Kayaking in Antarctica with Albatros Expeditions
Imagine floating silently past towering icebergs as a raft of penguins porpoise (jump of of the water), chattering away, right beside you.
For many, kayaking in Antarctica is a must-do activity.
But just how good is it really? And is it worth the money?
Join us as we explain the different kayak options available and as we reflect on our own experience with Albatros Expeditions.
Choosing your Antarctic sailing based on their kayak programme
If you’d like to kayak in Antarctica, you’ll want to decide if you plan to kayak every day, or if you’d like to do it just once or twice.
Daily kayak programme vs one-off kayak – What’s the difference?
One-off kayak
A one-off kayak allows you to sign up to kayak once or twice during your cruise.
This generally comes at an additional cost (unless you choose one of the few all-inclusive sailings), but it’s much cheaper than the alternative kayak programme.
Because they can accommodate far more guests like this, it’s generally fine to sign up once on board.
Plus, if the weather’s not good, you won’t be charged.
Daily kayak programme
Some companies offer a (more expensive) kayak programme for the duration of your cruise.
You’ll kayak every day possible (generally twice a day), though this normally happens instead of taking a zodiac cruise and/or a land excursion.
If you’re keen, you’ll probably need to commit well before your cruise – this is due to limited availability.
⚠️ Check the cancellation policy on kayak programmes. The one we looked into was non-refundable, even if the weather was so bad that the kayaks didn’t even touch the water!
Why we chose Albatros Expeditions
Albatros Expeditions offer an one-off kayak experience, instead of a cruise-long programme.
This allowed us to save significant money and let us make the most of the zodiacs for our other excursions.
This was one of the main reasons we decided to sail with them – we wanted to enjoy the normal included excursions and didn’t actually want to paddle every time, much less, pay for the full kayak course!
In the end, it was the right decision for us, as although we loved our kayak, we enjoyed our zodiac cruises just as much (if not more).
What to expect when kayaking in Antarctica with Albatros Expeditions
Given we were on a ship with a one-off kayak offering, we spent most of our excursions on the zodiacs/on land.
However, we also spent one of our sessions paddling through Antarctic waters!
After boarding, we were invited to attend a briefing session (which was compulsory for anyone wanting to paddle) and sign up.
We were then placed into randomly-allocated groups, spread across the eight expected excursion slots.
What to wear while kayaking
In our briefing we were given a run-down about what to wear and it was pretty spot-on.
We each wore:
- merino long-john pants
- a merino long-sleeve top
- track pants
- a zip-up fleece
- merino socks
- a beanie
- sunglasses
- a neckbuff.
Down in the mudroom, we were also given:
- a drysuit
- a lifevest
- muck boots
- dry bags.
We had one of the coldest/windiest sessions on our trip, and I can’t lie – it was cold out on the water – but it was also manageable.
Did you know? The paddles have neoprene pogies attached and they do a remarkable job of keeping your hands warm. Because of this, neither of us wore gloves – though Nathan kept his hands much warmer than me as he wasn’t playing around with camera equipment!
Getting on and off the kayaks
Once you’re geared up, you’ll hop onto a zodiac.
After towing the kayaks to a suitable location, you’ll be helped into the boats one-at-a-time.
Getting in can seem a little daunting at first (because who wants to fall in the water by mistake?!) but it really wasn’t difficult.
You’ll start sitting on the side of the zodiac, before popping your feet into the kayak, then transferring your body over.
As you paddle, one of the kayak guides will follow (at a decent distance, so it still feels very peaceful), and when it’s time to return, you’ll transfer back onto the zodiac in reverse.
What we saw from our kayak
We were lucky to see a lot of wildlife while on our kayak excursion.
This included:
- gentoo penguins swimming around us on a number of occasions
- a weddell seal
- crabeater seals
- humpback whales
- a very inquisitive Antarctic shag/imperial cormorant
- Wilson’s storm petrels.
Wildlife sightings really depend on the day and the site, but we were very happy with what we saw.
However, it’s also worth noting that the other passengers on the zodiacs saw what we saw, and more – because they had the time to race off to check out the ‘Antarctic sausages’/seals in the distance when we didn’t.
I think this goes to show why it’s worth kayaking once or twice, but not necessarily every time.
How difficult was the paddle?
We didn’t find the kayak difficult at all, but we are also relatively experienced leisure kayakers.
Some others found it a little more difficult to steer, particularly through the brash ice.
The kayaks were nice and stable, and we didn’t mess around with foot pegs or spray skirts – all of which made getting into the kayaks easier too.
How cold was it on the water?
We had one of the coldest/windiest days to paddle, and I can’t lie, it was chilly!
With that said, we still had an amazing time and were very happy to spend the time out there.
Did we get wet while kayaking?
If we did get wet, we didn’t notice it thanks to our dry suits.
The pogies (hand-warmers attached to the paddles) did a nice job of keeping our hands dry and fairly warm too.
What we loved about kayaking in Antarctica
Though we probably would have seen more on the zodiacs, there’s something so serene about floating along, just above the waterline.
To feel so small amongst such massive scenery is pretty incredible.
Kayaking also gives you the chance to get up closer to animals (if you’re lucky and they decide to come to you).
If you have the opportunity to do it, we highly recommend you book in at least one paddle.
FAQ about kayaking with Albatros Expeditions
We were group six, and as such, we were allocated the 6th landing site. If the weather wasn’t good enough to paddle, that session was cancelled without charge and the next group got a go at the next landing site.
Only the first group (out of eight) on our cruise didn’t make it out paddling – and they were able to accommodate them on the last session, so everyone that wanted to paddle, got to on our sailing. This really can vary though.
There were eight people in our group, partnered up in double kayaks. Albatros Expeditions have a maximum group size of ten.
We were joined on the water by one guide (in his own single kayak), while another kayak guide followed at a fair distance in a safety zodiac.
The kayaks were very stable.
No, and I got the impression this happens very seldom, if ever.
It depends on the conditions and location, but they aim for approximately 2 hours.
There are no toilets on the zodiacs or kayaks, so it really is best to limit your fluid-intake before your kayak trip. This ensures you, and the rest of the guests, can make the most of the time on the water.
A single kayak excursion with Albatros Expeditions is USD350 per person.
All of our spots were filled with people paddling once, so nobody on our sailing got a second go. If it weren’t as popular on your cruise, a second kayak might be possible.
Are you headed to Antarctica? Read all our posts…
- Packing list (for light travellers)
- Day one on Ocean Albatros – Embarking
- Day two on Ocean Albatros – Preparing for Antarctica
- Day three to five – Crossing the Drake Passage
- What to expect on your Antarctic excursions (landings and zodiac cruises)
- Polar plunge FAQ
- Kayaking FAQ
- … and get in touch with Ants for a quote when you’re ready to visit yourself (including applicable discounts).
