I didn’t want to write practical advice on how to travel in different countries - a lot has been written before me. However, I decided to make an exception for Antarctica. Why? Because there is little information, and travel is expensive and inaccessible for many. Perhaps the information I collected will help someone.

Places(departure cities and modes of transport)

Commercial tours to Antarctica are carried out from several countries:

1. Argentina

The ships leave from the city of Ushuaia, located in the very south of the country, on Tierra del Fuego. There are no commercial flights by plane.

The journey to Antarctica, 490 nautical miles, takes 1.5-2 days by ship.

You can get to Ushuaia from the capital of Argentina, Buena Aires, by plane (3.5 hours, 260 USD, fly daily, twice a day) or by bus (36 hours with a connection in Rio Gallegos, 200 USD, departure daily). Better by plane: the difference in cost is insignificant, the time savings are enormous. In addition, the Atlantic coast of Argentina is not the most interesting place to travel - in Argentina they travel through Patagonia, along the Andes. Of course, hitchhiking has not been canceled either, but they say it’s not very good here.

2. Chile

The ships leave from the city of Punta Arenas, located in the very south of Chile. Commercial flights are available with stays in Antarctica of several hours, one night or several days.

The journey to Antarctica, a little over 500 nautical miles, takes 2 days by ship, and a little over an hour by plane.

You can get to Punta Arenas from the capital of Chile, Santiago de Chile, by plane or bus, or from Buena Aires by plane or bus (via Ushuaia).

3. New Zealand

I don't have detailed information.

According to information from Australians, the journey to Antarctica from New Zealand is much more expensive and longer than from South America and takes 7 days by ship.

I have never heard of commercial flights. However, in my opinion, in any case it is better to travel by ship - for the same money you can see an order of magnitude more. Saving time? Nonsense. If you don’t have time, it’s better to postpone your visit until next time. Antarctica is not just for show; there are so many interesting things here.

4. Australia

According to information from Australians, departure to Antarctica from Australia is carried out through New Zealand (see paragraph 3).

I have never heard of commercial flights.

Time(navigation period)

Travel to Antarctica takes place in summer (for the southern hemisphere), more precisely from November to March inclusive. For example, this year 2010, the first ship from Ushuaia departed on November 3rd. However, everyone (guides, tour operators, ship crew) says that the climate is warming very quickly, so perhaps the tourist season will soon extend.

The best time is the end of December - January. At this time, there are the most clear days, the sky opens up and the landscape transforms simply fantastically. In addition, it is warmest at this time. Although in mid-November the temperature was positive, several degrees above zero.

Price(various cost options for “getting” to the continent)

1. Commercial tours from Moscow

The simplest and therefore most expensive option. The cheapest packages I've seen cost $8,000 - $10,000 all-inclusive. See "Yandex".

2. Commercial tours (cruises) from South America

25 ships per season depart from Ushuaia alone, with 100-130 people on board. The cost of the nine-day Classic Antarctic voyage ranges from $4,000 to $10,000, depending on the cabin class.

My experience: there is no need to pay more. I mean, if you take an expensive cabin, you pay an additional 1000-4000 dollars just for the right to sleep in a more comfortable cabin, because... everything else - excursions, food, lectures - is common and the same for everyone on board. And there are so many activities that you are almost never in the cabin. In addition, even my “cheap” cabin had a good “three stars” and a porthole.

The lowest price can be found by purchasing a tour directly at the port (for example, in Ushuaia), arriving at the very beginning of the season (the last days of October - the first days of November) a day or two before departure (last day price). Prepayment for a month does not affect the cost, so there is no point in coming in mid-early October. By purchasing six months in advance, you can also get a discount - talk to operators (see the list of operators in the appendix).

Here's my cost:

1. Tour “Classic Antarctica” (9 nights, 2 people per cabin) – $3,249.

2. Flight Moscow-B.Ayres-Moscow – $1,800.

3. Flight B.Ayres-Ushua-B.Ayres - $320.

TOTAL: $5,369.

3. Working on cruise ships

The following “authorities” are relevant to the vessel:

Vessel owner – usually does not carry out current activities

Vessel operator – leases from the owner and conducts all day-to-day activities

The captain and crew of the vessel are employees themselves, hired by the operator or owner

Regarding work, you need to contact the vessel operator, as a rule, this is a large tourism operator. In my case - Gap Adventures. They hire all the service personnel from the expedition leader to the waiters and cleaners. Possible positions:

- “scientific personnel” (biologist, zoologist, geographer, etc.)

