A Trip to Antarctica Is An Adventure Similar To No Other

Travel & LeisureVacation Plans

  • Author Jo Alelsto
  • Published March 20, 2009
  • Word count 623

The best time of the year to visit Antarctica is during the summer months of December to March. The weather is much better during this period as compared to the rest of the year. Plus, you get to experience how it feels like to have the sun shining down on you 20 hours of the day, not to mention a the opportunity to see a "midnight sun".

A typical Antarctic cruise lasts for less than two weeks and you’ll be quite surprised at how fast the days fly when you’re actually there already marveling at the wonders of this isolated continent.

So what can you expect from a travel to Antarctica?

Not much but rather plenty! You’ll never get enough of the scenery, the landscape, and the wildlife. There just too much going on in this spot in the world. Don’t let the vast expanse of the snow-covered landscape fool you. The biodiversity in the Antarctic continent will surprise you.

During the early summer months, you can bear witness to awesome penguin courting rituals as well as elephant and fur seals starting their breeding territories in the ice. By midsummer, the ice and snow are melting allowing for more exploration closer to the land. Also, the days are longer permitting for some wonderful opportunities for photography. In the late summer, whale watching is at its best as these gentle giants begin their arrival from their annual migration trips.

Make sure your ship or your tour company is a member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). It is a volunteer organization which promotes a safe and environmentally responsible Antarctic experience. Behaviors when disembarking at various landing sites as well as the sizes of the vessels allowed to enter the Antarctic waters are laid out for guidance of the operators and the passengers.

To make your travel to Antarctica a journey like no other, book yourself into a cruise or ship with passengers of less than a hundred. Only 100 individuals are allowed to be landed at one place at a time. So with bigger groups of tourists, the experience of landing on Antarctic is less when compared to a smaller vessel with a smaller number of passengers.

A travel to Antarctica aboard an icebreaker ship may be a little more expensive but it will be worth it since the ship is better equipped to navigate and explore in some areas where an ice-strengthened ship can’t go. Zodiac boats are also available for a more up-close and personal experience of the Antarctic life. There are also cruises which allow diving into the icy cold waters of the Atlantic and discover the hidden treasures underwater.

Don’t forget to bring your camera or camcorder. The Antarctic experience is a journey like no other and you’ll return from the trip a completely different person. Ensure that you get all the memories of the trip on record. One tourist described the travel to Antarctica as an adventure which "none of the books you read, photos you see, prepare you for actually being there in the most spiritual, beautiful landscape in the world!"

That says it all, doesn’t it?

Oh yes, one last piece of juicy information, there’s a post office in Antarctica. So why don’t you send a friend a really nice postcard? It would be a treat for anyone to get a postcard from Antarctica. What are the chances of that, right?

Therefore, pack up a good set of warm clothes, your camera, and be prepared. Plan your trip wisely and enjoy your travel to Antarctica because sooner you’ll find out it’s a journey like no other. It’s going to be a different adventure.

Jo is a writer for ‘Antarctica Bound’ (http://www.antarcticabound.com), experts in Antarctic tours, Antarctic expeditions, and vacation cruises who are entirely dedicated to giving the finest possible service and unbeatable value for money. If you wish to travel to Antarctic and relish the company of acquaintances whilst enjoying the unique experience of observing whales in their natural world then check out Antarctica Bound.

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