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Declan & Karl’s Basecamp Adventure

“No matter how well travelled anyone was, we all had the same sense of childlike wonder in Antarctica. It exceeded all expectations: the scale, serenity and beauty of the continent makes an indelible mark on the soul.”

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Swoop Antarctica customer Declan took the trip of a lifetime on Swoop’s Antarctic Basecamp Adventure in December 2016. Travelling on an active kayaking, hiking, camping, mountaineering and snowshoeing adventure for 12 days aboard the MV Plancius with her partner Karl, she came home amazed by the experiences she had on the vast White Continent. Here, she shares the story of her expedition:

What was it like travelling aboard the MV Plancius?

Plancius is a brilliant ship: perfect for people who like adventure and exploration and being active when they are on holiday. It is small enough (114 passengers max) to feel intimate and it means that you get to know lots of people during the trip. It also means you get plenty of excursions; we had 2-3 per day when in Antarctica and it all ran like clockwork, with the trips really well organised. The expedition staff and sailing crew all work well together and everyone’s up for the adventure!

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The actual ‘hotel’ side of operations was incredibly well run by the hotel manager, Jonny and his staff. Nothing was too much trouble; the service was outstanding, it was always warm inside the ship and the food was excellent. They bent over backwards to make us feel welcome.

Tell us about your shore landings and excursions.

My favourite activity was definitely the camping; sleeping in the snow on a still summer solstice night was something so special it is hard to put into words. It was total peace and serenity; the majesty of the landscape was idyllic and we also had some curious penguins and seals as neighbours! We slept in a snow hole and it was the best night’s sleep I have ever had camping in my life. It was completely surreal and magical to wake up in that hole and see the dawn in Antarctica.

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I loved all the zodiac trips; from cruising round icebergs, getting a different perspective on areas we had snowshoed up, to gliding up to snoozing seals, and always accompanied by information and interesting facts from our drivers and guides. Kayaking with instructor Louise was also brilliant; as two novices in our kayak, she put us at ease and helped us have a great experience: gently moving through the water, passing icebergs, watching them calve and avalanche.

We had many trips ashore, snowshoeing often and seeing points of interest: penguin rookeries, elephant seal colonies or sites of historic interest, such as at Damoy Hut and the wonderful Port Lockroy – where I could happily spend the rest of my days! These were always accompanied by brilliant expedition staff, full of useful and interesting information and always ready to answer questions. The lectures and talks we had from the expedition staff, were great and a wonderful way to pass the time on the long sailing days across the Drake Passage; there was so much interesting stuff to listen to and get involved in. I felt like I had an education on that ship and I know so much more than I did when I went; I have even more appreciation of just how special Antarctica is, thanks to the staff.

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Did you see much wildlife?

We were privileged to see a huge number of humpback whales ‘bubble feeding’ on Christmas Eve. I have new respect for penguins having seen how they live and behave – incredible birds! We got to see gentoo mainly, but also chinstraps and Adelie penguins. It was a privilege to be able to observe them so closely and see how they live in this incredible place.

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We saw quite a lot of seals including crabeaters and Weddells, and on one special occasion, a slumbering leopard seal, the size of which was quite a shock. The elephant seals were pretty special, and we watched two males battle it out at Robert Point. The wandering albatrosses and the amazing petrels that followed the ship were also a treat to watch and having the lectures about the birds and wildlife from the expedition staff helped us really understand the remarkable lives of the animals and birds of the region.

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Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?

If you are thinking of going to Antarctica, save up and go. It is not like any other travel experience you will ever have, and no matter how well travelled you are, it will fill you with a sense of wonder that will last. If you like an active trip, rather than your typical cruise holiday, pick an expedition ship like MV Plancius. You will never regret it; it’s action packed, informative and exhilarating.
Declan and Karl travelled to Antarctica in December 2016 aboard the MV Plancius. To find out more about booking your own Basecamp Adventure, or planning your own expedition, get in touch.

Alex Mudd

Head of Swoop Antarctica

Alex returned from his first Antarctica trip ten years ago firmly bitten by 'polar fever' and obsessed with icebergs. Since then, in between further forays to the polar regions, he's been evangelising about the joys of expeditionary cruising and doing all he can to return to The White Continent.

An inveterate traveller never happier than when beyond mobile reception. Some of his more memorable adventures have included dog sledding in Spitsbergen, hanging out with Huli Wigmen in PNG, piranha fishing in The Amazon and chasing the Northern Lights in Greenland.