Yes. International flights aren't included in the standard package, but our flight team can arrange flights from most regional airports to help you reach your embarkation port. You're also welcome to book your own — but there are good reasons to let us handle it.

Flights coordinated with your expedition

Your flight schedule is planned around ship operations and charter flights, helping each leg of your journey connect with your voyage.

Support when plans change

If a flight is delayed, cancelled, or rescheduled, our team will work with the airline on your rebooking. If a significant schedule change means you can no longer arrive in time for your ship, we'll arrange a suitable alternative at no extra cost, subject to the applicable arrangements.

If you book your international flights independently, we cannot assist with rebooking those flights. Any changes and associated costs will be your responsibility or may need to be covered by your travel insurance. Delays could also affect your ability to reach your ship in time.

A dedicated team to help you

Our flight team monitors your travel arrangements and helps manage disruption. If something changes, we'll work with you to find a solution and keep your expedition plans on track.

Flight options to suit your journey

We can arrange flights from most regional airports to help you reach your embarkation port. Changes to your departure airport and cabin upgrades may also be possible, subject to airline rules, availability, and additional costs where applicable.

Getting to Ushuaia is a two-stage journey. You'll first take an international flight to Buenos Aires — these aren't included in the standard package, but we can arrange flights from most regional airports to help you reach the start of your expedition, or you're welcome to book your own. From there, you'll take an included HX charter flight to Ushuaia the following morning. We recommend staying overnight in Buenos Aires so you can begin your expedition feeling rested and allow a buffer for your connection.

Fly to Buenos Aires

Your journey begins with an international flight from your home country to Buenos Aires, the gateway city for Antarctica expeditions travelling via Ushuaia. These commercial flights are not included in the standard package, but we can arrange them for you from regional airports if you'd prefer to book through HX.

Stay overnight in Buenos Aires

We recommend arriving in Buenos Aires the day before your onward journey so you can begin your expedition feeling rested and allow a buffer for your connection. Check your travel documents or contact our team to confirm whether a pre-cruise hotel night is included in your package.

Charter flight to Ushuaia

The next morning, you'll board an HX charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. These flights are operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas and are coordinated around your voyage schedule.

Charter flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia typically depart between 08:00 and 11:30. Final charter flight times are confirmed at your hotel on arrival and onboard.

Your return journey

On the return, HX charter flights from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires typically arrive by approximately 19:00. We recommend booking international departures from Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport (EZE) after 23:00 or on the following day, to allow plenty of time for your connection.

Getting to and from your Antarctica expedition via Ushuaia involves several legs, and some are arranged by us while others are yours to coordinate. Here's a clear breakdown so you know exactly what to expect.

What HX organises

Charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia

We coordinate charter flights that connect Buenos Aires with your ship in Ushuaia, timed around your voyage schedule. HX charter flights operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas typically depart Buenos Aires between 08:00 and 11:30,. On the return, HX charter flights from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires typically arrive by approximately 19:00.

Final charter flight times are confirmed closer to departure — at your hotel on arrival before your voyage, and onboard for your return.

Your travel documents and itinerary

We send your personalised itinerary, covering flights, transfers, and excursions, approximately 30 to 40 days before departure. International flight details are usually included around 30 to 45 days before your expedition, and we aim to share charter flight times around 40 days before departure as part of your travel itinerary.

Disruption support when you book your international flights through HX

If you book your international flights through us and a flight is delayed, cancelled, or rescheduled, our team will work with the airline on your rebooking. If a significant schedule change means you can no longer arrive in time for your ship, we'll arrange a suitable alternative at no extra cost, subject to the applicable arrangements,. If your flight is delayed or cancelled on the day of travel, contact our team immediately so we can help you manage the disruption.

Baggage allowance coordination on connecting flights

Where the applicable allowance on your international flight is matched on your HX charter flight, we'll make that clear in your travel information.

What you are responsible for

International flights to Buenos Aires

International flights to Buenos Aires are not included in the standard package, but we can arrange flights from most regional airports to help you reach the start of your expedition. You're also welcome to book your own. If you book independently, we cannot assist with rebooking those flights — any changes and associated costs will be your responsibility or may need to be covered by your travel insurance, and delays could affect your ability to reach your ship in time.

Airport transfers and ground transportation

Whether transfers are included depends on the package you've booked. Check your itinerary or contact your local Customer Service Centre to confirm whether transfers are included. If you'd like to arrange an airport transfer, please contact our customer service team for details.

Pre-cruise hotel night in Buenos Aires

We recommend arriving in Buenos Aires the day before your onward journey so you can begin your expedition feeling rested and allow a buffer for your connection. We recommend booking international departures from Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport (EZE) after 23:00 or on the following day, to allow plenty of time for your connection. Check your travel documents or contact our team to confirm whether a pre-cruise hotel night is included in your package.

Valid passport

You'll need a valid passport with at least 6 months' validity beyond the end of your trip, no matter your nationality.

Visas and travel authorisations

You are responsible for checking and obtaining the visas and travel authorisations required for your journey, including any countries you transit through. Check the requirements for your nationality and route using official government guidance before travelling.

Baggage allowance with each airline

Each guest may bring one checked bag weighing up to 23 kg (50.7 lb) and one carry-on bag weighing up to 8 kg (17.6 lb) on HX charter flights. Additional baggage can be requested for €40 per bag, each way, subject to aircraft payload restrictions. Additional fees may apply to international flight sectors, depending on airline policies, so check the allowance for each flight before you travel

Due to the remote nature of our expeditions to Antarctica, it’s important for us to be aware of any health concerns. To prioritise the health and safety of our guests and crew, a Medical Screening Form is required for expeditions to Antarctica. For more detailed information on this topic, click here.

