5 Reasons to Take a Luxury Trip to Antarctica

Investing in a luxury trip to Antarctica is not a decision you make in haste. It does come with a hefty price tag. However, it is one of the best travel investments you'll make. You'll visit the world's remotest continent in unparalleled luxury, embark on a high-end cruise, indulge in fine dining meals onboard, and partake in incredible complimentary shore expeditions. If you are not convinced, here are more reasons to take a luxury trip to Antarctica.

Your trip to Antarctica will take you to a one-of-a-kind experience of exploring the wilderness, where you'll gaze at massive icebergs, marvel at whale sightings, observe penguins and seals up close, and be in awe at the impossibly deep blue skies and snow-capped mountain ranges. Being at the end of the world on a vast continent with no permanent human residents - just wildlife, mountains, and ice—is an incredibly life-changing experience.

Dubbed the "White Continent," Antarctica is the driest, coldest, windiest, and iciest place on Earth. It's technically a desert, with only 6.5 inches of precipitation a year. A trip to the wilderness of Antarctica is an incredible adventure, allowing you to discover things you won't find anywhere else.

Antarctica's coldness is invigorating. The air is clear and pure - everything seems enhanced, from the pristine and snow-covered slopes sparkling like jewels. For as long as you wear proper clothing, such as thermal layers and a windproof jacket, exploring Antarctica's wilderness will make you feel more energetic, alert, and alive.

Since Antarctica is a desert, the continent is dry and cold. It's not the damp kind that will chill you to the bone. But despite the cold, you must lather on sunscreen since the UV light here can be intense.

The landscapes of Antarctica are extraordinary, especially the snowy peaks of Mount Parry along Anvers Island. At over 8,000 feet tall, you'll be in awe at the pyramid of snow and ice rising from a tumbled tidewater glacier. You'll feel a more intense connection with nature here, such as the reflection of the snowy peaks on the calm bay, the pinky glow of the Austral sunset, and moonlight reflecting gently on the ice that forms the sea surface.

The world's perception of Antarctica is that it's mostly an endless desert of ice. While this is true, only two percent of the continent is coated in ice, averaging 1.9 km thick. Since the continent is double the size of Australia, 70% of the world's freshwater is frozen here. As a result, Antarctica doesn't have forests. Most of its mountains and lakes are hidden under glaciers, while its interior is a vast space that looks the same.

But that doesn't mean that Antarctica's landscapes have no diversity. The continent's northernmost section features vast areas not covered in ice. What you'll find here are exposed mountains and rocky shores that you can explore on a guided expedition. During the summer, the landscape will remind you of places like Iceland, where an Antarctic winter is closer to a Canadian winter.

There are only a few places on Earth where the past seems so close to the present. On your luxury trip to Antarctica, you'll explore vast areas of untouched Antarctic wilderness, exactly as the explorers of the Heroic Age experienced.

You will see evidence of these extraordinary expeditions in Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds and Scott's hut at Cape Evans. The expedition parties stayed in these areas during their visits, and you'll be in awe at how they remained remarkably well-preserved.

One of the places to visit to discover heroic history on your luxury trip to Antarctica is Point Wild. It's where Sir Ernest Shackleton launched his journey towards South Georgia, an island linked to his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, which eventually became his final resting place.

Another place you'll visit is Port Lockroy, where you can visit a former British scientific research station now converted into a living museum. Here, you will see remnants of past explorations and human activity, from weathered wooden boats to collapsed stone shelters and former whaling stations.

On your luxury trip to Antarctica, you are taken directly from the plane on landing to the ship to embark on a luxury Antarctic cruise. Depending on the itinerary and the places you want to see, it can take as little as six days up to 17 days. You will be onboard expedition ships focused on getting you into the remote continent on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Your luxury cruise will include incredible excursions, like walking with penguins, hiking on remote islands, kayaking on the icy waters, and zodiac rides with whales. In addition, an award-winning expedition team will join you as you relax in comfort while the ship sails amidst Antarctica's most spectacular landscapes.

The polar sunsets are among the most stunning scenes you could encounter on your cruise to Antarctica. Antarctica produces some of the world's most magical sunsets, featuring blues, pinks, and purples spreading across the sky and reflected in the calm waters dotted with drifting ice - a truly incredible experience!

If you love penguins, you should invest in a luxury tour of Antarctica. You will have a chance to get close and walk amongst these endearing creatures. In fact, penguins are among the main reasons people visit the remote region.

You will find vast rookeries throughout the region where different varieties of penguins raise their cute chicks, especially between December and February.

The comic appearance of these quirky birds on land is interestingly different from their agility in the water. As you see them in their natural habitat, you will discover many amazing things about them. The fact that they aren't bothered by the presence of humans allows you to get up close and personal with them.

Aside from penguins, the other fascinating wildlife you'll see on your luxury trip to Antarctica are seals, albatrosses, whales, and frigate birds.

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