Service staff (cleaner, waiter, cook)

Zodiac driver (landing boat)

Others (photographer, translator)

My experience: I sent letters to a couple of dozen operators, received several polite refusals and a couple of offers to buy a commercial trip. Local people in Ushuaia say that there is a chance of finding a job, but it is small and most likely the time will be wasted.

4. Scientific expeditions

Russia still sends scientific expeditions to Antarctica. In particular, this is done by the St. Petersburg Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic. There is a department that deals with expeditions - look for contacts yourself. However, keep in mind that the expedition may take several months - the one-way trip alone lasts a month and a half.

My experience: I almost agreed, but the expedition left before I arrived in St. Petersburg, where it started

5. Voluntary organizations

One American woman told me about her experience. She contacted the whale protection organization (contact in the app), went through several interviews in absentia and was invited on board, but at the last moment she refused. She said she doesn’t like whales that much and is not ready to spend so much time and effort on them for the sake of Antarctica. As a result, I paid $6,000 for a commercial tour and was satisfied.

However, her example shows that this is a workable option.

My experience: I didn’t try, because it needs to be done much in advance.

6. Military vessels

My hostel neighbor in Buenos Aires told me the following. When he was in Punta Arenas, he met a guy there who negotiated with the Chilean Navy for “50 dollars” and they took him on board. I don't know the details, but it works.

Conclusion:

If you have at least a little money, but not enough time, or you are not a fan of scientific expeditions, go to Ushuaia and buy a tour at the “last day price”;

Traveling to Antarctica: seasonality of travel, travel routes, reviews of Arctic travel.

• Last minute tours Worldwide

A trip to the southernmost continent of the planet, the great, terrible and glorious Antarctica, is the cherished dream of many. Fortunately, the times when visiting this continent was available only to professional polar explorers and members of scientific expeditions have sunk into oblivion. In the modern world, demand creates supply, and when it comes to tourism, this economic principle is doubly true. The well-established life of polar explorers in Antarctica and stable transport links with the “mainland” make it possible to successfully receive tourists in the vastness of the icy continent: settle them at polar bases, entertain them with excursions on motor sleighs and helicopters, ice diving and ski trips, and even take them to the holy of holies of the Earth - the damned and the South Pole, sung by so many travelers. In terms of comfort, traveling to Antarctica is practically in no way inferior to “warm” cruises, and in terms of richness of impressions, they are many times superior to them.

Travel to Antarctica

Types of travel to Antarctica

Travel to Antarctica is very diverse both in terms of travel method and duration. In general, since the continent is surrounded on all sides by the ocean, and there are no buildings on the land itself, except for polar stations and seasonal camps, a cruise is everything here. On board an expedition vessel converted for tourist needs, tourists will travel from the southernmost city of Argentina, Ushuaia, through the Drake Passage to the Falkland and South Shetland Islands and further, skirting the Antarctic Peninsula. The travel program is extremely rich: there is little lazy contemplation of icebergs and glaciers here, the main emphasis is on landings on the mainland, excursions on Zodiac boats and overnight stays under the amazing Antarctic sky.

The trip to Antarctica can be shortened. The Drake Passage, which separates South America from Antarctica, is crossed by air, which reduces travel time by as much as four days. However, this is not the best way to get enough of Antarctic impressions: the roaring strait, named after Her Majesty’s pirate, can give many unforgettable moments.

Travel to the difficult-to-reach and fantastically picturesque East Antarctica occurs only once or twice a year. Departure point - New Zealand, tour duration - about a month. Along the way, tourists will find majestic landscapes of giant ice shelves, kilometer-long icebergs and ever-turbulent, crystal clear ocean waters.

Drake Passage

Seasonality of travel

When planning a trip to Antarctica, remember that in the southern hemisphere, summer and winter are directly opposite to those in Russia. Antarctic tours are conducted in the warm season, when the air temperature allows you to spend a lot of time outdoors: in the absence of capital accommodation for tourists here, this is the determining factor. Among other things, in Antarctica the polar night lasts six months, the polar day lasts six months, so only the second is available to tourists.

The season for traveling to Antarctica on board an expedition ship lasts from November to March, when solar activity is maximum and temperatures are comfortable. On the Antarctic islands and the coast of the continent, the air warms up to -10...+5 °C. Travel deep into Antarctica takes place in December and January, when the air temperature is maximum: not lower than -20 °C in the interior regions.

How to get to Antarctica

There are two ways to get to Antarctica: on a tour package or as part of an expedition, becoming a professional polar explorer. Nizhny Novgorod traveler Nail MUKHAMADIEV, choosing the second option, visited Antarctica three times.

