By The UNCHARTED® editors · 3 min read
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We’ve rounded up seven reasons why Antarctica is incomparable to anywhere else on the planet—from the best guides and knowledgeable scientists to unbelievable scenery.
Wild Isolation & Pristine Landscapes
SARAH MERUSI, UNITED STATES - SHIP MANAGER
“The wild isolation and silence of Antarctica and its pristine, untouched landscapes keep me returning year after year. When I am not in Antarctica, there is something incomplete within me. Returning fills my soul. Some of my most treasured moments are Zodiac cruises with guests, taking time to turn off the engine and just listening to the sounds of the sea."
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Contrasting Natural Beauty
ZIBO DING, CHINA - CULTURAL HOST
“With dozens of guests, staff, and crew on board, every journey of mine to the frozen world was alone but never lonely. When darkness fell, the innumerable constellations of the southern hemisphere were close in sight; there is nothing left to do other than note my insignificance in this landscape and embrace all the positivity of the natural world. This is why I keep coming back to Antarctica – all of these two-sided, peaceful, and easy feelings.”
Camaraderie in the Community
KIRSTY DICK, UNITED KINGDOM - HISTORY LECTURER
“I am looking forward to the sense of camaraderie that runs throughout the Antarctic community and working alongside my teammates who become family before you know it."
SANDRA WALSER, SWITZERLAND - SHIP MANAGER
“With a degree in history, I have an obvious interest in the 200-plus year human narrative of the White Continent. The Antarctic Peninsula is littered with nostalgic nods to the past in the form of placenames (bays, mountains, fjords, and glaciers), or more obvious landmarks such as abandoned whaling or sealing outposts and scientific stations. There is often a new place to visit, learn about, or document, even after many years of voyaging in the south. I feel a sort of nostalgia layered within nostalgia when thinking about returning to reveal the stories of expeditions, commercial enterprises, and discovery gone by. This is one of the reasons I keep returning."
HADLEIGH MEASHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - EXPEDITION LEADER
“After 13 years and more than 150 expeditions, I've learned that with every single voyage comes a distinctive opportunity to witness something truly unique. As seasoned guides we can take action every step of the way to orchestrate some of these successes. Weather is always changing, and ice is always opening and closing; information is always expanding. We have fantastic resources and deep collective knowledge to put into play for the duration of trips, and inevitably this produces some of the finest experiences and memories.”
Incredible Photography Opportunities
ANAÏS REKUS, CHILE - EXPEDITION PHOTOGRAPHER
“As a photographer, my job often involves capturing (and helping others capture) the dramatic nature of the weather and landscape that is presented to us in Antarctica. Dark storm clouds coming from the mainland in the east, and a beautiful sunset lingering in the west? You can shoot that dichotomous moment excited about what the next day will bring. Will the darkness of the stormy weather pass to reveal a serene landscape, or will it persist, presenting unusual lighting opportunities? Things can change fast in Antarctica, and the unknown keeps me wanting to return and explore.”
Feeling At Home
CAROLINA PAVÓN, CHILE - PASSENGER SERVICE MANAGER
“After you have been here, it is hard to imagine yourself not returning. There is something about Antarctica that words simply cannot describe. The terrain and animals are breathtaking, and you crave more and more of it. Its a magnetic attraction. Besides what Antarctica’s nature can give you, add to the equation getting to work with kind, impressive and knowledgeable colleagues who make you feel like you are at home every single day. Sincerely, it is impossible to not want to go back."
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Top Reasons to Set Sail to Antarctica in
the 2024/2025 Season
