A Trip to Antarctica

Even though it’s the coldest place on Earth and the temperature is usually about -70 Celsius in winter, Antarctica is one of the most magical places to visit. The only time it is accessible for tourists is from November to March. Because of the cold weather there are no residential areas, hotels, discos or spas. However, there are research stations that belong to different countries. As most people do, you can travel there on a cruise ship. 

A travel writer named Joanna Symons went to Antarctica in February and shared her experiences. She saw thousands of birds packed tightly on rocks, watched penguins leaping into the sea and sailed with humpback whales. She said the view of the Weddell Sea was like a surreal panorama of icy skyscrapers and added that it was an amazing experience that she would never forget. It is an extremely expensive trip but if you travel there at the beginning or end of the season, the prices are more reasonable. In November, penguins come ashore and start building their nests. It’s the best time to get good shots of penguins. 

Some people can’t decide if it’s safe to go there or not. The safest cruise companies are the ones which are a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. These companies have strict guidelines and work with experienced people. You can check the list of companies from the website of IAATO on the Internet and choose the one that you would like to travel with. It’s a good idea to choose a small boat which has a capacity of 50-200 passengers. These ships provide you with Zodiac boat shore trips whereas big ships don’t. When you are on the shore, you can take close up pictures of the wilderness and nature. However, when you travel in larger ships, you can only look at the landscape from on board. There are expert naturalists and polar historians on board who will inform you about the things you see or answer your questions. 

While packing up keep, in mind that you’re going to the coldest place in the world so prepare a suitcase as if you were going on a skiing holiday. Pack thermal underwear, a thin insulating layer, a thin jacket, waterproof trousers and jacket with hood in your suitcase. Don’t forget to take a hat, ski gloves, sunglasses and waterproof boots. Have a nice trip!

Adapted from telegraph.co.uk