Adding Antarctica To Your Seven Continents Bucket List - Nexta Expeditions
Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List

Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List

Many travelers aspire to visit all seven continents, a goal that fits naturally with the concept of a "bucket list," a term popularized by the 2007 movie.

While for some, visiting all seven continents is more about ticking off a checklist than truly experiencing each one, the journey becomes far more enriching when Antarctica is included.

If you've already ventured to Antarctica, you understand the allure: exotic wildlife, thrilling activities, and breathtaking landscapes that seem otherworldly. For those who haven't, let's delve into the unique features that set the White Continent apart from the other six.

blog-image

Bucket-list feature #1: Antarctic wildlife

We could simply say "penguins" and leave it at that. However, the wildlife that distinguishes Antarctica extends far beyond these charming birds.

Take whales, for example: Antarctic cruises offer sightings of various cetaceans, including humpback whales, fins, minkes, orcas (killer whales), and seis. Each species is a bucket-list item in its own right. If you're aiming to visit all seven continents, don't miss these Antarctic inhabitants.

blog-image

Then there are the six seal species that call Antarctica home. Commonly seen are fur seals, southern elephant seals, and crabeater seals, but you might also encounter Ross seals, Weddell seals, and the elusive leopard seals, depending on your cruise. No seven-continent journey is complete without witnessing at least one of these remarkable animals.

blog-image

Returning to seabirds, four main penguin species inhabit the Antarctic Continent: emperor penguins, Adélies, gentoos, and chinstrap penguins. The other seabirds are too numerous to list but include various species of petrel, skua, and albatross.

For a more detailed list of these birds, check out our Birds of the South article, essential reading for any bird enthusiast planning to visit all seven continents.

blog-image

Bucket-list feature #2: Antarctic activities

While many bucket-list activities are available elsewhere, doing them in Antarctica adds a unique thrill.

Activities like kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, and camping are fantastic in places like the Alps, Andes, and the Pacific Northwest. However, experiencing these in Antarctica elevates the adventure. If you're planning to visit all seven continents, we assume adventure is part of your goal.

blog-image

Take camping, for instance. Pitching a tent in the woods outside Jasper, Alberta, is incredible, but how much more adventurous is digging a snow dugout in Antarctica and bivouac camping near a penguin colony?

And what about scuba diving under the icebergs near Deception Island?

blog-image

Or snowshoeing along the shores of the Antarctic Peninsula, taking a helicopter flight above the Weddell Sea, or kayaking around ice-studded bays? These activities are made even more extraordinary by Antarctica's surreal environment, leading us to our final bucket-list topic...

blog-image

Bucket-list feature #3: Antarctica itself

The best reason to visit Antarctica is simply Antarctica.

Even if visiting Antarctica is part of your plan to see all seven continents, the White Continent defies such numerical goals.

Numbers don't really matter. Being too focused on a bucket list, bragging rights, or social media photos can detract from the true reason to visit Antarctica: the feeling you get when you're there.

blog-image

What you feel will likely be awe, regardless of where Antarctica falls in your seven-continent journey. However, everyone is different. Not all travelers are equally moved by Antarctica, and weather and wildlife conditions can vary.

Even in the worst-case scenario, it's hard to diminish the experience of cruising through a berg-filled Antarctic bay or walking along snowy, mountainous coastlines that seem like another planet or an earlier version of this one.

