Only in Antarctica

From dunking your head below icy water to soaring above it, here are 8 Antarctic experiences that will give you goosebumps.

Go ahead and jump! Taking the polar plunge is a rite of passage on 1. any Antarctic cruise. Don your swimsuit, take a shot of tequila and leap into that freezing water – it’s a moment you won’t forget in a hurry.

Walk with penguins 2.

There aren’t many places in the world where you can get up (reasonably) close and personal with penguins. Antarctica is one. While there are strict rules around interacting with wildlife, many creatures are naturally curious and will want to check you out.

3. Have a whale of a time It’s one thing spotting humpback whales from a distance – it’s another seeing them breach metres from your kayak or Zodiac. Getting up close and personal with these gentle giants will leave you speechless.

01 The plunge is a rite of passage © David Merron 02 It’s hard to beat sea-level sightings of wildlife © David Merron 03 Ultramarine’s heli experiences 04 Balancing on a SUP © Michelle Sole

See stars With no streetlights, no cars and 4. no skyscrapers, light pollution in Antarctica is non-existent. Which makes star gazing a dazzling affair. Get cosy in a sleeping bag on the snow and prepare for the coolest night of your life. 5. Get sky high for a bird’s-eye view

The best way to grasp the vastness of the world’s most southern continent is from the air. New Quark Expeditions’ ship Ultramarine comes with twinengine choppers that are the perfect perch to gaze over icebergs and glaciers.

6. Pull out your postcards The museum at Port Lockroy gives you a glimpse into what life was like for yesteryear researchers stationed in Antarctica. More importantly, it’s home to the Penguin Post Office, the most southern of its kind in the world.

7. Do your research Many countries have research facilities in Antarctica, including Argentina (Brown Station) and the Ukraine (Vernadsky Research Base) – at the latter, you can order a shot of housedistilled vodka to warm your bones.

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8. Paddle, polar style Core in check? Test it out on a standup paddleboard, gliding past icebergs while on the lookout for curious Gentoo penguins and Weddell seals. Between your fellow passengers and the wildlife, you’ll have quite the audience.

Click here to see what adventure activities await in polar regions.