Virtually all tourism activity in Antarctica takes place during the Southern Hemisphere's summer, roughly from October through March, with December-February being the high (and most expensive) season. October marks the beginning of extended daylight hours and the seasonal melting of  sea ice, and January is the "warmest" month, with temperatures averaging a mere 2⁰ Celsius (36⁰ Fahrenheit). Visitors can enjoy the weather for as much as 24 hours straight and see more wildlife than at any other time, particularly when it comes to penguin chicks, breeding elephant seals, and whales. On the flip side, high demand and a limited supply of ships, particularly during high season, necessitate a good deal of advance reservation and planning if you want to guarantee your preferred ship.

Read more in Tripatini contributor Rohny Jones' post Awesome Antarctica: What to See, How to Book, When to Go, and More.

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