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Travel Articles: Staff Blog

481-504 of 540 Results
Polar bear graffiti in Svalbard

Where in the Arctic do I go?

When you're offered the opportunity to go anywhere in the Arctic you must immediately say yes! That was my experience with my recent visit to Svalbard. I didn't give too much thought to where I was going. Just that I was going to the land of ice in the summer and all day sunlight. But the truth is the Arctic is full of facets and options …
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Angkor Wat

Temples, Temples, Temples

It took a little doing but we managed to squeeze in a side trip to Siem Reap at the end of our trip. Angkor Wat gets all the love, but the temple complexes in this region are vast and varied.

Of course Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are the most well-known. They've also been the best excavated and maintained, so, despite thousands of tourists …
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Camping on the Antarctic continent! Chilly but worth it

Camping in Antarctica

Few people can say they have stepped foot on Antarctica. Even fewer can say that they have camped on the White Continent!

Many ships will offer adventure activities for travelers looking to enhance their Antarctic experience and take it one step further. Among these activities are kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, and camping. Most of these …
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Collecting glacial ice to be used in cocktails later that evening

Sea Ice vs Glacial Ice

Antarctica is lacking many things - humans, trees, McDonalds (thank goodness). But one thing that there is no shortage of? Ice.

Ice, ice, everywhere you look from the flat pancake ice on the surface of the sea to the massive, majestic icebergs larger than your ship. It is beautiful and awe-inspiring. Who needs architects when the elements create …
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Our home for 2 weeks: the Hebridean Sky

Polar Tourism & Environmental Impacts

For the discerning, environmentally aware traveler, a trip to Antarctica or the Arctic can seem like a catch-22. Where better to see the immediate effects of climate change and reignite a sense of responsibility to our planet? The educational opportunities abound, with lectures given by glaciologists who can provide hard evidence of polar ice melt …
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Captain of the ship!

Crossing the Antarctic Circle

There are a few lines on the globe that are noteworthy in the maritime world for those who cross them. The Equator is perhaps the most well-known. These important "line crossings" come with notorious traditions, especially in the navy, said to have been created to boost morale or as a test for newer sailors to ensure that they were …
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Antarctic welcoming committee

Antarctica in February/March

The season in Antarctica generally runs from November to March, during the austral summer when the temperatures rise and the sea ice breaks up enough for ships to access the Antarctic Peninsula, the part of the continent that stretches closest to the tip of South America. In my opinion, there is no "bad" time to visit Antarctica during …
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Learning about IAATO

The importance of IAATO

An expedition to Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. For some, it's a dream come true. For others, it's simply a check off the old bucket list. Regardless of your motivation for traveling to Antarctica, it's increasingly important to choose an operator that advocates for responsible travel and follows IAATO's guidelines.

What …
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A windy paddling excursion in Tierra del Fuego National Park

Underrated Ushuaia

Once upon a time, Ushuaia was a missionary base, a penal colony, and a naval base. Until recently, it was not on the radar of many tourists. Ushuaia is the gateway to Antarctica, but the city and surrounding region itself deserve some attention as well. While it may not offer the epic views of Torres del Paine or Fitz Roy, it is still a part of …
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Hiking through Tierra del Fuego National Park

Getting to Antarctica - The Long Journey

Antarctica is one of the most remote locations on earth. So, it should come as no surprise that it's not just a "hop, skip, and a jump" away from home - more like 2-3 plane rides and two days by sea! Regardless of where you live on the globe, it is not a simple, short journey. For most travelers coming from anywhere that is not …
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PLUNGE

The Polar Plunge: Don't Think, Just Do It

A swimsuit is not something you would expect to find on a packing list for Antarctica. And yet, if you don't bring one, you may find yourself disappointed and left out of a crazy but fun activity.

I have done the "polar bear plunge" at home on New Year's Day, running into the Atlantic Ocean as fast as I could to ring in the new …
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Our expedition crew

Plan Z - Unpredictable Antarctica

Antarctica is notoriously one of the most remote, harsh, and unpredictable places on the planet. I knew this, and yet I was still amazed at how truly dynamic it is. Every day spent there was a humbling experience and a reminder that mother nature is a force to be reckoned with. We are not in control.

