When is the best time to visit Antarctica?

• Start of season, be amongst the first to arrive
• Largest icebergs
• Nesting penguins

Head to Antarctica in November and you'll be amongst the first to arrive for the season, meaning the landing sites will have not seen many visitors yet. You'll see pristine snow and dazzling white landscapes, as well as the largest icebergs of the season. Each with its own unique shapes and tones of blue, these huge ice sculptures make for a photographers dream. As do the penguins, who will be beginning to nest. Look out for eggs at the feet of the penguins as they waddle along within their colonies.

The peak continues into January as the weather is still fair with typically good access to landing sites. There is nearly 24 hours of daylight.

One of the main reasons that this is the peak season...the penguin chicks are at their fluffiest and cutest! So if baby penguins are what you want to see, January is the best time to visit.

You should see plenty of seals about at this time as well as migrating whales; humpbacks start arriving from January and you may also see orca.

March is the end of the season, meaning there are fewer visitors and prices can be lower. Temperatures do tend to be colder and the weather is less predictable. The shorter days however do mean you'll get to see sunrises and sunsets.

If you want to see whales, March is the best month. You will hopefully see lots of humpbacks, minke and other whale species around with good chances of seeing that beautiful fluke as they dive.

You can also expect to see plenty of fur seal and plenty of penguins in the colonies, with many still moulting.