If you happen to’re after an actual journey (and supreme bragging rights), then it’s best to add tenting in Antarctica to your bucket record!

Once we booked our journey to Antarctica with One Ocean Expeditions, there have been two experiences that we had been determined to check out – sea kayaking and tenting in Antarctica.

Having camped in a whole bunch of various locations world wide, with the ability to sleep below the celebs on the white continent is one thing we knew can be an actual journey.

And similar to any actual journey, there was no assure of success.

Earlier than signing up for the 11-day Antarctic Peninsula Journey we chatted with the gross sales staff and came upon that departing on the finish of February meant the climate can be beginning to get colder, and so they couldn’t promise that the tenting mission would go forward.

This didn’t deter us although and we knew that whether or not we slept on the continent or not, it might nonetheless be one thing we’d always remember.

Once we boarded the Akademik Ioffe in Ushuaia, our expedition chief Boris introduced that it appeared situations might be deteriorating, and for security causes they must wait to see what occurred.

We crossed the Drake Passage throughout a storm and thought our probabilities had been gone with the wind. That was till we awoke on the primary morning within the Antarctic Peninsula.

Blue skies greeted us and there was no wind! We couldn’t imagine our luck and we spent the primary day happening zodiac and island excursions.

After lunch rumours began to go across the ship that maybe tonight the climate would keep clear, and situations would permit us to camp on the continent. Pleasure ranges had been at an actual excessive.

Positive sufficient after we returned from our second tour for the day the announcement went over the PA system – the ship’s captain, and expedition chief, had accredited this journey.

Take a look at loads of different superb issues to do in Antarctica in our newest article.

Tenting in Antarctica – Preparation and Journey

It was time to be taught extra about how we might pull this off!

The Security Briefing

Tenting in Antarctica is an non-obligatory exercise that’s included on a few of One Ocean Expedition’s journeys, and about half of the friends had been ecstatic to strive it out.

Everybody who’s needed to meet on the bow for a compulsory security briefing, the place Ben, the assistant expedition chief, went over what was the be anticipated and the gear that may be used.

The forecast for the night was a balmy -5°C, pretty heat contemplating we had been in Antarctica. This meant that the true danger of anybody affected by the chilly was virtually non-existent with the excessive tech tenting gear.

Fairly than sleeping in tents the One Ocean Expeditions staff use bivy sacks for his or her tenting actions. These waterproof, windproof sacks are excellent for cold-weather tenting and likewise permit a transparent view of the sky above.

We had been proven easy methods to put the thermal mat contained in the bivy sack, adopted by the heavy obligation sleeping luggage. The luggage are rated to -15°C consolation, so everybody was going to be heat sufficient.

We’re working a really unique small-group expedition to Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands in 2024! Take a look at the tour web page if you happen to’d wish to be taught extra.

In addition to going over the gear we had been all reminded of the strict quarantine legal guidelines on Antarctica, which meant we may take nothing onto the continent with us moreover recent water, clothes and our digital camera gear.

Going to the lavatory can be strictly prohibited. A bucket and tarpaulin cowl can be introduced onto land for these needing to go quantity ones, but when at any level somebody wanted to do their enterprise in the course of the evening they’d be taken again to the ship to take action.

With all the things defined and understood we headed again to the cabins to prepare for this epic journey.

Take a look at our final vacation spot information all about journey to Antarctica!

Heading to Hovgaard Island

After dinner we brushed our tooth, went to the lavatory, loaded up with all of the warmest garments we owned and headed to the zodiacs.

The placement for our evening tenting in Antarctica was going to be Hovgaard Island, a small island off of the Antarctic Peninsula. Penguins and seals have full management of the place, and we liked the thought of hanging out with these curious neighbours.

We walked down the gangway, whereas the passengers who had opted to remain on the ship stood outdoors, drinks in hand, singing us songs and cheering.

The ambiance on the zodiac was buzzing, and the solar began to dip decrease within the sky. We couldn’t wait to lastly contact down on Hovgaard Island!

Setting Up Our Camp in Antarctica

We landed on Hovgaard and instantly collected our tenting gear. We walked as much as a big, snowy slope that had been allotted by the One Ocean Expeditions staff because the official Antarctica Campground, and set to work establishing our bivy sacks.

The very first thing to do was dig out a flat platform within the snow, and the entire crew set to work with the shovels.

EXCLUSIVE – We’ve got partnered with the world’s high 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]) if you happen to’d wish to be taught extra.

Quickly everybody had managed to construct a pleasant campsite, and as soon as we received the bivy sacks arrange we headed right down to the water’s edge to catch the sundown.

