Antarctica

MLMT calls you to feel this out of body experience in Antarctica. It will be carved in your mind forever.

White frost takes over the entire world. Every breath turn to ice. Warmth is the highest currency here. The elements all come together to create something magnificent. The wind blows experiences right into your face. You are forced to accept things you don’t want to. That’s Antarctica for you. Loud. Powerful. Unescapable. Every molecule is built to throw you off. The land meant to break under your stomps. It is not the most pleasant experience in the world. But you will reach heights that define the human race.

Antarctica packs in an entire array of experiences. It has surprise packages hidden in every corner. From penguins walking over your feet to plunging into the depths. You will not feel like you have visited just any place. You will feel like you have conquered the world.

MLMT calls you to feel this out of body experience. It will be carved in your mind forever.

 

When to visit?

Antarctica is the land of extremes. It is frozen all year but some months are better than others. December to February are the warmest months. This is when the penguins come out. It also sees the longest days. The months of Late February and March take you to the whales. Not many people go at this time. November is a month people will discourage you to go. But it offers some of the most stellar views and landscapes.

 

The average cost of a person

Antarctica is literally the end of the world. So, it is evident that cheap is not a concern. You have to go through various ports and cruises to finally reach here. But if you get an entire package, everything is included. The prices are by the person rates. It will cost you about 1 or 2 lakhs at the lowest cabin costs.

 

Visa Requirements

Since no country owns lands in Antarctica, there is no Visa Requirement. But individual countries have signed a treaty to maintain the ecosystem and the environment. But you might be boarding in from some country like New Zealand or Australia, so you need a Visa of that country.

 

Where to visit?

Antarctic Peninsula

This forms the mainland of the continent. The might folds of these mountains are a distant family of the Andes. It is the most accessible part of the entire place. The beauty of this place is raw and rugged. You can spot everything from the whales to the leopard seals from this vantage point.

The place is supposedly claimed by the United Kingdoms and Argentina, but that is not sure. The people who reach here generally call it the best home on the face of the earth. The trip from any port to this place is the shortest.

Best Places to stay in the Antarctic Peninsula

• Hebridean Sky
• The Ushuaia
• Academic Ioffe
• Ocean Nova
• Silver Explorer

 

 

Deception Island:

This place gives calamity a different meaning altogether. Around 1820, disaster struck this island. Amidst the coldest part of the world, lies this active volcano. But then started the bursting. The volcano has erupted a lot of times since the fateful 1820’s. This fact has now shaped the entire existence of this place. The wildlife here somehow continues to live even though hot lava has been spewed into the frozen water many times.

This has shaped the caldera into an organ of its own. It will look like a regular solid piece of land till you look closer. Then it is a flooded caldera. This place has caused a lot of shipwrecks. But despite all the risk, it is a place that makes you feel the existence of something bigger than you. Even though it is not the most hospitable place, it contains a wide variety of species only seen here. This is not really a place to stay in. Most cruises just take a detour here.

 

Falkland Islands:

All the wildlife in Antarctica culminates in this one spot. This is the place where you can see all the birdlife the continent has to offer with your own eyes. The mode of transport here are four wheels and even crafts of some kind. They will lead you to places with albatrosses and penguins and other birds unheard of. The only sound you will encounter is you and the bird calls. The islandsare all yours. Well almost.

Because there are some of the uninhabited islands on this continent. Most places do not have lodges or even cabins, but the cozy Falkland Islands have these. They give you the raw Antarctica experience without having you get frostbite. There are small settlements loitered around.

Best Places to stay in the Falkland Islands

• The Neck
• Cassard House
• Malvina House Hotel
• Lafone Guest House
• Pebble Island Lodge

 

South Georgia:

A long, narrow island in the Antarctic Oceans is also known as the ‘Alps’ in the middle of the ocean. The mountains that keep rising steeply gives it this name. Most of the land is covered by them. This is not only a frozen winter land. It is full of low-lying grasslands, tall, fragile glaciers and more. This is where you witness some of the most tranquil places in all of Antarctica. The power lies low here and is replaced by pure serenity.

