INTRO TO ANTARCTICA

Antarctica – the last continent discovered by man and one of the last true wilderness areas on earth – is home to the world’s greatest concentration of wildlife. Less than half a percent of Antarctica is ice free, and, during the winter, the expanding sea ice nearly doubles the continent’s size.

While the North Pole in the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by continents, Antarctica is a continent surrounded by an ocean: the Southern Ocean. It’s one of the most productive bodies of water on the planet, reaching its peak productivity during the summer months when it is densely populated by a large number of avifauna and marine mammals.

Antarctica is the only continent that does not recognise national sovereignties. Thanks to the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, Antarctica is dedicated to peace and scientific research. For this reason, any extractive activity in Antarctic soil is prohibited.

The imposing natural landscape of Antarctica, with its icebergs, glaciers, and rugged mountains; its abundance of animal life; its overwhelming silence and sense of purity that reigns at all times, attracts more and more travellers from around the world.

A CONTINENT OF EXTREMES

The driest
there are places in Antarctica where annual rainfall does not exceed 10mm.
The highest
Antarctica has an average height greater than 1800 meters.

The coldest on the planet
the lowest temperature recorded was -89 degrees Celsius, at the Russian station Vostok.
The windiest
winds of more than 330 km/h have been reached.

EXPEDITION CRUISE TRAVEL

Most expedition cruises that visit Antarctica schedule their itineraries around the Antarctic Peninsula, which lies only 1000 km away from the southernmost tip of South America across the Drake Passage. Ninety percent of the ships depart from Ushuaia, Argentina – making this city, the southernmost in the world, the gateway to the white continent.

On a classic tourist cruise, itineraries are met with great precision, and part of the essence of the trip is the cruise itself. However, travel to the polar regions are considered ‘expeditions’, and the development of the voyage depends entirely on the climatic conditions – the wind, ice, sea currents, and fog. It is very likely that the itinerary will change frequently, so it’s a good idea to embrace this flexibility as unexpected plans bring great rewards.

Since landing sites, especially in the Antarctic, do not have docks, it is necessary to use a Zodiac. These are extremely stable and comfortable and are ideal for landings and sighting wildlife. Certain cruise expeditions also offer a range of adventure activities such as hiking, camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, mountaineering, and cross-country skiing.

OUR TRIPS