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If sailing you'll wake up to icebergs the size of cathedrals drifting past your window, watch penguins go about their business and feel the particular high of standing somewhere that has almost no trace of humanity. Beyond the ship-based voyages, there's a rarer tier of fly-in expeditions that land you directly on the continent/ From there the ultimate rarity opens up – a flight to the Geographic South Pole, standing at the exact point where every line of longitude converges, in the footsteps of Amunsden and Scott's fatal race a century ago.
Travel
Once-in-a-lifetime: Antarctica
There are fewer people who have stood on Antarctic ice than have summited Everest. This is the last true wilderness, a continent of impossible white silence.
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Antarctica by land
Baby Penguins & Blue Tunnels
Best for visiting in: November
In November each year, remote corners of the Antarctic ice shelf awaken to a flurry of tiny Emperor Penguin chicks taking their first steps. Early in the season you can witness over 12,000 adults and their newly hatched chicks, which we think is a must-see for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.
Beneath the surface find the wonders of the Blue Tunnels, cathedral like and carved by centuries of ice meltwater and glacier movement. Getting there is half the adventure, including a two-hour trek across ice fields and hidden valleys, building to a cinematic reveal of the incredible blue ice.
South Pole, Penguins & Blue Rivers
Best for visiting in: peak season – December to early January (mid January for the Blue Rivers)
Few wildlife encounters on the planet come close to this experience, the sound of thousands of Emperor Penguins gathered on the horizon getting.
In the South Pole – one of only two fixed points on the spinning Earth. Standing at exactly 90 degrees latitude, you can circle the entire globe in a handful of paces. It's a feat of exploration in the truest sense: roughly only 500 people reach this point each year.
Where Antarctic ice meets the sea, rivers of glacial meltwater glowing blue green snakes across the ice in this phenomenon that almost nobody gets to witness.
Accommodation
Ellidore recommends: Whichaway Camp
Tucked into one of Antarctica's rare ice-free areas, a landscape shared with under 3% of the continent – Whichaway Camp sits where glaciers meet exposed rocks. Looking over a chain of over a hundred untouched freshwater lakes, the contemporary accommodation features six pods, each with floor to ceiling glass conservatories so you can take in the breathtaking views.
Ellidore recommends: Echo Base
Born from a conversation with Buzz Aldrin during a visit to Antarctica. Echo sits alone on a vast glacier and arriving feels less like Antarctica and more like something from the space age. Think clean lines, gleaming surfaces and views so wide they blur the lines between earth and the cosmos. The floor to ceiling windows give guests the chance to experience the beauty of the landscape all while indoors.
Antarctica by cruise
The Polar Circle
Best for visiting in: February
The Polar Circle Air-Cruise is a 10 day itinerary chasing the Antarctic Circle itself at 66° south. Starting in Punta Arenas with a 2 hour flight straight to King George Island, skipping the Drake Passage may we add, from there it is 6 days of pure exploration. From zodiac landings on remote shores, hikes to sites rarely visited to glass-enclosed lounge views over channels thick with icebergs. Expect constant company from seabirds, penguins, seals and whales as the expedition team pushes the route as far south as conditions will allow – through the South Shetlands, the Gerlache and Penola Straits, and Crystal Sound.
Classic itinerary
Best for visiting in: Mid November – Early March
Fly direct from Punta Arena to Kind George Island in the South Shetland Islands. From there, the ship takes over, sailing between the South Shetlands and the Peninsula's dramatic western coast. As you're sailing expect to see towering icebergs, penguins, seals and breaching whales. When weather allows step ashore on grounds fewer people have stood.
Your ship
Ellidore recommends: Magellan Explorer
Explore Antarctica on this custom-built expedition vessel. Built for Antarctic air-cruises and meets the latest Polar Code specifications, the ship sleeps 76 guests with most cabins featuring balconies. Expect an observation lounge, advance audiovisual equipment, dining room, bar, library, meeting room, gym, sauna and medical clinic. The forward facing observation deck leads to the ships bow, giving guests close access to marine wildlife.
For more information or to apply for an Ellidore membership apply here.
