What is there to do in Antarctica?

2. Explore deserted islands with a difference

An Antarctic cruise is not just about the giant ice sheet; the southern islands are some of the most fascinating and isolated places in the world. The Falkland Islands are a strange slice of British life – red phone boxes and chip shops surrounded by crashing waves and penguin colonies.

Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried on remote South Georgia – the island he sailed to in a tiny lifeboat following his disastrous Antarctic expedition. Here, king penguins waddle in front of a backdrop of glaciers and 3,000m-high mountains, and a little museum reveals the secrets of this windswept isle.

On the way to the Ross Sea, the only scraps of land for thousands of miles are dry oases for elephant seals and rockhopper penguins. Astonishingly, more seabirds nest on the brutal cliffs of the tiny Snares Island than in the whole of the British Isles.

Antarctic research bases have been established on some of the islands – and here you can learn from the resident scientists about their research into the wildlife, climate, geology and flora. Working in these remote, chilly outposts for months at a time, they are usually relieved to have company, so don’t be surprised if they invite you in for a cup of tea and ask you to tell them what’s happening in the outside world.

Read more about the Antarctic islands.

4. Sea kayaking

Sea kayaking is often one of the most tranquil outdoor activities – but you’d be forgiven for not feeling relaxed as you climb from the Zodiac into your sea kayak and begin to paddle off through shards of ice. In fact, you’re far more likely to have a pounding heart and not want to breathe – let alone paddle – for fear of rolling your kayak in the icy Southern Ocean.

Happily, this feeling soon dissipates as the wonder of your surroundings takes over. Deep turquoise bergs tower over you, while penguins leap out of the water in front of your boat and minke whales and orcas cast shadows beneath. Paddle right up to seals resting on ice floes – or nudge up to the shoreline and step off your kayak to begin a walk along an Antarctic beach, alive with squawking (and smelly) penguins.

6. Scuba diving & polar swimming

Polar diving is one of the most adventurous of all Antarctic activities – and you’ll need an impressive portfolio of diving qualifications before you’re allowed to roll off an ice floe into these waters, which require plenty of special gear and clothing to avoid the equipment – or you – freezing.

Once you’re in, though, the preparation is more than worth it. Trips are timed to coincide with the clearest waters, and you may get up close to a hunting leopard seal or diving penguins. Don’t forget: around 90 percent of an iceberg lies below water, so simply bubbling around these sculptural forms lets you observe sights few will ever see as the sunlight bounces off and through the blue ice.

You may be able to book onto a cruise with renowned underwater photographers, filmmakers or marine scientists who will reveal the secrets of the strange species that live beneath the floes – including 24-limbed starfish, giant isopods and “antifreeze”-filled fish.

If you’re not qualified to dive, there are often opportunities to strip off and go for a dip in Antarctica. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but it’s certainly a story to tell when you get back home…

8. Fly across the Drake Passage

Sailing across the squally Drake Passage is seen by many travellers as a rite of passage; it’s all part of the adventure of visiting Antarctica. However, while it may earn you some serious traveller street cred, spending two days navigating these choppy waters just to reach your destination – and then two days back again – is not everyone’s idea of a holiday.

Anyone deterred from visiting the frozen continent by the thought of being confined to their cabin as 10m waves tip their ship will be delighted to know that flying to Antarctica is a possibility. Once you arrive at the Antarctic shores, the waters are tranquil – so you can make the most of your time taking photos from the deck, heading out in Zodiacs and kayaking around the icebergs if you choose.

Bearing in mind the round trip to the southern tip of South America tagged onto either end, flying is also a convenient way to travel for anyone who can’t add an extra four days onto an already lengthy trip. The flight across the Drake Passage takes just two hours each way, departing from the city of Punta Arenas in southern Chile and landing on King George Island – the largest of the South Shetland Islands. You’ll then have a short connection via rigid-hulled inflatable (RIB) to your expedition ship – your home for the next few days as you voyage around Antarctica.

For more flexibility – and to gain the best of both worlds – you can always fly one way and cruise the other.