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Antarctic Peninsula

Countries in the atlas · Antarctica

Antarctica

The last wild continent: icebergs, penguins and whales. Access only on expedition cruises, under strict rules.

Russian passport: special rules

Photo: Liam Quinn from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Antarctic Peninsula
Photo: Liam Quinn from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Antarctica · World’s best

Antarctic Peninsula

Access 5/5 · expeditionJFMAMJJASOND

The Antarctic Peninsula is the most accessible part of the frozen continent. Expedition ships pass through the Lemaire Channel, call at Paradise Harbour and land guests ashore near penguin colonies.

There are no permanent residents and no tourist infrastructure: landings follow the rules of the Antarctic Treaty and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

Getting there
Expedition cruises from Ushuaia across the Drake Passage — about two days each way; there are also flights from Punta Arenas to King George Island.
Why it’s hard
The Drake Passage is one of the stormiest seas in the world, the season runs from November to March, and a cruise costs as much as several ordinary trips. Weather and ice decide everything.
Sources (6)
South Georgia
Photo: Pismire · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

South Atlantic

South Georgia

Access 5/5 · expeditionJFMAMJJASOND

South Georgia is a mountainous island with glaciers in the middle of the Southern Ocean. Hundreds of thousands of king penguins live on Salisbury Plain and at St Andrews Bay, with elephant seals and fur seals along the shores.

Grytviken has a former whaling station, a museum and the grave of the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.

Getting there
Only by expedition ship — usually as part of an 18–21-day cruise to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica.
Fees and tickets
Since 01.08.2025 the entry permit has cost £250 for 40 days; apply at least 8 days ahead.
Why it’s hard
The most remote place in the atlas: only occasional expedition cruises, strict biosecurity rules for landings, and a cruise that costs as much as a car.
Sources (4)

Before you go

Antarctica: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.

Entry

Antarctica is not a state, and there are no visas. Tourists come on expedition cruises — mostly to the Antarctic Peninsula from Ushuaia (Argentina) or with a flight from Punta Arenas (Chile); both countries are open to Russian citizens without a visa for up to 90 days.

Expeditions get permits from Antarctic Treaty countries. Under Russian Federal Law No. 50-FZ, Russian citizens need a permit from the authorised body for any activity south of 60° S; the law makes no exception for tourists on cruises run by foreign operators — check with your operator. For South Georgia, a £250 permit has been required since 01.08.2025.

Rules for any passport

Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.

Sources (7)

Laws and bans

  • Choose an operator that is a member of IAATO: no more than 100 people ashore at a time, and no more than 20 tourists per guide.
  • You may not take away rocks, bones, feathers or fossils; litter and fires ashore are prohibited.
  • Do not approach, feed or touch animals.
  • Do not bring in alien species: clothing and footwear are cleaned before landing; for the 2026–27 season, measures against bird flu are in force.
Sources (4)

Budget

no World Bank data

The price level is not calculated: the cost of the cruise decides everything. The season runs from November to March; South Georgia requires a £250 permit.

The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.

Sources (2)