The Insider ANTARCTICA


Seabourn Pursuit brings you closer to the natural world, as Lauren Jade Hill discovers


I


’m at the front of a two-man kayak, paddling slowly through the broken-up UGC KEG YJKEJ JCU ƃQCVGF KPVQ C VTCPSWKN channel between snow-blanketed shores and mist-shrouded mountains. Here, in the icy waters off Cuverville Island,


we glide past rocky shores inhabited by penguins and seals, and giant rusty chains – a reminder of the region’s whaling past. Twice, we pause to look up to see snow-dust rising from the other side of the mountain following the distant rumble of an avalanche. Every so often our small group congregates


to listen to the commentary of the lead kayaking guide and Antarctica expert, Robert Egelstaff, whose past accomplishments have included the ƂTUV UWEEGUUHWN TGETGCVKQP QH 5JCEMNGVQPoU #PVCTEVKE XQ[CIG HTQO 'NGRJCPV +UNCPF VQ 5QWVJ )GQTIKC Our adventure starts in the world’s southernmost


city, the mountain-backed port of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. From there, we


sail across the notorious Drake’s Passage to VJG 5QWVJ 5JGVNCPF +UNCPFU DGHQTG VTCXGNNKPI along the Antarctic Peninsula to south of the Antarctic Circle where, amid the icebergs, we celebrate crossing this geographical marker with champagne and caviar on the bow of the ship. My home is the 264-suite Seabourn Pursuit, which pairs an onboard luxury lifestyle with responsible exploration of each area it passes through. A 24-person expedition team, made up of naturalists and other experts, provides insight into the wildlife, geology and history of the extraordinary places the ship visits, with multiple lectures each day complementing excursions.


POLAR PURSUITS


Morning and afternoon excursions are included on all itineraries. As well as land-based experiences, there are 24 Zodiacs, two state-of-the-art submersibles and a collection of two-person kayaks allowing exploration above and below the ª


ASPIRETRAVELCLUB.CO.UK THE INSIDER MAY 2024


25


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44