What it costsWhere can ₹10 lakh, ₹25 lakh or ₹50 lakh take a couple abroad?
For two, land only: ₹10 lakh buys five to seven private nights done well in the Maldives, Bhutan, the Maasai Mara or Switzerland.
Answered · checked 30 October 2026
How much does an Antarctica trip from India cost, and how do we get there?
The short answer
A private-standard Antarctica expedition from India costs about ₹11 lakh to ₹27 lakh or more per person, or ₹22 lakh to ₹55 lakh or more for two, for a ten to twelve night voyage from Ushuaia with hotel nights either side. Flights to Buenos Aires are extra. The season runs November to March, and the whole journey takes 16 to 18 days from India.
- Per person
- ₹11L to ₹27L+
- For two
- ₹22L to ₹55L+, cruise and hotels
- Season
- November to March
- Door to door
- 16 to 18 days from India
- Gateway
- Ushuaia, or fly-cruise from Punta Arenas
What it costs, by cabin
Antarctica is priced per person on a shared cabin, and the ship sets the price more than anything else. Published fares for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons run from about US$11,000 per person on classic sailings to US$75,000 for the grandest suites.
| Cabin | Per person | For two | What it buys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balcony stateroom | ₹11L to ₹16L | ₹22L to ₹32L | A modern expedition ship of under 200 guests, Zodiac landings, a polar team |
| Suite | ₹16L to ₹27L | ₹32L to ₹55L | All-inclusive luxury ships, butler service, more space and better timing |
| Top suites and fly-cruise | ₹27L+ | ₹55L+ | Owner's suites, helicopter landings, icebreaker voyages, skipping the Drake by air |
How you get there from India
- India to Buenos Aires: one or two stops via Europe, about 24 to 30 hours of travel. We plan a night or two in Buenos Aires to recover.
- Buenos Aires to Ushuaia: about three and a half hours, often on the expedition company's charter.
- The Drake Passage: about two days each way by ship, the price of the classic route and part of its romance.
- Fly-cruise instead: fly from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island in about two hours and join the ship there, skipping the Drake when the weather allows.
When to go
| Month | What you see |
|---|---|
| November | Pristine snow and ice, penguins courting and nesting |
| December and January | Penguin chicks, the longest daylight, the busiest and most expensive weeks |
| February and March | Whales at their most active, chicks fledging, quieter landings |
Visas for an Indian passport
Antarctica itself needs no visa; the expedition company holds the permits. The gateways do. Argentina offers Indians holding a valid US visa an electronic travel authorisation, the AVE, applied for online and paid before departure; without a US visa, apply for a consular visa well ahead. Chile admits Indians holding a US visa with at least six months' validity visa-free for up to 90 days; otherwise a Chilean visa is needed. Check transit rules for the hub you fly through too: routing via the United States needs a US visa even in transit.
What it costs.
Considered · ₹22L to ₹32L for two
A balcony stateroom on a modern expedition ship of under 200 guests, ten to eleven nights from Ushuaia, daily Zodiac landings, and two nights in Buenos Aires either side.
Elevated · ₹32L to ₹55L for two
A suite on an all-inclusive luxury ship such as Silversea's Silver Endeavour or Ponant's fleet, butler service, kayaking and a camping night on the ice where offered.
The rarest · ₹55L+ for two
The finest suites on Scenic Eclipse or the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, helicopter landings, or a fly-cruise from Punta Arenas that saves four days at sea.
Bands are for two on a shared cabin, voyage plus hotels and transfers. December and January sell first, often a year ahead. Solo travellers pay a single supplement of up to 100 percent. Business-class flights from India to Buenos Aires add roughly ₹4L to ₹7L per person.
Questions, answered
Also asked.
How much does an Antarctica trip cost from India?
About ₹11 lakh to ₹27 lakh or more per person, or ₹22 lakh to ₹55 lakh or more for two, for a ten to twelve night voyage with hotels either side. International flights are extra.
How do you get to Antarctica from India?
Fly to Buenos Aires via Europe, then three and a half hours to Ushuaia, and sail two days across the Drake Passage. Or fly to Punta Arenas in Chile and take a two-hour flight to King George Island.
When is the best time to visit Antarctica?
The season runs November to March. November for pristine ice and courting penguins, December and January for chicks and the longest days, February and March for whales.
Do Indians need a visa for Antarctica?
Not for Antarctica itself. You need entry to the gateway: Argentina issues Indians holding a valid US visa an online travel authorisation, the AVE, before departure; Chile admits holders of a US visa valid at least six months without a Chilean visa. Otherwise apply for a consular visa.
How many days does an Antarctica trip take from India?
Plan 16 to 18 days door to door: about two days to reach Ushuaia, ten to twelve nights on the ship, and two days home.
Which ship is best for Antarctica?
Smaller is better. Only 100 people may be ashore at one site at a time, so ships under 200 guests land everyone more often. The luxury choices include Silversea, Ponant and Scenic.
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