We couldn’t have deliberate it any higher. As soon as the solar dropped behind the mountains the sky lit up in violent tinges of reds and purples. The colors had been so vibrant all of us put our cameras down to easily admire it. Pictures couldn’t do it justice.

As to be anticipated, now that we had been within the shade the temperature began to drop quickly. All of us made our approach again to the bivy sacks, took off our boots, snow pants and snow jackets, and crawled inside.

It took a couple of minutes to heat up, however as soon as we did the bivy sack and sleeping bag turned fairly cosy.

We caught our digital camera gear inside with us to ensure it didn’t freeze, and slowly drifted off as the celebs began to got here out.

The snow platform was surprisingly snug, and with the thermal mat, sack and sleeping luggage between our our bodies and the snow we had been protected against the weather.

At about 1am I felt a delicate shake and awoke. Alesha rolled over in the direction of me and whispered, “Take a look at the celebs.” I turned my eyes up and couldn’t imagine what I noticed.

Billions of stars glowed brightly at nighttime sky, glistening like glitter beneath a strobe mild. The Milky Method rose above the snow-capped peaks in an imposing arc.

“Take a photograph,” Alesha mumbled, earlier than rolling over to return to sleep. As heat as I used to be, I needed to try to seize what I used to be seeing. Defying the chilly I sat up, caught my arms out and arrange the tripod and digital camera.

For five minutes I snapped a number of pictures, spending the time whereas the shutter was open to gaze in the direction of the heavens and watch the celebs shine. After I had captured a number of I packed all the things up and fell again asleep, attempting to get heat once more.

We stirred awake round 6am with the solar already excessive within the sky. A number of the different campers had been already up and strolling round, and we rapidly joined them.

Crawling out of the bivy sack was fairly tough with the chilly temperatures outdoors, however we did it as rapidly as potential, bouncing round as soon as we had been out to get the blood flowing.

Inside a couple of minutes we had put all our garments again on, packed up the sacks, sleeping luggage and mats, and made our approach again in the direction of the ready zodiacs.

The One Ocean Expeditions crew did a closing sweep of Hovgaard Island to ensure no overseas objects had been left behind, then we made our approach again to the Akademik Ioffe.

Craig, the restaurant supervisor and Beckie the bartender had been ready for the joyful campers with recent espresso and tea out on the deck, and to say it was appreciated can be an enormous understatement.

All of us gathered round, sipped on our sizzling brew and set free an enormous cheers. We had managed to outlive an evening tenting in Antarctica, and the expertise will not be one thing we’ll ever overlook.

Suggestions for Tenting in Antarctica?

The primary to remember when tenting in Antarctica is that it’s only potential in summer time when there’s ample daylight and temperatures are a lot hotter.

That being stated that is nonetheless thought-about cold-weather tenting, and due to this fact you want specialist gear to do it. 3-season tents gained’t reduce it right here.

We visited Antarctica with One Ocean Expeditions, and so they had top quality winter-grade bivy sacks, sleeping luggage and thermal mats for all their passengers to make use of on the continent.

With crucial gear taken care of, the following factor to take with you in your Antarctica tenting journey is heat garments.

We suggest sporting thermal pants and thermal tops (merino wool is our private selection), in addition to two pairs of heat socks, a sweater, gloves and beanie. Additionally carry a torch, headlamp or your cellphone with a lightweight.

The outerwear and snow boots shall be provided by One Ocean Expeditions, so you’ll be able to depart the large, cumbersome jackets and pants at dwelling.

Take a bottle of consuming water with you, however that’s all you’ll be able to take. No meals or different forms of drinks are allowed on the continent for environmental causes.

A big waste bucket is supplied, together with a tent-style cowl to go round it for those who wanted to go to the bathroom whereas on the island. That is solely accessible for quantity ones although, so be sure you go to the bathroom earlier than leaving the ship.

If at any time you’re feeling uncomfortable or need to return to the ship you’ll be able to ask one of many One Ocean Expeditions crew members and they’re going to return you on a zodiac instantly. However when you return to the ship, you aren’t allowed to return.

Crucial factor to recollect is that whereas that is an thrilling exercise, and one thing that you just’ll be telling your pals about for years to come back, it’s not precisely ‘harmful’.

If there’s any probability of a storm rolling in or the temperatures dropping considerably, the expedition chief will cancel the evening’s exercise. This can be a bummer, however they actually do have everybody’s security as their fundamental concern.

The most important tip we can provide for tenting in Antarctica is to simply give it a go! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime alternative, and is among the most superb issues you might ever tick off your bucket record.

[box] Our evening spent tenting in Antarctica was finished as a part of our partnership with One Ocean Expeditions. All ideas, opinions and stars we tried to rely whereas mendacity in our bivy sacks are, as all the time, our personal.[/box]