There are few places (if any) more beautiful than the world’s southernmost continent. Although 99 percent of Antarctica is covered with ice, the landscape still manages to be stunningly diverse—surreal blue glaciers, active volcanoes, the rough waterways of the Drake Passage, and 360-degree views of untouched snow. If you visit Antarctica, you’re sure to encounter all sorts of incredible wildlife. Think gorgeous king penguins, elegant orcas, lumbering elephant seals and majestic blue whales. As the continent least spoiled by human beings, Antarctica has some of the last pristine ecosystems you’ll find anywhere. And the wildlife generally hasn’t learned to be afraid of humans, as so many other species have. Use this guide to discover the best things to do in Antarctica.
1.Polar Plunge
Taking the Polar Plunge in Antarctica is the ULTIMATE bucket list experience! It’s by far the most exhilarating thing we’ve ever done and it made us feel like we lived our Antarctic experience to the fullest.
Paddle between brash ice and icebergs of all shapes and sizes, absorbing the majestic scenery as it unfolds before you.
Is The Polar Plunge Healthy?
When people first immerse themselves in such frigid water, their bodies go into “cold shock,” and they start gasping for air, which puts a strain on the heart.
“Blood vessels on the outer part of your body constrict to try to retain heat, and that constriction (shifts) your blood demand more to your inner organs, trying to keep them warm.
In healthy people, the discomfort lasts for about 30 seconds and then dissipates after two to three minutes.
2. Sea Kayak Among Icebergs
Sea Kayaking in Antarctica is the most amazing way to explore the coastline.Kayaking in Antarctica is the most amazing, epic, mind-blowing experience! It’s truly a once in a lifetime feeling and is very hard to put into words. While it’s truly amazing, there are definitely things to know before committing to kayaking in Antarctica.
Is it safe to kayak in Antarctica?
It is absolutely safe to kayak in Antarctica. The cruise companies take many precautions to make the experience as safe as can be. First of all, kayaking expeditions are subject to weather and sea conditions, so they don’t even take you out if the sea is too choppy or dangerous.
3. Cross Drake Passage
If you dream of visiting Antarctica, it is likely you have heard of the notorious Drake Passage. Crossing the Drake Passage (or ‘Mar de Hoces’) is a true milestone for every intrepid traveler. The experience is guaranteed to provide a sense of true adventure, as the weather conditions and waves in the Drake Passage are always unpredictable – no matter the time of year.
Is Drake Passage Safe?
Despite its reputation, crossing this unpredictable water body can be an unforgettable 48-hour affair. These days, with the finest equipment, safety procedures, experienced crew members and polar-ready ships, the Drake Passage can be a remarkable part of one’s polar voyage—not dangerous.
4. Polar Camp
Imagine for a moment, staring at the stars in the indigo glow of an Antarctic night as you bed down for the night outside in the elements. The buzz of your daily life becomes a distant memory as you listen to the bray of penguin, the ethereal calls of the Weddell sea – even the exhalation of a humpback whale. And then you fall asleep.
5. Ski/Snowboarding
Antarctica is the ultimate back-country skiing destination. The mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula, rising to well over 2000m, extend for hundreds of miles. The skiing is spectacular. There are no ski lifts. Simply an endless choice of untracked mountains to ski. And the only crowds are the groups of penguins you pass on the ascent. Ski beyond the backcountry. Ski in Antarctica.
6.View Southern Lights
The Southern Lights, commonly known as the Aurora Australis, is one of the world’s greatest wonders. Travellers come from across the globe to witness the spectacular natural light display in the high-altitude Antarctic region.
7. Visit a Research Station
Antarctica is the site of some of the world’s most cutting-edge research. There are dozens of scientific research centers here, and one of the most interesting things to do in Antarctica is to take a tour of one of these fascinating facilities. The Vernadsky Research Base on Galindez Island opens its doors to visitors all while studying everything from meteorology, ecology, biology, glaciology, seismology and physics. It was at this research station that the hole in the ozone layer was first discovered.
8.Go Zodiac Cruising
Go where your cruise ship can’t — hop aboard a small, sturdy inflatable boat and buzz between the icebergs and around the mountains. This is your chance to get an up-close look at some of the more cautious wildlife in the ocean, on land, and in the skies. It’s common for leopard seals, penguins, and other curious animals to pop up alongside to say hello. You’ll never feel so small in your life as you gaze up at the massive glaciers and icebergs from sea level. To call it a humbling experience would be an understatement.
9.View Blood Falls
A visual and scientific wonder, the Blood Falls is a fascinating anomaly upon which to feast your eyes. This bright-red waterfall spills from the Taylor Glacier in McMurdo’s Dry Valleys. The color is due to something truly phenomenal — life existing in the form of tiny, iron-packed microbes that were frozen in time when the glacier closed around them about two million years ago. The microbes, frozen within a small body of water, have been able to survive with no light or heat and very little oxygen. The fissure in the glacier allows the water to flow out, creating one of the most striking sights in all of Antarctica — a five-story, blood-red waterfall spilling over pure white snow.
10.Visit Trinity Church
The southernmost Christian Orthodox Church in the world, the Trinity Church on King George Island, was built by the Russians in their homeland and then transported via boat to their permanent base, Bellingshausen Station, in the mid-1990s. Two Russian priests volunteered to relocate with the church and run it year-round. Their duties include praying for the Russian souls who have lost their lives in various expeditions and providing spiritual support for the nearby researchers. They’ve even got one wedding under their belt — a ceremony between Russian and Chilean researchers was held here!
11. Explore Deception Island
Deception Island has become a popular tourist stop in Antarctica because of its several colonies of chinstrap penguins, as well as the possibility of making a warm bath by digging into the sands of the beach. Mount Flora is the site in Antarctica where fossilized plants were first discovered.
12. Cruise Lamaire Channel
Lemaire Channel is one of our classic far-south sea routes, lying between Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, a longstanding highlight of our Antarctic program. Measuring 11 km long (6.8 miles), 150 meters deep (490 feet), and 600 meters wide (1,970 feet) at the narrowest, Lemaire Channel provides excellent views as well as the chance to see exotic local wildlife.
13. Whale Watch
Whales can be found throughout Antarctica across the whole Antarctica cruise season (late October to March), however February and March are the optimal times for peak sightings.
14.Hike
Hiking in Antarctica enables you to explore less-visited parts of the continent and surrounding islands. There are no trails, the terrain is rough and the scenery of rocky expanses of land dotted with snow patches differs from the typical vistas you see from the cruise ship or on shore landings.
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