Antarctica Holidays

Until quite recently, the vast White Continent of Antarctica was uniquely the domain of scientific expeditions and explorers, who often faced incredible hardships to uncover its secrets. While the scientists continue to make startling revelations about this remarkable place, so too do travellers. Under carefully controlled environmental guidelines, discerning visitors are discovering Antarctica, its extraordinary wildlife and scenery and the rewards of expedition cruising in the region.

During its fleeting summer, this inhospitable land becomes host to some of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth. Millions of pairs of penguins, albatrosses, petrels and other sea birds breed in the region; five species of seal are regularly observed, hauled out on ice floes; orcas, humpback and minke whales are often encountered hunting out the oceans rich pickings, while other cetaceans regularly turn up, adding to the impressive list of marine mammals. The summer climate is often surprisingly mild with temperatures above freezing and the long hours of daylight mean that wildlife viewing is possible at any time of day or night.

Then there is the breathtaking scenery huge ice cliffs, stained in shades of the purest aquamarine; dramatic alpine ranges, cut through by immense glaciers that spill out into a coastal maze of islands, inlets and waterways. These are choked with icebergs of all shapes and sizes, some as big as islands, others exquisitely sculpted into shapes that inspire the imagination.

The worlds fifth largest continent, Antarctica covers an area of roughly 14 million square kilometres (5.3 million square miles), most of which is covered by a vast permanent ice sheet, averaging 2000 metres (6,600 feet) in thickness. While Antarctica is sometimes used to mean just the continent itself, the Antarctic region comprises a very much larger area of ice shelves, seas and islands.

The continent is divided into two parts. Greater Antarctica is a roughly semi-circular area, and covers the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific Ocean sectors, its vast expanse hidden mostly by ice. Lesser Antarctica projects towards South America and includes the Antarctic Peninsula, whose Alpine peaks are sculpted by glaciers. This scenically most rewarding region is fringed by ice cliffs, which in places give way to exposed rocky shorelines, while offshore islands add a further dimension to its incredible landscapes. Not surprisingly, the Antarctic Peninsula is the most visited part of the continent and is the focus of most expedition cruises to the region. With awe-inspiring scenery and fantastic wildlife, South Georgia is increasingly attracting its share of visitors, while the volcanic South Shetland Islands also feature on many itineraries. So too do the Falkland Islands, which although not part of Antarctica, have a fantastic variety of wildlife.

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