<strong>Antarctic adventures: </strong>With the right gear, diving in Antarctica offers a chance to explore the underside of icebergs, swim with leopard seals and probe historic wrecks.
Antarctic adventures: With the right gear, diving in Antarctica offers a chance to explore the underside of icebergs, swim with leopard seals and probe historic wrecks.
Alexander Kassler/Oceanwide Expeditions
<strong>Self-powered ski lifts:</strong> Climbing up and skiing down slopes is a strenuous and rewarding way to take in Antarctica's expanse.
Self-powered ski lifts: Climbing up and skiing down slopes is a strenuous and rewarding way to take in Antarctica's expanse.
Courtesy Ski Antarctica
<strong>Cardio on the frozen continent: </strong>This form of skiing is for the truly committed uphill climber.
Cardio on the frozen continent: This form of skiing is for the truly committed uphill climber.
Courtesy Ski Antarctica
<strong>Aboard MV Ortelius:</strong> Some of Oceanwide Expeditions' cruises have flexibility in their itineraries to allow the captain and crew to engage in a little exploration along the way.
Aboard MV Ortelius: Some of Oceanwide Expeditions' cruises have flexibility in their itineraries to allow the captain and crew to engage in a little exploration along the way.
Joe Yogerst
<strong>Animal encounters: </strong>No matter what kind of adventure you choose, encounters with locals such as this Weddell seal are bound to be a highlight.
Animal encounters: No matter what kind of adventure you choose, encounters with locals such as this Weddell seal are bound to be a highlight.
Joe Yogerst
<strong>See-to-believe landscapes: </strong>The Gullet between Adelaide Island and Graham Land provides one of many pinch-yourself types of scenes.
See-to-believe landscapes: The Gullet between Adelaide Island and Graham Land provides one of many pinch-yourself types of scenes.
Joe Yogerst
<strong>Humpbacks with icebergs: </strong>And then there are these guys, just swimming by.
Humpbacks with icebergs: And then there are these guys, just swimming by.
Joe Yogerst
<strong>On the open water:</strong> Setting out in kayaks gets visitors that much closer to the natural wonders of the region.
On the open water: Setting out in kayaks gets visitors that much closer to the natural wonders of the region.
Al Bakker/Southern Sea Ventures
<strong>Ice formations: </strong>The massive ice shelves and glaciers of Antarctica are rife with spectacular caves and tunnels carved into ice formed thousands of years ago.
Ice formations: The massive ice shelves and glaciers of Antarctica are rife with spectacular caves and tunnels carved into ice formed thousands of years ago.
Marko Prezelj/White Desert
<strong>Creeping into the continent: </strong>These subterranean worlds -- often lit by magical bluish light -- offer a totally different take on polar nature.
Creeping into the continent: These subterranean worlds -- often lit by magical bluish light -- offer a totally different take on polar nature.
Courtesy White Desert
<strong>Antarctic flying:</strong> In recent years, companies including White Desert from Cape Town, South Africa, have pioneered day trip and single overnight flights to the continent.
Antarctic flying: In recent years, companies including White Desert from Cape Town, South Africa, have pioneered day trip and single overnight flights to the continent.
Courtesy White Desert
<strong>Soaking it in: </strong>The scenes are truly breathtaking, whether hiking, paddling, skiing or otherwise moving across the frozen landscapes.
Soaking it in: The scenes are truly breathtaking, whether hiking, paddling, skiing or otherwise moving across the frozen landscapes.
Joe Yogerst
<strong>Sail-powered exploration: </strong>Sailing offers a quieter, less crowded way to cruise the Southern Ocean, as well as opportunities to explore bays and channels where larger ships can't fit.
Sail-powered exploration: Sailing offers a quieter, less crowded way to cruise the Southern Ocean, as well as opportunities to explore bays and channels where larger ships can't fit.
Ben Wallis/Natural Habitat Adventures
<strong>Extreme exercise: </strong>For those who really want to push their bodies to the limit, the annual Antarctic Ice Marathon & 100k races take place in December each year.
Extreme exercise: For those who really want to push their bodies to the limit, the annual Antarctic Ice Marathon & 100k races take place in December each year.
Mark Conlon/Antarctic Ice Marathon
<strong>Going for the summit:</strong> For those trying to conquer the highest peak on each continent, 16,050-foot (4,892-meter) Mount Vinson is the peak they're after in the Antarctic.
Going for the summit: For those trying to conquer the highest peak on each continent, 16,050-foot (4,892-meter) Mount Vinson is the peak they're after in the Antarctic.
Robert Anderson/Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions
<strong>Cross-country odyssey:</strong> Like the polar explorers of old, cross-country skiing to the geographic South Pole involves crossing ice shelves, glaciers and the massive West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Cross-country odyssey: Like the polar explorers of old, cross-country skiing to the geographic South Pole involves crossing ice shelves, glaciers and the massive West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
John Beatty/Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions
<strong>Antarctic expeditions:</strong> Michael Ginzburg of Oceanwide Expeditions recommends booking passage on the first voyage of a given season -- when the sea ice isn't completely melted yet.
Antarctic expeditions: Michael Ginzburg of Oceanwide Expeditions recommends booking passage on the first voyage of a given season -- when the sea ice isn't completely melted yet.
Dietmar Denger/Oceanwide Expeditions
<strong>A night on the ice: </strong>You don't have to be a super athlete to snuggle up in a tent on the continent overnight. Oceanwide Expeditions has created Basecamp Adventure Cruises with a range of outdoor sports activities.
A night on the ice: You don't have to be a super athlete to snuggle up in a tent on the continent overnight. Oceanwide Expeditions has created Basecamp Adventure Cruises with a range of outdoor sports activities.
Ignacio Marino/Oceanwide Expeditions