From kayaking with whales to swimming within the caldera of an energetic volcano, listed below are 17 superior issues to do in Antarctica.
There is no such thing as a different vacation spot on the planet extra unbelievable, overwhelming or epic as Antarctica.
The ‘White Continent’ has been a pinnacle for explorers, adventurers and travellers for generations, and as sustainable tourism improves, extra alternatives can be found for individuals to go to the underside of the earth.
Whereas some individuals might imagine a visit to Antarctica entails sitting on a cruise ship and searching via binoculars, the reality is when you select the precise firm your expertise down there shall be as energetic and thrilling as you may ever think about.
The Finest Issues To Do In Antarctica
The very best issues to do in Antarctica reads like an final bucket checklist for almost any traveller.
Kayaking with humpback whales, cruising between monumental icebergs, hanging out with hundreds of penguins – these are the sorts of experiences that can keep recent in your thoughts perpetually.
We visited Antarctica with an expedition firm firstly of March with a willingness to strive something that got here up, and walked away with extra memorable moments than we ever may have imagined.
READ MORE: Take a look at our final vacation spot information all about journey to Antarctica!
Some actions on this checklist might be skilled by becoming a member of an everyday passenger expedition from Ushuaia, whereas others require years of planning and dedication.
Irrespective of your ambitions, any journey down there shall be life-changing.
In case you’re preparing for a visit, and even simply occupied with it, don’t miss out on these 17 epic issues to do in Antarctica.
After our very profitable tour to Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands this yr, we’re going to be working one other unique journey right down to the Peninsula in 2024! Take a look at the tour web page when you’d prefer to be taught extra.
Tenting Beneath the Stars
In case you’re something like us, you’re keen on tenting. And there’s no place extra distinctive to sleep below the celebs than in Antarctica.
Armed with a high-quality bivy sack and heat garments, tenting in Antarctica will little doubt be one thing you discuss for the remainder of your life.
After all being in a spot as unstable and excessive as Antarctica means the climate is a critical concern.
That’s why it’s vital to go along with an organization that has security as its primary precedence, and in addition has the sort of tools appropriate for this journey.
You may not have the perfect sleep, however nothing will ever beat waking as much as dawn on the snowy continent or watching the celebs glow above you.
Out of all Antarctica sights, tenting below the celebs is one expertise no explorer would dare miss!
Go Kayaking
It’s onerous to beat day of paddling round on a peaceful sea, surrounded by gorgeous surroundings and good pals.
Whether or not you’re doing it within the Galapagos Islands or on a shoreline in Europe, kayaking is all the time a tremendous expertise.
If you wish to do one thing completely different although head to the polar areas, and kayaking in Antarctica is by far probably the most implausible place to do that.
Kitted out in a dry go well with and cold-water kayaks, head off into distant coves for the closest encounters with the marine life attainable.
Nothing will take your breath away fairly like watching a humpback whale breach proper subsequent to your kayak – top-of-the-line issues to see in Antarctica!
EXCLUSIVE – We’ve partnered with the world’s prime polar tour operator, Quark Expeditions, to supply readers of NOMADasaurus a really particular deal on any journey to Antarctica or the Arctic! Contact us ([email protected]) when you’d prefer to be taught extra.
Go to a Science Analysis Station
Being one of the distant locations on earth, there may be a whole lot of innovative analysis being performed in Antarctica.
And the cool factor is when you be part of an Antarctic Peninsula expedition, you’ll be able to go to a number of of the energetic stations.
One of the vital well-known, and fashionable, locations in Antarctica is the Vernadsky Analysis Station.
This Ukrainian base has an extended and vibrant historical past courting again to 1947, when it was first established as a British station.
Over time it was transferred to the Ukrainians, and the scientific focus was totally on the climate and local weather.
It’s right here the place they found the opening within the ozone layer!
The Ukrainians fortunately open their doorways to guests, and with a small-group journey you’ll be able to have a tour of the bottom led by one of many scientists.
A beautiful perception to what life is like in Antarctica, and the superb work being performed there.
A go to to a analysis station is a part of the Antarctica sightseeing expertise!
Take the Polar Plunge
In case you’re in search of one of many coolest issues to do in Antarctica (actually), why not take into account going for a swim in a number of the world’s coldest waters?