It is landed upon the most in Antarctica. The beaches go on for miles, and the ecosystem is filled to the top with penguin colonies and adorable seals. The place started getting so much recognition after Captain James Cook first came here in the year 1775. Since then a horde of tourist cruises and more keep landing at the ports.

Best Places to stay in South Georgia

• Hotel Transylvania
• RA HQ
• Hotel Antarcticus
• Alva Donna World Palace
• Kiwi Ski Field

 

South Shetland Islands:

 

Just a few kilometers around the mainland of the Antarctic Peninsula lies the second most significant thing on the continent. These islands have some of the most visited areas in all of Antarctica and are a must-have for all cruises that leave from Ushuaia. The islands are frozen to the core. Eight countries look after the maintenance of the place as they have their stations up there. King George Island has most of these and hence is also sometimes referred to as the capital of Antarctica.

This is a big home for most of the islands that are raved about. Some of the most disastrous isles also lie in this part of the continent. The sceneries you will encounter in this area are beyond mention. The wildlife is abundant, and you will meet up with elephant seals and penguins very casually here. Everything here is about half a day’s cruise away so a lot of things to see. Some of the famous islands under this are Livingston Island, Elephant Island and Half-Moon Island.

Best Places to stay in the South Shetland Islands

• The Lerwick Hotel
• Brudolff Hotels
• Glen Orchy
• Sleep Inn Dubai Macae
• Ramada Plaza Macae

 

 

Top Experiences

Paradise Bay Penguin Walk

The penguins are standing here, waiting for your arrival. There are humongous snowy mountains as the backdrop. There are very few things in the world as cute as these penguins who love to waddle around and splash in the water. They are not used to humans, but they are very friendly. They might walk up to you and run around your feet.

Hot Springs

Yes, the land where everything freezes over. Antarctic waters might be scary but do have a cozy respite from all the cold, strip down to enjoy the natural warmth of the hot springs. This place in the Deception Islands has volcanic soil that heats up the water. This is a very gutsy act as there are so many extreme elements around. But it is great fun.

Camping

How many people can say that they have visited Antarctica? How many people have actually stayed overnight on the mainlands? Our bet is not too many. Most people go into their cruises and boats or to the actual grounds for hotels. But some people stay in tents right there. You cannot eat or drink or go to the washroom here. This experience is horrid, but it is a test of your human nature. It is surreal.

Polar Plunge

With this one thing, traditional travel goes out of the window. You are literally jumping out of a boat into sub-zero temperatures. It is the scariest and the worst thing you can do. At least that is what it might seem. But once you are back on land and in your warm towel, you will realize that no experience in the entire world can give that thrill. What a story to tell!

 

Travel Smart:

• Residents

No permanent residents are living in Antarctica. There are no towns and cities. There is only the free wild. There are also a lot of penguins and dolphins and whales. But, there are a lot of research stations so you will find scientists. There are also tourists that visit during the summer months.

• Time

The sun rises here for six months and never sets. During the summers the sun stays above the horizon changing positions according to the viewing point of the viewer. There are also no set times here. The scientists here follow time zones back home or the U.S time zones.

• Cold

It is pronounced that if you are going to Antarctica, it is going to be cold. But, that does not mean one cannot visit. The only way to survive the cold there is to layer up. Carry the most amount of warm clothes and synthetic fibers that cover all the parts of your body till your ankles and your toe. Also, carry sunscreen and glares.

• Electricity

Do not assume the worst about the continent, please? There might not be any habitation here, but they’re a lot of research stations. Therefore, electricity does exist here. It is generally diesel powered. Since the place is windy even large turbines are used in some areas.

 

Countries that can be clubbed together

Argentina

 

Share this tour