Antarctica Favorites

  Fernando's artwork on Sara's bed.
by 850prc
 
  • Fernando's artwork on Sara's bed.
      Fernando's artwork on Sara's bed.
    by 850prc
  • Asst Exp Leader Danny stamping at Vernadsky Stn
      Asst Exp Leader Danny stamping at...
    by 850prc
  • Everybody JUMP.
      Everybody JUMP.
    by 850prc
  • Ok, head back under water.
      Ok, head back under water.
    by 850prc
  • Now jump again.  :)
      Now jump again. :)
    by 850prc
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Charter Flights from Melbourne or Sydney.

by peeweekathi

If you're thinking of taking this charter flight, just enjoy it for what it is, a joy flight! Enjoy it, don't just sit in your seat, get up and move around! Lean and look through the windows and marvel at what you are lucky to see! There are t.v. screens in front of your seat and you can watch the view from the camera on the nose of the plane, but that's just like sitting on a chair in your lounge room! The better the seat, the more you pay, but be warned, you are expected to 'swap' seats during the flight, so the others next to you get a turn. If you get up and move around, you can see the bits you might have missed, over and over again. And the plane food isn't that bad! Champagne a plenty, for those that want to celebrate the views! Just seeing the Antarctic, from way up high, is an amazing experience, so if you are not going to get the chance to get there for real, do this instead,...

Tip Photo
Life on board the Nordnorge

by tini58de

It was never boring on board the Nordnorge:first of all we seemed to be constantly eating - which was VERY delicious (please see my restaurant tip!). Then we had the chance for excursions along the coast of Patagonia and daily zodiac landings in Antarctica.Furthermore there were interesting lectures (both in German and in English) throughout the day plus some "serious birdwatching" offered by our ornithologist.The ship was designed in a way that you have the chance of almost always finding a window seat to sit back and relax, enjoy the scenery, read a book (great library on board as well) or do a puzzle.So it really NEVER go boring one bit!

Tip Photo
Whales

by tini58de

During the Antarctic summer months you will be able to see quite a few species of whales, that go to Antarctica to get a good meal of krill (small prawn-like animals). A few months later, when it gets really freezing and ice begins to cover the sea, they return to the warm waters off the coast of South America, South Africa or Australia, where you can do whale watching then! Seeing dozens of whales (at least 70 - 80) all around us on our way back to South America, while crossing the Drake Passage.I will never forget the sound of the whales blowing out the air - phhhhhhhhhhhht, phhhhht, phhhhht!!! Breathtaking!!!I still have not managed to distinguish the different types of whales, but I found this neat little website, that gives you some clues.

Tip Photo
Penguins

by tini58de

There are currently 17 species of Penguins (some scientists divide them in 18). Fossil records indicate that there used to be more in the past. We did see the Magellanic, Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguins - and they are now my very favourite birds!!!

Tip Photo
Icebergs

by tini58de

Huge blocks of ice floating in the sea are known as Icebergs. There are various shapes and sizes: icebergs, ice islands, tabular icebergs or the ones with irregular shapes are called brash ice.Icebergs are generally colored white, blue or green, depending on the amount of air trapped inside the ice. Those turquoise colors are truly breathtaking!!!Between one-quarter and one-seventh of an iceberg’s mass appears above the surface, the rest is below the water and this is the part of the iceberg that is most dangerous to passing ships - just remember the Titanic!!!

Tip Photo
Ice

by tini58de

Ice in the Antarctic comes in a variety of shapes and sizes . huge icebergs with bizarre shapes, beautifully shimmering turquoise blue ice bergs and - which fascinated me just as much, there is even black ice. This black ice is very old ice, that has endured under so much pressure, that there is almost no oxygen inside that can reflect the light - and so it looks black!

Tip Photo
IAATO

by tini58de

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators is an organization founded in 1991to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. This includes rules like ensuring that a maximum of 100 persons be transported to the mainland, that the ship does not anchor more than 4 hours at the same spot, that no waste is left ashore and the like. When booking a trip to Antarctica, please make sure, that your tour operator is a member of IAATO or at least accepts these rules! One of the principles of IAATO was to ensure, that no germs of any kind are to be transported from one landing place to the other. So we had to step through a "rubber boot washing machine" on our way to and from the polar circle boats.On the picture you can see (from left to right):- a sponge with a chemical solution to kill germs- a water sprinkler- a...

Tip Photo
The Antarctic Treaty

by tini58de

Antarctica is a continent that does not have a government of its own or does not belong to any country. To ensure that this continent is saved and not exploited, the Antarctic treaty has been signed by many countries since 1961.ObjectivesTo ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes, for international cooperation in scientific research, and does not become the scene or object of international discord.Summary of provisions(a) No military bases, military manoeuvres or weapon teating in Antarctica (art. 1);(b) Freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation in the exchange of information regarding plans for such investigation and of personnel engaged in such investigation, and of information resulting from such investigation (arts. 2 and 3);(c) Territorial claims in Antarctica not affected by the Convention (art. 4);(d) Observers to inspect stations, installations and...

Tip Photo
Our Itinerary

by tini58de

This really was a trip of a liftetime!! Ever since I found this trip in a wonderful brochure of NORDEN Tours, I was convinced, that I would be on one of the tours soon!If you are interested in our itinerary, there you go! And you can believe every word!!And for some pictures from the Nordnorge webcam click on the link - if I could I would jump on that ship right away again!

Tip Photo
Ranges inland from Mawson : Mt Henderson

by tiabunna

The mountain in the background to this photo is Mount Henderson, one of the more prominent mountains behind Mawson station. It rises to 970 metres, is about 15 km inland, and can be seen from well offshore.The vehicle is called a SnowTrac. I had never heard of them outside Australia and its Antarctic stations, but I am indebted to VTer "melensdad" for the advice they came from Sweden. Ours were powered by a Porsche industrial engine, but had some recurring problems with tracks. It is parked on what is called "blue ice" - hard glassy ice which fractures and tinkles like glass if broken: this is found only in the "ablation zone" near the coasts and we were out testing some experimental ice depth sounding equipment. The 'trendy skier'... ahem, a little embarrassing to say it's me.

Tip Photo

The Place

Reviews and photos of Antarctica attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Antarctica sightseeing.

Experience Antarctica
 

Questions and Answers

crazy4ocean profile photo

Q:  Hello, I'm so excited about my trip to Antarctica on 2/19 on Quark. Questions for those who've been there - 1. packing -... 

globetrott profile photo

A: There is a tiny place on Deception Island, where the ground is so hot that you can dig out a hole and let the sea-water in that will allow you to take a bath in hot... 

Read 8 Replies

postQuestion_button