Generally known as the polar plunge, this fast dip in one of many planet’s most excessive locations is unquestionably one thing that can get your coronary heart racing.
Whereas some firms do that by letting you leap in off the again of the ship, our journey with One Ocean Expeditions gave us the chance to run in from the seaside on Deception Island – meaning we swam within the caldera of an energetic volcano in Antarctica!
Sure, the water is chilly, and sure you’ll be shivering, however there shall be guides standing by with security strains, dry towels, and when you’re fortunate even sizzling chocolate and Baileys or rum and sizzling apple cider.
This may not be for everybody however we encourage you to step out of your consolation zone.
Will you ever once more have a possibility to do that? Take the polar plunge and benefit from the gorgeous sights of the vastness and tranquility of the ocean – it’s completely an Antarctica must-see!
Snowboarding on Snowy Mountains
In case you’re an actual daredevil and fancy your self a little bit of an skilled skier or snowboarder, you’ll be able to select to shred the slopes on the backside of the earth.
Selecting a particular expedition firstly of the season, you’ll be able to pores and skin as much as the highest of some peaks on the Antarctic Peninsula and carve your method down, with epic
You will want expertise in ski touring, however snowboarding in Antarctica could possibly be the toughest problem in driving the slopes on each continent on the planet.
Cross the Drake Passage
There are two methods to go to Antarctica – you’ll be able to take an costly constitution flight to King George Island, or you’ll be able to journey by cruise ship.
For these with a way of journey, crusing from the tip of South America to the Antarctic Peninsula shouldn’t be missed!
This stretch of sea, generally known as the Drake Passage, has the popularity for having a number of the most harmful seas on the planet.
Big oceanic currents stream via the relatively-narrow channel, churning up tough waves and huge storms.
Regardless of the dangerous rap, the Drake Passage isn’t as harmful because it was, because of significantly better ship-building strategies and satellite tv for pc climate monitoring.
Nonetheless, the two-day journey is kind of an expertise, and the bragging rights of crossing the Drake Passage is effectively definitely worth the journey.
Follow Your Pictures
Antarctica is the sort of place the place it’s virtually unimaginable to take a foul picture.
You may actually simply level your digital camera in any route, snap the shutter, and it’ll probably be an image you’ll need to dangle in your wall.
If you wish to take your images to the subsequent degree although, you’d be onerous pressed to discover a higher place to observe than in Antarctica.
Fortunately when you join a journey with One Ocean Expeditions they make use of an expert photographer-in-residence that won’t solely provide you with pointers within the subject to seize the perfect pictures, but additionally give workshops and talks again on the ship for additional inspiration.
Whereas you may get away with an affordable point-and-shoot or a smartphone, it’s finest to buy an honest digital camera to your expedition to Antarctica.
Climb Antarctica’s Tallest Mountain
In case you’re on a mission to climb the world’s seven summits, probably the most tough one to attain (by way of logistics) is Mount Vinson in Antarctica.
Summiting this 4897m excessive massif will not be for the traditional traveller, and months of preparation and coaching have to be taken earlier than even contemplating it.
It takes a minimal of 14 days for a full expedition, if the climate and your physique cooperates, however this mission is one thing you’ll keep in mind perpetually.
Study Concerning the Historical past of Whaling and Science at Deception Island
There’s extra to the Southern continent than simply hanging out with penguins and whales – one of the fascinating issues to do in Antarctica is be taught concerning the human historical past that has developed within the harsh circumstances.
Earlier than Antarctica grew to become an internationally-protected area, tons of of boats would head to the marine-rich waters to hunt for whales.
The protected bay of Deception Island, which is definitely an energetic volcano, grew to become one of many main bases for sealing again in 1820, earlier than aggressive strategies virtually wiped the species out.
Within the 1900s whaling for oil was rising at a fast price and processing vegetation had been ultimately established on Deception Island in 1912.
When new applied sciences led to higher ship-based processing, manufacturing elevated exponentially, virtually collapsing the complete business. The vegetation on Deception Island had been closed in 1931, which then led to scientific analysis bases taking their place.
The volcano erupted quite a few instances within the Nineteen Sixties and most bases had been deserted, which means most of the buildings on Deception Island have begun collapsing into the earth.
A go to to Deception Island as of late permits you to stroll via the rusted buildings and expertise a real ghost city surrounded by black sand and ash.
