Tired of visiting the same places again and again? Want to wake up the adventurer in you? Well, why not visit Antarctica for an unusual dose of adventure?
While Antarctica might seem like a barren wasteland to many, there are actually a lot of things to do in Antarctica. From camping and kayaking to whale watching and meeting various types of penguins, some of the unique adventures that you can have in Antarctica are:
Kayaking
Want to see marine life up-close? Jump into your sea kayak and paddle as close to the sea creatures as you dare. Most tours that operate in the area offer the opportunity as it is among the best things to do in Antarctica. A visit to Antarctica is, in fact, is not considered complete without putting on a wet suit and heading out in the chilly waters on a kayak.
The experience not only allows you to observe penguins, seals and other creatures in their natural habitat but also brings you close to the icebergs that dot the sea. Kayaking is also an environment-friendly and quiet way to move around the water, causing very little disturbance to the natural surroundings, while allowing you to create some wonderful memories for life.
Taking the Polar Plunge
Want to be a real daredevil? Take a dip in the coldest waters in the world and live to brag about it. The Polar Plunge includes immersing yourself in the nearly frozen, sub-zero temperature water. Some tour operators allow you to jump into the water from the back of their boat while others will let you wade into the water from the land.
Regardless of what is offered, the Polar Plunge gives people major bragging rights and is sure to set hearts racing. Tour guides are, of course, available to immediately pull you out of the water and wrap you up in dry towels. Some even offer you warm beverages, like hot chocolate, to help you cope with the most unusual of feelings.
Camping in Antarctica
While you may have been to several camping trips, you haven’t done it right until you’ve done it on your visit to Antarctica. Camping at night in Antarctica is like going beyond the basics because you can’t sit around and eat marshmallows around a campfire. The chilly winter weather doesn’t allow you to eat, drink or even go to the bathroom outdoors, so all you have for entertainment is the beauty of the night.
Once you’ve set up camp, it is a unique experience to cuddle up in your bivy sack and observe the starry night sky. Sleeping will not be the most comfortable experience, but then, not many people can claim to have spent a night camping in Antarctica.
Enjoying Marine Life Safaris
Some tour groups that operate in the area also offer you a chance to venture into the icy waters in inflatables boats with a sturdy flat bottom. These boats can cut through the slushy waters with ease and enable travellers to see Antarctica’s natural beauty from a close range.
Around 8 to 12 people can fit on a boat, and the vessel can be parked on shore if you want to explore the land. It’s an excellent way to scoot around the icebergs, watch seal, whales, and penguins, and get spectacular photos for your collection.
Visiting the Penguins
This one is for animal lovers. A standard of almost every tour, you will get a chance to visit penguins in their natural habitat when you visit Antarctica. While you should responsibly stay a few metres away from the cute creatures for your own and their safety, if you choose to sit quietly in the area, they might just come close enough to touch, since penguins residing here are not familiar with humans.
There are 6 different types of penguins in Antarctica, and you can meet millions of these creatures during your exploration of the continent. The 6 types of penguins are Emperor, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Macaroni, Rockhopper, and Adelie.
Exploring Deception Island
Deception Island is a land mass near Antarctica that is aptly named because the land is actually the edge of a large volcanic crater that outlines the mouth of an active volcano underwater. Shaped like a ring, with just a narrow channel for boats to pass through, Deception Island used to be an old whaling station before the industry collapsed in the 1930s.
The place still holds remnants of those times, including oil drums and whale bones. It’s like walking through a ghost town in the middle of the sea. The local wildlife is plentiful here though, with penguins making it their home.
Getting Some Amazing Photographs
Don’t forget to grab your camera as a visit to Antarctica offers unparalleled opportunities for photography. From icebergs to the high mountains and abundant wildlife, there is a lot that you can capture with the right equipment. Many of the icebergs also form unique formations that are worth catching on camera.
Watching the Whales
No visit to Antarctica is complete without a whale-watching expedition. Since whales are at the top of the food chain here and have not been hunted for years, they have no fear of humans or boats and are usually busy swimming along the vessels. There is no better place on earth to see these magnificent creatures in their habitat. Orcas, humpbacks, sperm, fin, blue, and minke whales are some types of whales that you can encounter on this frozen wonderland.
Reaching Antarctica
While the list above is a page out of every adventure lover’s book, the most common question that people ask is about how to reach Antarctica? Well, you can visit Antarctica by ship or by air, and there are around 6 different routes that you can choose from.
If you prefer air travel, chartered flights can take you to the continent from Cape Town in South Africa and from Chile in South America. While you can travel on a boat from New Zealand, the best and most commonly used route is to go by sea from Argentina.
Visa Requirements
Please note that while no visa is required to visit Antarctica, you will need a visa to reach your point of departure, which might be somewhere in South America, Africa or New Zealand. For Pakistanis, the best bet is to apply for a visa to either New Zealand or South Africa, as there are higher chances of getting a visit visa successfully.
Booking a Tour
It is also important to note that due to the nature of travel and the activities available, independent travellers cannot reach Antarctica unless they have booked a tour in advance with one of the many tour operators available in the region. Every tour operator will offer you some basic activities during your travel and stay, but your choice will depend on the kind of experiences you want to enjoy and on whether you want to travel by air or by sea.
Travel Time
The cruise can take around 2 days from Argentina and 10 days from New Zealand, while flights from Chile can take from 2 to 10 hours, depending on the route they take and the stops they make on the way. The flight from Cape Town can help you reach Antarctica in a little more than 9 hours.
Costs
Travelling to the edge of the world is not cheap though, as it can cost a minimum of USD 6,000, which is more than PKR 8 lakh on average. You will also need to pay visa fees for whatever country you are departing from. While the price is steep, the experience is indeed one of a kind and can make the expense worth it for people keen on globetrotting.
This sums up all that you need to know before planning a visit to Antarctica. Safe Travels!
