Antarctica Languages - Travel Advice

TRAVEL ADVICE

Visa Requirements

No visas or passport are required for travel to Antarctica as no one owns the Antarctic..

Travel Health

As Antarctica has an extreme environment the cold is a serious health hazard. Visitors..

Local Currency

Antarctica is not a country and therefore has no single entity that is sovereign. It is..

Weather

The only time to visit Antarctica is during summer from November to March due to sea ice..

Local Customs

There are no permanent human residents in Antarctica although many scientists journey..

Languages

The native languages of the nations operating bases are used however English is commonly..

Transport Options

There are no airports in Antarctica capable of accepting ordinary commercial airliners...

Travel Tips

The best way to visit Antarctica is on a cruise ship where expert guides lead visitors..

Local Food

The food eaten on bases in Antarctica is mostly frozen, dried or tinned due to the..

Local Timezones

Antarctica Standard Time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Antarctica does not operate..

Dutyfree Limits

There is no duty free shopping in Antarctica however nearly all cruise ships offer duty..

Languages

The native languages of the nations operating bases are used however English is commonly used for communicating between bases where different languages are spoken. The international dialling code for Antarctica is 672. Ship based communication is by satellite phone.

In Antarctica communications can be a matter of life or death. Therefore communication systems are a key part of any research station. All ships and stations have permanent satellite links to the outside world providing broadband internet and a sophisticated telephone network. Radios and portable satellite phones provide communication with ships, aircraft and field parties and within the stations themselves there are telephones and walkie-talkie systems. Unfortunately all of these systems can be disrupted by the unpredictable weather or atmospheric phenomena.