| Definitely planning a trip to Antarctica is not the same | | | | Antarctica |
| as taking a couple of return tickets at Pricelne. When I | | | | Another kind of ship will be an expedition ship. Always |
| need to move around Europe it takes me an hour to | | | | larger than the research vessels, they are built to |
| plan the route, get the flights, and find the adequate | | | | explore the remote waters of the planet. Normally |
| accommodation. If you want to travel to Antarctica, | | | | they will include a large number of experts on board |
| many of those things will not be necessary to plan, as | | | | that will give classes during the whole trip in order to |
| they will come included in the package, but even more | | | | make your experience as cultural as possible. You will |
| essential and more time consuming will be the fact that | | | | find a great source of knowledge there, and they are |
| you need to select properly the kind of trip you are | | | | normally prepared for landings, so you will almost sure |
| expecting to get. | | | | enjoy some land expeditions on the white continent. |
| Nothing can be more frustrating than spending a | | | | Normally they will offer a higher level of luxury than |
| fortune to travel to Antarctica and discover later that | | | | research vessels and more services will be offered to |
| you were not looking for this kind of trip. Probably you | | | | you. |
| will not be able to allow yourself to come back again | | | | Finally, an Icebreaker is directly designed to break |
| for economic reasons. Let's take a look at what | | | | through the ice. It is the biggest of the vessels |
| different possibilities are there, and which requisites you | | | | discussed here, and they are nearly always leased by |
| should look for before booking your trip. | | | | Russia to Adventure Tour Operators in a way that |
| First of all, do a large research. Do not worry about the | | | | they can get some cash in the months where |
| time, and if you don't have it, let an expert help you in it. | | | | exploration in the North is not possible due to the |
| The regulations in Antarctica are very different than | | | | winter conditions. These vessels are prepared to |
| the ones in any normal touristic destinations, and all the | | | | travel to the most remote and difficult parts of the |
| touristic tours operated there are regulated by the | | | | Antarctica, so you will have the opportunity to land in |
| IAATO. Whichever vessel you choose to travel there, | | | | the regions where all other vessels simply can't make |
| make sure they are members of the IAATO, and you | | | | it safely. An extraordinary opportunity that normally will |
| will avoid strange surprises. | | | | also involve a higher price and will get the most |
| The kind of expeditions will be most of the times | | | | veteran travelers. Somehow, a trip with this boats |
| conditioned by the kind of transport you use to get | | | | feels like a true expedition! |
| there. If you choose to travel with a research vessel, | | | | In any case, there is one thing you must understand |
| you will find there many active programs and normally | | | | before booking with any operator. Even if it may seem |
| more younger customers are attracted. These | | | | that the larger the boat the most interesting the |
| vessels are not enormous, but are a good intermediate | | | | experience, regulations say that no more than 100 |
| point. The ships are built for polar research and have | | | | tourist can be in the Antarctica at the same time. This |
| the hulls strengthened to deal with the ice, but are not | | | | means that if the boat is very big, a large number of |
| considered icebreakers. Many of them are Russian | | | | people will be there, and the turn taking to step on the |
| vessels that after the collapse of Russia were | | | | continent will make the landings time reduced. That's all |
| chartered to be used for adventure tour operators. | | | | up to you depending on the interest you have in |
| You can't expect luxury on board, but comfortable | | | | walking on these remote lands. |
| rooms and kind of a private environment to travel to | | | | |