Forget everything you have ever experienced before. Antarctica is in a league of its own. No matter how high your expectations are, Antarctica never disappoints. Holding 90% of the world’s ice, it’s massive in every sense of the word. The only country in the world with more surface area is Russia. There is actually land to be found underneath all the ice, but in some places, you would have to dig your way through four kilometers of snow and ice to reach it.
You will probably see your first seals and penguins from the ship, and that in itself is a fantastic experience. But wait until you stand on the very same shore as a colony of thousands of penguins. Or if a seal shows up beside you as you enjoy an optional activity of kayaking among the icebergs. Caught up in the thrill of the moment, you might not even remember to reach for your camera to take a picture!
Just as the icescapes of Antarctica change through its seasons, so does its wildlife. In early spring there will be much more snow, making the landscapes even more pristine. This is when the penguins are meeting up. We rarely see whales at this time of year, in October and November. In December, however, whales become more frequent. That’s also when the first penguin chicks hatch, which is always a charming sight. February and March are the peak of whale-watching opportunities, as the large amount of krill in the waters attract the most whale species who come for a veritable feeding frenzy.
There will be less snow then, and you will be able to see the clumsy penguin chicks are running around. If you are interested in birds, however, there are 46 species of birds here, including various petrels, albatrosses and terns.
Our Expedition Team will take very good care of you while you enjoy everything that Antarctica has to offer over the next five days. You can join them in ice-cruising and landings to really explore the icescapes of this frozen continent. If you are here early in the season when snow conditions are good, you may even get the chance to go snowshoeing. As before, there is no set list of sites we will definitely visit. We submit to the elements, allowing wind and sea ice to guide us in picking the best landing zones.