Antarctica Is Our Bucket List Travel Destination

Previously one of the most perilous journeys one can tackle, a trip to Antarctica is now simpler, thanks to Scott Dunn and White Desert. The two operators bring us on a visual tour.

Farhan Shah
Paradise Bay Antarctica
Paradise Bay.

Planet Earth’s southernmost and least-populated continent, Antarctica has fascinated and intrigued many throughout history. One of our favourite fun facts: a can of Coca-Cola will set you back US$30 after transportation and labour costs are factored in.

Thanks to luxury travel consultant Scott Dunn and British tour operator White Desert, we present stunning photos that showcase its magnificence.

  • Approximately 88 percent of the world's ice lies in Antarctica. Slow rivers of ice travel through the ocean, forming ice shelves or floating sheets of frozen freshwater that serve as buttresses against glaciers sliding into the ocean and raising sea levels (Credit: White Desert)
  • Sail alongside impressively rare seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales while admiring the untouched wilderness of Antarctica, also home to ice-filled fjords, majestic glaciers, and spectacular icebergs (Credit: White Desert)
  • Scientists disagree over the exact number of species. Traditionally, there are 17. However, some acknowledged in 2006 that there are two types of rockhopper penguins. You are likely to see five species, including the Emperor (pictured, offspring) and Adélie. Emperor penguins are sociable and unafraid of humans. If they come within a few metres of you, don’t be shocked. This is one of the world’s greatest, yet least seen wildlife events (Credit: White Desert)
  • There is nothing else on earth quite like this 200-metre-long tunnel of iridescent blue ice (Credit: White Desert)
  • Paradise Bay
  • The futuristic designs of the White Desert Echo sky pods, complete with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that command views of a dramatic landscape beyond, result in a luxurious space age experience as though on Mars. Additionally, they are designed to be easily disassembled and removed, leaving no trace on Antarctica’s pristine environment (Credit: White Desert)
  • Emperor Penguins Weddell Sea Antarctica
  • Paddleboarding in Antarctica
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Flying into Antarctica usually involves a trip through Cape Town, South Africa. Scott Dunn also helps to take care of this portion of the trip. You can view an example of the itinerary here.

But if you’ve already made travel plans for the end of the year, we have some photos of the South African leg to satiate your wanderlust.

  • Table Mountain with the Twelve Apostles and the Lion Head
  • The towns of Green Point and Sea Point with Table Mountain in the background
  • A colony of penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Town
  • The Stellenbosch wine region
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