Don't just take our word for it. Embark on an Antarctic voyage yourself, whether as part of your seven-continent plan or simply to see it. We believe you'll return as amazed as we are every time we go.

blog-image

Best Deals

Related Trips

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle

calendar20 Feb 2025 - 14 Mar 2025
clock23 Days / 22 Nights
From $ 10.000 per person
% Save up to $ 6.100
Antarctica - Elephant Island - Weddell Sea - Polar Circle - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Elephant Island - Weddell Sea - Polar Circle

calendar09 Mar 2025 - 23 Mar 2025
clock15 Days / 14 Nights
From $ 6.300 per person
Antarctica - Polar Circle - Deep South Discovery voyage - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Polar Circle - Deep South Discovery voyage

calendar10 Mar 2025 - 21 Mar 2025
clock12 Days / 11 Nights
From $ 7.700 per person
Antarctica - Beyond the Polar Circle - Wilkins Ice Shelf - Aurora Australis - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Beyond the Polar Circle - Wilkins Ice Shelf - Aurora Australis

calendar21 Mar 2025 - 05 Apr 2025
clock16 Days / 15 Nights
From $ 6.300 per person
% Save up to $ 4.500
Antarctica - Polar Circle - Whale watching - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Polar Circle - Whale watching

calendar23 Mar 2025 - 03 Apr 2025
clock12 Days / 11 Nights
From $ 4.600 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle

calendar16 Feb 2026 - 10 Mar 2026
clock23 Days / 22 Nights
From $ 17.800 per person
Antarctica - Elephant Island - Weddell Sea - Polar Circle - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Elephant Island - Weddell Sea - Polar Circle

calendar09 Mar 2026 - 23 Mar 2026
clock15 Days / 14 Nights
From $ 11.200 per person
Antarctica - Beyond the Polar Circle - whale watching - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Beyond the Polar Circle - whale watching

calendar20 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2026
clock12 Days / 11 Nights
From $ 8.200 per person

Blog
go-leftgo-right

Why a Polar Diving Cruise Should be Your Next Great Decision - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Why a Polar Diving Cruise Should be Your Next Great Decision

Not so very long ago, all you had to do to qualify as a thrill-seeker was hop a ship to the polar regions and make it back with all your fingers – or your life, if you weren’t picky.
10 Tried-and-True Bird Photography Tips - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

10 Tried-and-True Bird Photography Tips

It’s easy to understand our fascination with birds: they’re beautiful, graceful (usually), and most of them have the power of flight.
Eight Ultimate Antarctica Adventures - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Eight Ultimate Antarctica Adventures

Antarctica has adventure in its bones. Long before most travelers even reach the continent, they have to cross the Drake Passage, an oft-tumultuous waterway considered by many a hallmark of high adventure in itself. Once you do reach the Antarctic shores, the variations of landscape and wildlife are as multiform as the activities you can pursue there. While not all of these activities can or should be shoehorned into a single article, this piece will give you a survey of the top eight. Like everything in the polar regions, these activities are subject to weather conditions – and your own threshold for adventure.
Seizing the Season: Spitsbergen’s Late Spring, Early Summer - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Seizing the Season: Spitsbergen’s Late Spring, Early Summer

Most Arctic expedition cruises can be categorized into two main types: those that operate during the autumn and winter, focusing on the northern lights, and those that sail during the high season (mid to late summer), concentrating on a broader range of experiences.
5 Misconceptions You Might Have About Greenland - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

5 Misconceptions You Might Have About Greenland

The Ins, Outs, and Ups of Polar Mountaineering & Ski Mountaineering - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Ins, Outs, and Ups of Polar Mountaineering & Ski Mountaineering

Traveling to the polar regions, whether to the Arctic or Antarctica, is an adventure almost no matter what you do.
Going Green: Ascension Island Sea Turtles - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Going Green: Ascension Island Sea Turtles

Gold beaches, green mountains - and greener turtles.
Antarctic Explorer’s Voyage - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Antarctic Explorer’s Voyage

There’s off the beaten track, and then there’s really off the beaten track.
What’s so Special about East Spitsbergen? - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

What’s so Special about East Spitsbergen?

