Sailing to Antarctica?

Be Prepared and Help Protect the Antarctic Environment

Visiting Antarctica is one of life’s greatest experiences. It is a place that can be seductive in its beauty, wildness, pristine nature and isolation, but harsh, inhospitable and fiercely dangerous in its extreme climate.

Each year, hundreds of visitors go to Antarctica onboard sailing or motor yachts to experience this unique ecosystem. With this rewarding adventure comes a responsibility: careful planning and preparation are needed to legally travel to and stay safe in Antarctica.
Remember to tread softly. Protecting the fragile environment for science and future visitors is a commitment everyone must make.

Please join the Antarctic community and help keep the tradition alive.

Be a safe and environmentally responsible visitor to Antarctica

Check for the latest information. Free advice on authorization contact points, sites to visit, resources and guidelines for visitors can all be accessed via the links to the web pages noted to the left, under YACHTS.

Please review these pages, and benefit from decades of Antarctic yachting experience...

Additional resources can be found at:

• Antarctic Treaty Information for visitors:
  http://www.ats.aq/e/ats_other_tourism.htm
• Antarctic Treaty information on protected areas:
  http://www.ats.aq/e/ep_protected.htm
• "Southern Ocean Cruising" by Sally & Jérôme Poncet is available for free download:
  http://www.era.gs/resources/soc
• Additional guidelines for yachts sailing to Antarctica have been produced by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Even if you are securing an authorization or permit from another country, these guidelines are very useful. They can be found at:
  http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/3849543/antarctica-yachting-guidelines

Among IAATO yacht operators, there are specialized yachts available for charter as a whole or with individual berths, and other companies which provide consultancy services specializing in assisting private yacht visits to Antarctica. For more information, please visit the Yacht Operators and Services Providers page or go to the IAATO membership directory.

To download the text of these yacht information pages as a PDF document, click here.