Antarctica packing list: What to take when travelling light to the seventh continent

If you’re planning a trip to Antarctica you’ll probably be wondering what to pack.

You will be, after all, in the middle of nowhere, so it’s important to take everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable expedition.

However, you also don’t want to overpack, and find yourself carting around excess gear and paying unnecessary baggage fees.

We travelled to Antarctica, packing light, are are pleased to share our packing list with you.

You can add additional items if it feels a bit lean for you, but we suggest using our list as a starting point.

Packing light for an Antarctica trip

Before we get to our packing list, let’s take a look at the bags we take when we travel.

They’re great quality and are very comfortable to carry.

Personal bag/day bag: Osprey Talon (22L) or Tempest (20L). Again, they really are gender-neutral.

Large bag: Osprey Farpoint (and Fairview for women, though I have the men’s Farpoint and it’s absolutely fine). 40L.

What to pack/wear for your travels and on the ship

• Track pants/exercise tights/jeans (we only took one pair of track pants each, but if you’re not travelling carry-on only, you might want two pairs+ from this list)
• Clothing to suit the climates wherever you transit – as we had a morning in Buenos Aires, that meant a t-shirt and pair of shorts each.
• a pair of running shoes/trainers.
• a pair of North Face ThermoBall Traction V Mules (warm slippers with good grip – we lived in these on board!)
• 5-7 pairs of underwear – ideally quick-dry material
• 2-3 pairs of light-weight/cotton socks
• Swimming togs/bathing suit

What to pack/wear in Antarctica

Antarctica can be cold and windy. But it can also be surprisingly warm and sunny (relatively speaking – don’t go expecting a tropical vacation!)

Layering is key, so you can add/remove as required.

Quality materials and waterproof gear is also important.

Each day on the ice/in the zodiac, we made use of:

• 1-2 pairs of merino pants as a base-layer
• waterproof pants – either:
  • a pair of track pants and waterproof overpants or
  • a pair of ski pants (like Nobody’s Princess ski pants) – as these are insulated pants, you don’t need track pants
  • with a belt, if required.
• 2 pairs of long merino socks
• 2-3 long-sleeve merino top as a base-layer (tuck them into your pants)
• a zip-up fleece
• our Albatros Expeditions parkas (which are provided to everyone on board, and are yours to keep)
• lightweight gloves and/or waterproof gloves
• a beanie
• a buff
• sunglasses
• rubber muck boots, loaned by Albatros Expeditions.

Ladies, if you struggle with the fit of standard snow gear, check out Nobody’s Princess – this brand is a game changer! I wore their pants, and in retrospect should have also taken my jacket as it fit so much better than what I was given on the boat. Read more about what I love about their gear.

Optional technology to pack for your Antarctic cruise

• Universal travel adapter
• Mobile phone with a decent camera (I love my iPhone 15)
• Phone tether to keep your mobile phone safe – this one was perfect!
• Camera with zoom lens and lens cap leashes (though it’s quite old now, I love my Fuji X-T20).
• [Optional] Additional camera, such as a GoPro and/or Insta360, with accessories.
• [Optional] Laptop and padded case (optional – if we weren’t working on the road, we probably wouldn’t have taken ours).

What to put in your toiletry bag

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dust & Glow 15gm powder shampoo, conditioner, bodywash and detox cleanser & mask
• SOS Tower28 spray (for your face, and to freshen up your clothes)
• Sard Wonder Soap (or other laundry bar)
• Tangle Teezer or hairbrush.

Packing your personal bag

You’ll place this bag under the seat in front of you while on the plane, so it’s the perfect place to pop any items you want within easy reach.

We suggest including:

• Passport and other important travel documents, along with a ballpoint pen.
• Wallet (including your Wise Card)
• Noise cancelling headphones and a strap (so you don’t have to worry about them falling out while you sleep on the plane)
• AirFly (if using wireless headphones)
• Manta sleep mask
• Neck pillow (we used Trtl’s and an inflatable pillow)
• Loop earplugs (with optional safety cord) or normal earplugs
• Medication (including sleeping pills, if desired – great for adjusting to jet lag)
• Mobile phone and charging cable
• MagSafe mobile phone stand
• A book or Kindle.

Our ship had lots of movies and live TV, so though we expected to read and watch the movies we’d downloaded in advance, we barely made a dent in them!

Don’t worry about taking too much to entertain yourself for the Drake Crossing, as there’s plenty on board.

⛔️ If you find yourself on board and find you’ve been caught short, you might be in luck. Albatros Expeditions had a small shop that carried some Antarctic-approved clothing items. They also had a doctor on board who had a wide range of medications (at surprisingly reasonable prices). Still, it’s best to be prepared if possible.