Antarctica

4th stop of my world trip

There are only a small amount of people who set foot on Antarctica. The continent, which is larger than Europe, is located around the South Pole of the earth and is the coldest place on the world. Almost the entire continent is covered in ice and the penguins call it their home. Antarctica has no inhabitants and is only visited by researchers and a few travelers like me :).

Planning details

Arrive: Ushuaia
Planned arrival: 18th February - 1st of March 2022
Duration stay: 12 days
Weather then: Cold wind, average temperature -5.3°C
Visa: Since no country owns Antarctica, no visa is required

Details country:

My route map

Source: www.poseidonexpeditions.com

There are expeditions to the south pool, it’s not cheap but it’s a once-of-a-lifetime trip! This was my most exciting destination and the hardest one to go to, but I went all in! I wanted to see the beauty of the pure white landscapes, the rough nature and to learn more about our changing climate. From the small place Ushuaia I’m going on an expedition cruise ship to Antarctica. It’s only possible to go on an expedition from October till end of March– in the summer. The prices variates from 5000-15.000 euro. These prices depends on the route (directly to Antarctica, or along the “bird” islands) you go and for how many days. The expedition is led by expert guides who will tell you all about the history and extraordinary nature of Antarctica.

Last minute deals- With freestyle adventure

My trip in Antarctica started the day after I arrived in Ushuaia. I wanted to be here a day before, just in case something happened like a flight cancelation. But everything went fine, luckily. I booked my Antarctica last-minute with the help of freestyle adventures who are stationed in Ushuaia. If you book last-minute you can have a discount up to 50%! I can really recommend to look for a last minute trip. The season starts in December and ends in March, so you have 3 months to try to get a last-minute deal. You can do this while you’re in Ushuaia or like me by emailing tour operators from abroad. I had contact with Freestyle. Freestyle did an amazing job helping me. Their service is off the chart. On my first day of the expedition I went by to their office to arrange some paperwork and they helped me to gear up (free rental clothing!).

Things I've done in Antarctica

#1 Get spoiled in luxury

The trip was as luxurious as it could be. Welcome cocktails, the crew knowing your name in one day, big luxury cabins, a hot tub outside, new towels every day, your room cleaned 3 times a day, lots of lectures, well planned trips by zodiac or cruise, a warm towel and drink after a trip, a photographer on board… I can go on and on, but I guess you get the idea. And I haven’t even got started about the food. The food! I’m starting to drool thinking about all the delicious food we ate. We got at least 3 dishes with every mail, and breakfast was no exception!

Want to read more about my luxurious 12-day home on the end of the world cruise? Click on the link below.

#2 Zodiac cruising

On our cruise we started to explore Antarctica by Zodiac. The Zodiac took us everywhere, to land, to our kayaks and to explore the area around as a zodiac cruise. Zodiac cruising was a great way to explore wildlife on the ocean and see lots of glaciers and icebergs. We all dressed up in 3 or 4 layers of clothing: thermal layer, fleece layer and outer layer, an tall muck boots with two layer of socks. Then the zodiacs were lowered and we spent more than 2 hours on the water each time. We sailed our way through the brash ice, looking for seals and penguins in the maze of ice and marveling at the icebergs of various forms and sizes.

Want to read more about the zodiac cruises? Click on the link below.

#3 Learn more about penguins

The penguin was the first animal I saw on the cruise and many hundreds, probably thousands, followed. We saw them jumping and swimming in the water, walking and tobogganing on land, lots of chicks who got fed by their parents, parents chased by their hungry chicks. Besides seeing them the guided explained a lot about penguins during the trips but we also got lectures on the boat.

Want to read more about penguins? Click on the link below.

#4 (Continental) landings

Who can say they set foot on the Antarctica continent? Well not many people, but I did! My goal is to visit all seven continents and this was the toughest. It felt glorious to step foot an Antarctica. I celebrated this with lots of pictures of course, then I have some proof to show at home.

Want to read more about penguins? Click on the link below.

#5 Learn more about Antarctica

Not only got I to enjoy and explore Antarctica and its wildlife. We also got lots of interesting lectures on the boat. Most of the lectures were hold while we were sailing. It was a challenge to attend them all and another to stay awake during the lectures. Because of the sea sickness meds you’re so sleepy all the time. But I stayed awake, I wouldn’t want to miss these interesting lectures. The lectures were about the history and geology of Antarctica, Icebergs, Seals, Whales, Kril and Jellyfish.

Want to read more Antarctica and its wildlife? Click on the link below.

#6 Kayaking in Antarctica

I was among the intrepid adventurers to ply the frigid waters of Southern Ocean in a sea kayak, amidst brash ice and icebergs, among seals, penguins and seabirds, through wind and swell, under cloud and sun, in a true polar wilderness. We conquered 32 km on the Antarctic sea!

Want to read more about my kayaking experience? Click on the link below.

#7 Plastics in the ocean

The plastic consumption increased rapidly over the last century and we’ve became a throw-away-society. Plastic is easy, it’s durable and if its broken we just dispose it. We think when we throw something away into the garbage it just magical disappears. Well unfortunately it doesn’t magically disappear, in fact a part of it reach the ocean and can do a lot of harm for the wildlife. What I didn’t know was that it can have a big effect on us too.

Want to read more about plastics in the ocean? Click on the link below.