Expedition Antarctica

About Antarctica

Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent, containing the geographic South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14,000,000 square kilometres (5,400,000 square miles), it is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages 1.9 km (1.2 mi; 6,200 ft) in thickness, which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Antarctica is a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 in) along the coast and far less inland. The temperature in Antarctica has reached −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F), though the average for the third quarter (the coldest part of the year) is −63 °C (−81 °F). As of 2016, there are about 135 permanent human residents, but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Organisms native to Antarctica include many types of algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, protista, and certain animals, such as mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades. Vegetation, where it occurs, is tundra.

From Wikipedia

Expedition Antartica day by day

Day 0 

We recommend you arrive at least two days early in Punta Arenas, Chile, before the flight to Puerto Williams in case of lost luggage or other delays.(Hotel nights in Punta Arenas is not included)

Day 1

Departure from Puerto Williams, sailing out the Beagle channel and into the Drake Passage.

Day 2

At sea. We cross the Drake Passage and begin our journey toward Antarctica. Our photography begins almost immediately with Albatrosses, Petrels, and many other sea birds that follow our ship as we traverse the Drake. We will have a number of brie ngs and lectures during the voyage in order to help you prepare for our first photography session in Antarctica.

Day 3

First landing at the South Shetland islands. Our landing site will be chosen based on the prevailing weather conditions. We also expect to encounter and photograph our first ice- bergs.

Day 4-12

We will be visiting some of the best areas for wildlife and landscape photography during our time in Antarctica. Areas we plan to visit include Antarctic Sound (home of gigantic tabular icebergs), the surreal Deception Island in Whalers Bay (home of rusty whalers remnants), Astrolab and the southern part of the Peninsula. 

Day 13 

At sea heading toward South America, Chile.

Please note! 

The itinerary is only a preliminary plan. Activities can change, or may need to be exchanged, in the case of adverse weather conditions or other unexpected incidents.