Antarctic Basecamp Adventure Reviews

The majority of the trip was a memorable moment, but the giant, steaming pile of male elephant seals was incredible! Got some great video of them "talking" to each other. Also got some great video of a close-up humpback whale slapping his fins back and forth.

During my kayaking session, we had a whale encounter where a humpback whale dove just in front of our kayak and swam underneath us. I can't describe how amazing that was to see such an incredible animal in the wild and that close to me.

Camping out with friends

Impossible to identify any one moment as there were so many each day. Perhaps the first sight of the Antarctic after we woke up on Saturday morning, but really everything was a highlight.

We had a really rough voyage—including sailing through a hurricane plus two or three whiteout days. We arrived late and left very early. So, we got only 4 days down there. Highlights were kayaking onto an iceberg, seeing an iceberg roll, ice climbing. People were fascinating, especially over meals. One of my roommates was hilarious—both intentionally and unintentionally. I was surprised by how short the excursions were. I would have gladly given up a meal or two to experience in-depth excursions.

I dont have one moment. It was the entire experience. One moment isnt the best.

Kayaking a few feet from humpback whales

Seeing type D orcas.

Overall, the trip was great - the staff, the other passengers, the activities I participated in, the food, the overall quality of every detail. I loved kayaking, but the camping was cancelled due to bad weather. Also this voyage we visited Port Lockroy and could see the history of humans on Antarctica. The surprise was passing through the Drake in a hurricane.

Ice climbing; camping, especially the feeling when our zodiac pulled away and I found myself somehow connected with Shackleton and the seabirds flying overhead; seeing a dozen or more Elephant Seals woven together in the pebbles surrounded by penguins; and the sheer exhilaration of participating in the polar plunge with like-minded thrill seekers!

There were so many, it's impossible to pick one. The accommodations and equipment was top flight. The expedition leaders were exceptional -- SO knowledgeable in their fields, competent, inclusive --- their lectures were a high point when we were on the boat. Camaraderie among the passengers was also memorable --- such a diverse and eclectic group of travelers!!! The experience was unparalleled in every respect !

The whole trip was memorable, really. Like choosing a favorite child, its hard to choose a most memorable moment. I would say the craziest time was during our kayaking adventure when the iceburg we were kayaking by started to crumble and fall (at least 40ft high) so instead of originally turning to the iceburg to head on face the waves, our guide then yells at us to high tail it out of there as quick as we could. Always an adventure.

The crew, the wildlife, the landscapes, and the other passengers were all incredible!

The highlight of the trip was being able to camp on the continent. The landscape and wildlife was great. We hoped to see orcas and didn't. But we did see several seals, penguins species, and a few humpbacks. The travel experience on the boat was mind boggling, so many great stories and interesting people and backgrounds. A few surprises we had were the bottle of champagne in the room, (THANKS LOLI!!) one day with no wind, and the BBQ dinner and dance on the stern of the boat.

Honestly, there wasn't one specific moment. Absolutely amazing staff across the board. They did such a great job.

The highlight was mountain climbing in a snowstorm. Meeting a lot of interesting and accomplished people was the surprising part of the trip. I was shocked at how bad the seasickness was. I normally do well on boats, but I did get sick. I received adequate warning to prepare, but it was still shocking.

This adventure has exceeded my expectations on many levels. The event that will be forever engraved on my heart will be when I completed the 2nd Polar Plunge at Deception Island. It was a culminating celebration of mountaineering, kayaking, camping, and new discoveries with the wildlife. It was also an opportunity to celebrate like children at a birthday party. I loved the bonds I established with the other participants over cold and hot waters. It really felt like a celebration.

Seeing the humpback whale from our zodiac, camping overnight, kayaking and mountaineering.

Seeing over 50 Weddell, Crabeater and Leopard seals all sleeping together on an iceberg. Getting up at 5a.m. to watch from the bridge as we passed through Neumayer Channel.

Cruising the Lemair Channel & an unexpected moment of penguins synchronized in their swimming