When you board an Antarctic expedition cruise, …
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Zodiac cruising with our on-board historian, Seb

Recommended Reading & Viewing

If you are considering a trip to Antarctica or are even remotely interested in the 7th continent, there are some excellent books and documentaries that will immerse you into the history of the region, focusing on some of the admirable expeditions that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries. Names like Shackleton, Ross, and Amundsen are …
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Zodiac cruisin'

A Typical Day on an Antarctic Expedition

Once you board your expedition cruise ship, your trip starts to feel an awful lot like summer camp for adults. You have a daily schedule that starts to feel routine after a few days: breakfast, followed by an excursion, followed by lunch, followed by another excursion, followed by a recap/briefing, then dinner, and if you've still got any …
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Vernadsky

Antarctica Packing Tips

Do a little research or sign up for a cruise, and you'll easily stumble upon countless packing lists for an expedition cruise to Antarctica. Most of them are generally the same with a few basic, non-negotiable items:

Layers: multiple layers starting with a thermal base layer, an insulating mid-layer, and a waterproof outer layer



*I …
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Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Cambodia

When our group arrived to Siem Reap, Cambodia, we were greeted with one of the most beautiful airports I had ever seen — it looked like it had been recently built, with shiny spotless floors, lots of glass, and uniquely Cambodian touches inside. Staff from the hostel we had booked were waiting outside the airport for us with tuk-tuks; we …
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Cruise ship, Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

Cruising Ha Long/Lan Ha Bay

Hanoi was followed by a luxurious overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay aboard the Peony. We were greeted at the boat by friendly staff and a hearty buffet lunch as we cruised across the bay. After our humble experience of Hanoi and the havoc of the big city, kicking back on our cabin’s balcony watching the limestone karst formations drift from …
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Train Street, Hanoi, Old Quarter

Hanoi

After our two days in Hoi An, we caught another flight from Da Nang north to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. I was excited but not quite prepared for the next level of sensory overload; nearly everything I knew of Hanoi was gleaned from TV, mostly food documentaries like Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown series. It all seemed condensed into …
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Countryside by Bike Tour from Hoi An, Quang Nam Province

Central Vietnam: Hoi An

The overwhelm of Hong Kong was nothing compared to the rush of our first cab ride in Vietnam. I didn’t realize the level of motorbike traffic until we were right in the thick of it — there seemed to be no rules, no braking, just a steady stream of people weaving in and out and around each other, hitting roundabouts and entering the …
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Hong Kong Skyline from Star Ferry

Arrival - Hong Kong

We arrived in Hong Kong late in the evening. I was exhausted and ready for a hot shower and a cold beer. My travel partners, my friend Mason and his cousin McKenzie, were equally beat, nodding off a little during our taxi ride from the airport. We rolled the red Toyota cab windows down and let the late-night bustle wash over us; the city was muggy …
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Kennedy Park, Miraflores

Eating Your Way Through Lima

There are reasonable differences in opinion among travel planners when it comes to Lima. Some folks say to skip it altogether, while others find it fascinating. Let me find a middle ground…

For me, Lima is worth 24 hours of exploration. Your flight home will likely be a late-night affair anyways, so adding a night in Lima when returning …
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Uros Islands

Is This Real or Contrived?

Part of the boat trip out to Amantani Island for the homestay includes a visit to the Uros Islands – floating villages built on stacks and stacks of reeds. It is an incredible concept, born out of necessity when the Incas from the highlands arrived and sought to subjugate the local people. By moving out onto the lake, the Uros people were …
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Amantani Island

Lake Titicaca – Is This a Homestay or Guesthouse?

I am not the most social of people, so I was hesitant about the homestay idea. If not done well, these can seem a little overly voyeuristic to me. But there’s no other way of spending the night actually out on Lake Titicaca, and we wanted to have a bit more immersive experience.

Thankfully, on the section of Amantani Island we visited, the …
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Huaynapicchu, Machu Picchu

Huaynapicchu Hiking

One question a lot of Machu Picchu visitors have to consider is whether they want to visit Huaynapicchu. This is the steep, triangular mountain in the background of most Machu Picchu photos. There are a few ruins at the top and incredible views of the main citadel below. This is a specific entrance permit that must be purchased well in advance, as …
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Glass-still waters around Spitsbergen

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Scenic rice field in Vietnam

Vietnam

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A polar bear climbs glacial ice in the Arctic

Arctic

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