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On our way to Snow Hill, Antarctica

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 11: Preventing Pathogens, Welcome Cocktails and Meeting the Captain

Friday – Nov. 11, 2011 This afternoon we conducted bio security which entailed of vacuuming out our personal backpacks and outer gear to prevent pathogens from being introduced into the delicate environment of the Subantarctic Islands. Also, attendance of the zodiac briefing was required to ensure everyone’s personal safety. Pete McClelland from the New Zealand Department of Conservation gave a lecture about the unique plant life and wildlife on the [...]

 

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Ice in the Weddell Sea in Antrarctica

Laurie Allread Antarctica Travel Blog: Anticipation in Christchurch, NZ

Tuesday – November 8, 2011: Anticipation is increasing. Tonight, I will meet the other travelers at a welcome dinner, then, in less than 36 hours, we will be on the Kapitan Khlebnikov departing Lyttelton. From my past Antarctica trips, I recall an exhilarating yet scary feeling watching the land become smaller and smaller and finally disappearing while the icebreaker departs the harbor. During the first seven days, we will see [...]

 

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Relaxing with Emperor Penguins on Antarctica's Snow Hill

Adventure Life traveler, Laurie Allread, explains why Antarctica beckons her return . . .

Preparing to return to Antarctica for a fourth visit, Adventure Life traveler, Laurie Allread, explains a little about why Antarctica continues to beckon her return again … and again. Laurie will be joining us on the Kapitan Khlebnikov’s Ross Sea Centennial Voyage. This is the final season the Kapitan is taking travelers to the polar regions — departing Nov. 9, 2011, this trip will be an epic month-long Antarctica adventure. [...]

 

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A penguin searches for pebbles on the rocky shore

Antarctica Travel Video: Leave the Pebbles for the Penguins

A little reminder in the principles of Leave No Trace is always a good idea. This short video from my last Antarctica trip provides just that. Although a tiny pebble might seem insignificant, they are incredibly coveted by Antarctica penguins — penguins make their nests from small pebbles, that are not always easy to come by in the snowy, stark environment. Seen here in a short clip are Gentoos (and [...]

 

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Antarctica camping during an polar expedition cruise

Polar Adventures: Five pieces of advice for an overnight Antarctica camping trip

More and more, an overnight camping trip on Antarctica is becoming a popular addition to a polar adventure. The majority of expedition ships offer this optional excursion to a select number of passengers each voyage, which is definitely not for everyone… but is definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that hearty travelers have a hard time passing up (yours-truly included). Beyond your camping basics, here are a few other items [...]

 

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Looking for whales from the zodiac

Minke Whale, Meet Antarctica Travelers

Hey — remember that time we were in Antarctica and that minke whale decided to swim over to our zodiac, give it a little nudge and dive underneath before meandering on its way…? Antarctica travelers have a close encounter with a curious Minke whale off the coast of the Peninsula. Unlike the other wildlife of Antarctica, whales do not breed in the region. However, they do take advantage of the [...]

 

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Penguins on Petermann Island

Great Antarctica Discount. Book by Sept. 30th, 2010

Book by September 30, 2010 to save 30% off an 11-day polar voyage onboard the Antarctic Dream. This discount applies to the November 7, 2010 departure. Here’s a beautiful clip of an Antarctic Dream expedition to give you an idea of what you might expect during a trip to the Great White Continent. Click here for details on the expedition and discount. The month of November (late Austral spring and [...]

 

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Flat Stanley and Beth at Paradise Bay in Antarctica

Flat Stanley Visits Antarctica with Adventure Life

Flat Stanley: The ingenious little international phenomenon that encourages school children to expand their geography know-how and explore the world… arrived on my Missoula, Montana doorstep at the end of October, via US Post. He came compliments of my darling 6-year-old cousin, Evan, from Olive Branch, MS. The timing was perfect — I was only weeks away from departing on a two-week trip to Argentina and Antarctica. And while Stanley [...]

 

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The famous and beautiful blue ice of Antarctica

Chilling in Antarctica

  Antarctic traveler and travel writer, Chris Connelly, shares his experiences in the great white continent. I’m wearing snowpants for the first time since childhood, and I have on the same coat I wore several years ago while covering the Iditarod sled dog race across Alaska. This coat comes with an extra dense fleece lining that can be unzipped and removed, and despite living in Wisconsin, where winter temperatures routinely [...]

 

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See rockhopper penguins up close on a Falkland Islands tour

December 2: The Falklands

An absolutely stunning day today! Due to departing Antarctica a half day early, the Expedition Leader requested permission for an additional landing in the Falklands. The landing was at Steeple Jason Island and the highlight was the largest Black Browed Ablatross nesting site in the world. Thousands of the enormous birds covered the beach and upland slopes – a literal sea of wings and squawking. Intermingled with these charismatic birds [...]