Antarctic/Arctic Expeditions
Who says exotic travel has to mean white sand beaches and palm trees? Try white snowy cliffs, icebergs and penguins like a true explorer when you visit Antarctica and the Artic. More and more, travelers are discovering the beauty and mystique of the world’s Polar regions. Here are a few intriguing options for you to explore:
Antarctica—Penguins & the South Pole
Also known as the “white continent,” Antarctica is more populated with penguins than people. Most travelers explore the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula weaving around icebergs via small, expedition-type ships with on-board scientists and naturalists to explain area wildlife and geography. Visit Macquarie Island, a unique rock formation thermally warmed by the earth’s mantle and home to more than four million penguins and the largest colony of King Penguins in the world (not to mention thousands of cute fur seals). Looking for more adventure? Trek into the interior to visit international research stations or go all the way to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station!
The Arctic—Polar Bears & the North Pole
The Artic, or the North Pole, is not technically a continent, but a gigantic ice flow. Travel in this region is usually via ice breaker ships or flights in from Russia or Canada. Once on solid ground, hard core adventurers can cross country ski or sled in for up to five days through polar bear country to reach the North Pole (unless you have access to Santa’s sleigh, of course). Others choose to see the Northern lights in Scandinavia, follow the Vikings’ path in Greenland, or view polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.