An area of ice and water yet providing some of the most stunning landscapes on the planet. This really is one of "last frontiers". Although at first, Antarctica may seem a stark and inhospitable environments, it actually host an amazing array of wildlife and plant-life.

The only way to explore Antarctica is by ship. Trips can begin in South America or New Zealand and then begin to make their way to the frozen continent. Depending on your ship, you could find yourself ice-breaking into a scientific research centre that has not seen a ship for the last eight months. The ships have zodiacs to take you ashore and some come with helicopters as well. There is no such thing as a typical day. Some days are spent landing in the morning and scrambling through the snow while the afternoon may be full of lectures which provide information on the various aspects of Antarctica like penguin behaviour, formation of glaciers or the exploits of the great explorers like Shackleton, Amundsen and Scott. No matter what you are doing though, you should always be ready to throw on a coat and make your way to the decks. Whales could be spotted, seals or penguins relaxing on floating icebergs or perhaps just a perfect photo opportunity with the sun in exactly the right position. Certain voyages may include stops at the Falkland Islands while others go in search of the Emperor Penguin. The only time of year when ships can reach the Antarctica is from November to March.

The following itinerary is a classic Antarctica cruise:

Day 1 & 2- Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Arrive in the southernmost city in the world and spend your time exploring this remote 'frontier town'. Ushuaia is nestled between the spectacular snowcapped mountains of the Andes and the Beagle Channel and is surrounded by wilderness areas. Embarkation begins later in the afternoon of Day 2 and, after settling into your cabins, the ship sets sail along the scenic Beagle Channel - heading east towards the Drake Passage.

Days 3-5 Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands
Your journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, is an experience in itself. The ship is accompanied most of the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering Albatross - along with an impressive variety of other seabirds. There's a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins and many different species have been encountered in these rich waters over the years. Finally cross the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zones.

When land is sighted for the first time in two days (usually late afternoon on Day 4) you know you have reached the South Shetland Islands. This impressive group of islands, lying to the north and roughly parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, is a haven for wildlife. Visit vast penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe wallowing southern elephant seals. Perhaps visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago and look for Antarctica's only two flowering plants which thrive here during the short southern summer. A highlight of your visit to the South Shetlands will be sailing through a narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island.

Days 6-9 Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula is the most readily accessible part of the White Continent and has some of the best wildlife and scenery. You have plenty of time to experience the special magic of this awe-inspiring wilderness of snow, ice, waterways and mountains and can expect to see a wide variety of Antarctic wildlife. Enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills and Antarctic Terns are just some of the many birds found here in abundance. You are also likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, while orcas, humpback whales and Minke whales are often encountered at close range.

The Peninsula also has a remarkable history and, during most voyages, there are historians on board who offer lectures about some of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world. Keeping a lookout from the Bridge or the deck of the ship, as you thread our way along the continent, you will certainly feel the same sense of excitement as many of those early explorers.

Sailing around the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, if conditions are right, you will navigate the Antarctic Sound, or 'iceberg alley' as it is often called, where huge tabular icebergs drift north from the Antarctic continent. Also maybe land on Paulet Island to see its vast Adélie Penguin rookery, visit aptly-named Paradise Harbor, or nearby Neko Harbor, where glaciers fill the calm waters with a mind-boggling vista of icebergs; this is where you will hopefully set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself.

At Port Lockroy, as well as enjoying the thriving penguin colonies, there is also a former British scientific station that has recently been renovated to serve as one of the most isolated and intriguing museums in the world. The station also acts as a post office so you can mail your postcards home from this unique area..

During the voyage, some of the most beautiful waterways in the world will be navigated through as long as they are not choked with pack ice and icebergs; two in particular, the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers that are so impressive they are a highlight of the trip for many people. On some voyages the ships sail south of the Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island where Adélie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags nest close to the landing site.

Days 10-11 Drake Passage
Today leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. In between bird watching and whale watching, and enjoying some final lectures by the expedition staff, this is a chance to relax and review your adventures before returning to Ushuaia.

Day 12 Ushuaia
Disembarkation is after breakfast and departure later that day

As this itinerary begins in South America, why not begin or finish your Antarctica adventure with some time in Argentina and Chile?

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