The formation and movement of sea-ice outside of these times means that from March to November,  Antarctica is left to the over-wintering scientific bases and their crews. Tourist ships possibly could get in and out earlier or later in the season, but there is the all too real danger of not being able to get to the places on the itinerary, or more importantly of being stuck in the sea-ice and having an enforced winter (for an extra 8 months or more) as has happened on scientific bases occasionally. 

Winter pack ice extends over 620 miles around the continent, it is almost permanently dark and temperatures can drop to as low as -90ºC (-130ºF)

Temperature Range;   December - February 20ºF to 50ºF  -6ºC to +10ºC

November & Early December (Late Spring / Early Summer)

• Winter pack ice is starting to melt and breakup. The scenery is white, clean and pristine with pack ice and giant icebergs.
• Courting season for penguins and seabirds - see spectacular courtship rituals.
• Seals visible on fast ice.
• Spring wildflowers in the Falklands and South Georgia.
• Elephant and fur seals establish their breeding territories. 

Mid-December and January (Mid Summer)

• Normally Antarctica's warmest months.
• Longer days create great light conditions and fabulous photo opportunities at midnight.
• Antarctic chicks hatch.
• South Georgia and the Falklands - first penguin chicks emerge and fur seals are breeding.
• Seal Pups visible on South Georgia and the Falklands.
• Receding ice allows for more exploration.

 February and March (Late Summer)

• Whale sightings are at their best.
• Penguin chicks start to fledge.
• Receding pack ice allows ships to explore further south.
• More fur seals in the Antarctic Peninsula.

CLIMATE

Antarctica is the coldest continent. The lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere on earth, -88.3° C (-126.9° F), was on August 24, 1960, at Vostok Station. The continent is also buffeted by heavy winds. In the interior, winds as high as 320 km/h (200 mph) have been recorded. These winds flow downslope from the interior toward the coast and, combined with the low temperatures, create dangerous wind-chill conditions.

 Three basic climatic regions can be distinguished in Antarctica. The interior is characterized by extreme cold and light snowfall; the coastal areas are characterized by somewhat milder temperatures and much higher precipitation rates; and the Antarctic Peninsula is characterized by a warmer and wetter climate, with above-freezing temperatures common.

Antarctica can be classified as a true desert; in the interior the average annual precipitation (in water) is only about 50 mm (about 2 in). Raging blizzards often occur, however, when winds pick up previously deposited snow and move it from place to place. Annual precipitation is much heavier along the coast, amounting to about 380 mm (about 15 in) in water. Here, heavy snowfalls occur when cyclonic storms pick up moisture from the surrounding seas; this moisture freezes and is deposited as snow over the coastal areas.

Along the Antarctic Peninsula, especially the northern end, rain is as common as snow. The interior of Antarctica has almost continuous daylight during the southern hemisphere's summer and darkness during the southern hemisphere's winter. In coastal areas, which are farther north, long periods of sunshine occur during the summer, but sunrises and sunsets occur during much of the rest of the year.

It's no exaggeration to call Antarctica the coldest, windiest and driest place on Earth. The average continental temperature is around -32 F/-36 C, and a few remote places-notably Adelie Land-get wind gusts of up to 200 mph/322 kph. With only a few inches of precipitation a year, Antarctica is technically the world's largest desert. In the Dry Valley region, in fact, there is no snow or ice, giving the area a rocky, lunar landscape.

With all of this in mind, tour operators ply their trade only during the Antarctic summer, October-March, with December-February being the best months to go. Days can be sunny and clear, with temperatures averaging around 30 F/-1 C. Nights still get very cold-though at that latitude, they are very brief. Take heavy winter clothing and be prepared for wind, blowing snow, fog and frigid temperatures. The weather can be very unpredictable, so schedules can change or the tour can be suddenly canceled (even once it's under way). We know of no tours offered during Antarctica's winter.