D I S C O V E R N E W W O R L D S enchantingtravels.com/antarctica 24 Antarctica has literally been frozen in time. Diamond dust floats in the air. As the only uninhabited continent on our planet, we welcome you to Earth’s last great wilderness. INTOTHE DEEP The white continent of Antarctica is a pristine, fragile environment that we can all learn from. In Antarctica, there is no such thing as time, as all degrees of longitude converge. Summers hold only daylight. Winters are cast by endless nights. With very little precipitation aside from some snowfall, most of Antarctica is a cold desert. First discovered by James Cook when he was crossing the Antarctic Circle in 1773, this is a remarkable continent that is almost twice the size of Australia. Amongst the thick sheets of ice that cover the continent, you find a stark land of lakes, plateaus, mountains and valleys. Deep in Antarctica there are secrets of 25 million years to bestow. Hidden in the ice is the wisdom of our world. Amidst the extremities of wind and dry air, Antarctica is now a peaceful hub of 70 research stations. Currently 54 countries have signed the Antarctic Treaty, the most successful international agreement, to preserve the continent's environment. Antarctica is cold. Temperatures range from -90ºC in winter to 15ºC in the summer. Despite the cold, life exists in this unexplored, polar territory. Antarctica is home to a strange collection of indigenous vegetation, including rare mosses and lichens. Snow petrels, rock cormorants, albatross and skua grace the air. Penguins, sea lions, seals, whales, and unworldly looking cephalopods inhabit the Southern Ocean and the ice. GO SLOW 25 Experience Antarctica with a cruise along its accessible coastline. Engage in its raw beauty with the guidance of your expert expedition team. You can combine your Antarctica adventure with a trip to Argentine Patagonia, where you begin from Ushuaia, or with a trip to Chile where you fly from Punta Arenas. The cruises are arranged so that they are as non-invasive to the environment as possible, using bio secured dinghies and clothing. The hope is to create a community of Antarctica ambassadors who can be the custodians for her future. December to early February holds the most sunlight in the Peninsula, and as prime breeding season, you will get to see many hatched penguin chicks too! Your time spent aboard the cruise ship is always steeped in discovery. Listen to the crew’s anecdotes, take in the otherworldy scenery, tuck into gourmet meals, and enjoy engaging lectures by passionate polar naturalists. Every stop takes you on an incredible exploration. Pass through the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. Enjoy afternoon tea at a traditional family homestead in the West Falklands. Visit the world’s largest colonies of king penguins at St Andrew’s Bay. Dip into hot springs on Deception Island. Meet polar researchers, and discover the life of dedicated scientists at the British Antarctic Survey station. Pay respects to the great Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, at his grave on the Grytviken whaling outpost, which also holds a fascinating whaling museum. Depending on the prevailing weather pattern and ice conditions, you might have the opportunity to go into the small bays and channels by an inflatable Zodiac boat. Antarctica reminds us that we are but a tiny part of a great ecosystem. Not only will you breathe the freshest air you’ve ever had on Earth, you will also see the world with new eyes. Feel humbled, enlivened and determined to preserve this magical polar region. RECOMMENDED ROUTE Argentina and Antarctica – Glacial Explorations (16 days) Buenos Aires (2 nights) El Calafate (2) Ushuaia (1) Antarctica (9) Buenos Aires (1) Adventure Wildlife Landscape Best time to go: DEC to FEB From $ 19,980 / person TALK TO OUR EXPERT Lisa Fox lisa.fox@enchantingtravels.com ICY WATERS KAYAK EXPEDITION Dress up in white and blue and hop into a sea kayak! Navigate around icebergs and glide through bays of the Antarctic Peninsula to encounter seals lazing on ice floes, penguin colonies waddling on black sand beaches, sea birds soaring above, and breaching whales. WILD ANTARCTIC CAMPING ADVENTURE Head ashore for an unforgettable overnight camping experience! Your expedition leaders help you relive the experience of the continent’s earliest explorers. Listen closely for blowing whales, gentle waves lapping the icy beach, and creaking icebergs. "I believe it is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown.” SIR ERNEST HENRY SHACKLETON British polar explorer EXPERIENCES