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Original poster

I REALLY want to go to Antarctica. Has anyone here been?

84 replies

StressedOutSemolina · 09/12/2023 10:01

I mean it's pretty much impossible considering one weekend trip would swamp my entire life savings... but I've decided I'm winning the lottery tonight so it's cool.

No pun intended!

Minus 60 apparently. I'm having a hard time actually imagining that temperature and what it feels like.

But I'd bloody well love to go. Whales, penguins, the purest scenery on earth and complete and utter peace.

OP posts:
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12
Wolfpa · 09/12/2023 10:05

Get a job with the Antarctic Society, they will get you there.

YogaLite · 09/12/2023 10:06

I really wanted to go to Greenland in the past but the furthest I ever got was flying over its southern edge and seeing icebergs floating on the Atlantic, even that is fascinating.

For me, the attraction would be to see how people live on Greenland.

SeaToSki · 09/12/2023 10:06

My DH went there on an expedition. He said is was awesome, but you have to poo in a bag outside the tent and its daylight. Then you have to carry your poo bags until the end of the expedition. I dont think I could cope with that🤣

Original poster
StressedOutSemolina · 09/12/2023 10:15

Oh I didn't even think about the toilet thing! So you can piss on the snow presumably but don't leave your shit there.

How do you keep warm? I presume you need to take battery operated heaters? Can you get into the water to swim ie is there a wetsuit that can protect you from that kind of temperature? How deep is the water? Are you allowed to take anything home with you like a rock for example or is that forbidden? Are you allowed to wander off to explore alone for an hour or do you have to stay with your guide? Whom I presume are Scientists?

Is there a Travelodge? 🤣 (Joke)

OP posts:
Bootoagoose123 · 09/12/2023 10:17

I know some people who did it as a cruise so presumably stayed on the boat, avoiding the toilet problem! They're millionaires though...

Boopear · 09/12/2023 10:20

If you fancy a bit of major travel porn there is a great Facebook group called Antarctic travel - from bucket list to booked. I know i may never get there but seeing others do it (and their photos 😁) feeds the dream!

WelshSpringerSpaniel · 09/12/2023 10:21

The beaches are terrible and the tiny butlers serve nothing but cold raw fish.

Boopear · 09/12/2023 10:23

*Antarctica 😳

alloalloallo · 09/12/2023 10:23

I so want to go too

My Tiktok FYP is currently full of people braving The Drake Passage on trips - they have to stay on their boats I think.

It looks amazing.

travailtotravel · 09/12/2023 10:28

We have been saving like slaves since we finished paying our mortgage, and with that and DH retirement payout, we're going in 2025. On a 3 week cruise. Honestly its freaking me out about the money. Its obscene. But YOLO.

Kenwoodmixitup · 09/12/2023 10:28

Excellent thread. Me too for which I would happily blow out my life savings. So I need to crack on.

To put in proportion, a colleague has just paid out £15,000 on vet bills for their cat. We spend on what is of value to us.

I think I’m persuading myself into this 🦸🏻‍♀️

Original poster
StressedOutSemolina · 09/12/2023 10:31

travailtotravel · 09/12/2023 10:28

We have been saving like slaves since we finished paying our mortgage, and with that and DH retirement payout, we're going in 2025. On a 3 week cruise. Honestly its freaking me out about the money. Its obscene. But YOLO.

I am JEALOUS but thrilled for you!

OP posts:
yutu · 09/12/2023 10:32

I always wanted to go there too. When I was young living in NZ I had a few friends who have been, because my university offered "antarctic studies" as a major. I also had a friend working there as a mechanical engineer, he told us many stories about how they partied down there, eventually he was sent back because he basically made a small bomb and hurt his ears badly. Another friend paid a fortune to go on a trip there from South America. I used to say to my hubby when we have our 20 years anniversary we got to go there, but since having kids my priority has changed a lot, it would still be nice if I had a chance to go but no longger on my top list.

SeaToSki · 09/12/2023 10:33

You pee in a bottle (can do that inside the tent)

there arent any rocks to take home as they are all several miles under the ice (unless you are in the coastline)

when you get to the south pole, there is actually a pole stuck in the ground and you can walk around it (and walk around the world)

DH was always worried when he was sleeping that his arm (inside sleeping bag) would slide down and be off his camping mat and then touch the ice (through the tent floor) and he would end up with frost bite on his arm.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 09/12/2023 10:49

My Mum went on a cruise to Antarctica. She went with this company. https://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/voyages-and-tours/polar-cruises/ She absolutely loved it, and she also loved Tierra del Fuego which is where the cruise departed from. You have to go on a small boat/cruise ship. Some of the big cruise lines do offer Antarctic cruises but they are not allowed to get close to shore or to land passengers and it would awful to go all that way and just look at it from afar. There is also a limit to how many people are allowed on shore at one time (something like 20 or 25 I think) so a smaller ship means you get more shore time. You also have to accept that the weather is extremely unpredictable there and you might pay out huge money and not ever get to shore.

| Noble Caledonia

https://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/voyages-and-tours/polar-cruises

OldTinHat · 09/12/2023 10:59

I'm reading 'To the Edges of the Earth' atm and that's made me want to go too!

MaisyAndTallulah · 09/12/2023 11:02

My dad spent a long time there for work. So many great stories.

TedMullins · 09/12/2023 11:05

YogaLite · 09/12/2023 10:06

I really wanted to go to Greenland in the past but the furthest I ever got was flying over its southern edge and seeing icebergs floating on the Atlantic, even that is fascinating.

For me, the attraction would be to see how people live on Greenland.

I’ve been to Greenland. It’s incredible. Literally fulfilled a lifelong dream visiting, I’d highly recommend it. And yes OP I’d love to go to Antarctica too. I actually applied for a job with the British Antarctic survey but I didn’t get it

megletthesecond · 09/12/2023 11:05

I'd like to go to the Penguin Post Office.

travailtotravel · 09/12/2023 11:07

Recommend The Still Point for some reading.

StillWantingADog · 09/12/2023 11:11

I def want to go and am saving up to go when i retire! The only viable way to go I think is via (ideally small) cruise ship from Ushuaia, Argentina. They are very expensive. You have to choose the smaller boats if you want any kind of shore
time. My aunt has been and it looks properly amazing. The crossing across the drake passage makes the bay of Biscay look like a duck pond. Only bit I’d be worried about.

Diamondshmiamond · 09/12/2023 11:12

My sibling went. I think the cheapest way, bar going to work, is hanging around ushuia in south chile, where small cruises depart from. I think you can get much cheaper tickets waiting for late cancellations. However, you do need the luxury of time to wait around. It sounded great but I get horribly travel sick and think the crossing is pretty dire...

StillWantingADog · 09/12/2023 11:14

@Diamondshmiamond
yes doh Chile! Not Argentina

YogaLite · 09/12/2023 11:16

@TedMullins how did u do it, is there a Travelodge/easyJet deal? [JOKE!!!]

Original poster
StressedOutSemolina · 09/12/2023 11:17

Lol is it not available on Jet2?

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