Antarctica Travel Ideas

Looking to travel as south as humanly possible? Head to Antarctica, the coldest continent, where the landscapes are breathtaking and magnificent, showcasing huge sweeps of snow, natural ice sculptures, and intricate icebergs that bob gracefully upon the frigid aqua blue waters. It is home to many beloved species, including adorable penguins, playful fur seals, and awe-inspiring whales.

While many of us are in the middle of winter, the Southern Hemisphere is currently experiencing summer, a time of year that allows the sun to shine nearly 24 hours and warms up the continent to a tolerable climate, with temperatures quite comfortable for travelers.

Realtravelers Tole and Jessica experienced Antarctica by cruise, a popular method of travel to this region. “It isn’t possible to convey in words, or even in pictures, the otherworldly beauty of the landscapes and seascapes we saw,” they reflected in their blog. “We spoke with people and looked at photos beforehand, and were skeptical that it would be all that wonderful. In the end, Antarctica drastically exceeded our expectations. We felt awestruck every single day. Even to stand out on the deck as we passed through a channel filled with icebergs and surrounded by snowy glaciers was enough to get me a little teary-eyed at how stunning it all was.” (more…)

Nearby destinations in the Patagonian region of Argentina and Chile are stunning travel spots in themselves and can also be great launching points for exploring Antarctica. From El Calafate, the gateway town to Patagonia, travelers can go to hiking haven El Chalten before heading to Puerto Madryn, Tierra del Fuego, and, last but not least: beautiful Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world.

When Realtraveler Annie King was in Ushuaia she had a lot of fun: “After lunch we set out to Neko Harbour, our second landing on the Antarctic mainland, very sheltered, the sea was nearly like glass and the sun was out and it was a glorious afternoon. And very playful, as this was a place where we could ‘sledge’ down a very enticing slope – only trouble was it needed to be climbed each time! Hence I only did it once – but it was great fun!!

We were woken early in the morning to see the Lemaire Channel – a spectacular long straight which runs north/south to the west of the Antarctic peninsula – and the morning was perfect for it! We saw Orca whales and snow pectrals and the view was magical, the morning sun bringing out the blues in the icebergs and the snow and ice covered cliffs and mountains, and patches of ice on the sea.” (more…)

If you’re like me and feel lured by the vast expanses of unspoiled landscape, the amazing wildlife, and the surreal beauty of this unique area of the world, you too will want to plan a trip to this incredible region as soon as possible.

Here are some resources to help you do so:

Ushaia Hotels
Antarctica Cruise Trips

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