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Choosing Your Antarctica Adventure

  • Date: 23 October 2012
  • Author: Maddi Higgins, WWF Travel

If you’re looking to get away, there’s nowhere “away” quite like Antarctica. We offer a variety of itineraries so the question then becomes which to choose. Read about some factors to consider when choosing your Antarctic adventure.

  • Trip Length: Expeditions range from 10 days to nearly a month, with longer trips visiting more locations. Trips to the Antarctic Peninsula provide an opportunity to see a variety of species: Weddell, Southern elephant, crabeater and leopard seals; minke, humpback, sei and killer whales; and chinstrap, emperor, gentoo and adelie penguin among them. Longer trips typically include a visit to the Falkland Islands— home to the largest breeding population of black-browed albatrosses and hundreds of thousands of penguins—and South Georgia—offering encounters with fur seals and whales. These additional stops allow you to see wildlife you won’t observe on the Peninsula, so an extended trip is worth the extra time if it fits into your schedule.
  • Accommodations: Ships traveling to Antarctica come in many different shapes and sizes. Ship capacity can range from five people to nearly 200 passengers. Some ships offer private rooms and bathrooms while others have two-person cabins and communal bathrooms. While a cruise on the Ocean Diamond, for example, provides photography instructors, yoga classes and massages, an adventure on the Northanger gives a “back-to-the-basics” experience with minimal amenities. Some tours include camping ashore while on others you retire to your cabin each evening. When choosing your voyage, decide if you want a rugged expedition experience or if you prefer creature comforts.
  • Level of Activity: Every voyage requires some light walking, often through icy terrains. Beyond that, activities range from long hikes to intense sailing. Many cruises have flexibility in the physical activity required. On the other hand, extreme adventure trips require that you and your group work together to sail across the Drake Passage and it’s recommended that you get in shape to prepare for the task. When choosing your itinerary, you’ll want to decide if you’re looking for a relaxing journey or a high-energy adventure.

Travel to Antarctica with WWF.

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