Monday, August 9, 2010

Which is Better - To Fly Or Sail to Antarctica?

Imagine if you can a continent which is twice the size of Australia. Not only is this place huge, it is the driest, and highest of all continents. And the distance from the south of Australia to this place is around 10,000 kms, and to fly there on a scenic tour can cost between $1,000 and over $7,000 depending on the seating arrangements required.

The place? Antarctica! It's amazing that scenic flights can be purchased taking passengers from a country which has some of the hottest areas in the world to a vast continent which is the coldest of all places. Temperatures of around -90°C in Antarctica have in fact been recorded.

How awesome to be on a flight departing from Sydney or Melbourne aboard a luxury airliner. I can just imagine listening to the experts on the flight on Antarctica who possess a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of the terrain, the glaciers, mountains, and wildlife.

The downside is that flights are 4 hours to reach Antarctica, with the same length for the return. But, the 4 hours spent flying over this magnificent and breathtaking are has to be worth it.

For those who would like to see Antarctica in closer detail the better option is to take a cruise by sea. That way you'd hopefully get to see some forms of wildlife, and perhaps even a scientific research base. What visitors won't see are land animals, nor plant life. On the other hand tourists may be able to spot some migratory birds, whales, and of course penguins.

Sea faring tourists need to take some precautions against the weather. Extreme cold temperatures which feel even lower with the windchill can lead to hypothermia.

And, although most of us who like the hot sunny weather are well aware of the need to use high protection sunscreen, and wear sunglasses, the same goes for Antarctica. Skiers will tell you that the glare from ice and snow can damage one's eyes. Oh, and don't forget sea sickness tablets. It's no fun losing half your holiday time being ill.

So, when it comes down to which is better, to fly or to sail to Antarctica, there really is no right answer.

It all comes down to how much you are prepared to pay for your trip to Antarctica, whether you are prepared to sail on specially strengthened ships on rough sea crossings, or you prefer the luxury of flying on planes such as the Qantas 747 or Airbus, seeing more in one way, but in far less detail.

Ships often sail from ports in South America, though there are other departure points used sometimes, and of course such a cruise can easily take 2 or 3 weeks, though some may take a little less time. But, by sailing, there's no doubt you will get to see more of the "bottom of the world."

By : Geoff_Cummings

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