Even if you’re the type of traveler who’s scaled Kilimanjaro, floated down the Nile and trekked through the Amazon jungle, there’s very likely one place where you haven’t yet been: Antarctica. It’s the last frontier in travel, and going there requires an adventurous spirit and some travel expertise. If getting to the very bottom of the world seems like a logistical challenge, keep in mind that the easiest way to get there is by taking an Antarctica cruise.
For travelers who yearn to set foot on all seven continents, going to Antarctica is the trip of a lifetime, but it’s also a great destination for those who want to add a little extra adventure to their itineraries.
Where you’ll go
Taking a trip to Antarctica can also include some other great destinations. Tauck’s Antarctica cruise, for instance, starts off in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where you can tour the city, take in a tango show and get a feel for one of South America’s premier destinations.
Since it’d be a long ride on the seas leaving from Buenos Aires, travelers headed for Antarctica then fly to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost point on the continent. With its dramatically beautiful location near Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia is, for many travelers, a dream destination in and of itself, but it’s the jumping-off point for the most adventuresome part of the trip. The route from Ushuaia to Antarctica takes a dramatic route through the Drake Passage, named after explorer Sir Francis Drake, who took on the daunting task of sailing these waters in the 1500s.
What you’ll see
While you won’t be seeing land as you travel through the Drake Passage, there will be the opportunity to spot whales and dolphins as you cruise the seas along with them. Onboard, you’ll be able to brush up on your knowledge of the area by attending lectures given by naturalists who accompany your cruise, watching documentaries or studying in the library. And if you need a warm up from the brisk air, a spa experience can bring your temperature back up.
Once you reach Antarctica, you’ll be able to explore the fascinating landscape, visit a penguin colony, take excursions to a number of Antarctic islands and marvel at dramatic icebergs. Wildlife enthusiasts will love the opportunity to see seals and a wide variety of birds.
You’ll also become familiar with the often breathtaking history of humans’ attempts to explore the frozen continent – after all, there are no people indigenous to Antarctica. You may cruise past huts used by expeditioners and old whaling stations. Observing the conditions that early explorers lived in can make you awfully glad to be back in a warm, luxurious stateroom for the evening.
No matter how widely you’ve traveled in the past, a voyage to Antarctica will be unlike anything else you’ve ever experienced. In what is perhaps the wildest place left on Earth, you’ll feel like an explorer yourself, seeing sights that have been viewed by relatively few people. To learn more details about going on an Antarctica cruise, visit www.tauck.com.
