There is a raft of activities
to i m mer se your sel f i n wh i le
cruising the Antarctic Penin-
sula. From camping and sea kay-
aking, to snorkelling and skiing, and the
much-anticipated polar plunge, you’ll
l i kely wa nt to t r y them a l l. Pict ure your-
self paddling beside a hulking iceberg and
g a zing into it s ir idescent blue hear t. Feel
the thrill of a leopard seal turning to meet
your gaze. Marvel at the icy vista spread
before you as you whistle down the side
of a mountain on a set of skis.
Now imagine you’ve come a cropper
and need emergency medical attention
or worse, evacuation... you’re a long way
Ensure your
Antarctic travel
insurance covers you
for off-ship
activities, so you can
jump in with
both feet!Because of Antarctica’s extreme
conditions and remoteness, it’s vital to
consult your doctor before you leave.
Discuss the activities you’d like to
undertake – off-ship activities bring
with them an element of risk –
especially if you have pre-existing
conditions, and make sure you have
enough of your regular medication to
cover your time away and then some,
in case of unexpected delays.SNORKELLING
Duck your head under Antarctic waters
and you’ll discover the speed and
mobility of penguins in the water,
marvel at sculpted icebergs below the
surface and witness marine life
including starfish and nudibranchs.
Before you sign up, though, check with
your polar snorkelling guides to cover
off any concerns or limitations you may
have, or help you may need.SEA KAYAKING
Sea kayaking here will move you.
Following experienced guides, you’ll
paddle between icebergs, skim past
penguin rookeries, or drift under soaring
bird cliffs as you absorb the majesty.
If you’re heading out for a day trip, be
sure to take any medications you need
and surplus in case you get delayed for
any reason.SKIING
Early explorers used skiing as a means
to move across the continent – but it’s
relatively new for tourists. Without any
infrastructure, you’ll need to “skin” up
the mountain before skiing down.
That translates into a lot of work for
relatively short (half-mile) descents,
so pre-trip fitness training is recom-
mended. Knowing your limits and
sticking to them in such a remote
locale is vital.GET COVERED
All Antarctic tour operator companies
require guests to have a travel
insurance policy that will cover
emergency evacuation by air, repatria-
tion and medical fees. You won’t be
able to board the ship without it! Also,
read the fine print to make sure you’re
covered for all the activities you wish
to undertake – some travel insurance
policies stop covering you as soon
as you leave the ship – and for
unfortunate circumstances such as trip
delays, interruptions and cancellations.from home and the latter
can cost tens of thousands of
dollars, if not more! Having
the right travel insurance, which
covers you for both the cruise and all
the activities you’d like to try means that
if anything does go wrong (and it can
during polar exploration, as legendary
Antarctic explorers Robert Scott and
Earnest Shackleton both experienced),
you’ll have access to the help you need,
when you need it most.To be well informed and
prepared for your next adventure
visit: smartraveller.gov.auThe stunning Antarctic Peninsula
teems with wildlife that you’llwant to meet.
STAYING SAFE
Frozen fun: Antarctic cruisers
join the exclusive ‘polar plunge’
club after launching themselves
into the icy water.Amazing animal shot -
penguins, etcPenguin puffballs: no visit to
Antarctica is complete without
meeting the local wildlife.Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra