ANTARCTICA

Ever heard the question, why don’t polar bears eat penguins? The answer, of course, is that the wildlife icons live in different poles – which is good news for the charismatic penguin colonies of Antarctica. (Emperor and Adélie penguins are the breeding species here, though you might also see Gentoo, Chinstrap or Macaroni penguins waddle through in places.) As for us humans? It is genuinely a life-affirming experience to encounter this region’s spectacular frozen landscapes.

The awe-inspiring Antarctic Peninsula is scenic on a scale that’s all its own, with vast ice shelves and icebergs and snow-blanketed mountains. Taking in the sight of the dark-blue Weddell Sea here, set against landscapes of pure white, is a sensory experience to treasure. Antarctica also encompasses terrain including the South Shetland Islands; this incredible region as a whole is more varied, and home to more diverse wildlife, than some realise. To experience this particular part of planet Earth is create an enriching lifelong memory.