Head south for a holiday in Antarctica

 IT’S been a more wintry start to the year than usual at the Argus. Aside from the week when Gwent was in the grip of snow, we’ve ran a number if stories about Antarctica.

Some have been about Richard Parks’ attempt to reach the South Pole unaided. Others have been on Antarctica’s latest postmaster, an Usk man.

So have their polar exploits tempted you to try a holiday in this brutal but beautiful place?

Until recently, Antarctica was accessible only to expeditions.

Now, under strict environmental guidelines, small groups can follow in the footsteps of explorers and navigate through majestic icebergs and skirt towering glaciers to discover sights rarely seen.

Tourism began in Antarctica in the 1950s. The first specially designed, ice-strengthened cruise ship – the Lindblad Explorer – visited the continent in 1969. One of the earliest parties of tourists was led by the naturalist Sir Peter Scott, the son of polar explorer Captain Scott.

Since then the industry has grown considerably, particularly since the early 1990s, with numbers of tourists increasing from under 9,000 in 1992/93 to more than 46,000 in 2007/08.

The tourist season is during the austral summer, usually from late October or early November through late March or early April each year. There are no tourism activities during the rest of the year.

The majority of tour operators providing visits to Antarctica are members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), which seeks to ensure that tourism in Antarctica is conducted in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

Most visit the continent as part of a cruise, stopping at the more accessible parts of the continent, such as the Antarctic peninsula and the focus of many tours is the incredible wildlife of this frozen land.

Whales, seals, penguins and seabirds can be seen in their natural habitat, a world inhospitable to most life.

Much of what is worth seeing happens between December and January, with penguin chicks starting to hatch in mid- to late-December on the Antarctic Peninsula and 30 days after hatching, penguin chicks can be found in ‘crèches’.

This time of year is when the parent returns with food and the hungry chicks run after the parent, or any adult penguin in a ‘feeding chase’. Seal pups also can be seen at this time of year.

As the sea ice starts to break up in the Ross Sea, access opens up to the rarely visited sites of the East Antarctic and the historic huts of Shackleton and Scott.

Glimpses of whales such as of baleens and toothed whales can be had in the Peninsula area, with the peak time for whale viewing being February and March.

Visiting such an inhospitable place means your wardrobe needs more attention than if you’re spending a fortnight on the beach.

Temperatures are at or below freezing, depending on the time of summer and how far south you are. Wind chill can make the weather uncomfortably cold.

The British Antarctic Survey advises visitors to take three layers of clothing – an outer waterproof and wind-resistant layer – a parka and rain-proof trousers; a thermal, fleece layer, longjohns and of course, mittens, glove liners, hat, scarf and insulated boots.

There are many tour operators who can take you to the icy south and two contrasting ways to get there are to fly direct or to cruise.

A pioneering way to see Antarctica is offered by White Desert. They will fly you the five hours across the southern ocean from Cape Town to Whichaway Camp in Antarctica.

Once there you’ll stay in a domed shelter, made from composite panels used in the aerospace industry. Their South African chef, Jenna Viney, prepares fresh food three times a day, including seafood, barbequed steaks, full English breakfasts and light lunches. After a hard day’s exploring, dome-dwellers can sip Mumm Champagne – well-chilled I imagine.

So there’s no need to bring your own dehydrated, high calorie food that is the lot of most polar visitors.

They offer a range of adventures from eight-day safaris to visit the Emperor Penguins, to shorter trips.

A more usual way to explore the frozen continent is with a cruise in specialist vessels like the ‘Ushuaia’. A steel-hulled, icestrengthened vessel built originally for oceanographic research, she is now converted to carry passengers.

She leaves the southern Argentinian port of the same name with 84 passengers on an 11-day tour of the South Shetland islands and the Antarctic peninsula.

A team of knowledgeable expedition leaders and lecturers are on hand to explain the extraordinary sights and sounds of the polar world.

So if you’re feeling adventurous, and want to experience one of the last true wildernesses on earth, Antarctica could make a holiday that is nearly out of this world.

Fact file

• Antarctic cruise on the Ushuaia The 84 passengers take an 11-day cruise on the ice-strengthened cruise ship Ushuaia. Prices start at $4,990.Website – http://bit.ly/Z52RtF

• Polar circle air cruise Polar tourists can fly from Punta Arenas in Chile to the South Shetland Islands and then sail to the Antarctic Peninsula to see sea birds, penguins, seals and whales, often from small Zodiac inflatable boats. Price from From $12,900.Website – http://bit.ly/Y5LXGo

• The Ocean Nova Fly from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island, the largest Island of the South Shetlands, the Ocian Nova boasts a glass-enclosed observation lounge, library and a gym. the cruises last between 5 and 10 days and prices starts at $3,995. Website – http://bit.ly/Z53Zxc

• White Desert snow domes Fly from Cape Town to stay in specially-designed luxury dome houses. Genuine polar explorers are the guides here and will show you round the sights including a nearby 6,000 strong Emperor penguin colony. A gourmet chef is also on hand to feed you when you return from your expeditions.Website – http://bit.ly/X26Il8