What the people who run these places ask visitors to bring, and why, in their words. Item types, not products: no brand is named, and nothing here has been tested by us.
For long flights, days at sea and seasickness, the CDC’s Yellow Book has chapters written for health professionals. Talk to your doctor before a trip like this.
Places this kit covers (24)
- The Aletsch Glacier
- Churchill
- Deception Island
- The Drake Passage
- Grímsey
- Herschel Island (Qikiqtaruk)
- Hvalsey Church
- Ilulissat Icefjord
- Kennecott
- Kobuk Valley
- Lemaire Channel
- McMurdo Dry Valleys
- Perito Moreno Glacier
- Point Wild
- Pond Inlet
- Port Lockroy
- Ross Ice Shelf
- Scoresby Sund
- South Georgia
- The South Pole
- Svalbard
- Tuktoyaktuk and the Pingos
- Ushuaia
- Uummannaq
What the places ask
A waterproof, windproof outer layer
Visit East Greenland’s packing list asks for a waterproof and windproof outer layer over the warm ones, and an insulated, waterproof jacket or shell in summer.
Asked for by: Visit East Greenland, essential packing list (summer June–September, winter February–April; no publication date shown).
Borrow, rent or ask first: Some operators provide an outer jacket for the voyage. Ask yours what is provided before you buy one.
Read 20 October 2026.
Boots with open treads that are easy to clean
On South Georgia, boots are scrubbed and dipped in a biocide before every landing and again on return to the ship, and the government asks visitors to choose boots with open treads that are easy to clean. IAATO asks that anything that will touch the Antarctic environment be cleaned and disinfected before you leave home.
Asked for by: Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Standard Operating Procedure: Visitors (uploaded June 2026); IAATO 2025–26 Avian Influenza Protocols.
Borrow, rent or ask first: Ask your ship whether it lends boots for landings before you buy a pair. Visit East Greenland’s list asks you to check with your operator which equipment is provided.
Read 20 October 2026.
Layers you can add and take off
Visit East Greenland asks travellers to “work with the layer principle”, in summer too, to shield from wind and water. The National Park Service’s Ten Essentials list extra clothing: a jacket, hat, gloves, rain shell and other layers.
Asked for by: Visit East Greenland, packing list; National Park Service, the Ten Essentials (last updated 28 May 2026).
Borrow, rent or ask first: Layers are the easiest thing here to borrow: most of what is asked for is ordinary warm clothing.
Read 20 October 2026.
Sun protection for eyes, skin and lips
Visit East Greenland lists sunglasses with UV protection, a high-factor sunscreen, a hat and lip balm with sun protection, summer and winter. The Park Service’s Ten Essentials put sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat under sun protection.
Asked for by: Visit East Greenland, packing list; National Park Service, the Ten Essentials.
Borrow, rent or ask first: Nothing to rent here.
Read 20 October 2026.
Outer gear without Velcro or mesh, and a brush
South Georgia’s government asks visitors to choose clothing without Velcro, mesh or webbing and bags with smooth fabrics; to pay attention to seams, pockets, fastenings and Velcro when cleaning; and to check everything for soil, seeds, animal material and invertebrates before the first landing. Daypacks and camera bags are brushed and vacuumed.
Asked for by: Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, SOP: Visitors; IAATO 2025–26 Avian Influenza Protocols.
Borrow, rent or ask first: Borrowed gear is welcome if it is clean. The South Georgia procedure asks for new clothing and equipment where possible, so ask the lender to check the seams with you.
Read 20 October 2026.
Being a good visitor here
- In Antarctica, keep at least 5 metres (15 feet) from wildlife at all times, and do not sit, kneel, crouch or lie down in wildlife areas, as IAATO’s 2025–26 protocols require.
- On South Georgia, fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and unpasteurised dairy are not to be brought ashore for your own use, under the government’s visitor procedure.
- In the Arctic, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators’ visitor guidelines (updated 30 June 2026; read 21 October 2026) ask visitors to leave cultural remains and a 100-metre zone around them alone, and on polar bears to “follow your guide’s instructions”, never stray from the group and never approach a bear.
Sources are named in each item, with the date we read them; a few come from our own place entries, which carry their sources. Rules and seasons change; the place’s own entry and the authority’s page have the latest.