Price issue

Becoming an Antarctic tourist is not difficult. Cold safari among the southern ice is offered by numerous travel companies. The choice of paid expeditions is large: “Classic cruise to Antarctica”, “Visiting the Emperor Penguins”, “Luxury Antarctica”. For cruises, ice-class hydrographic vessels (most often Russian) are chartered, which temporarily become pleasure vessels.

The best time for such cruises is January, the height of the Antarctic summer. Most often, the program includes an inspection of coastal stations and penguin colonies. This is enough to satisfy the curiosity of tourists. Most extreme sports fans are from the USA and Western Europe. They have been everywhere, seen everything, and Antarctica for them is the last undiscovered continent, terra incognita.

You can get to the southern mainland in different ways: from Argentine Ushuaia, Chilean Punta Arenas, South African Cape Town, Australian Sydney. The pleasure is not cheap, but there are different options available. There are one- and two-day trips to Antarctica. Longer cruises cost from $3,200 to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the program and service. For example, for Russians “Antarctic Dream” for 11 days will cost $5,800. Additionally, air travel Moscow - Buenos Aires - Ushuaia and back ($2000) and ground infrastructure services are paid. The most expensive forced marches into the interior of the continent. A seven-day tour with a flight to the South Pole will cost $40,000 per person. A 25-day route covering the last 111 km to the South Pole on skis will cost $54,000. For the lucky ones, souvenir shops are opened at the Pole, selling badges, T-shirts, and stamps. In total, Antarctica has a dozen attractions available to non-professional polar explorers.

What attracts the South Pole

Antarctica has a lot of unique things, says Nail Mukhamadiev.

First. This is the coldest continent, which contains 90% of all land ice, as well as 80% of the world's fresh water reserves. Only 4% of Antarctica is ice-free. Its reserves are enough to cover the entire land with a layer 160 m thick. Antarctic icebergs are amazing in size. In the spring of 2008, an ice block with an area of ​​570 square meters broke off from the Wilkins shelf. km, which is about half of Moscow.

Second. Antarctica is the highest continent on Earth. Due to powerful glaciers, the average height of the continent's surface above sea level (2.3 km) is the highest among other parts of the land.

Third. Antarctica has a special status: it does not belong to anyone. There are no authorities, borders or even fences.

Fourth. There is a version that the legendary Atlantis was located on the site of present-day Antarctica.

Fifth. There are hypotheses that this lifeless territory, which was part of the giant continent Gondwana millions of years ago, is the cradle of human civilization.

But Nail Mukhamadiev has little faith in the fourth and fifth versions.

The only thing that is known for sure: so far not a single person can call Antarctica their homeland.

Closed club"

“It’s more difficult to get to Antarctica as part of an expedition. Considering that candidates for the expedition members are selected at the St. Petersburg Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic, the direct organizer of the expedition, then I was lucky that I, a nonresident, came to the court, says Nail Mukhamadiev. “My friend from Nizhny Novgorod Vyacheslav, a highly qualified welder, whose profession is in great demand in Antarctica, even with my recommendation, could not become a member of the expedition on the first try.”

The Russian community in Antarctica is not the most representative, despite the fact that there are now five Russian stations operating there: Bellingshausen, Novolazarevskaya, Vostok, Mirny and Progress. The Mirny team consisted of 37 people, and at five of our stations there were about a hundred. The largest American landing. The number of personnel at their stations reaches several thousand people during the season. They say that even branches of American banks operate on the sixth continent. Cleaners are also sent there. In general, almost all countries are represented in Antarctica. Chileans are not forbidden to take their families for the winter.

Nail Mukhamadiev went on his third Antarctic expedition as a leading environmental engineer. The presence of an ecologist at polar stations is mandatory. The main task of the specialist is to prevent fuel spills and current contamination of the territory. Because human waste could disrupt the unique Antarctic ecosystem, countries on the sixth continent have signed an agreement to adhere to strict environmental standards. For example, regulations require that waste be removed; not a single drop, not a single crumb should be unutilized. True, despite the fact that the agreement prohibits open burning of garbage, this point is not followed by everyone, including Russians.

One of the tasks of an ecologist is to protect penguins from the annoying attention of humans. Everyone strives to take a photo with the indigenous inhabitant of the mainland, and the birds get scared and lose their eggs, which threatens to reduce their population. Nail Mukhamadiev had to form small groups for photo sessions.

