The awe-inspiring polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctic, are amongst the most beautiful and captivating in the world. Irrespective of which region you choose, visiting one of the world’s ultimate travel frontiers should prove to be a truly unforgettable and enriching experience.
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Polar Expedition Cruising
King penguins in Antarctica
Daylight is your constant companion on an Arctic cruise. The most accessible destination for the wildlife and ice fields of the north is Spitsbergen, in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, where in the summer months of June to August the sun never sets.
Setting sail from the remote hamlet of Longyearbyen, your days will pass with a mix of experiences, including polar bear encounters, whale watching and ambles across the tundra. You may be hanging over the deck rail admiring a young male polar bear who is curiously sniffing your boat, you may be gazing with horror at the piles of thousands of beluga whale skulls stacked on a beach, remnants of the whaling expeditions, or you may be simply sitting on deck with a cup of tea as the incredible scenery unfurls around you.
Most cruises start by setting sail through the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia in southern Argentina and, having then experienced the Drake Passage crossing, you will find yourself in a calm and beautiful wonderland of mountains, glaciers, icebergs and penguins. Lots and lots of penguins. Wrapping up warm (although it is generally not as cold as you might expect) you disembark the boat at least twice a day to explore, marvel at the wildlife such as the busy penguin colonies or a sleepy lone leopard seal, or maybe just sit and contemplate, send postcards from the British heritage site of Port Lockroy, or even go swimming in Antarctic waters – Deception Island has some volcanic hot springs. There will no doubt be some whale-watching as well.
Whatever your trip brings, and no two cruises are ever the same, it is sure to leave incredible memories of being at the very bottom of the world.
