Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would be able to go camping in Antarctica. This is absolute bucket-list stuff. This is the type of thing that only happens once in your life and we made sure to organize it with EduOutings.
While on our 13-day Antarctica expedition we have been participating in all sorts of incredible activities. This one was something we didn’t even know that you could do until we got on the boat so it came as a massive surprise to us that it was possible.
The overnight camping was held on Paradise Bay. Spots are limited and if there are many applications for the activity, a lottery is organized to chose who will be partaking on the camping experience. It is never “first come first serve” to make sure it is fair to all guests to have a chance to be part of it.
For those who are going to the camping, a mandatory briefing (in the boat auditorium) session is held to go through points in a presentation on what to expect and how to respect the land that we were about to be camping on. They demonstrated what equipment we would be given plus instructions on how to put up the tents. The laws are fairly strict when it comes to camping on Antarctica (which is a GREAT thing) so it meant we could not take anything other than the camping gear and clothes. Food was to stay on the ship.
Going to the toilet was also something that needed to be addressed. While there would be portable toilets that would come along with us, we were strongly encouraged to do what we had to on the boat.
- Woollen thermals
- Down jacket
- Our waterproof boots (provided by all companies)
- Waterproof pants and top
- Beanie
- Thin layer gloves
- Ear warmers
- Waterproof bag for all your personal equipment (phones/photography stuff)
- Nikon D850
- Nikon Coolpix A900
- Long base tripod
- Wide angle lens
- GoPro
- Cleaning cloth
The crew organized us the following gear:
- Sleeping bag (-10 degrees)
- Camping Tent
- Foam “mattress”
- Air mattress 2cm thick
We got all our gear and got on the cruiser boat that took us out to the island after diner time. The rest of the people on the ship waved us goodbye as we took off. We got to the island and was greeted with our camping kit, all prepared on a sled for us to carry. We had to drag our own equipment up a tiny hill and into a spot for the night. At 10 PM (yes it was still light) we made our tents ready for the night ahead.
We had to clear a bit of soft snow out of the way and make sure there were no holes under us. Once we pitched the tent, we all took off to different parts of the area to enjoy the silence. There is no special feeling like “hearing” the absolute silence in the middle of the Antarctic area. Just you, seals and quiet.
The boat left and then it was just a few people on a remote Antarctic island. The feeling was unreal. We just sat there, enjoying everything natural. We even had an avalanche near us that cracked and fell into the water in front of us. It was well past midnight when we finally start preparing for bed.
It was a truly special moment to be a part of. The sun didn’t even go down at all, there was light the whole night so that made it even more special. When the “morning” came, we packed up our things as the zodiac boat came and picked us up. A truly special moment and something we will never forget. Make sure when you are down here that you choose a company that allows you to do this incredible once in a lifetime camping experience.
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