To people who haven’t been there, Antarctica seems remote, extreme and perhaps even forbidding. Yet everybody who has visited comes back full of enthusiasm, with amazing memories and stunning photos. The author inspires interest in this amazing place while encouraging responsible, informed and sustainable tourism.

She helps you to decide where and when to go, whether to include South Georgia and/or the Falklands, how to read between the lines of an itinerary, which operator to book with and what size of ship will suit you best. She provides practical information about weather, clothing and photography, and gives links to useful websites and further reading. She covers various specialist options from sea kayaking to camping on the ice.

The wildlife section is lavishly illustrated with photos of creatures ranging from tiny krill through seabirds and penguins to seals, dolphins and whales with their amazing adaptations. Understanding their breeding cycles helps you to anticipate what you will see at different times of year. Specially commissioned mapping lets you understand the trade-offs between different itineraries.  Graphics and over 100 colour photos support the concise text which is informed by the author’s personal experiences.

Antarctica’s ice cap stores 90% of the world’s freshwater ice, and it is a crucial place for climate monitoring and other scientific research. The author explains the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, and the Madrid and Montreal Protocols, and their implications both for the continent and for visitors on cruise ships. She interprets the formation of icebergs and glaciers, how the climate varies over different parts of Antarctica and how Antarctic ice affects sea levels.

The guide covers the history of Antarctica’s discovery and exploration, not only the Scott/Amundsen famous race to the South Pole and Shackleton’s extraordinary rescue, but also the less-known achievements of Douglas Mawson.  The story is updated with the Jarvis recreations of Mawson’s and Shackleton’s famous journeys, and the discovery of the Endurance shipwreck, 107 years after the ship was crushed and sank.

Use this book to plan your adventure of a lifetime, but be warned: many who visit Antarctica end up trying to return.