Antarctica Tours: Aurora Expeditions provides tips for what to pack for your Antarctic vacation.

Leading Antarctica tours operator Aurora Expeditions explains what to pack for an Antarctica cruise.

Many passengers booking Antarctica tours are unsure about what they need to take with them. The following advice should help you ensure that you are fully prepared for travel to Antarctica.

It is better to have more warm clothing than not enough for Antarctica tours. Generally, most people find the weather in the Antarctic Peninsula is milder than they expect.

Layer upon layer
The secret to keeping warm in cold climates is the ‘layer principle’. Several light layers of clothing are better than one heavy layer on Antarctica vacations. When preparing for Antarctic tours, woollen or silk materials are better than cotton because they can trap warm air, and act as an insulator when heated by your body.

Waterproof jacket and pants
For Antarctica, travel the most important consideration is waterproof and windproof clothing. If you get wet, your body will lose heat much more quickly. Waterproof pants and a jacket will keep you warm in wet and windy conditions, such as in Zodiacs or onshore.

Polar fleece jacket and pants
Under a waterproof outer layer, you will need a warm layer. Polar fleece or woollen sweaters and pants are best. Jeans are usually not appropriate, as they do not dry if they become wet and you are likely to get very cold sitting in wet clothing.

Thermal underwear
To prepare for Antarctica tours, thermal long-sleeved underwear in silk, polypropylene or wool should be the first layer next to your skin.

Socks, mittens and gloves
Hands and feet are the body parts that can get the coldest, so they need to be kept warm and dry. Some people find they need two pairs of socks. When packing for your Antarctica holiday take both thick and thin socks so you can decide the combination that works best for you both on the ship and on shore.

A pair of polypropylene or woollen gloves covered with a waterproof mitten work well. Take a spare set of gloves in case you lose your first pair or they become wet.

Hats
On trips to Antarctica as much as 90% of body heat can be lost from your head. A woollen hat or balaclava will protect your ears and forehead from the icy Antarctic wind. A scarf will also help keep your face and neck warm in cold conditions. A cap is also essential to protect you from the harsh sunlight experienced on Antarctica tours.

Footwear
Calf to knee-high gumboots are probably the most important item of footwear on an Antarctica vacation and for shore landings and riding in Zodiacs. A pair with strongly patterned soles will give you more grip in icy conditions.

On board the Antarctic cruise ship
On board most ships, the temperature is usually quite warm, and on Antarctic tours casual trousers, light, long-sleeved shirts or T-shirts are the usual attire, unless you are travelling on more formal Antarctica tours. On the ship, joggers or casual shoes are the most comfortable footwear.