From kayaking with whales to swimming within the caldera of an energetic volcano, listed below are 17 superior issues to do in Antarctica.
There isn’t 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 folks to go to the underside of the earth.
Whereas some folks might imagine a visit to Antarctica includes sitting on a cruise ship and looking out by way of binoculars, the reality is for those who select the best firm your expertise down there might be as energetic and thrilling as you may ever think about.
The Greatest Issues To Do In Antarctica
The very best issues to do in Antarctica reads like an final bucket checklist for nearly any traveller.
Kayaking with humpback whales, cruising between monumental icebergs, hanging out with hundreds of penguins – these are the sorts of experiences that may keep recent in your thoughts ceaselessly.
We visited Antarctica with an expedition firm in the beginning 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: Try our final vacation spot information all about journey to Antarctica!
Some actions on this checklist will 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 might be life-changing.
If you happen to’re preparing for a visit, and even simply fascinated by it, don’t miss out on these 17 epic issues to do in Antarctica.
After our very profitable tour to Antarctica this season, we’re going to be working one other unique journey all the way down to the Peninsula in 2025, this time crossing the Antarctic Circle! Try the tour web page for those who’d prefer to be taught extra.
Tenting Below the Stars
If you happen to’re something like us, you like tenting. And there’s no place extra distinctive to sleep beneath 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 risky and excessive as Antarctica means the climate is a critical concern.
That’s why it’s necessary to go together with an organization that has security as its primary precedence, and likewise 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 points of interest, tenting beneath the celebs is one expertise no explorer would dare miss!
Go Kayaking
It’s arduous to beat a great day of paddling round on a relaxed sea, surrounded by beautiful surroundings and good pals.
Whether or not you’re doing it within the Galapagos Islands or on a shoreline in Europe, kayaking is at all times 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 doable.
Nothing will take your breath away fairly like watching a humpback whale breach proper subsequent to your kayak – probably the greatest issues to see in Antarctica!
EXCLUSIVE – We have now 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]) for those who’d prefer to be taught extra.
Go to a Science Analysis Station
Being one of the distant locations on earth, there may be a variety of innovative analysis being performed in Antarctica.
And the cool factor is for those who be part of an Antarctic Peninsula expedition, you may go to just a few of the energetic stations.
One of the vital well-known, and standard, locations in Antarctica is the Vernadsky Analysis Station.
This Ukrainian base has an extended and vibrant historical past relationship 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 outlet within the ozone layer!
The Ukrainians fortunately open their doorways to guests, and with a small-group journey you may have a tour of the bottom led by one of many scientists.
An exquisite perception to what life is like in Antarctica, and the wonderful work being performed there.
A go to to a analysis station is a part of the Antarctica sightseeing expertise!
Take the Polar Plunge
If you happen to’re on the lookout for one of many coolest issues to do in Antarctica (actually), why not contemplate going for a swim in a number of the world’s coldest waters?
Often called the polar plunge, this fast dip in one of many planet’s most excessive locations is certainly one thing that may get your coronary heart racing.
Whereas some firms do that by letting you bounce in off the again of the ship, our journey with One Ocean Expeditions gave us the chance to run in from the seashore on Deception Island – which means we swam within the caldera of an energetic volcano in Antarctica!
Sure, the water is chilly, and sure you’ll be shivering, however there might be guides standing by with security strains, dry towels, and for those who’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 beautiful sights of the vastness and quietness of the ocean – it’s completely an Antarctica must-see!
Snowboarding on Snowy Mountains
If you happen to’re an actual daredevil and fancy your self a little bit of an professional skier or snowboarder, you may select to shred the slopes on the backside of the earth.
Selecting a particular expedition in the beginning of the season, you may pores and skin as much as the highest of some peaks on the Antarctic Peninsula and carve your manner down, with epic
You will have expertise in ski touring, however snowboarding in Antarctica might 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 may take an costly constitution flight to King George Island, or you may 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, referred to as the Drake Passage, has the fame for having a number of the most harmful seas on the planet.
Enormous oceanic currents circulation by way of the relatively-narrow channel, churning up tough waves and enormous storms.
Regardless of the dangerous rap, the Drake Passage isn’t as harmful because it was, due to 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 nicely well worth the journey.
