Petermann Island Traveling to Antarctica is one of the most
exhilarating trips you will ever take. Although it is
expensive, it is truly spectacular and it's something that
you and your traveling companions will never forget. In this
article, you'll get an overview on what to think about when
planning a trip to Antarctica, along with some steers in the
right direction to continue your research.
!! Steps !!
Choose the right time to visit. Antarctica's tour season covers
about five months, mostly over the Southern Hemisphere summer
(November to March). All other times of the year are extremely cold,
dark, and the pack ice freezes out a long way. Be aware that while
there will be less people around later in the season, much of the
wildlife will already have left for the sea. During these months,
some of the things you can expect include:
* During November, the pack ice starts to break up and it's mating
season for the penguins and other birds.
* During December and January, the penguin chicks hatch and are fed
and nurtured in the breeding grounds.
* During February and March, the penguin chicks fledge, the adult
penguins molt, and the whales are easy to spot.
Expect a large hole in your budget. This is one travel destination
where budget travel is not much of an option unless you're hired to
work hard. At a minimum, you will probably be facing at least
US$5,000 and that is for the bare necessities and not necessarily
the best seating or opportunities.[1]
* If you can't travel with someone to reduce the costs through
shared accommodation, expect to pay a premium for a single berth
on a boat or ship.
* Airline ticket prices vary depending on the good to bad visibility
from your seat, as well as the usual economy and business class
distinctions.
* If you don't want to visit as a tourist, think of other options,
such as joining a government expedition to Antarctica. For this,
you'll likely need suitable technical, scientific, medical, or
other relevant skills like cooking for a large group, as well as
having a suitable background for government employment. Another
possibility is to travel as an invited part of a crew. Some people
get asked to come along as journalists, photographers, artists,
etc., and their trip is covered by whoever invited or sent them
along. Again, this will depend on your skills.
Decide how you'd like to travel to Antarctica. Most visitors to
Antarctica travel by ship, with a few intrepid travelers taking
yachts across. Each option has its benefits and drawbacks but none
of them will save you many pennies, so it really comes down to
preferences on comfort, shore visits, and other amenities offered by
the tour organizations in question. Most voyages to the Antarctic
Peninsular region leave from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego in Argentina,
Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands and a few leave from Punta
Arenas in Chile, Buenos Aires in Argentina, or Puerto Madryn in
Argentina.[2] There are also voyages on ice breakers and sometimes
using helicopters for tourists that visit the Weddell Sea, Ross Sea
region and East Antarctica on occasion, to see Emperor penguin
colonies, historic huts, the Dry Valleys, etc. These voyages leave
from places such as Bluff or Lyttleton in New Zealand, Hobart or
Fremantle in Australia, or Cape Town or Port Elizabeth in South
Africa.[3] The best way to find ship options is to visit the
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) at
http://www.iaato.org and to look at its "membership directory".
* Traveling on a large ship will provide you with the highest level
of comfort but you'll also need to spend time with the highest
level of people. In high seas, these ships are the most
comfortable but the strict guidelines on how many people can visit
the shore will limit your opportunities for shore visits.
* Smaller ships allow for more time on shore. This is because
tourist guidelines limit landings of tour groups to 100 people.
* It is possible to reach Antarctica by yacht but this is not
commonplace, with only 200 yacht visits in the past 30 years.[4]
This is a private party affair and needs to be arranged direct
with the relevant yacht owners. Don't expect a fond welcome from
stations; they have so many visitors now that they require several
months notice in advance of your intended arrival. Yachts tend to
leave from Ushuaia or Stanley and are only for the very courageous
and adventurous.
* It is possible to travel on French resupply vessels as a tourist,
leaving from Réunion in and taking about 1 month. The limit is
around 30 tourists and guides accompany the boat. There are
choices of staying at the French base Port-aux-Français and even
hikes with overnight stays in refuges.[5]
Consider air travel. There are various companies that fly to
Antarctica, from Punta Arenas in Chile; from Cape Town in South
Africa, and from Qantas in Australia.[6] Some flights are simply fly
overs and you can see Antarctica from the air, while some are
fly-cruise options. Other flights fly straight into Antarctica and
you get to stay at the base or camp set up just for the tourism
purposes. Be aware that flights are subject to cancellations due to
weather and other safety issues. The best approach to assessing
flight options is to read guidebooks written specifically for
Antarctica, or check the Lonely Planet site, as the details change
yearly depending on availability and interest, etc. As with the
voyages, the one thing you can expect again is to pay a considerable
amount!
If making shore expeditions, prepare well. Shore visits tend to be
short in duration (around 3 hours or less) and will always be
accompanied by a guide unless you've made a private expedition.
* Wear appropriate clothing, such as wicking-away layers next to
your skin, warm tops, and winter-weight snow jackets. It is most
likely that the tour company will provide you with an expedition
coat for shore visits and deck warmth.
* Wear suitable snow walking boots. If you are issued with crampons,
use them. Ask if you don't know how to use any equipment provided
to you by the tour company, including asking to be shown
individually if you didn't grasp a group demonstration.
Understand the health and safety issues. The Antarctic environment
is dangerous for human beings. The weather is extremely changeable
and it is always cold, even in the summertime. There are dangers
such as crevasses on ice fields and glaciers and fire hazards are
high in the very dry environment, so handling anything flammable
must be done with care.
* There are no vaccination requirements for Antarctica but you
should be fit and in good health because medical treatment will be
basic and spread thin among all your passengers. Any medical
conditions that you do have should be detailed by your doctor in
letter form, especially if you need to bring along medication.[7]
Mount Scott Respect the fragility of the Antarctic environment. The
Antarctic environment is fragile and apart from expeditions, bases,
and some tourists, there has been little human change. Wildlife
remains unafraid of humans because of the lack of long-term negative
interaction. It is important to respect the pristine nature of
Antarctica and to ensure that tourism doesn't have a negative impact.
There are Visitor Guidelines adopted under the Antarctic Treaty that
regulate visitors' actions at Antarctica and it is worth reading them
as part of your preparation for the visit.[8] Some of the basics to
keep in mind include:
* Don't go too near wildlife and don't do anything to disturb
wildlife.
* Don't litter. Pack out all your trash.
* Don't deface anything – all human-built structures have
historical value and many huts, etc., have heritage listings. Do
not engrave anything into rocks or other land features.
* Take photos and nothing else. Leave all eggs, shells, plants,
rocks, fossils, soil, etc., where it is.
* Enjoy your trip of a lifetime. This is one of those trips
that people who take it can never forget or stop talking about. If
you love pristine beauty, amazing sights, incredible wildlife
opportunities, and you don't mind a bit of cold, this might be the
perfect trip that will create a lifetime memory.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Search for a few different tours so you can find the one that
interests you most, and one that fits in your budget.
* Check with your federal government about how to be a 'good
citizen' in the wild. (There is no local sovereignty over
Antarctica and your behavior is governed by your federal
government's laws.)
* Reputable tour guides subscribe to the visitor provisions of the
Antarctic Treaty; review the contents of this treaty and its
accompanying guidelines before you go.
* Ensure that you have appropriate travel, medical, health and other
relevant insurance organized before leaving. In addition, talk to
your doctor about any possible medical conditions that could turn
into emergencies; doctors are few when traveling to Antarctica.
* Given the experience to come at some considerable financial cost,
it's not unusual to save for many years. If it's something you've
been saving up for over time, bear in mind that you'll need to
keep checking updated information, especially if you're
researching now for later, in order to account for any changes
made within the Antarctic travel industry to accommodate Antarctic
conditions and research needs.
!! Warnings !!
* Travel to Antarctica can be relatively expensive but if you can
afford it, it is an amazing tour.
* Weather in Antarctica is extreme. Be prepared for intense sun,
wild wind, ice, and extreme cold.
* Verify with your photo equipment vendor that your photo equipment
can withstand extreme weather.
* Carry out absolutely everything that you carry in. Leave no trace.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Selected tour company
* Appropriate clothing, footwear, and other items such as goggles,
gloves, balaclava, etc. - be sure to ask the tour company for its
suggested list of items, as well as finding out what the tour
company will provide
* Medications that you normally take with you
* Books and journals to while away travel time
* Camera and batteries, check ability of them to work in the cold
* Personal snacks you'd like to have that you know the tour company
won't supply
* Visitor's Guidelines for Antarctica, Antarctica Treaty, etc. - all
documentation can be accessed via the internet before leaving
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Be Good at Geography
* How to Travel by Air
* How to Travel Around the World
* How to Pack for an Antarctica Trip Top Five Items
* How to Prevent Hypothermia
* How to Treat Hypothermia
* How to Dress for Winter
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
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