Antarctica or the Arctic: which polar adventure is right for you?

Looking for something a bit…more extraordinary than your usual beach getaway? How about venturing to the most remote corners of our planet?

Located at opposite ends of the Earth, Antarctica and the Arctic have long captured the imaginations of adventurers. Now that you're ready to dream big, it’s time to choose: journey far north or head deep south?

Continue reading for insights from two writers on which icy paradise could satisfy your extreme travel dreams.

Antarctica: an expedition to the ends of the Earth

Polar enthusiast Kerry Walker finds her happiest moments in frigid, remote locales. She has authored numerous books for Dinogo Planet and hails from Wales. Arriving in Antarctica is an unmatched experience. After two tumultuous days navigating the stormy waters of the 600-mile-wide Drake Passage, reaching the White Continent feels like a magical moment. The ship is tossed about like a toy in the fierce ocean, but as night falls, the turbulent waves and gray skies vanish. You awaken to a breathtaking new realm, vibrant and pristine, a world you’ve never encountered before—gleaming white snow and crystal-clear blue skies.

During a March expedition to Antarctica, I vividly recall peeking out of my cabin window in Fournier Bay that first morning, rubbing my eyes in amazement. Penguins leaped joyfully through shimmering blue waters, seals lounged atop icebergs, and whales breached and flashed their tails nearby. Dark, rugged mountains surged from the sea, glaciers cascading down their slopes like giant meringues. A group of 30 humpback whales greeted us, blowing, breaching, and tail-slapping breathtakingly close to our ship. What a sight!

It was a dazzling white wonderland—a scene straight from a child's imagination, a dreamlike realm at the edges of the known world. No David Attenborough documentary can truly prepare you for this reality: Antarctica is unlike any place you’ve ever experienced or likely will again. Here, wildlife reigns supreme while humans are just fleeting visitors. Unlike the Arctic, there’s no development—no hotels, no restaurants, no roads or railways, just the occasional research station. Nature thrives unrestrained.

Isn’t that a rare and invaluable treasure?

Although I've explored the Arctic numerous times, my visit to Antarctica was a singular experience. That initial image is etched in my memory, as are the subsequent scenes: 15,000 gentoo penguins honking like party horns and sledding headfirst down icy slopes on Cuverville Island, gliding through the stunningly beautiful Lemaire Channel (nicknamed “Kodak Gap”), taking a Zodiac ride past icebergs that rival castles in size, and stepping onto the continent at Neko Harbor in the stillness of morning, with glaciers calving and booming all around, while being surrounded by whales in Wilhelmina Bay.

Undoubtedly, the Arctic is enchanting, featuring snowy landscapes and adventures like dogsledding and snowmobiling, all beneath night skies alive with the northern lights. It’s also the more affordable and accessible destination. However, it can never compare to Antarctica's surreal experience of entering a realm you never knew existed. The breathtaking beauty of Antarctica is unmatched. In the Arctic, spotting wildlife can be a stroke of luck—you might catch a glimpse of reindeer, but polar bears are notoriously elusive. In contrast, wildlife in Antarctica is abundant and lively.

Embarking on a voyage to Antarctica aboard an icebreaker requires effort and investment. You’ll spend two days traveling by expedition ship from Ushuaia, Argentina's southernmost point. The journey is physically demanding due to the bone-chilling cold and potential seasickness. It’s also costly: a 10-night expedition in a shared cabin typically costs around £6000 (not including travel to South America). But believe me, it’s worth every penny. You may visit Antarctica only once, but it will leave an everlasting impression.

You’ll find that your perspective on the world has changed forever.

The Arctic: a spectrum of white infused with many hues

A contributor to over 70 Dinogo Planet books, Luke Waterson thrives in places far removed from roads or Wi-Fi. The area north of the Arctic Circle is perfect for him.

The Arctic holds vastly different meanings for various people. Any land north of the Arctic Circle can be considered “Arctic”; this latitudinal line crosses through Norway, Sweden, Finland, parts of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. In many of these areas, daily life unfolds much like it does elsewhere, albeit with a bit more snow and ice to navigate.

Then there are the more extreme locations within this zone, where people seek to experience their idea of the Arctic – such as Kaktovik in Alaska, Churchill, and the Nunavut territory in Canada’s north, along with the Svalbard archipelago north of Norway. These locales are blanketed in snow for most of the year, inhabited by polar bears, and illuminated by the northern lights for months at a time. The North Pole itself can only be reached via scientific expedition, surrounded by a frozen ocean so rugged that it evaded explorers for centuries until the 1940s.

All this shows that the Arctic is much more than a vast expanse of chilly white wilderness. It is home to a rich diversity of wildlife (significantly more than that found in the south – sorry, Antarctica) and boasts 40,000 years of fascinating human history (unlike Antarctica, which saw its first visitors in 1820). When I think of the Arctic, I envision its colors alongside its harsh beauty: the aurora borealis painting the long nights with shimmering greens, pinks, and purples; Scandinavia’s Sámi expressing their poignant joiks (songs that tell stories); Inuit tupilait, intricately carved objects said to possess magical powers; and the dramatic quests of intrepid Viking Erik the Red and Dutch navigator Willem Barentsz, who reached the Arctic centuries before Antarctica became a destination for adventurers.

While the Arctic undeniably outshines Antarctica when it comes to wildlife (wouldn’t your heart race more at the sight of a polar bear than a penguin?) and boasts a couple of million more square miles, both regions are exhilarating, icy expanses. Each offers breathtaking auroras, and in both, humans feel dwarfed by the stunning, otherworldly landscapes.

Either destination offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, consider how many hours you’re willing to spend reaching them. The Arctic is just a few hours by flight—or even a straightforward drive—from many parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, with frequent and affordable flights available. In contrast, most travelers reach Antarctica by enduring at least a 48-hour sea journey from Ushuaia, Argentina. Even before considering the cost and time required to get to the southern tip of South America, it’s far from a quick or budget-friendly getaway.

I’ve stepped off a train in Arctic Finland and arrived at Svalbard’s airport just hours after starting my journey in cities where snow and the sound of silence felt worlds apart. Gazing across an endless expanse of white emptiness, I thought: This wasn’t so hard, was it?

Sadly, the Arctic is quickly slipping away from us, potentially beyond recovery. According to reports, including one from the Arctic Council's Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, the Arctic may be ice-free by the 2040s. Iconic species like the polar bear could vanish from their natural habitats around the same time. However, there is a compelling argument for prioritizing Arctic visits over Antarctic ones to gain a clearer understanding of climate change and our role in addressing it—since the impacts of global warming will manifest in the Arctic first. Viewed through a more urgent lens, witnessing the Arctic now is essential.

Before it’s too late.