To visit Antarctica is an incredible thing, but to get to the water level and explore this world is a once in a lifetime experience. Most boats include the option of kayaking, though not all and often includes additional cost
Only a select number of boats offer you the chance to go ‘fly camping’. This is where you have the opportunity to disembark the boat for a night and sleep in a tent on Antarctica. Definitely cold, but an experience not to be missed.
There is a variety of wildlife on show during any visit to Antarctica, from spotting lone albatross and whales when you cross the Drake Passage, to huge colonies of penguins on arrival that cover the mainland. The sights and sounds are unique.
Probably the most dramatic scenery you will find anywhere in the world is here in Antarctica. Floating icebergs the size of buildings drift by, glaciers nestled between dramatically shaped mountains and snow packed peaks, make this a journey of a lifetime
Only a select number of boats offer this and you need to be an advanced diver with cold water experience. Diving under Polar waters is like no other dive, the combination of water, sunlight, and ice formations creates an ever-shifting spectacle of colours.
To take a voyage past Cape Horn, across the Drake Passage to the peninsula is to join what is still an exclusive group of intrepid travellersinspired by the legacy of Antarctic exploration.
Unimaginably rich in fauna, the southern ocean is a constant drama; leopard and fur seals, minkewhales, several species of penguin and great flocks of seabirds – including the wandering albatross – give life to this surreally beautiful landscape.
When you manage to tear your eyes away from the wildlife, the icebergs and glaciers present an equally enthralling sight. From the bow, every view is a photographer’s dream and the long austral summer day means there is plenty of opportunity to take it all in. Excursions by Polar Cirkel boats allow you to get close to the vast communities of king, adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins. There are even hot springs here if you want a dip.All of the voyages to Antarctica are with small ice-strengthened vessels and numbers of passengers is limited to about 50 passengers per boat, allowing for a more intimate and friendly atmosphere. Accommodation and on-board-life is cosy and comfortable.
Voyages are primarily defined by an exploratory travel programme, spending as much time ashore as possible, combined with educational lectures on board, covering topics such as bird life, marine mammals, vegetation and landscapes. Most boats can also be flexible, easily changing the course of the vessel and inflatable Zodiacs for the ice-floes, whales or even swimming penguins.
Climate & Temperatures
Average temperatures in the Antarctic winter range from -15 to -32ºC in the coastal regions. During the austral summer however temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula are usually around a comparatively mild 0 to -5ºC.
Both the Falkland Islands and South Georgia have a cold, wet and windy climate with summer temperatures between 4 and 11ºC.
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