I’ve now crossed both the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle. That still feels a little unreal to type.
And ever since I got back, I’ve gotten the same question over and over. The Arctic or Antarctica? Which one should you do first? So before anyone else asks, let’s settle it.
Quick disclaimer before we dive in: the Arctic and Antarctica are not interchangeable. They are completely different places, and in a lot of ways they’re hard to compare directly. But when it comes to the experience of visiting each one, and which order makes sense, that I can absolutely compare. And I have a strong opinion.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and gear I’ve actually used and trust on my own trips.
If I Could Do It Again, I’d Go to the Arctic First
Here’s my take, and I will die on this hill: if I had it to do over again, I would visit the Arctic before Antarctica.
Not because the Arctic wasn’t incredible. It was. But compared to Antarctica, it felt like a bit of a letdown, and that had nothing to do with the expeditions themselves. Both trips were wonderful. It’s just that they’re such different experiences. Going to Antarctica first raises the bar in a way that’s hard for anywhere else to surpass.
Arctic or Antarctica first? Antarctic. Period.
How the Wildlife and Landscape Compare
The Arctic reminded me a lot of the mountainous, snowy regions I already knew. I grew up in the Sierra Nevada, right around Lake Tahoe, so I spent 18 years surrounded by cold, snowy terrain. The Arctic had that same familiar feeling to it.
There’s also flora in the Arctic that Antarctica simply doesn’t have. As the snow recedes, you start seeing grasses, mosses, and small flowers blooming. Along with that come foxes, polar bears, reindeer, walruses, and thousands of birds, some migratory and some that stay year-round.
Antarctica is a different world entirely. It’s genuinely a desert. Ice, rock, water, and wildlife, but no flora, as we know it, to speak of. What it lacks in plant life, it makes up for in sheer volume of animals. Penguins everywhere, to the point where you may never want to see another one again (I can already hear the comments on that one). Depending on when you go, whales are everywhere too, along with seals and more birds.
I didn’t see as much wildlife in the Arctic as I’d hoped, but that was partly timing. I went early in the season, before the whales had arrived, though I did see bears, foxes, and walruses.
Which One Is Harder to Get To? The Arctic or Antarctica
This depends a lot on where you’re starting from. I’m based on the west coast of the United States, which means flying to Europe for the Arctic, or flying down to South America to catch a ship to Antarctica. Neither is exactly convenient.
Between the two, I found the Arctic easier logistically, and a big part of that came down to language. I flew from Oslo straight to Longyearbyen on Svalbard, and everyone spoke English the entire way. Getting to Antarctica, on the other hand, has meant navigating a language barrier more than once. Spanish is not my second language. It’s not even my third.
And then there’s the part everyone eventually asks about: the Drake Passage. If you fly to Antarctica instead of sailing across it, you cheat. I will die on that hill too. Crossing the Drake is not easy, even if you don’t get seasick. The Arctic crossing, by comparison, gave us one day of rougher seas, what I’d call a baby Drake, and otherwise flat, calm water the whole way. That alone makes the Arctic feel far more accessible.
What About Price?
I’m mostly going to sidestep this one, because travel styles vary so much from person to person. Some people travel on a budget, some want more luxury, and costs shift accordingly.
That said, Antarctic expeditions do tend to run more expensive than the Arctic ship itself. But staying in Longyearbyen isn’t cheap either, so in a strange way, the overall cost starts to even out. This is a topic that deserves its own honest breakdown.
You can dive into that with me in my YouTube video.
If You Can Only Do One
If someone told me they could only visit one polar region, ever, my answer wouldn’t change: Antarctica, every time. I like the Arctic. But I love Antarctica.
And if you’re only going once, book the longest expedition you can possibly manage. I know time off is hard to come by, and prices climb the longer you’re out there. I’ve done a 10-day trip, which barely counts as 10 days on the peninsula once you factor in crossing the Drake, and I’ve also done a 14-day trip that went below the Antarctic Circle. Looking back, I wish I’d gone for 21 days, and I fully intend to go back and do exactly that.
Your time will never come back the way your money eventually will. If you can only do this once, go big.
If You Can Do Both
If both are on the table, my recommendation is Arctic first, then Antarctica.
There’s a sense of wonder in Antarctica that I just didn’t feel the same way in the Arctic, and I’m not alone in that. Other travelers who have done both told me the exact same thing before I ever went, and now I understand it firsthand. The Arctic is beautiful. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s simply a different kind of experience.
Some of that might come down to effort. Getting to Antarctica, and everything it takes to cross the Drake, may add to that sense of accomplishment once you arrive. The Arctic, by comparison, is more straightforward. You fly in, they drive you to the ship, and the next morning you could already be looking at polar bears from a zodiac.
How Long Should You Actually Stay?
For the Arctic, 10 days felt about right, though I wouldn’t have minded more time on the ship. I wouldn’t go shorter than seven days if you can help it.
For Antarctica, longer is better, full stop. I’ve experienced both a 10-day and a 14-day expedition, and both were incredible. But if I’m honest, 21 days is the one I keep coming back to in my head, and it’s the one I’m planning for next time.
Everyone’s Trip Will Look Different
None of this is a rulebook. Every traveler is different, and sometimes an opportunity just falls into your lap, and you take it, in whatever order it comes.
So, Arctic or Antarctica? You might go to Antarctica first and have a rough time for reasons that have nothing to do with which pole you started with. You might go to the Arctic and fall completely in love. Both are valid. This is simply based on my own experience and what I would have done differently knowing what I know now.
No regrets either way. Both trips were fabulous. But Antarctica still holds a place for me that I can’t fully put into words. Maybe it’s the vibe. Maybe it’s the sense of accomplishment that comes with crossing the Drake. Whatever it is, it’s stayed with me in a way the Arctic didn’t quite match.
Grab Your Polar Expeditions Guide
I have a lot more polar region content coming, including a full guide built around everything I wish I’d known before either trip. Get the full polar guide the second it’s live!
0 Comments