Explore Antarctica’s heritage

Visit the vestiges of Antarctica's discovery and human exploitation: the explores' huts, whaling and sealing stations, administrative outposts; all testament to the region's stormy history.

For centuries Antarctica was a myth fired by human imagination and the rumours of the early circumnavigators. But around 200 years ago the explorers, sealers and whalers  of the Victorian era made landfall to penetrate the interior in search of the South pole or, more prosaically, to set up businesses harnessing the prolific wildlife and rich natural resources. Many of these endeavours were abandoned or ended in failure, others were spectacular successes.

On a cruise to Antarctica – especially if you take one of the longer voyages – you have the opportunity to visit the haunting vestiges of this human impact: the huts of Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen; the whaling stations on Deception Island and Port Lockroy, where the world’s southernmost post station services its small team of researchers. These evocative places will send shivers down your spine…