Turns out ‘The Ice’ isn’t as unattainable as you’d think.
And so it remains the ultimate bucket-list daydream to anyone with insatiable wanderlust.
Are you the outdoorsy throw in?
Credit: Adrian Wlodarczyk/Silversea Cruises
Perhaps you opt for wildlife over wilderness?
Do you prefer to straighten up and fly right?
Would you like champagne with that?
Pernille Soegaard/Antarctica21
Or it could cost a lot more.
Either way, no one should be deterred.
Here’s the best way to access Antarctica for any bang out of traveler.
Courtesy of Jacada Travel
“Antarctica is a fragile ecosystem,” warns naturalist Christina Garcia, who has never made the voyage.
“By visiting we are putting its wildlife and plants at risk.”
To allay these concerns, theInternational Association of Antarctic Tour Operators(IAATO) was formed in 1991.
Adrian Wlodarczyk/Silversea Cruises
But since there is no government in this part of the world, enforcement is self-regulated.
Some operators seem to take it more seriously than others.
Silversea Cruises is a notable example.
Adrian Wlodarczyk/Silversea Cruises
“[We’ve] invested in a number of innovative product solutions to reduce impact.”
The three luxury-liners also offer one of the more intimate cruise experiences into this part of the world.
All guests are treated to white-glove butler service throughout the journey.
Courtesy of Silversea Cruises
Most Silversea expeditions depart from Chile.
Prices start around $13,000.
For the Birdwatcher
The world’s largest wildlife colonies can be found in Antarctica.
Courtesy of Silversea Cruises
Prices start at $13,000, not including travel to and from Argentina.
For the Well-heeled
Even the most exclusive of Antarctic vessels hold no less than 100 passengers.
If you prefer a more private experience, you might consider a nine-day charter trip withJacada Travel.
Woody Wheeler/Courtesy of Naturalist Journeys
The setting, as you might expect, is surreal.
Into the distance is a field of white as far as the eye can see.
Overhead is a 200-foot ice cliff, rising up from a frozen lake.
Nicolas Gildemeister/Antarctica21
This is your home for several days to do as much or as little as you like.
When you need refueling, gourmet chefs are on-site preparing meals in the kitchen pod.
You’re breathing rarified air.
Courtesy of Jacada Travel
Indeed, this is a memory shared by only a handful of people on Earth.
Aseven-day excursionwith White Desert books at $98,500 per person.
You’d be hard-pressed to find an Antarctic cruise-liner that offers designated childcare on board.
Courtesy of Silversea Cruises
“It all depends on how feisty the notorious Drake Passage is feeling.”
The 500-mile-wide stretch of open ocean separating Cape Horn from Livingston Island can be a nasty stretch of sea.
From there, you’ll hop on a proper cruise ship and enjoy the placidity of the Bransfield Strait.
Glenn Miller/Courtesy of Naturalist Journeys
Make your way through iceberg-filled fjords over three full days of gentle sightseeing.
Best of all, the aerial boost isn’t prohibitively expensive.
The air and sea combination starts at $13,495.
Courtesy of Silversea Cruises
Though if you’re fortunate enough to make it here in person, a camera might seem redundant.
This is a scene that will forever imprint itself on your mind.
Daniela Plaza/Silversea Cruises
Courtesy of Antarctica21
Daniela Plaza/Silversea Cruises