We’ve previously discussed our north Spitsbergen journeys and Spitsbergen circumnavigations, but the eastern parts of this incredible island have not received the attention they deserve. Despite the name, our east Spitsbergen voyages explore much more than just the eastern side of Spitsbergen.
Five of History’s Greatest Polar Explorers - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Five of History’s Greatest Polar Explorers

Today's visitors to the polar regions follow in the footsteps of some of the most famous explorers in history. Here is a list of five great explorers who braved the harsh lands of the Arctic and Antarctica.
The Enchanting Islands of Svalbard - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Enchanting Islands of Svalbard

Svalbard is an Arctic archipelago situated between the North Pole and the Norwegian mainland, offering visitors some of the most stunning wildlife and landscapes in the world. Here we explore seven of the most visited Svalbard islands, highlighting the many wonders that draw people back year after year.
10 Books and Films To Prepare for your Antarctica cruise - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

10 Books and Films To Prepare for your Antarctica cruise

The deep sea remains one of the most mysterious and least explored regions on our planet. With its vast, dark expanses and unique ecosystems, it continues to captivate scientists and adventurers alike.
Fierce and Feathered: the Skuas of Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Fierce and Feathered: the Skuas of Antarctica

At first glance, the skuas you encounter in Antarctica may appear to be merely darker-feathered seagulls. But looks can be deceiving.
A Day of Basecamp in Antarctica – Paradise Harbour - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

A Day of Basecamp in Antarctica – Paradise Harbour

After an early morning gathering of our camping group, we reached the entrance to Lemaire Channel. The snow and mist around the mountain peaks created a captivating atmosphere as we began our journey to Paradise Bay. The channel was dotted with impressive icebergs, and we even spotted a few sleeping humpback whales, providing ample photo opportunities.
Circumnavigating Spitsbergen - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Circumnavigating Spitsbergen

Many of our expedition cruises focus on specific areas of the Arctic or Antarctica, delving deep into local wildlife and other natural highlights. However, some programs aim to provide a broader survey, visiting a variety of sites to offer guests a wider perspective.
South Georgia in Spring - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

South Georgia in Spring

What a fantastic time to be in South Georgia! Perhaps the best time of the year! The wildlife is abundant, and the light is simply magical for photography. Kings, Gentoos, Chinstraps, and Macaronis are all present along the shorelines. Elephant and Fur seals are also plentiful! Wandering albatrosses are welcoming their newly hatched chicks, while the non-breeders are actively engaged in their courtship rituals, practicing a ceremonial dance. Light-mantled, Sooty, and Grey-headed albatrosses are still feeding their fluffy chicks, as are the Giant petrels. We've been fortunate with the weather, finding ourselves in the right place at the right time to succeed in all our landings and zodiac cruises so far.
How and When Did Greenland Become Covered in Ice? - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

How and When Did Greenland Become Covered in Ice?

Although it may be hard to believe, there was a time when Greenland was more green than icy. Today, those who embark on a Greenland expedition are greeted with views of the Greenland ice sheet and the marine life that thrives in this region, including seals and whales. Polar bears are also prominent in the northern and eastern parts of Greenland. These animals have adapted to their environment, but a few million years ago, the massive island would not have been as welcoming to them.
A Day on m/v Plancius - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

A Day on m/v Plancius

Stepping aboard this long-running expedition vessel, it’s easy to forget that she’s been making voyages to the polar regions since “Afternoon Delight” by Starland Vocal Band was on the Billboard Hot 100.
Polar Bear Primer: Eight Facts About the Arctic Wanderer - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Polar Bear Primer: Eight Facts About the Arctic Wanderer

Polar bears inhabit the Arctic region across 19 subpopulations, including areas in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. These majestic creatures prefer the edges of pack ice where currents and wind interact, creating a dynamic environment of melting and refreezing that forms ice patches and leads, which are open spaces in the sea between sea ice.
The Return to Franz Josef Land - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Return to Franz Josef Land

As the possibility of international travel slowly returns, we are eagerly awaiting all the great locations, activities, and wildlife we might experience in the coming season. One of the things we’re most excited about is the return of our Franz Josef Land voyages.