VISIT ANTARCTICA

A BUCKET LIST ESCAPE

The ‘Great White Continent’ – 14 million square kilometres of beautiful glaciers, spectacular icebergs, magnificent mountains, and an abundance of wildlife – virtually untouched by humankind. A truly breathtaking, once in a lifetime, bucket list escape.

Surrounded by the tempestuous Southern Ocean, the world’s windiest, coldest and driest continent is a land blanketed in a sheet of ice, 2,000 metres thick. Whilst still predominately only visited by the most intrepid of explorers and teams of scientists, ambitious travellers seeking to see one of the world's most pristine environments can now do so under the guidance of stringent environmental constraints.

As the last remaining patch of total wilderness within the world, Antarctica is home to some of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth. Millions of pairs of penguins, petrels, albatrosses, and various other sea birds breed here, five species of seal are regularly observed lounging about on the ice and orcas, minke and humpback whales can be witnessed feeding on the ocean’s rich pickings.

The lesser-visited Weddell Sea region surrounds the Peninsula and is home to emperor penguins that build their nests on the frozen waters however most expedition journeys originate in South America and visit the wildlife-rich Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, which are the most accessible parts of the continent. Longer journeys also include stops in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, the former of which is a must-see for many adventurers due to its ties to Ernest Shackleton's epic trek across the glaciers.

The best time to visit Antarctica is between October to March, voyages are few and spaces limited so early booking is essential and if you have your hopes pinned on encountering a certain species or behaviour then be sure to plan with this in mind.

A small ship expedition is a great way to live out your polar adventure, they offer a more intimate cruising experience and a much higher chance of personal wildlife encounters but if you’re not quite ready to give up all your creature comforts, some of the newer, larger vessels boast facilities such as spa treatments and the opportunity to sip a glass of wine from the balcony of your suite, watching the icebergs drift by!

Contact us today and our Travel Consultants will be in touch to start planning your perfect bucket-list escape!