【On-the-Ground Report】Step into Antarctica and Experience the Beauty of Nature in All Its Glory – Packed with Photos and Videos!

Text by: Ding

Antarctica, with a total area of approximately 65 million square kilometers, is the world’s last discovered “white continent,” covered in thick ice and snow year-round. As a travel enthusiast, there are always a few ultimate dreams on your bucket list, and Antarctica is definitely one of them. In February this year, I had the privilege of joining Jetour ’s South America and Antarctica tour to visit the region, exploringBoliviaand Antarctica in one trip and unveiling the mysteries of this fascinating place.

This Antarctica itinerary is available in 22-, 25-, and 37-day versions. The journey begins in South America, allowing you to acclimate to the environment and adjust to the time difference, making the Antarctic cruise experience much more comfortable.

Itinerary Recommendation – Jetour －  22 / 25 / 37-Day Antarctica Exploration Tour

Many people ask: is it very cold in Antarctica? The Antarctic climate from November to February each year is spring and summer, with average daily temperatures around 0°C to -5°C—not extremely cold, and not too physically demanding. The most important things are to wear a windproof jacket and bring a face mask, because although it’s not extremely cold, the wind can be quite strong.

Others may ask: is it tiring or nauseating to travel by ship? The answer depends on whether you choose to land by ship or take a chartered Antarctic flight. On my Jetour trip, we landed by plane, departing fromChile’s southernmost city,Punta Arenas—a roughly 2-hour flight that saves you from the bumps of a ship voyage and also saves time, making it arguably the most premium way to visit Antarctica.

All three itineraries mentioned above use the Ocean Nova, known as the “compact king” of Antarctic cruise ships. The Ocean Nova accommodates about 68 passengers but has 7 dedicated landing boats that can transport all passengers at once for quick disembarkation. With around 38 crew members on board, the service quality is highly reliable.

The Ocean Nova is compact in size but excels in design.

The crew-to-guest ratio is nearly 2:1, making it easy to bond with them and learn a lot about Antarctica, ecology, and geography from their insights.

Before each landing, the crew makes thorough preparations.

One advantage of traveling on the Ocean Nova is that every guest gets to participate in the landing excursions. During my Antarctic trip, I landed and went sightseeing every single day!

Now, onto the main highlight—when in Antarctica, you must meet its friendly ambassadors: the penguins. Aside from their adorable appearance, penguins have a rather interesting “marriage system.” They practice monogamy, with the penguin fathers incubating the eggs while the mothers head to the sea to forage. Each plays their role and supports one another. Don’t underestimate their work—while the foraging mothers put in great effort, the egg-incubating fathers go without food or water for two whole months. It’s no easy feat!

Newborn penguin chicks have grayish feathers that help keep them warm.

To protectAntarctica’s ecosystem, shore visits are strictly regulated, and visitors must not get too close to the penguins. This is where a telephoto lens comes in very handy.

For this Antarctica trip, I brought along a Nikon D810 paired with an AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G lens, which captured a richer variety of scenes.

Besides penguins, you’ll also see seals, sea lions, whales, and even skua birds up close—it’s truly spectacular. I never imagined I’d have the chance to get so near to these animals. Plus, every evening back on the cruise, experts give presentations analyzing the day’s sightings and wildlife encounters, almost like taking a live biology and geography class.

And in front of the vast, perennially frozen glaciers, we feel especially small. Opening our hearts and minds, we come to understand nature’s lessons. This trip to Antarctica made me realize just how vast and beautiful the world truly is.

With its expansive skies and snow-covered landscapes, doesn’t Antarctica stir your heart? To chase this ultimate dream, all you need to do is give yourself the chance.

Itinerary Recommendations