Polar Perfection: Sailing to Antarctica with HX
01/04/2025
Ready to trade in the typical beach holiday for something a little more...wild? How about setting sail to one of the most remote, breathtaking places on Earth—Antarctica? With HX, you can ditch the crowds and experience the icy wonders of the southernmost continent in style. So, grab your warmest gear, leave the ordinary behind, and let's see what awaits when you sail into the chill of a lifetime with HX!
The Frozen Continent
A visit to Antarctica is the experience of a lifetime. The ultimate destination on every intrepid traveller’s list. A dream for many and an experience for few. Start planning your HX adventure here, with the global leader in Antarctica cruises.
An adventure this unique calls for the most trusted and experienced Antarctica operator there is. Since 1896, HX has been taking curious travellers to the most remote and awe-inspiring place on the planet. Experience genuine adventure, crossing the Drake Passage with expert guides, enriching your knowledge and understanding, and changing the way you see the world.
A wild realm beyond the horizon
Welcome to the only continent with no permanent human residents. Thanks to its untouched landscapes and pristine waters, a huge array of wildlife thrives here in harmony, from penguins and seals to the majestic Blue Whale.
“Otherworldly,” “beautiful desolation”, and “the only place on Earth that is still as it should be.” These are just some of the ways that travellers have described the intense beauty of Antarctica. Guided by your Expedition Team, observe and photograph iconic animals, enjoy natural history talks from our wildlife experts and enhance your knowledge in our onboard Science Centre, where you can contribute to vital research programmes.
Fellow Travellers
When you spot any whale species in Antarctica, you know they’ve had to migrate from afar, usually swimming thousands of miles. The Southern Ocean is the world’s largest feeding ground for marine mammals, which explains why ten different species of whale visit every year. On your voyage, you’ll have the opportunity to spot Humpback, Orca and Minke Whales and could even see the largest animal ever known to have lived on Earth: the Blue Whale.
Dressed for the Occasion
All penguins living in Antarctica have feathers devoted entirely to insulation: short, densely packed and, cleverly, overlapping. A thick layer of fat completes the armour that hot-blooded penguins need, not only to survive but to thrive in the coldest place on Earth. While Emperor and Adélie Penguins live exclusively on the Antarctic Continent, Chinstrap, Gentoo and Macaroni penguins can be found on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, where conditions are gentler.
Know your seals
There are two natural groups of seals: true seals and fur seals. Differentiated by their outer ears and ability to walk on all fours, fur seals are also smaller, with adult females weighing only 150kg. True seals, on the other hand, can be colossal. A male Elephant Seal, for example, can weigh an impressive 4 tonnes. In Antarctica, you’ll spot Fur, Leopard, Ross and Southern Elephant Seals, with plenty of Crabeater Seals and Weddell Seals – known as the world's southernmost breeding mammal.
Whether you’re an adventure junkie or just someone looking to check something truly epic off your bucket list, sailing to Antarctica with HX is the ultimate way to experience nature’s untouched beauty.