Category: Stories & Inspiration

My home city of Bristol is also amongst other things, home to Swoop Antarctica, graffiti artist Banksy, and the UK’s biggest street art festival, UpFest. I’m not really a huge fan of tours, and to be honest I’m not all that bothered about street art, which until very recently, I considered vandalism. So, on my […]

Heading back to Antarctica for my second voyage in under a year is nothing short of an absolute privilege. This time I won’t be going alone, my partner, Agnes, will be joining me on what will be her first voyage to the Great White Continent. She is very excited, and I think that’s fantastic. To […]

I recently returned to the Arctic for the first time in four years. It was a cathartic moment: feeling the cold chill on my face and the fresh smell of ice burn my nostrils. All so very familiar, except this time I was travelling as a tourist, not going home. Northern Finland had been my home […]

Deep inside the Arctic Circle only 500 miles from the North Pole, yet easily accessible from Europe and with more polar bears than humans, Svalbard beckons the adventurer. Never one to turn down a challenge, Swoop’s very own Lauren headed to Svalbard to see what it has to offer and know more about the third region […]

In preparation for his trip to Antarctica, Swoop’s polar specialist John found himself swept up in more than mundane logistics and flight times; the intrigue of an English church, an Antarctica voyage, and Scott’s last ever journey had him captivated long before he left the UK. “Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of […]

A handful of Swoop’s customers choose to venture to both the Antarctic and to Patagonia on the same trip. Swoop only specialises in these two destinations and so is perfectly placed to offer the dream trip to someone looking for a double-adventure! We know both regions inside out and can tie two ends of an […]

In March 2016, John, one of Swoop’s resident Polar experts, took an expeditionary cruise to the White Continent. An abundance of icebergs, wildlife and a fair degree of feisty weather all made for an unforgettable Antarctic experience. Ushuaia – the Gateway to Antarctica Arriving in Ushuaia was probably one of the most exciting and equally underwhelming experiences […]

What was it like to visit Antarctica again? Antarctica is so magical that it always feels very special and a great privilege to be there. Two main things struck me this time: firstly just how different the same places can look under differing light conditions and at different times of the season. Secondly, the sheer […]