When I said I was going to Antarctica on a National Geographic cruise the most common response I received was – Why?  To many, Antarctica seems like a barren wasteland with sheets of ice and nothing more.  But, there are countless reasons to visit Antarctica, and many may surprise you.

The continent is one of the most strikingly beautiful places on Earth.  Unspoiled, rugged, awe-inspiring and unforgiving.  To travel here feels like visiting another planet.  Here are just a few picture-perfect examples of why Antarctica should definitely be on your bucket list.

Jaw-dropping Landscapes

Antarctica has a way of making you feel very, very small.  Massive mountains rise up out of the sea, floating icebergs dwarf even the largest of ships, and the expansive sky seems to stretch on forever in all directions.  And, despite only visiting a fraction of the continent, the landscapes I did see were all starkly different.

For instance, Astrolab Island has a rocky shoreline with dramatic dragon-toothed mountains that run into the sea.  Its bay is dotted with enormous icebergs that could crush a zodiac with a single roll.  And, the water was the clearest brilliant blue I’ve ever seen.

Danco Cove’s beach is littered with chunks of icebergs, which glint like diamonds in the golden light of sunset.  The water around them is as smooth as glass and makes you feel as though you’re walking through a dream.

Charlotte Bay’s coastline is filled with massive glaciers that tumble into the sea.  Large crevices looked like canyons and broke off into the water with a thundering crack and a tremendous tidal wave.

And, Barrientos Island has surprising shades of green amongst sporadic penguin colonies and drifts of snow.  An unexpected sight when you think of the white continent.

Each stop along the journey was more scenic than the last.  Completely mesmerizing and impossible to put into words.  There’s simply no way to accurately describe the sheer scale of the landscapes in Antarctica.

Impressive Ice

Another reason to visit Antarctica is to see the continent’s astounding ice formations.  Incredible glaciers, artful icebergs, and waterways so thick with drift ice that ships have to cut a path through.  The deep blue hues are so vibrant they appear over-saturated in photographs (in fact, I had to desaturate many in editing just so they wouldn’t look fake!)

On our voyage, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit one of the largest icebergs ever recorded – A68a.  Stretching for more than 85-miles and weighing over one trillion tonnes, the impressive piece of ice calved from Antarctica’s Larsen C ice shelf in July 2017.  Since then, it’s slowly made its way through the Weddell Sea, blocking hundreds of icebergs behind it (which made it possible for our ship to get close enough to marvel at A68a’s imposing size).

You can see how massive it is in the photograph below.  And no, the iceberg in the foreground (which dwarfs passing ships) is not it.  The thin line against the horizon reflecting the sun’s rays (which creates the horizontal band of white) is A68a.  Bear in mind, the term “thin” is relative, since the iceberg is actually as tall as a 60-story building and was photographed here from miles away.  To see it up close is simply indescribable!

Heavenly Light

What struck me more than anything else during my time in Antarctica, though, was the mesmerizing light.  Since it was summer in the southern hemisphere, days blended into nights until there was little difference between them.  The sun would set around 11:00 p.m. but would remain hanging just below the horizon until it rose again a few hours later.  The result – 24 hours of light and an otherworldly glow that made you feel as if you were dreaming with your eyes wide open.

Cotton candy clouds stretched above silhouetted mountains, golden rays reflected off whale spouts, and electric white snowfields gleamed against the colorful sky.  These unbelievable views in the wee hours of the morning were like a little piece of heaven on earth (and absolutely worth staying up for!)

Remarkable Reflections

The heavenly light mixed with still waters to create staggering reflections along the horizon.  Whether it was powdery white snowfields or darkened clouds after sunset, the views made you feel as if you were living in a real-life Rorschach test.

These vistas made for some mesmerizing passages and countless pinch-me moments.

Playful Penguins

One of the most obvious reasons to visit Antarctica – the many, many penguins!  The white continent is home to 12 million penguins of differing varieties, and we were fortunate to see three: Chinstrap, Gentoo, and Adelie.  Watching them waddle, fumble, and toboggan their way around the landscape was endlessly entertaining.  But, while they may be clumsy on land, they’re adept in the sea – flying through the water like little torpedoes and occasionally popping out of the water for a peek.

Because they have no land predators, penguins have no fear of people.  What they do have, though, is a healthy dose of curiosity for visitors.  So while we strove to maintain the mandated 15-foot distance, they would ignore our attempts and walk up to investigate.  Checking out our cameras and following us up our trails instead of continuing along their penguin highways (much to our delight!)

December was their nesting season, so we saw a myriad of rookeries with penguins sitting on stone nests to keep eggs and baby chicks warm.  Parents would trade-off duties (after a loud squabble of instructions to their mates before relinquishing control). And everywhere you turned, you’d see penguins stealing rocks from each other’s nests to bring back to their mates for approval.

Our formal avian friends were, by far, the most amusing part of the journey.

Wonderful Whales

Another common sight in Antarctica is whales.  Pods of killer whales, groups of fin whales, and humpback whales with their calves travel to these waters in the summer to hunt in the nutrient-rich sea.

These beautiful creatures would swim alongside the ship and near our zodiacs, delighting us with every spout, dive, and slap of their fins.  But, the most impressive display was when they would breach.  Hurling their 66,000-pound bodies out of the water before crashing down with a thunderous splash was an awe-inspiring sight.

Endless Opportunities for Adventure

All of this would be reason enough to visit, but one of the most compelling reasons to visit Antarctica is the endless opportunities for adventure!

When I visited my 7th continent I was lucky enough to go with my dad, who is always up for an adventure (and who is the person who inspired me to travel in the first place).  And while we were there, we experienced everything Antarctica had to offer.  Kayaking amongst icebergs and porpoising penguins, sunbathing with seals, and hiking to take in the views from scenic vistas.

But, perhaps the most memorable experience was when we did the polar plunge.  For anyone who isn’t familiar, the polar plunge is when you jump into icy-cold waters wearing nothing but a bathing suit.  Turns out, it’s just as intense as you’d imagine.  But later, our bravery (or stupidity) was rewarded with a relaxing soak in the hot tub.

Ahhhhhh… worth it.

So, contrary to what you might think, there are countless reasons to visit Antarctica!  Whether you want to marvel at stunning landscapes found nowhere else on earth, watch fascinating wildlife with little fear of humans, or are simply in the mood for an off-the-beaten-path adventure, the white continent has you covered.

Have you been to Antarctica before?  Comment below, I’d love to hear what you thought!

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