Call 0330 880 3600 Calls may be monitored or recorded. Opening Times.

Blog Header

Need help?

UK Customer Services0330 880 3600

Open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 8.30am - 4pm, Closed Sunday..
.

(Calls may be monitored or recorded)

Contact details can be found in your policy documentation

Available 24 hours a day, every day

Travel Insurance Antarctica

Antarctica Country Guide

Antarctica Flag

Antarctica

  1. Country Facts
  2. Health
  3. Media
  1. Intro
  2. Geography
  3. People
  4. Travel
  5. Embassies & Visas
  6. Finance

Quick Facts

Official Name: Antarctica
Capital: N/A
Official Languages: Varied
Spoken Languages: Varied
Population: 0 permanent residents, 5,000 temporary residents (2015 est.)
Currency: N/A
Time Zone: No official time zone

Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth. The continent is surrounded by the Southern Ocean and is south from the Antarctic Circle. Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world being nearly twice the size of Australia. The continent is the most driest, windiest and coldest out of all the other continents on Earth. Antarctica is largely considered a desert.

Antarctica Travel Insurance

Get travel insurance to Antarctica from Direct Travel Insurance. We offer low cost and high quality travel insurance to Antarctica and most of the world.

Get a quote

Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean but is also attached to the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean. 98% of Antarctica is covered in ice, 90% of the world’s ice is located on Antarctica. Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth, temperatures can be extremely low and specialised equipment is required to be able to survive on Antarctica. The lowest temperature ever recorded was on Antarctica, -89.2°C (-128.6°F). Temperatures can reach a maximum of 15°C (59°F) in the summer season.

Geographic data: 90° N 0° E

Natural hazards: High winds, blizzards, extreme storms and volcanoes are all risks on Antarctica.

Birth rate: 0 births/1000 people

Death rate: 0 deaths/1000 people

Life expectancy: N/A

You cannot drive on Antarctica due to the condition of the continent. Only specialised vehicles may drive on Antarctica and require specific training to operate.

Crime is extremely low on Antarctica due to the minimal amount of people. Petty crime from stations on Antarctica such as stealing equipment may occur. All of the reported cases have found that these offences were committed by tourists visiting stations. General care advised.

No visa is required to visit Antarctica as the continent is not owned by a government. However, you must be travelling with a tour operator who has permission to visit the continent.

You will need a passport to enter Antarctica, your passport only needs to be valid for the day of entry.

Currency: N/A

There is no economy on Antarctica so there is no need for cash or cards.

There are no health requirements for travelling to Antarctica.

Currently, FCDO have not advised against travel to Antarctica. This information may be updated at any time, and it is advised that you check the FCDO website before you travel: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Direct Travel Insurance cannot offer cover for any areas or countries to which the FCDO advise against travel.

Research is the main and only aspect of human element on Antarctica. Over 4,000 scientists work on the frozen continent in the summer. NASA are one of the many research organisations that operate in Antarctica. Wildlife is also popular on Antarctica being home to numerous amounts of animals such as penguins, seals, whales, squids and orcas.