French Southern Territories: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and E, 230 V (at stations). Tipping: Not applicable; there are no shops, restaurants or commercial services. Tap water: Not applicable; no permanent population..

Open The French Southern Territories Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and E, 230 V (at stations)

Tipping

Not applicable; there are no shops, restaurants or commercial services.

Water And Health

Tap water: Not applicable; no permanent population.
Vaccines: None; no permanent population.
Malaria: None

Apps To Download Before You Go

TAAF official site (taaf.fr): The administration's website is the only source for tourist berths, permits and rules.
Marion Dufresne rotation info: Ship schedules published by the TAAF and IPEV determine when anyone can travel.
Air Austral: Flights to Réunion, the departure point of the Marion Dufresne.
Météo-France: Weather forecasts for Kerguelen and Amsterdam are published by the French meteorological service.
Maps.me or Gaia GPS: Offline maps are the only option; there is no mobile network on the islands.
WhatsApp (via station internet): Limited satellite internet at stations allows basic messaging when bandwidth permits.
Google Translate (French offline pack): Everything at the stations is in French; download a pack before departure.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Only rotating French station staff live here: expect "bonjour" and a handshake with newcomers, with cheek kisses (la bise) between colleagues who know each other. Greetings are informal and brief.

No resident population to visit. The territory has only rotating scientific and military staff, no permanent residents or towns; there is no local culture or customs to observe as a visitor.

Strict environmental protocols. Visitors (mainly on expedition cruises) must follow strict biosecurity and wildlife-protection rules, such as boot-cleaning between landings, keeping distance from wildlife, and leaving no trace, to protect fragile sub-Antarctic ecosystems.

Restricted access and permits. Landings are limited to designated sites and require French administrative authorization arranged by the cruise operator; independent visits without an authorized operator are not realistic.

Safety And Scams

n/a: there is essentially no independent tourism. All visits happen through licensed expedition cruise operators or official scientific/logistics programs, which handle safety, permits, and emergency response.

Women travelers. n/a: no distinct safety concerns beyond the same standard precautions on any organized expedition cruise.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal

n/a: there is no permanent population or legal jurisdiction relevant to travelers beyond French law, under which same-sex relationships are legal.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	n/a	n/a
Local bus or metro ride	n/a	n/a
Mid-range restaurant meal	n/a	n/a
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	n/a	n/a
Mid-range hotel (night)	n/a	n/a
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	n/a, but expedition cruises typically run several thousand USD for a multi-week voyage	n/a

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

The austral summer (November-March) is the only realistic window: outside it, sea ice, storms and extreme cold make the islands inaccessible even to expedition ships.

Phrases

Basic French phrases