Overview

A trip to Antarctica is for many people considered as “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. There is no comparable place on earth combining the endless wilderness with the beauty of ice, water, snow and wildlife, which is not only unbelievable in amount but also in its behavior towards humans: unafraid and entertaining. A trip is not cheap and for most passengers a unique voyage due to its remote location, while also many people become addicted and return to Antarctica another time. Tourism is still increasing in Antarctica, and there are a wide variety of itineraries and ships to chose from.

Antarctica is the only continent, which remained unexplored until 200 years ago, when a spirit of adventure and scientific curiosity attracted the early explorers. Tourists first came to Antarctica in 1957, which has until then only been visited by whalers, explorers, scientists and soldiers, and in 1966 the first annual trips were offered. Today the nations of the world agree to its unique status as a free and open land of international co-operation, scientific research and natural beauty, not owned by any country.

The extreme features of Antarctica, the isolation from other continents, the harsh weather and freezing temperatures, have prevented the settlement of any native population. There are only two possibilities to reach Antarctica, either by boat or by flight, whereby the season for visits to Antarctica is rather short due to weather and ice.