Many travelers want to explore the hidden nooks and crannies of the planet that are off the beaten path, and Antarctica is truly one of the most unspoiled expanses of natural wilderness in the world. Located at the utter end point of the planet, this is a barren landscape that is dictated largely by glaciers and icy coastal waters. However, amidst the frozen tundra of Antarctica lies its beauty, and more travelers than ever before are booking expeditions to experience the intense natural beauty of the area and to view wildlife that is only found in this area of the world.
Different Types of Expeditions
While tourism to Antarctica officially began in the 1950s, it was rather slow to gain in popularity. However, as more images and videos of its beauty have been published and as natural landscapes in other areas of the world have continued to decline, tourism to this area has increased. There are ocean cruises with land excursions to the area, and there are also trips that fly travelers into the area and place them in temporary field camps for a period of time. Approximately 37,000 visitors traveled to the area between 2006 and 2007, and this number is expected to slowly increase in the near future.
Arctic Ice – Photo Credit: Patrick Kelley, U.S. Coast Guard | Source: Flickr
What You Can Expect on an Expedition to Antarctica
You may plan to travel to Antarctica on a cruise ship or a smaller yacht or via an airplane. Regardless of how you reach the area, you will only be able to travel into the area between the months of November to March. These are the warmest months of the year, and it is a time when travel is safest and most convenient. Furthermore, while there may be as many as 24 hours of sunlight during this time of year, it should be noted that there may be 24 hours of darkness during the coldest months of the year. Furthermore, you can expect plenty of sunshine and little precipitation, and the temperature may climb well above the freezing mark during the sunny days of the year.
Central Arctic Management Area WSA – Photos by Bob Wick, Wilderness Specialist for the BLM’s National Conservation Lands | Source: Flickr
What You Can Do
As the popularity of tourism continues to increase in the area, there are an increasing number of opportunities for sightseeing and adventure. This is an undeveloped area of the world, so you should not expect fine dining and shopping to be at the top of the list of things to do. However, viewing the ice packs and glaciers with hikes and air tours is popular. Kayaking and mountaineering coupled with camping and scuba diving are also popular. This is an intensely beautiful and fascinating area that is ideal for adventure lovers as well as for those who are fascinated by viewing species in their natural habitat. While some tours and expeditions will provide you with plenty of safety gear, it is important that you plan ahead for a trip to a landscape such as this. You can invest in sunscreen, warm weather clothes and other gear. You certainly will want to bring a camera along as well.
Space on expeditions to this area of the world is in short supply, and demand continues to increase. While new expeditions are being created periodically, it is important to note that you typically must book these trips months in advance, if not more. With this in mind, you may consider researching different expeditions and travel experiences available today so that you can make plans to experience all that the area has to offer.
Article submitted by Lucy Rowe from travelpassionblog.com
