Optional activity available for an extra charge

Imagine yourself floating amid icebergs, paddling pristine bays and exploring some of the most beautiful places on Earth at your own pace! Get close-up views of wildlife and immerse yourself fully into the breathtaking polar world from the comfort of your sturdy sea kayak. We guarantee that this will be one of the highlights on your polar expedition, but booking in advance is crucial. We keep our kayak groups small and it’s an all-time favorite for real expeditioners, so spots fill up very quickly. Depending on weather conditions you'll experience various guided sea kayaking adventures at the most scenic locations of your cruise, and we’ll provide all the equipment!

Reasons to go sea kayaking 

• Explore the most pristine places on Earth in a small group of like-minded kayakers
• Enjoy the best opportunities for wildlife viewing
• Stay active during your cruise
• Feel the solitude and remoteness of the White Continent while paddling at your own pace

Sea kayaking details

Be ready to kayak!

Our kayaking instructors are very active and eager to get out whenever weather and sea conditions permit. After all, you want to make the most of it. Our kayaking sessions typically run two to three hours per outing. Our off-ship activities average around 2.5 hours per outing, so as part of the kayaking group, you will often explore longer than the others. Be prepared to be flexible and venture out whenever your instructors schedule a sea kayaking adventure so you don’t miss out on the experience of a lifetime.

All equipment provided

We’ll take the burden off you to pack any extra gear and provide you with everything you need for your kayaking experience. All paddling gear (paddling suit, spray skirt, personal floating device/life jacket, booties and neoprene pogies) is included. We use only state-of-the art kayaks that are durable and extremely stable.

Why a Dry Suit, Not a Wetsuit: The Cold-Water Protection System

When kayaking in polar waters, the right equipment makes all the difference, making it a pleasant experience for you. That’s why we provide dry suits rather than wetsuits. A wetsuit works by trapping a thin layer of water between the neoprene and your skin, which your body warms up to help retain heat. A dry suit is designed to seal out water completely and keep you dry, even if you capsize or get splashed.

In water temperatures of around 0°C (32°F), this distinction is crucial, as a dry suit helps protect you perfectly against the cold. It works together with the thermal base layers you wear underneath. This layering system helps you stay warm and adjust your insulation according to the air temperature and activity level, without overheating. Before any outing, your guides will advise you on what to wear beneath the suit, depending on the conditions that day.

Even if you happen to end up in the water, your dry suit helps prevent water from reaching your skin. Our support Zodiac and guides will assist you with safely getting back into your kayak or out of the water.

Average fitness level required

You don’t have to be a world-class kayaker to join our group, but we’ll expect basic kayaking and paddling experience prior to your trip. Need to brush up on your skills? Just schedule a lesson or two before you leave for the Arctic or Antarctica to get back on track! You also have to be able to swim and to climb into your kayak. A good indicator for your fitness level is that you should be able to lift yourself by your own strength out of a swimming pool without using a ladder.

Am I Good Enough? Skills, Experience, and What’s Actually Required

You don’t need to be a professional kayaker or able to perform a kayak roll to join our polar kayaking excursions. Our outings are designed for recreational paddlers, not technical kayakers, but some previous kayaking experience is required. You should have paddled in a sit-in kayak before, feel comfortable with a forward stroke, and be able to steer without constant assistance from your guide. You should also be comfortable with the possibility of capsizing and willing to follow your guides’ instructions when out on the water. A support Zodiac is always close by, ready to assist if needed.

If your prior experience comes mainly from canoeing, note that sea kayaks are different. They are typically narrower and sit lower in the water, with a longer hull designed to handle open water passages. Steering is assisted by a foot-operated rudder, which takes a bit of getting used to if you have only paddled in canoes. Haven’t been kayaking in a while? Take one or two refresher sessions before your voyage! A little practice can make a real difference to your confidence and you’ll enjoy your outings much more.

Prior to your first kayak session aboard, your guides will assess the group’s abilities and adapt the program accordingly. More experienced paddlers may venture farther or cover more distance, while those who need more practice receive additional instructions and closer supervision. Our goal is to make it a rewarding experience for everyone while keeping safety first.

Safety first

Our qualified instructors will ensure safety during the kayaking and help you board and de-board your kayak. You’ll also get a full briefing prior to your first outing and we’ll always have a safety boat close to our paddlers – just in case.

Don’t fear the sea

Sure, you’ve heard of the wild Drake Passage (we’ll be crossing it aboard our expedition ship, the Sea Spirit) and harsh conditions of the Southern Ocean surrounding the White Continent – but don’t worry! We’ll deploy our kayakers in protected bays where waters are calm. While you may encounter wind, moderate waves and swell, we won’t let you paddle in dangerous conditions! Water temperatures are usually around 0°C (32°F) and your dry suit and spray skirt will protect you from getting too wet.