Our promise to you is that if your Medical Screening Form is declined for medical reasons as determined by Vikand Solutions, we will refund you of all bookings made by HX up until the date of declinature. This includes all applicable flights, hotels and ground transportation. Rebookings can be made at no additional cost, subject to applicable booking conditions.

For more detailed information on this topic, click here.

We require all guests (including children) to submit and complete the Medical Form prior to departure to Antarctica.

Complete the form online through the Vikand Medical portal. It includes sections for both you and your doctor to fill out. You can begin the process up to 120 days before your sailing start date. Group bookings: access opens 90 days before your sailing start date. To start, Vikand will verify your name against our passenger list. If your name isn’t found, please contact HX or your local travel agent(if you booked through one) to ensure your name has been added to the booking exactly as it appears on your passport. For Doctor’s section - if your doctor can't sign the form, please consult an alternative or use Vikand’s online doctor service.

To make sure you receive important updates about your Medical Screening Form, we’ll send a verification email to the address you provided. Please check your inbox (and Spam/Junk folders) and click the verification link to continue. Once verified, you can complete the Guest Section of the form. If you don’t receive the email, try using an alternative address for future updates.

Please note: We only accept the Medical Screening Form available through Vikand portal and has been specially designed for HX sailings to remote destinations.

A suite with HX is a premium, all-inclusive experience designed to elevate your expedition cruise. Suite guests enjoy priority boarding, access to the Lindstrøm fine-dining restaurant, premium drinks, laundry, welcome champagne, and much more. It’s the perfect way to indulge your inner explorer.

We recommend choosing an Antarctic cruise provided by a reputable company with modern ships and top experts to help you understand and get the most from your incredible opportunity. Coming to such a pristine wilderness, we also consider it of the utmost importance to take care to protect the environment and keep it unspoiled.

At HX Expeditions, we offer expedition cruises to Antarctica with a variety of different itineraries, so you can find one that suits you best. Simply get in touch with our knowledgeable experts – they’re always happy to help. They can talk to you and ask you about your preferences to help you choose your dream trip to Antarctica.

Once you’ve chosen a cruise, our friendly teams can give you expert advice on topics such as what you need to pack for Antarctica.

Antarctica is teeming with animal life. Even though it’s one of the least hospitable places in the world, the wildlife there is spectacular.

The largest animals of all are found around Antarctica – whales. The whales found here include blue, humpback, Minke, sperm, and beaked. It’s also thought that Antarctica has the largest population of orcas (a type of dolphin) to be found anywhere in the world. In addition, many other types of dolphins are found here. Seals abound, including fur seals, leopard seals, elephant seals and sea lions.

Penguins are the most common birds in the Antarctic, where there are about 20 million breeding pairs (40 million birds). There are 18 different species of penguins in Antarctica, and while most are migratory, the Emperor Penguin and Adélie Penguin remain on the continent year-round, hatching their eggs among the bare rocks. Other birds found here include albatrosses, petrels, skua, prions, fulmars, shearwaters, gulls, terns and cormorants.

Some of the most notable differences between Antarctica and the Arctic are the differences between the animals found there. While penguins are emblematic of the Antarctic, there are no penguins in the Arctic. Moreover, there are no land mammals, reptiles or amphibians in Antarctica, so there are no Polar Bears! In fact, the only terrestrial vertebrates in Antarctica are birds that are found on the sub-Antarctic islands – the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.

Further down the food chain are huge numbers of krill, fish and squid that nourish the marine ecosystem. In fact, the vertebrates living in Antarctica are almost entirely dependent on the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent for sustenance.

Invertebrates in Antarctica include earthworms and molluscs, as well as spiders, beetles and flies – though these are mainly confined to the warmer sub-Antarctic islands. There are no flying insects on the Antarctic continent itself – only tiny nematodes and the Antarctic springtail arthropod are able to survive and complete their lifecycles there.

It gets very cold. In fact, Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth. The lowest temperature ever recorded at the surface of the Earth was recorded at Vostok research station, where the temperature once fell to −89.2 °C during winter.

However, the temperature varies considerably with the location, weather and seasons in Antarctica.

The coldest parts of Antarctica are in the interior of the continent, away from the coasts. Even during the summer, the interior remains below freezing with an average temperature of between −20 °C and −35 °C. The average temperature here during the coldest months is between −40 °C and −70 °C. It gets so cold because the sun doesn’t rise here in winter. Ever in summer, the sun remains low in the sky, so its rays are spread out over a wider surface area than they are in warmer parts of the world.

The warmest parts of Antarctica are the coastal areas, where the maritime climate keeps temperatures slightly higher. The average temperature during the coldest months here varies from −20 °C to −30 °C, while the mid-summer average temperature is about 0 °C on the coast.

The Antarctic Peninsula and the islands around it extend the furthest northwards towards the equator. Here, midsummer temperatures remain mostly below 0 °C, but can reach as high as 15 °C on occasion.

Research indicates the rate of climate change in Antarctica is greater than the global average.

IAATO (The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) protects Antarctica by advocating and promoting safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to Antarctica that has no more than a minor or transitory impact on the Antarctic environment.

IAATO does this by providing a forum for more than 100 travel companies in the travel industry to cooperate and share their expertise, opinions, and best practices.

You can read more about the work of IAATO here.