ARCTIC OR ANTARCTICA? HOW TO CHOOSE A POLAR EXPEDITION

Many people are asking themselves: Should I go north to the Arctic or south to Antarctica for the expedition season? Both polar regions have been unique experiences for us.

Arctic Or Antarctica: Which is better? What Is The Best Polar Expedition?

Both the Arctic and Antarctica have left us with memories that will last a lifetime. We must admit we enjoyed both equally. There are many differences between these two destinations. To help you decide, we have highlighted the similarities and differences.

Wildlife

You can see unique wildlife at both destinations when you visit both polar regions. In Antarctica, you will have more opportunities to interact with nature. In Antarctica, animals are not afraid of humans because man is not a natural predator.

Penguins greeted us as we touched down on the continent. As we camped in Antarctica, seals and whales slept within 10 meters of our kayaks and zodiacs.

The people didn’t care that we were in their corner of the globe and were curious to know what we were up to.

Antarctica was where we had the most incredible wildlife encounters of our lives. We’d never been so close to wild animals.

There is also some incredible wildlife in the Arctic! You can now see polar bears in their natural habitat. Churchill is the perfect place to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures.

We are excited to see polar bears in the summer.

In Greenland, we encountered fewer wildlife species than in Antarctica. Whales and seals still have to be hunted and killed for their meat. They avoid humans and ships at all costs.

The expedition leaders would dive into the Arctic waters when they spotted a whale. It’s not that we didn’t encounter wildlife; it was just different.

Ice

Both destinations offer a unique opportunity to view icebergs. The ice in both goals was so good that we couldn’t decide which one we liked better!

Antarctica’s glaciers are vast and hard to describe. Only when you see them in person can you truly appreciate their enormity?

The glaciers of Antarctica towered above the North. We had visited Alaska before going there.

We saw sheer walls of water jutting out everywhere we went. The icebergs were impressive. They created huge waves when they fell into the water.

Alaska’s glaciers may not have been comparable to Antarctica’s, but Greenland was. Greenland is home to the second-largest polar cap after Antarctica, and its glaciers are active.

Culture

The Arctic is a great place to experience the culture.

Antarctica is an uninhabited continent, except for scientists and research stations. Antarctica is an uninhabited continent.

You will only learn about the culture of the explorers, researchers, and people who settled in the land covered with ice and snow.

The Jakobshavn Isbrae Glacier is the largest in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also where icebergs form. These icebergs can be so enormous that they drift to the USA.

The Inuit culture in the Arctic is rich and fascinating. They have been living in harsh conditions for centuries.

Inuit settlements, Viking ruins, and small, remote villages can be seen. This is the last authentic cultural experience on Earth. The Northern people still live as they always have, while many others have abandoned their culture and traditions.

Enjoy the Adventure

Antarctica and the Arctic both offer a lot of adventure. Both bodies of water were beautiful. We did sea-kayaking.

The real thrill of kayaking was paddling on the ice and watching the glaciers that were calving icebergs.

Antarctica is a great place to spot wildlife and experience the wow factor. People are always impressed by the stories of adventure in Antarctica. But Greenland offers a wide range of activities, and you can also hire tour guides and operators to take you on your own guided trip.

Just spectacular. Both were equally thrilling, but saying, “I took the Polar Plunge in Antarctica is a bit cooler.”

Greenland has more hiking than Antarctica, but Greenland’s population is higher, so you can go alone. The hike to Jakobshavn Isbrae was spectacular, and you can spend a day exploring more.