Antarctic Destinations

Antarctica, at times an unforgiving continent marked by harsh temperatures and rugged terrain, is home to a rich diversity of wildlife that inhabits the glaciers, mountains, bays, fjords, inlets, pebble beaches and rugged coastlines. The Antarctic Peninsula, for instance, is abundant with minke, humpback, right, blue, sperm and killer whales.

Snow Hill Island, in the ice-choked Weddell Sea, is the site of one of the world’s largest colonies of Emperor penguins. The sub-Antarctic destinations of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia are equally rich with wildlife.

Region Highlights

The Infamous Drake Passage

Crossing the 800-km Drake Passage where the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans converge, is a rite of passage for many travelers.

Iconic Wildlife

Wildlife enthusiasts can observe at least five species of penguins in the Falkland Islands

Historic South Georgia

Antarctica abounds with historic sites and landmarks associated with early polar explorers such as Sir Ernest Shackleton, who’s buried at Grytviken, South Georgia.

Crossing the Antarctic Circle

Crossing south across the Antarctic Circle, at 66°33' S, is a milestone experienced by only a few polar travelers

In contrast to the population of the Falklands which numbers about 2,900 permanent residents, South Georgia has only a handful of temporary inhabitants – and that contingent is primarily researchers and scientists. The slightly crescent-shaped, mountainous island is known for its diverse wildlife, glaciers and fjords, as well as wildlife. South Georgia is sometimes called the “Galapagos of the Poles” because of the massive king penguin colony at Salisbury Plain, and other wildlife, including the thousands of fur and elephant seals.

Polar history enthusiasts are particularly keen to visit South Georgia. British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton first crossed the island in 1916 in search of aid for his ill-fated trans-Antarctic expedition. Upon Shackleton’s death, his widow insisted the late great explorer be buried at the former whaling station at Grytviken on South Georgia.

The post Celebrating Shackleton appeared first on Boutique Travel.

Arctic Destinations

The rugged, remote Arctic remains one of the most unexplored domains on the planet. This ice-laden region encompasses the Canadian High Arctic; Greenland; the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, which includes Spitsbergen; Russia; and at the very top of the planet, of course, the North Pole. It’s inhabited by polar bears, muskoxen, arctic foxes, beluga whales, reindeer, seals, walruses and migratory birds, among other wildlife species.

Region Highlights

Land of the Midnight Sun

Experience 24-hour daylight that illuminates the fjords, glaciers, and landscapes of the Arctic, providing extended opportunities to appreciate its beauty—from wildlife spotting to photography—day or night.

Diverse Arctic Wildlife

The Arctic is one of the few places on earth where you can experience an abundance of wildlife in its natural habitat, including polar bears, walrus, reindeer, Arctic fox, beluga whales and numerous species of seabirds.

Palatial Fjords & Glaciers

Immerse yourself in the environment with a variety of activities from sea kayaking and paddling excursions to hiking and Zodiac cruising; each will provide unique perspectives of the fjords and glaciers of the Arctic.

Indigenous Communities

Visit indigenous communities in Nunavut and Greenland for a richer and more intimate glimpse of what life in the Arctic is really like.

Hunting & Trapping Huts

Visit preserved cabins used by explorers on hunting expeditions in the early 20th century when trappers traveled to the Arctic in search of the big catch—wildlife like polar bears and Arctic fox whose pelts they could sell.

Last Charted Territory

Explore Severnaya Zemlya, the last territorial discovery on the planet made in 1930, located in the remote Russian High Arctic

Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, which also includes the two smaller islands of Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. It’s often called “The land of the midnight sun.” It’s also known as “The Wildlife Capital of the Arctic.” Spitsbergen, about 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole, is dark four months of the year, but when the sun returns in April, the days lengthen until sometime in June when the sun never sets—all the better for viewing the wildlife that has made Spitsbergen so popular with travelers on a quest to observe polar bears and other wildlife, such as walruses, reindeers, arctic foxes, beluga whales, seals and seabirds.

Up until the 1920s, the Svalbard archipelago (the combined population is 2,667) was essentially a no man’s land until it was officially recognized as belonging to Norway by the Spitsbergen Treaty. Longyearbyen, the administrative center of the archipelago situated on Spitsbergen, began as a coal mining town. Today the focus is on wildlife, glaciers and fjords.

The post Spitsbergen Highlights appeared first on Boutique Travel.