Kayak adventure trip to Antarctica
I was pretty nervous about signing up to be in the Kayak Club on our Antarctic cruise. There were sixteen spots available on the 110-person cruise for kayakers. I presumed all would be full for such an adventuresome-sounding activity. There were, however, only thirteen of us, plus three guides. I wasn’t in particularly good physical shape and had little experience with paddling kayaks. I knew the water was awfully cold should I tip over and fall in, and when the guides told us how often this happens to the guests in their charge, my anxiety level shot up.
Expedition Kayak highlights in Antarctica
Our first trip out, we learned how to suit up in dry-suits, neoprene booties, life vest and spray skirt. By the time we got all the gear on inside our cabin, we were sweltering hot and dashed for the deck. This day, a zodiac towed all the tandem kayaks to the shore of an island in the South Shetlands and we learned to get in and launch from shore.
Paddling wasn’t as difficult as I feared — in the tandem sea kayak, my husband sat in back in control of the steering, and I sat in front in command of the small camera that fit inside the pocket of my life vest. You would not want to take a big fancy camera, as it would undoubtedly get wet with sea water.
One hope I had for the kayaking experience was encountering a whale, but I did not place too high an expectation on this. We’d been in the water only a short time before a humpback whale surfaced to our right. When the guide pointed it out, the water shooting from its blowhole, I could hardly believe it — a whale on our first outing. (I didn’t get a good photo, though, it was too far away for my little point-and-shoot.)
We circled around the island of Barrientos and then beached and spent another splendid hour on land watching the gentoo and chinstrap penguins busily building their nests and protecting their eggs.
Barrientos Island and penguins
Exploring Brown Bluff – Antarctica
Our next outing at Brown Bluff, we learned to enter the kayaks in the water from the zodiac so we didn’t need land nearby in order to launch. Here, the water was populated with small icebergs (technically called growlers) in all kinds of fantastical shapes, reflecting on the water which was still as a mirror. I had no idea that ocean water outside of a bay could be so incredibly calm and flat. It was one of the most magical days of my life, paddling among these icy formations.
Sometimes we encountered stretches of little bits of ice we had to paddle through, like being inside a frozen margarita.
We paddled close to seals and penguins on floating slabs of ice. Little pods of penguins swam in the water around us, surfacing and diving like dolphins do.
That night at happy hour, we told the bartender with whom we made quick friends, what an amazing day we’d had and how it was surely one of the best days of our lives. He said, “Just wait. It gets better.” My husband and I could hardly believe this, it seemed rather improbable that a day like that could be topped.
But the bartender was a wise man, having of course traveled through this territory many times in the six years he had been bartending on the ship. Our next outing was at Cuverville Island and surpassed anything I could have dreamed or imagined (and I have a pretty active imagination).
Once again we had water that was as still and reflective as a mirror, doubling the enchantment of the fantastical ice formations.
What was so compelling to me about this particular outing, though, was the combination of the small formations we could paddle right by with feeling dwarfed by the giant icebergs which we were not allowed to paddle near because they often rock back and forth, and so much is hidden under the water and pieces could break off. I felt small and wondrous.
It was no idle warning to us that large icebergs and the glaciers on land could calve, as a chunk of ice fell off the glacier just as one of our crew was paddling near. My husband and I were sheltered behind an iceberg, but we heard our teammate yelling to her tandem partner, “Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!” as they turned and paddled as fast as they could to stay ahead of the wave the calving caused.
We were gifted with another whale encounter, a minke whale circled around our group of kayaks inside a small harbor. We watched in silence as it leisurely swam, surfacing regularly, as if it was taking a stroll in the park and we were the wildlife of interest, like squirrels in a tree.
Our last paddling adventure was at Half Moon Island, by this time we had moved back up north to the South Shetlands. There were no icebergs and we made our way around in slightly choppy waters. This made me all the more appreciative of the favor the weather gods had shown us with such still waters among the icebergs.
Making it to Antarctica completed my one lifelong goal of visiting all seven continents. So having been technically all around the world, the unique and glorious days kayaking in Antarctica have pretty well topped the list as the most magical of all my worldwide adventures.
Guest blogger Bio:
Shara Johnson plots her worldwide adventures from her home in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. You can follow her adventures on her narrative travel blog, SKJ Travel. See her Antarctica Archive to experience more of stunning Antarctica.
