Antarctica´s Rulebook: What Every Responsible Visitor Needs to Know

Find out about the Antarctic Treaty and the biosafety guidelines needed to protect wildlife, support scientific research and explore Antarctica responsibly and safely.

Antarctica isn't governed by any single country. There's no local council, no national park ranger stationed at the entrance, no ticket booth. And yet it's one of the most carefully protected places on the planet.
The truth is, the freedom to set foot on the seventh continent comes with a set of responsibilities, ones we think you should understand before you go, not because they're complicated (they're not), but because knowing the WHY behind them tends to make travellers appreciate Antarctica even more once they're standing on it.
Here's a plain guide to some rules for visitors

The Antarctic Treaty: A short history of the Rulebook Behind Every Expedition

Back in 1959, twelve nations signed the Antarctic Treaty, setting Antarctica aside as a place for peace and science — no military activity, no active territorial claims, no commercial exploitation.
With time, many more countries joined the Treaty.
In 1991, that framework was strengthened by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, which designated the entire continent as a natural reserve as well as laying out binding obligations for anyone travelling there, tourists included.
In practice, this means every expedition operator must build their voyages around these obligations, and every visitor — regardless of their nationality — is expected to comply with them. It's a system built on trust as much as regulation, and it has worked remarkably well for over sixty years.

Wildlife Always Has the Right of Way
This is the rule most people ask about, and it's simple: the wildlife dictates the encounter, not us.
• Keep a respectful distance from penguins, seals and seabirds at all times, and give them extra space during breeding and moulting season, when they're most vulnerable.
• Never feed, touch or handle any animal, however curious (or curious-looking) it seems.
• Move quietly and slowly. Boats, people and even footsteps can disturb wildlife more than you'd expect.
• Stay off moss beds and lichen-covered slopes — they look sturdy, but it can take decades to recover from a single boot print.
• Nothing that isn't native to Antarctica comes ashore with you: no seeds on your boots or clothing, no stray food, no material from other trips tucked into a pocket. For that reason, before reaching the White Continent, we will go through a biosecurity protocol where all external clothing going ashore will be inspected and cleaned.

Organisations like the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators have implemented strict biosecurity rules in Antarctica to prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1), including:

1. No sitting or kneeling: visitors cannot sit, kneel, crouch, or lie down on the ground or snow to avoid any contact with potentially contaminated soil or droppings.
2. Keep your gear off the ground: Backpacks, tripod legs, walking sticks, and other equipment cannot be placed directly on the ground or snow.
3. All items and clothing that touch the ground or environment undergo strict sanitisation between different regions and landing sites.
4. Touching or handling dead or sick animals is strictly prohibited.
5. Pre-landing checks: expedition staff scout landing sites for sick or dead wildlife before allowing passengers to disembark, and sites may be closed if outbreaks are suspected.
6. Report unusual behaviour: any observed tremors, lack of coordination, high mortality, or unusual behaviour in birds and seals must be reported immediately to expedition leaders or station managers.

None of this is about restriction for its own sake. It’s what keeps an encounter with wildlife feeling like a privilege rather than a disturbance.

Some Places Are Simply Off-Limits
Certain sites across Antarctica carry special protection for their ecological, scientific, or historical value. A handful require a permit just to set foot on; others are closed to visitors entirely.
Your expedition team will always know where these boundaries sit. If a landing site is closed, it’s closed for a good reason — even if that reason isn't obvious from the Zodiac. The same goes for Antarctica's historic huts: fascinating to see, but strictly hands-off.
Science Comes First at the Stations
Antarctica is probably the first and foremost hub for global science. The scientists and personnel living at the stations are running active, long-term research, so treating their work and space with respect is essential.
If your itinerary includes a stop at a research station, it has been arranged well in advance. Once there, equipment, markers, and field sites are strictly off-limits. Respect the privacy and ongoing work of the researchers who call these stations home.

Safety Comes With the Territory
Antarctica is genuinely one of the most unpredictable environments on Earth.
• Dress for the unexpected: weather shifts within minutes, so pack and dress for changing conditions.
• Stay visible: Always keep your group in sight and follow your leaders' instructions right away. They are constantly monitoring ice movements and wind conditions.
• Glaciers hide crevasses: Never wander onto snowfields or glaciers without a guide.
• Self-reliance: The nearest medical centre can be days away from Antarctica. While ships carry medical staff, serious evacuations are complex and heavily dependent on the weather—which is why following safety guidelines is a must.

Leave It Exactly as You Found It
Keeping Antarctica pristine comes down to the simplest rule of all: take nothing, leave nothing.
That means no litter, but it also means no rocks, bones, feathers, fossils, or fragments from historic sites tucked into your pocket as keepsakes. Waste of every kind must be brought back on board the ship.

Why do we tell you all this?

We could simply hand you a packing list and wish you well. But the travellers who get the most out of Antarctica are the ones who understand its importance, and why it's protected.
Every operator The Polar Travel Company partners with takes these principles into their voyages as standard. Your part is simple: stay curious, keep your distance, listen to your expedition team, and leave Antarctica exactly as untouched as you found it.
That's really all it takes to be a good guest in the world's last great wilderness.