Antarctica – the White Continent – is perhaps the last true wilderness on Earth. This remote southern landscape of land and ice has remained almost exactly as it was since the famed explorers of the early 20th century made their arduous journeys across the planet’s most challenging terrain.
Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton’s pioneering journeys have left us a legacy of enduring fascination with the glaciers, wildlife and dramatic landscapes of this remote continent, which can be accessed from the tip of South America.
We're experts in choosing the best Antarctica cruise. Float by inflatable Zodiac through channels thick with towering blue icebergs and you may just encounter whales at very close quarters off the side of your boat. Look out for the different species of penguins, including adelie, macaroni and rockhopper, along the bays and perched on the icebergs of the Antarctic Peninsula, hatching their chicks in the early part of the short austral summer.
Walk amongst vast colonies of the larger, beautiful king penguins on the more northerly islands off the mainland. If you were charmed by their magnificent cousins, the emperor penguins, in the film March of the Penguins, you can venture to the most remote rookeries by helicopter. Leopard and Weddell seals perch languidly on ice floes before diving into the icy waters to feed.
Travel to Antarctica requires considerable effort, which of course explains part of its appeal to adventurous travellers, and choosing the best Antarctica cruise is therefore essential. The closest landfall is from the tip of South America to the Antarctic Peninsula, reached by sea in two days from the southern Argentine port of Ushuaia, or by air in a few hours from southern Chile.
As one of the privileged few who arrive in remote Antarctica, you will explore the colonies of wildlife and icebergs by expedition vessel, which in recent seasons have become remarkably comfortable, as well as practical, for the extreme environment in which they operate. The season is short, running from late November to early March, but each part of the austral summer has its own highlights.
We select the programmes that we know involve the most incredible expedition leaders – from marine biologists to photographers and historians, and even descendants of Shackleton and Scott themselves. We work exclusively with members of IAATO (the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators), who adhere to a stringent voluntary environmental and conservation charter.
We’ve taken holidays to Antarctica ourselves, so have the expertise and specialist knowledge to help you choose the best way to discover the White Continent for what really will be the trip of a lifetime alongside choosing the best Antarctica cruise.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore – Dream – Discover - Mark Twain - You can view clips of some of our own favourite discoveries here.
- Utterly designed and tailored around you and your requirements
- Totally unique every time you travel with us
- The very best hand picked guides which can make the difference between a good and an outstanding holiday
- Established over 30 years ago we have been around longer than most
- Our specialists come from, have lived in or travelled extensively in the regions we cover
- Unparalleled knowledge provides you with the best possible experience
- Philanthropy is our philosophy
- Our founding principle is to always ‘put something back’
- An amount from each holiday is donated to our selected conservation and humanitarian charities
By Marcela Kunova - 20th April 2017
Nicola Shepherd, founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, organises unusual trips for HNW and UHNW clients ranging from birthday parties at an Indian Maharajah's palace to reliving Sir Vivian Fuchs's 1950s expedition to the South Pole. Citywealth caught ...
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