There are about 15 species of penguins in nature; in Antarctica there are emperor, king, chinstrap, adelie and others. The Imperial stands out for its color, article, size and popularity. The height of penguins reaches 1.2 m, weight 40 kg. Representatives of this species are the southernmost inhabitants of Antarctica (for this continent, “southernmost” means “most frost-resistant”). Penguins have cleverly adapted to life in Antarctica. Birds are able to store each other’s heat by flocking in flocks called “turtles,” which allows them to exist in conditions where the difference in body temperature and the environment is tens of degrees. Inside the flock of penguins the temperature is maintained at +20°C, while “outside” it is down to -30°C. At the same time, the birds constantly move from the edge to the center and back so that everyone has time to warm up.

Mukhamadiev had to master several more specialties in Antarctica. He worked as the commander of a search and rescue team, and the commander of a team to overcome emergencies, and the commandant of the House of Geophysicists, and the head of the hand-to-hand combat section, and even the chief judge of the “Peace Olympics”. The most important part-time job is as a diesel engine driver. The diesel engine is considered the heart of the base. If a diesel engine stalls, the consequences can be catastrophic.

The worst thing is laziness

Nail Mukhamadiev celebrated his 55th birthday in Antarctica. The gifts were themed: mugs, thermoses, envelopes with special cancellation marks. On holidays, red caviar and juice are served. Strictly with drinking during the winter. Of course, prohibition is a long way off, but a bottle of vodka costs one and a half months per person - clearly not by Russian standards, the polar explorer believes. There was no particular suffering from forced sobriety. Three bodybuilding and hand-to-hand combat training sessions a week left no time for boredom. Moreover, during the year he never violated his class schedule. If you miss one or two workouts, laziness overcomes you. This is the worst thing in Antarctica. To survive in cold, wild places, you need to harden not only your body, but also your psyche.

Fishing also helped. On the sixth continent, icefish, gobies and notothenia are excellently caught. “It used to be that I didn’t go to the canteen for weeks because I ate only the catch. I’m ready to eat fish in any form!”

Earth in the porthole

It’s good that the road to Antarctica is long and passes through lands no less interesting than the end point. After all, when traveling, not only the result is important, but also the process, the polar explorer is convinced. The Russian expeditionary vessel's two-month journey to the southern continent included visits to Bremerhaven, Germany, and Cape Town, South Africa, where the crew replenished fuel and provisions. When, finally, after all these difficult crossings, the greatest icy desert of the Earth appeared before the team, the traveler came up with a quatrain.

The ocean swell under the ice is barely visible, Our wake is not subject to breaks. 4000 m for us to fall to the bottom, And 14,000 km to home.

“I especially remember the way back. For the first time in the history of Russian exploration of Antarctica, the ship carrying winterers from Mirny headed for the shores of Australia. I could only dream of traveling to the Green Continent, and I regard visiting Australia as a gift of fate. I walked around Melbourne, Sydney, and then saw the entire continent from the plane. The next planned landing is in Bangkok. It is quite unusual to end up in Thailand after Antarctica. And at London Heathrow Airport we managed to meet Vasily Lanov, who flew to England to celebrate his 70th birthday.

If you happen to go to Antarctica for the fourth time, it would be nice to climb Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on our planet. True, it is quite far from Mirny.”

P.S. After reading this material, you might think that Antarctica is a resort. Alas. For polar explorers, this means isolation from the mainland, the same team, constant winds, cold and work...

Elena BORMATOVA

Sources:

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The southernmost continent in the world remains the most inaccessible. The first people appeared in Antarctica in 1821. Since then, the most fearless travelers have dreamed of visiting here. But this works out to no more than 40 thousand people a year. It is very difficult to get here and the climate here is harsh: in winter it reaches -75 degrees Celsius, and in summer -40 degrees, although on the coast the temperature in summer can rise to +5.

Previously, the journey took up to three years and was deadly, but now coming to Antarctica is difficult, but possible. Here are three ways:

1. Become a scientist, fireman, chef, artist, etc.

Depending on the season, there are about 70 scientific stations operating in Antarctica. The largest is the American McMurdo. Its employees travel on military aircraft. Here they study the continent's ice sheet. From Russia, the Vostok scientific station operates here, where 20-40 people work (depending on the season).

If it’s too late for you to become a scientist, sometimes vacancies appear to work at stations. Firefighters, chefs, hairdressers, plumbers and representatives of other professions who make life easier for scientists are needed.

There is also the National Science Foundation, which is dedicated to Antarctic artists and writers. Its participants can go to Antarctica to implement their project.

2. Become a marathon runner or extreme skier

Yes, there are marathons and ultramarathons in Antarctica. The registration fee for the Antarctic Ice Marathon and Half Marathon is 15 thousand euros (962 thousand rubles). The price includes: flights to Antarctica from Punta Arenas (Chile) and back, food and accommodation at the station, professional photographs, a medal for participation, a T-shirt and other souvenirs. The 2018 competition will take place from November 21 to 27. You can register. Before filling out you need to get a doctor’s recommendation, and after that you need to buy insurance for 100 euros.

