket price. Due to the large number of flights, it is more difficult to know the special tickets and arrange the itinerary. Suitable for experienced budget travel players with extremely free time. An accurate budget is indeed difficult to estimate.