People are attracted to Antarctica for its pure environments and natural qualities such as tall standing glaciers and animal life. The primary reason why people use Antarctica for tourism is because of its diversity and its isolation provides tourists with a special connection to the natural and hardly touched environment. Eco-tourism means that small amounts of tourists visit the continent and this prevents excessive amounts of people congesting the region and overcrowding. In the late 1970's to the early 1980's, more than 11,000 people from Australia and New Zealand flew over to Antarctica and from then, the numbers have rapidly increased to over 30,000 per year.
Although there is no accommodation or man made attractions for tourists in Antarctica, people mainly travel through the icy continent for Eco-tourism. Hiking, kayaking, camping and diving are all activities available in Antarctica. Most tourists arrive by cruise ship, which provides a 360º view of the beautiful and pure landscapes. Over 20,000 people flew to Goudier Island on the very edge of Antarctica from 2012 – 2013 to go on guided walks, tramps, kayaking tours, climbing and camping.
Whilst you are in Antarctica, you can make the most of the uninhabited continent by exploring. Diving is a great way to experience what life is like under the water and you are sometimes able to see whales, narwhals, penguins and seals that swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Hiking or climbing the various glaciers are popular tourist attractions as you get to observe animal life closer. Camping is also available and is highly recommended, as it allows tourists to sleep under the beautiful and clear sky with only snow surrounding you. Some more athletic visitors are able to participate in an Antarctic marathon held on King George Island! Running in freezing conditions provides more of a challenge and it is an experience that is memorable and unique.
Various tours of Antarctica are available including the ‘Zodiac Cruise’ which is where 8-12 tourists go on a tour in a small boat which is perfect for manoeuvrings through small pathways. This experience also allows tourists to capture moments with a view of the pristine environments Antarctica has to offer. In 2012 – 2013, the 'Zodiac Cruises' were extremely popular with 88,030 tourists participating in the guided boat tours. Helicopter tours are also favoured by travelers, as you are taken on a flight over ice bergs and glaciers and given a bird’s-eye-view of the continent. Over 15,000 people have already viewed the continent from the sky.
In addition to all of these activities, there is a small museum at Port Lockroy, where you can learn about early antarctic exploration, historical discoveries and you can even send a postcard from the only post office in Antarctica! The thermal waters on Deception Island are also regarded as beautiful and unique. Deception Island was the end result of a volcanic eruption. It is on the very edge of the west side of Antarctica and it once had a whaling station but is now a popular tourist attraction and also contains bases for Argentina and Spain, which are used for research. Deception Island saw 5,261 visitors in 2013 and this is mainly due to the warm volcanic baths.
Although there is no accommodation or man made attractions for tourists in Antarctica, people mainly travel through the icy continent for Eco-tourism. Hiking, kayaking, camping and diving are all activities available in Antarctica. Most tourists arrive by cruise ship, which provides a 360º view of the beautiful and pure landscapes. Over 20,000 people flew to Goudier Island on the very edge of Antarctica from 2012 – 2013 to go on guided walks, tramps, kayaking tours, climbing and camping.
Whilst you are in Antarctica, you can make the most of the uninhabited continent by exploring. Diving is a great way to experience what life is like under the water and you are sometimes able to see whales, narwhals, penguins and seals that swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Hiking or climbing the various glaciers are popular tourist attractions as you get to observe animal life closer. Camping is also available and is highly recommended, as it allows tourists to sleep under the beautiful and clear sky with only snow surrounding you. Some more athletic visitors are able to participate in an Antarctic marathon held on King George Island! Running in freezing conditions provides more of a challenge and it is an experience that is memorable and unique.
Various tours of Antarctica are available including the ‘Zodiac Cruise’ which is where 8-12 tourists go on a tour in a small boat which is perfect for manoeuvrings through small pathways. This experience also allows tourists to capture moments with a view of the pristine environments Antarctica has to offer. In 2012 – 2013, the 'Zodiac Cruises' were extremely popular with 88,030 tourists participating in the guided boat tours. Helicopter tours are also favoured by travelers, as you are taken on a flight over ice bergs and glaciers and given a bird’s-eye-view of the continent. Over 15,000 people have already viewed the continent from the sky.
In addition to all of these activities, there is a small museum at Port Lockroy, where you can learn about early antarctic exploration, historical discoveries and you can even send a postcard from the only post office in Antarctica! The thermal waters on Deception Island are also regarded as beautiful and unique. Deception Island was the end result of a volcanic eruption. It is on the very edge of the west side of Antarctica and it once had a whaling station but is now a popular tourist attraction and also contains bases for Argentina and Spain, which are used for research. Deception Island saw 5,261 visitors in 2013 and this is mainly due to the warm volcanic baths.