Follow Your Images
Antarctica is the sort of place the place it’s nearly not possible to take a foul picture.
You’ll be able to actually simply level your digicam in any route, snap the shutter, and it’ll probably be an image you’d need to cling in your wall.
If you wish to take your pictures to the following stage although, you’d be arduous pressed to discover a higher place to follow than in Antarctica.
Fortunately for those who join a journey with One Ocean Expeditions they make use of knowledgeable photographer-in-residence that won’t solely offer you pointers within the discipline to seize the perfect pictures, but in addition give workshops and talks again on the ship for additional inspiration.
Whereas you will get away with an affordable point-and-shoot or a smartphone, it’s greatest to buy an honest digicam to your expedition to Antarctica.
Climb Antarctica’s Tallest Mountain
If you happen to’re on a mission to climb the world’s seven summits, probably the most troublesome one to attain (by way of logistics) is Mount Vinson in Antarctica.
Summiting this 4897m excessive massif shouldn’t be for the conventional traveller, and months of preparation and coaching should 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 bear in mind ceaselessly.
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 in regards to the human historical past that has developed within the harsh situations.
Earlier than Antarctica grew to become an internationally-protected area, lots 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 nearly wiped the species out.
Within the 1900s whaling for oil was rising at a speedy charge and processing crops had been ultimately established on Deception Island in 1912.
When new applied sciences led to raised ship-based processing, manufacturing elevated exponentially, nearly collapsing the whole business. The crops on Deception Island had been closed in 1931, which then led to scientific analysis bases taking their place.
The volcano erupted quite a few occasions within the 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 nowadays permits you to stroll by way of the rusted buildings and expertise a real ghost city surrounded by black sand and ash.
Scuba Diving in Antarctica
If you happen to’re the sort of individual that loves exploring beneath the floor simply as a lot as above, then scuba diving in Antarctica is without doubt one of the most unusual locations you are able to do it.
Wealthy marine life, crystal clear waters and shimmering icebergs give views which might be arduous to search out anyplace else on the planet.
Scuba diving in Antarctica shouldn’t be for the typical newbie diver nevertheless.
You should be an open water superior diver together with your dry-suit certification and over 20 logged dry-suit dives earlier than you may apply to affix a diving expedition in Antarctica.
READ MORE: Try our model new useful resource on probably the most fascinating Antarctica information you’ll be amazed to be taught!
Whale Watching
One of the vital unbelievable experiences in Antarctica is having 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 wonderful encounter, when almost a dozen humpback whales got here into the Gerlache Strait, swimming and breaching proper subsequent to them!
The commonest 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 probably the greatest issues to do in Antarctica.
The very best time to see whales is late season. You’ll be able to be taught extra about this in our ‘when to go to Antarctica‘ information.
Trek to the South Pole
Arguably one of many planet’s most exceptional, and harmful, adventures, an expedition to the South Pole is certain to make even probably the most intrepid explorer giddy with pleasure.
Identical to climbing Mount Vinson, this isn’t the sort of journey that needs to be taken flippantly, and you will have to do years of coaching and preparation work to be prepared for it.
There isn’t a assure you’ll make it, and it’d simply be the hardest factor you ever do, however for those who’re up for the problem trekking to the South Pole is certainly probably the most epic journey in Antarctica.
Run a Marathon
For these super-fit travellers with an affinity for ticking issues off an inventory, there’s at all times the chance to run a marathon in Antarctica.
Many long-distance runners love the thought of finishing a marathon on each continent, and fortuitously there may be an organised occasion held on King George Island yearly precisely for this.
When you’ve skilled and are feeling prepared, you may 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 needs 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 you’ll find hundreds of thousands of those cute creatures wandering across the continent.
Private and environmental duty says you need 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 considered one of Antarctica’s most curious points of interest, the Penguin Submit Workplace.
Port Lockroy is dwelling to a museum and science base, in addition to the submit workplace the place you may 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 Consultants
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 terms of Antarctic data, and having 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 consultants will change your perspective of the white continent ceaselessly.
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 interest of distilling vodka.
Moderately than hold 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 selfmade 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 printed as a part of our partnership with One Ocean Expeditions. All ideas, opinions, and unbelievable actions we did are, as at all times, our personal.
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