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Absolutely stunning Noel! Bravo. The crystal blue colors in the ice bergs are incredible. I kept thinking the entire post “don’t fall out of the Kayak!”. I trust you enjoyed the adventure and it shows through your work.
This is magical and gorgeous. Penguins and sea lions while you kayak along. Those ice formations are so artistic. Love your pictures -every single one of them. Well done!
Kayaking and spotting wildlife in Antarctica is magical don’t you think?
Your photos are stunning. Kayaking among humpbacks whales would be exciting and scary. What an amazing adventures. The pictures along inspire serious wanderlust!
I would be scared and exciting about seeing whales and other wildlife while kayaking around Antarctica
I just want someone to bring me a penguin from Antarctica. That looks amazing to kayak close to the icebergs. Did you get close enough to touch one of them or pet a penguin?
I don’t think they would let you get near a penguin unless its stuffed, but isn’t this a great way to visit Antarctica?
A kayaking expedition in Antarctica is our top dream trip! Sounds like such an amazing adventure. I love the photo with the kayaks and the penguins, and all the penguin photos in general. That’s so cool that you were able to spot a whale from your kayak and paddle by so many icebergs! Would love to do a trip like this sometime soon!
This would also be my dream trip to Antarctica
What an incredible place to kayak! Those glaciers and the cute little penguins are sure to make that an incredibly memorable experience. My husband and I just started saving for our 5th wedding anniversary trip to Antarctica. I’m definitely adding this experience to the list!
I know isn’t kayaking and Antarctica a perfect dream trip?
Hey Noel! Kayaking in Antarctica must have been amazing experience! I love your pictures and the frozen landscape! I jope to make it to this part of the world,too!
I wish I did this, only a guest post, I would love to explore Antarctica
The photos are incredible, so close to the ice! And so much wildlife. Always good to know how to keep your feet warm!
I know isn’t this an incredible experience to have in Antarctica?
This photography is beautiful and it sounds like an incredible adventure. I didn’t realise that you could kayak around Antarctica so I’m adding it to the list. The photo of the seal on the ice was particularly delightful.
It is gorgeous and doing something active like kayaking is like icing on the cake.
Thank you! (from the author) It is an experience most certainly worthy of being on anyone’s “list!” I hope you make it!
Whoa Kayaking in Antartica! This is adventure in a different level. As I read on I was getting worried what if someone topples over. 🙂 But good precautions taken I will say.
The whale spotting and glaciers caving in was equally exciting.
I would be scared about tipping over, but the kayak trip to Antarctica looks like it was perfectly timed.
I was certainly worried about taking a drink upside down! haha. Fortunately the sea kayaks (unlike white water kayaks) are very wide on the bottom and quite stable, and we did indeed have perfect conditions. Also, there was always a zodiac nearby to rescue anyone who might tip. Thanks for your comment, from the author. 🙂
Noel, these pictures are beyond spectacular, but I guess so is Antarctica. You beat me to it and I can’t tell you how envious this makes me. What a great trip this was! I have to confess that I would have been nervous to kayak in the place too. On the other hand, I don’t know how else you would have been able to take these fantastic pictures. Sometimes you have to take risks if you want to see extraordinary things.
This Kayak trip to Antarctica would be a dream trip for me also, looks amazing.
Thanks, Anda! (from the author) I had pretty much no experience kayaking until this experience, so I was definitely nervous, but once you get the hang of it, it doesn’t feel so scary. But I had exactly the attitude you express: sometimes you have to take risks to see extraordinary things. So it was totally worth it!
This Antarctica experience does look thrilling even in calm waters.
I think I would be nervous about kayaking in the Antarctic as well. Tipping would be my initial fear but being near a calving glacier might top that. After seeing your photos of the ice features and the penguins, I can understand how I might overcome my trepidation.
You really do forget your fears when penguins are swimming all around you, and the ice formations are so magical — the fascination with the beauty, at least for me, totally overwhelmed my anxiety. If the waters had been rougher, I don’t know if I could say the same, but as it was, I only ever came back onboard the ship thinking, “thank god I did that!” thanks for your comment, from the author. 🙂
I’m sure it would be tricky but a kayak trip of a lifetime to Antarctica