Sometimes you’ll have to make a choice…

You’ll paddle while non-kayaking expeditioners engage in other activities such as shore landings and Zodiac cruising. Sometimes you’ll rejoin the group half-way through your daily adventures, but sometimes you’ll have to choose either to kayak or join the main group.

And finally...enjoy!

The opportunity to go kayaking is very exclusive, you’ll spend time in a small group of fellow paddlers and expeditioners that love adventures – just like yourself! You’ll get an experience that many others don’t, such as a close-up view of curious penguins jumping in and out of the water, a stunning maze of iceberg formations or simply a crystal clear ocean surface to glide through while taking the pictures of a lifetime.

What will I see while kayaking?

Get ready for the best views of remote bays, pristine beaches, mesmerizing icebergs, mountain ranges and, of course, wildlife! It’s not unheard of that while you’re paddle along a calm shore a penguin will dart out of the water to land right next to you on an ice floe! Your kayaking instructor will always be there to guide and instruct you on how to stay safe and ensure compliance with all IAATO guidelines on wildlife viewing.

Ice and Wildlife: Getting Closer Than a Zodiac Can

From a kayak, Antarctica feels different: you are close to the water, at eye level with floating ice, and paddling at your own pace quietly through the untouched landscapes. Without a motor, you can approach icebergs, while your guides judge the conditions and maintain a safe distance. Close by, you can see the shades of blue hidden beneath the water and how much of an iceberg really extends below the surface. Without motor noise, you can hear a faint crackling sound while passing icebergs. As small pieces of glacial ice melt, bubbles of trapped air inside them escape, producing this unique sound.

Wildlife encounters are also much more immersive in a kayak. Penguins may porpoise through the water around your kayak, leaping above the surface before disappearing again into the water. Seals occasionally approach to investigate, and sometimes you may see a whale surfacing nearby. Your guides will signal when to stop paddling and hold position, allowing the animals to decide whether to come closer or continue on their way. On rare occasions, a whale may pass beneath the kayaks. These encounters are never guaranteed, and the animals’ safety always comes first.

IAATO wildlife-watching guidelines apply on the water as well as on land. Kayakers must not deliberately approach or pursue wildlife, and the required distance depends on the species and situation. If an animal approaches you, remain calm, follow your guides’ instructions, and let it pass without chasing or trying to get closer.

While not every outing brings dramatic wildlife encounters, polar paddling is an amazing experience. Sometimes the best moments are simply gliding through floating ice in sheltered bays, surrounded by peaks, listening to the crackle of melting ice and the water splashing against your paddles.

What are the conditions like?

We won’t let you kayak the Drake Passage – that’s for sure. But once we reach the Antarctic Peninsula and placid bays of South Georgia Island, we’ll deploy our kayaks whenever weather conditions permit. Most of the times you’ll find yourself gliding on mirror-like water surfaces with penguins, seals and even whales swimming close by. Crystal-clear waters will allow you to spot them right from the kayak! Other days you may encounter minor challenges like moderate waves and a swell, but our kayak instructors will ensure that you’ll have a good and safe time out on the water.

Sea Kayaking is available on selected voyages of Sea Spirit to Antarctica and the Arctic. This is a limited-availability optional activity that has certain joining and membership requirements. Please see our How to Join and FAQ pages for more information.

Weather, Conditions and When Kayaking Gets Cancelled

Choosing the right moment is essential for kayaking in the polar regions. Conditions can often change quickly, and they depend on where you travel and when. Around the Antarctic Peninsula, summer temperatures typically range from -2°C to +4°C (28°F to 39°F), while water temperatures are around 0°C (32°F). In the Arctic, summer temperatures are generally milder, with air temperatures of around 3°C to 10°C (37°F to 50°F) and seawater temperatures of approximately 2°C to 5°C (36°F to 41°F). Wind chill can make it feel considerably colder.

Katabatic winds (powerful currents of cold, dense air that flow downhill from glaciers toward the coast) can strengthen quickly, making even a sheltered bay unsuitable for kayaking. Our guides constantly monitor winds, waves, ice conditions, and swell to assess whether the outing can go ahead as planned. We carefully select locations for polar kayaking, such as channels and sheltered bays around the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as coastal inlets and fjords in Svalbard and Greenland. This allows you to paddle along remote coastlines and among icebergs. You won’t be paddling in the open ocean.

If sea, ice, and weather conditions do not cooperate, your kayaking session may be canceled or postponed. Instead, you’ll take a Zodiac cruise or go ashore – so you won’t miss out on any excursions or shore landings, as our team will adjust your day’s activities accordingly. Conditions in polar regions are always unpredictable and a flexible mindset is part of any authentic expedition!