My Antarctic adventure started with a glorious flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to King George Island, South Shetlands. It was an exhilarating 4-hour trip over Cape Horn and the Southern Ocean, with the staggering scenery of Tierra del Fuego. The flight was spectacular in its own right but more importantly it had spared me the two day crossing of the Drake Passage.








I got off the plane in Antarctica, wide-eyed in amazement at the scenery and the cold. It was 2°C in Punta Arenas and -22°C here. But it is a dry cold - curiously Antarctica is one of the driest places on earth - so with my layers and ski jacket I felt warm.

Once on board our boat there were too many highlights to mention but here are a few:

I loved the long days. From November to February, the sun sets at around 11pm and rises at about 3am, so lots of time to explore. There's plenty to see: we toured around inlets and survey stations, making 2 to 3 landings a day.





I could sit and watch penguins all day. Chicks huddled underneath the bellies of their parents, sitting on their feet to shield them from the freezing ground temperature. They are the most endearing creatures and oddly comical.









I loved the solitude, the silence and the pure unpolluted air.

Visiting research stations and defunct whaling stations was fascinating. We met people from different ends of the world, who all lay claim to a piece of Antarctica.

Our evenings on the boat were enlightening - fascinating lectures about Shackleton, the wildlife and the discovery of Antarctica.



Most memorable was our zodiac ride amongst a pod of playful Orcas who kept disappearing and then surfacing right next to the boat. I was a bit anxious initially, but was soon overcome by the sheer excitement of seeing these magnificent creatures so close.

For more information on Antarctica please click through here