3. Go on a cruise

So far, this is almost the only way to get to Antarctica for people who are not connected with science. You won’t be able to buy a plane ticket either – there are no commercial flights to the continent (you can check through airline ticket search engines).

Most ships depart to Antarctica from the city of Ushuaia, which is located in Argentina. Cruise prices start at $3,000 and sometimes reach $30,000 per person.

For example, for 6 thousand dollars (342 thousand rubles) per person in a three-berth cabin you can book an 11-day stay on the Ocean Diamond. It will pass through the Drake Passage and the South Shetland Islands. Along the way there will be a landing at Livingston and Petermann Islands, as well as a boat ride in Neko Bay. Along the way you will see penguins, killer whales, whales and other animals. The price includes: accommodation on board, meals, excursions, lectures, insurance and rental of clothes for walking. Additionally, you will have to pay for air travel to Argentina (from 119 thousand rubles per person) and incur other expenses.

Not so long ago, tours to Antarctica were truly exotic, and getting there was almost impossible; such opportunities were only available to scientific expeditions that carried out their research in harsh conditions. Now the situation has changed and going on such a trip will not be difficult. The main conditions are good moral and physical preparation, as well as a sufficient amount of finances, since such a trip is expensive.

Every year the flow of tourists who visit Antarctica is increasing and at the moment it is approximately 50-60 thousand people a year, but Russians among them are no more than 1-2 percent (domestic tourists prefer warm countries rather than winter extremes). Now there are two ways to get to Antarctica: by air and by water. You can go on a trip from different parts of the planet, and you can do this on an icebreaker, airplane or cruise ship.

First of all, tourists are advised to take appropriate clothing with them, since ordinary winter clothing cannot be used; it must be durable and multi-layered. Some cruise companies independently provide tourists with some types of clothing (in particular, warm jackets).

You can get there by sea from Argentina; ships depart from the famous tourist center of Ushuaia, which is located in the south of the country. The distance to Antarctica is about 500 nautical miles and the journey will take up to two days. This route is considered the shortest and most economical.

The next option is traveling from Chile. Both ships and planes depart from here. Getting from New Zealand is too long and expensive (the distance from New Zealand to Antarctica is at least three thousand kilometers, and you still need to spend a lot of money to get directly to New Zealand).

Some tourists choose non-stop flights over the territory of Antarctica, but I don’t see the point in them - they are expensive, and the pleasure is dubious. In Russia, many travel companies offer to make such a trip, but all these companies act as intermediaries, forming appropriate tourist groups, and the groups themselves will depart from the above countries.

The most popular are sea cruises, which provide the opportunity to fully enjoy the beauty of exotic places (air travel does not provide such opportunities). On a ship you can go deep into the mainland and see penguins up close, in their natural habitat. How comfortable the trip will be depends entirely on the type of ship (there are cabins with and without amenities). Travel often takes place on old Soviet-era icebreakers, which were in no way designed to transport tourists. Travel on cruise ships with a capacity of 200 to 1000 people will be more comfortable than on icebreakers, but there are a number of restrictions. If there are more than 500 people on board the ship, disembarkation will be prohibited. When the number of passengers is from 201 to 500, disembarkation can be carried out, but only in strictly limited places and for a limited time. Such restrictions are associated with preserving nature in its original form as much as possible. On modern liners, storms and seasickness are practically not felt. The cabins of the liners have bathrooms, air conditioning, electricity, minibars and other amenities for a comfortable stay.

When landing on the shore, tourists get to land on special (rubber) boats. The same boats take excursions to glaciers, mammal rookeries, icebergs and other places, but in any case everything will depend on weather conditions. Some excursion tours include visits to scientific bases and the opportunity to get acquainted with scientists and their way of life. Before the trip, you need to fill out a special medical questionnaire and undergo an examination (this questionnaire is subsequently given to the ship's doctor).

The tourist season begins in November and lasts until March; the rest of the time, climatic conditions do not allow sightseeing tours. Recently, New Year's tours to Antarctica have become popular, during which a special entertainment program with gifts is prepared for tourists.

The price of such a trip depends on many factors, primarily on the duration of the cruise. Travel time usually ranges from 8 to 21 days. The cost is also affected by the dates of the trip, the level of service and the number of tourists. A nine-day trip from Argentina will cost approximately 13-15 thousand dollars per person (excluding flights to the departure point). You can find cheaper options, but since you are not planning such a trip yet, there is no point in talking about it, but when you decide, then you will analyze and compare the prices.