DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A PACKING GUIDE FOR A 10-DAY TRIP TO ANTARCTICA. PLEASE ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
When it comes to visiting the seventh continent, questions like how to get to Antarctica, what does one even do in Antarctica, and if the Drake Passage is really that bad, might all come to mind. But perhaps the most important question of all is…
What does one pack on a trip to Antarctica?
When I traveled to Antarctica for the first time in 2024, I felt completely overwhelmed by emotions — excitement, nervousness, adrenaline for making my top travel bucket list dream come true — but I felt even more overwhelmed by not having the right gear with me. It’s not like there are shops in Antarctica (spoiler alert, that’s not a thing), and I needed to be over-prepared as opposed to underprepared. The double whammy was I wanted to attempt to fit everything in a carry-on, because I would be damned if an airline lost my bag and I wasn’t able to bring what I packed to Antarctica.
It turned out that I ended up packing nearly the perfect amount (a rarity for me). So, if you’re planning your trip to the seventh continent, which you should highly consider coming with me on my 2027 group trip, here’s everything you need to bring on a 10-day trip to Antarctica.
Note: Every suggested link on this list is a product I have personally used!
Clothes and accessories
- Waterproof snowsuits (I brought metallic pink and purple ones, but whether you choose to go colorful or not, waterproof is key)
- 5 long-sleeve sweat-wicking shirts (LAYERS are key in Antarctica, and this pack is super convenient because it comes with 5 shirts!)
- 2 Pairs of Thermal leggings with fleece inside
- 2 Pairs of Regular leggings
- 2 Pairs of Thermal underwear
- 2 Thick warm high socks
- 6 pairs of regular socks
- Waterproof Knee-High Snow boots (many companies will offer these for rent onboard or ahead of time)
- Regular snow boots for everyday wear onboard
- Gym sneakers
- 1 t-shirt for the gym and to sleep in
- 2 sports bras
- 1 puffer jacket to wear in southern Argentina/Chile (where most trips start)
- 3 thick sweaters
- 1 comfortable lounge outfit (I brought a velour jumpsuit)
- 1 fun “dressy” dress incase there are any special events onboard
- 2 swimsuits (polar plunge and hot tub, which many shops have one onboard!)
- 2 Waterproof pairs of thick mittens/ gloves (1 thick, 1 thin)
- 3 scarves
- 1 Balaclava
- 5 winter hats (I highly recommend this thick cable-lined beanie — I bought it in several colors and it was much better quality than any other winter hat I’ve had!)
- Sunglasses with strong UV protection (Antarctica is VERY bright)
Toiletries:
- Any personal medicines and vitamins you need
- Contacts — if you wear daily’s like I do, I would bring at least DOUBLE the amount you need.
- Dramamine for the Drake Passage (I highly recommend bringing non drowsy so you can still enjoy yourself)
- Ginger chews for the Drake Passage
- Ear patches to prevent motion sickness
- Tylonel or Advil (you will be glad you have it! Every time I forget to bring pain reliever, I suddenly need it)
- Diva cup for the ladies
- Razor
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Skincare products you might need — Antarctica is extremely windy and dry, so it’s important to have a good moisturizer
- Chapstick
- Reef-safe sunscreen (the sun in Antarctica is no joke!)
Camera Gear and Electronics:
- If you’re planning on creating content, I highly recommend bringing DJI Global Mics
- Insta360 camera
- GoPro 13 (my favorite!) — plus, it’s waterproof if you want to capture yourself doing the Polar Plunge
- Selfie stick that doubles as a tripod (though note that you can’t always use a tripod on land in Antarctica)
- Phone/camera mount (great for propping up to film!)
- Laptop and charger (unless you want to go completely offline — in my case, the WiFi worked onboard so well that I was able to Facetime my parents)
- Universal outlet adapter
- Portable power bank
Miscellaneous:
- Waterproof backpack (I used GORUCK for Antarctica, but in the past have used EarthPak)
- Compression bags so you can fit your belongings into a carry-on
- Reusable water bottle (I always go for a collapsible one because it’s less annoying to carry)
DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!