Scuba Diving in Antarctica
In case you’re the sort of individual that loves exploring beneath the floor simply as a lot as above, then scuba diving in Antarctica is among the most unusual locations you are able to do it.
Wealthy marine life, crystal clear waters and shimmering icebergs give views which can be onerous to search out anyplace else on the planet.
Scuba diving in Antarctica will not be for the typical newbie diver nonetheless.
You have to be an open water superior diver together with your dry-suit certification and over 20 logged dry-suit dives earlier than you’ll be able to apply to affix a diving expedition in Antarctica.
Whale Watching
One of the vital unbelievable experiences in Antarctica is with the ability to see enormous pods of whales up shut at any time of day.
Throughout our journey we had been fortunate sufficient to see minke whales, orcas and humpbacks surrounding our ship and zodiacs.
The kayakers had an much more superb encounter, when almost a dozen humpback whales got here into the Gerlache Strait, swimming and breaching proper subsequent to them!
The most typical species of whales present in Antarctica are humpbacks, orcas, minkes, blue, sei, sperm, fin and proper whales.
Seeing a number of the largest creatures on the planet with the backdrop of snowy peaks and icebergs is by far top-of-the-line issues to do in Antarctica.
Trek to the South Pole
Arguably one of many planet’s most exceptional, and harmful, adventures, an expedition to the South Pole is bound to make even probably the most intrepid explorer giddy with pleasure.
Similar to climbing Mount Vinson, this isn’t the sort of journey that ought to be taken calmly, and you will have to do years of coaching and preparation work to be prepared for it.
There is no such thing as a assure you’ll make it, and it would simply be the hardest factor you ever do, however when you’re up for the problem trekking to the South Pole is unquestionably probably the most epic journey in Antarctica.
Run a Marathon
For these super-fit travellers with an affinity for ticking issues off a listing, there’s all the time the chance to run a marathon in Antarctica.
Many long-distance runners love the thought of finishing a marathon on each continent, and by chance there may be an organised occasion held on King George Island yearly precisely for this.
When you’ve educated and are feeling prepared, you’ll be able to join a particular marathon journey that begins off with the race, earlier than ultimately persevering with on to discover the remainder of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Hold Out with Penguins
If there’s one factor everyone desires to do once they go to Antarctica, it’s hang around with penguins.
Fortunately this unbelievable expertise is nearly assured irrespective of how and if you go to!
There are 6 kinds of penguins in Antarctica (Emperor, Adelie, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Chinstrap and Macaroni), and yow will discover thousands and thousands of those cute creatures wandering across the continent.
Private and environmental accountability says it’s a must to keep greater than 2 metres away from all wildlife, however with the penguins down in Antarctica being unfamiliar and unfazed with people, don’t be shocked if a few of them stroll proper as much as you.
Ship a Postcard from Port Lockroy
Out on Wienke Island, within the harbour of Port Lockroy, is the one in all Antarctica’s most curious sights, the Penguin Put up Workplace.
Port Lockroy is residence to a museum and science base, in addition to the submit workplace the place you’ll be able to ship a postcard to your family and friends overseas.
Think about the kick your grandma will get from receiving a postcard all the best way from Antarctica!
Research with Polar Specialists
Once you’re not out on zodiac excursions and tenting adventures, one of the instructional issues to do in Antarctica is to spend time studying from the scientists, biologists and historians that accompany the One Ocean Expeditions journeys.
These women and men are the perfect of the perfect in the case of Antarctic data, and with the ability to be taught from them throughout your expedition is what makes a visit to Antarctica so worthwhile.
Whether or not you’re into marine life, birds, historical past or environmental impacts, hanging out with these specialists will change your perspective of the white continent perpetually.
Drink Vodka on the Southernmost Bar In The World
In case you didn’t know, the winters are lengthy and darkish down in Antarctica, so a number of the scientists at Vernadsky Analysis Base have taken up the enjoyable pastime of distilling vodka.
Moderately than maintain all of the liquor to themselves, they like the thought of sharing tit round (typical Ukrainians), and now you should purchase a shot of their home made booze within the southernmost bar on the planet!
For under USD$3 seize a shot and throw it down, and add it to your checklist of probably the most epic issues to do in Antarctica!
This text was revealed as a part of our partnership with One Ocean Expeditions. All ideas, opinions, and unbelievable actions we did are, as all the time, our personal.
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