Been to all six habitable continents, and still yearning for more. Here's an opportunity for the diehard adventurer in you to explore what you would have only dreamt of – the icy continent of enchanting glaciers, icebergs, penguins, seals, whales and exotic sea birds like albatrosses and terns – Antarctica. That too in the most memorable trip ever planned exclusively for Indians.
A first ever 200-member all-Indian cruise on the luxury yacht, the Marseilles, France registered ‘The Great Majestic Explorer’ has been curated for you by The Q Experiences, an Indian luxury travel company, during the Antarctica summer – December 9 to 19, 2017. Though the ticket pinches deep into your pockets, starting from Rs 6.9 lakh per head, the company is promising a once in a lifetime experience.
PHOTOS BY: LIFE IN CHANDIGARH
Anybody, from 5 years old to 55-65 years, and beyond, can undertake the voyage which begins from the southernmost city of the inhabited world – Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, in Argentina (South America). One just needs an Argentina visa, getting which for you the company has included in the package. But one has to undertake the journey to Buenos Aires, the capital and most populous city of Argentina, on his or her own, with the company facilitating the journey, if required. Other add-on destinations like Brazil, before or after the “memorable” journey can also be considered.
Describing the uniqueness of the expedition, Vasim Shaikh, Founder of The Q Experiences, who himself undertook the voyage this January, during a media interaction at Hyatt Regency in Chandigarh on Thursday, said, “The travelers will be cruising through some of the most breathtaking glaciers of Neko Bay and Paradise Bay, anchoring at Port Lockroy, finally sailing to the largest colony of Chinstrap Penguins at Deception Island and visit the quietest place on earth – the majestic Weddell Sea. At every step of the way, there would be experts to guide the travelers and show the sights one had only dreamt of.”
From Ushuaia to the Antarctica, the voyage takes you through Drake Passage, which marks the convergence of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans, and experiences one of the roughest seas on this planet.
Vasim informed that under an international agreement, besides researchers, only 40,000 visitors from all over the world are allowed to set foot on the Antarctica every year. “Till a decade ago, out of these 40,000, Indian visitors were a meager 100 and so were the Chinese. Today, the Indians remain static at 100 and the Chinese have touched 4,000,” he added.
Vasim Shaikh in Antarctica
“After undertaking the memorable voyage myself, I wanted other countrymen also to get a feel of this exotic land, hence the idea to undertake an exclusive voyage for Indians and hold aloft the Indian flag on the White continent. Any ship anchoring in the Antarctica cannot have more than 200 passengers on board, hence the cap,” he shared.
Interiors of the luxury yacht
Chef Arun Kochhar
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- The travelers would be on board “The Great Majestic Explorer” – a sleek, gorgeous yacht flying the Flag of India, 460 feet of utter luxury, which would have 132 elegant staterooms and suites, complete with French interiors designed by the French interior designer Jean Philippe Nuel.
- To ensure a superior gastronomic experience to the travelers, Atul Kochhar, Indian Michelin-starred chef, will be on board curating the finest of Indian regional cuisine. In addition, the team of a catering centre of excellence run by Alain Ducasse Enterprise will also be on board to enhance the global cuisine. Buffets each day will be of a different theme.
- There are no time zones in Antarctica, hence it’s always zero o’clock.
- During the summer months, experience 24 hours of daylight.
- Travelers can expect zero degrees Celsius in the Antarctica peninsula on their voyage.
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Watch the mysterious stories unfold at www.thewhitecontinent.com
