Our 10-Day Travel Journal to the End-of-the-World.
The world's southernmost continent, Antarctica, has breathtaking beauty, incredible wildlife, and unforgettable adventures. With its frigid temperatures, icy landscapes, and harsh climate conditions, it is not an easy place to visit or even survive. Imagine venturing into the heart of this frozen wilderness, surrounded by jaw-dropping landscapes and unique wildlife such as whales, penguins, seals, and other species that only exist in Antarctica.
A journey to the white continent is a rare once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore one of the most remote places on Earth, and there are serval ways to get there. However, there's no better way to explore Antarctica's pristine wilderness than by taking an expedition cruise.
Below is a summary of our ten-day ultimate expedition trip to the frozen continent!
Day One: All aboard the Ocean Victory!
Our journey to the Seventh Continent began at the "End of The World" in Ushuaia, Argentina. On day one of our expedition, we made our way to the port of Ushuaia and boarded the Ocean Victory, our expedition ship for the next ten days.
After settling into our cabins (we were upgraded to a room with a balcony), Elli and I headed to the Shackleton Lounge for introductions from the outstanding expedition team members, a mandatory briefing, and some safety drills. The Shackleton Lounge would become the meeting point for all briefings, dialogues, and workshops.
After our safety briefing, we cast off from the Beagle Channel and set course for the Drake Passage. Despite the forecast of rough seas and strong winds, we were in good spirits, ready for the ultimate expedition trip!
Day Two: The Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is a body of water that separates South America's Cape Horn from the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It's considered one of the stormiest and roughest stretches of sea in the world, with frequent gales and waves reaching up to 40 feet tall. Researchers, travelers, and explorers often cross the passage to reach Antarctica despite its unpredictable weather conditions.
During our first full day at sea, we definitely experienced the fierce and energetic waves of the notorious Drake Passage. Elli and I took seasickness tablets, although we still couldn't get out of bed. Luckily, all mandatory briefings were streamed live, and we could watch them while lying in bed.
Later that evening, we rolled out of bed to attend the Captain's Cocktails event, but we quickly rushed back to our room before the sea got more aggressive. Despite our seasickness, we were lucky that the waves were not as intense as they could be; the highest reported waves were 26 feet.
As the night fell, it felt like the waves finally settled down, and the ship was gently swaying instead of jolting as it had been doing for a good 24 hours. The Drake waves seemed to have decreased, allowing us to rest a lot better that night.
Note: The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) outlines guidelines for all travelers to leave as little impact on Antarctica's ecosystem as possible.
Day Three: The South Shetland Islands
The following morning we had to go through mandatory biosecurity checks and receive our rubber boots. Everyone was called to the Shackleton Lounge with their outdoor gear, where staff members thoroughly checked each item for dirt and seeds, ensuring that we didn't bring any foreign species to the shores of Antarctica. Afterward, we stored our boots and any additional equipment in the locker rooms (where we would go to "suit up" before leaving the ship for expeditions).
By lunchtime that day, we had already reached the South Shetland Islands. The South Shetland Islands are located in the Southern Ocean, about 120 km north of the Antarctic Peninsula. The islands are covered in ice and snow, with rocky coastlines and numerous glaciers. Although, despite their remote and inhospitable nature, the South Shetland Islands are home to a variety of wildlife, including penguins, seals, and sea birds.
While moving between the islands, we spotted some whales in front of the ship. They turned out to be fin whales, the second largest species on the planet.
The goal for the rest of the afternoon was to do a split landing and a Zodiac cruise around Barrientos Island. All Zodiac landings were done in small groups, broken down by color. Once our group color was called, Elli and I headed to the locker room to prepare. A few minutes later, we found ourselves leaving the expedition ship and into a Zodiac.
The Zodiac landing was definitely an unforgettable experience! As we approached the shoreline, we were greeted by hundreds of breeding gentoo and chinstrap penguins. There were also some Elephants and Weddell seals lying on the beach in the distance. After landing on the beach, we followed a marked walking route to the penguin colonies that were matting or had already laid eggs. We spent a couple of hours exploring the area and taking hundreds of pictures before returning to the Zodiac and then the ship.
Day Four: Orne Harbor
The following day we woke up to a magical landscape of scattered icebergs, snow, and towering glaciers that rose over 20 meters high. The water was also super calm and glassy, making it the perfect morning for picture-taking.
After breakfast, the Captian dropped anchor at Orne Harbour. Orne Harbor is a small bay located on the western coast of Graham Land, on the Antarctic Peninsula. The harbor is named after the French Corvette Orne, which took part in a French Antarctic expedition in 1903.
It was time for another Zodiac expedition! This time we cruised around the harbor in the Zodiac and didn't make a landing. While cruising, we passed through penguin colonies on steep snow slopes and watched them slide down the snow and into the water. We also had the opportunity to cruise around massive icebergs. Although we didn't make a landing, the Zodiac cruise was an unforgettable and otherworldly experience!
After returning to the ship for lunch, we prepared to land at Cuverville Island. Unfortunately, too much snow and ice in the area made a landing impossible. Nevertheless, we had a beautiful voyage around the bay and saw many more giant icebergs, humpback whales, and penguin colonies scattered across the mystical landscape.
Day Five: Neko Harbour & Brown Station
Our first Zodiac landing that morning took us to Neko Harbour. Neko Harbour is a small bay located on the Antarctic Peninsula and named after a whale catcher vessel, Neko, which operated in the area in the early 1900s.
As soon as we landed on shore, we were surrounded by penguin colonies scattered across the hills. We walked beside their highways and frequently stopped to let them cross. One of the roads led us to a colony that offered a pristine view of a gigantic glacier. After taking another few hundred pictures, it was time to return to the boat for a barbecue on the deck.
After lunch, we made another Zodiac landing at the Argentinean research station named Brown Station. Brown Station, also known as Base Brown, is an Argentine research station located on the coast of Paradise Bay in the Antarctic Peninsula. The station opened in the early '50s and was named after Admiral William Brown, an Irish-born Argentine naval officer. The station is one of several research stations operated by Argentina in Antarctica. It is a base for scientific research in various fields, including glaciology, geology, biology, and oceanography.
Brown Station was a unique place to visit. There wasn't much of the station to see since we were standing on top of most of the buildings due to the immense snowfall. However, the site was lovely, and we managed to take a bunch of close-up penguin shots!
Upon returning to the ship, the crew announced they were preparing for the polar plunge! The polar plunge was open to anyone who dared to jump in the freezing Antarctic waters for an instant adrenaline rush. Surprisingly, out of the 120 passengers on board, seventy-six did the polar plunge!
