Almost 60, but for her, adventuring never gets old

I turn 60 this year—a milestone for anyone, and I wanted to mark it with a journey that I have been procrastinating about for decades now. To travel to the icy end of the world might have been on my bucket list but it has always been too daunting and challenging a task—the time, distance and planning seemed too overwhelming to pull off. But in February of this year, I decided to put an end to the “someday in the future” dialogue with myself and signed up for my most anticipated travel expedition to Antarctica—the heart of some of the most pristine, untamed landscapes on Earth.

How it started

It all began over a dinner conversation in Mumbai with friends who mentioned that they are contemplating a trip to Antarctica. I dissed it saying I cannot brave the Drake’s passage (infamous for its strong winds and massive 10-metre-high waves)—another key reason for my inability to muster courage to sign up in past. But I was quickly corrected and informed that for people like me who don’t enjoy the thought of the choppiest waters on the planet, there is an option to skip the Drake Shake by flying from the southernmost city in Chile called Punta Arenas to King George Island in the Antarctica Peninsula. And I was immediately in—no ifs, no buts, just take the plunge.

Travel planner—check

We (my friends from Mumbai along with my husband and I) got our travel planner Unwild Planet to sign us up for the Silversea Cruises’ Antarctica Bridge expedition voyage to explore the Antarctic Peninsula, where endless white mountains roll to the horizon and massive glaciers churn icebergs into the sea. Here, nature reigns as penguins dodder along the shore, seals loll on the beach and on ice slabs, and humpback and orca whales break the water's surface. Yes, I saw all of that and some more! And I shamelessly decided to check out of work for the adventure of a lifetime.

Prepare for the unexpected

Little did we know, Antarctica's inclement weather had a surprise in store for us—bad weather grounded our flights and upset our carefully laid plans. We had to spend two days in Punta Arenas waiting for the Chilean Air Traffic Control to greenlight our flight to King George Island to board the Silversea Endeavour.

The highlight of our Punta Arenas adventure was suiting up in our Antarctica gear. We traded style for substance, donning our Antarctica finery—a fire engine red parka, snowproof pants, and knee-high boots which transformed us into clumsy, waddling creatures, eerily reminiscent of penguins. The getup was equal parts functional and comical. Fashionistas, we were not.

Zip up your parka

When we were finally airborne on the Antarctica flight, I could hardly control my excitement. I kept peering from my window like a child on her first flight, in anticipation of spotting the white continent. Two hours after departure the captain announces it’s time to zip up our parkas and get ready to start our voyage in the frozen continent. King George Island, home to a cluster of research stations, serves as the gateway to Antarctica, the world's most inhospitable yet awe-inspiring continent, by air. The island's rugged landscape is characterised by a striking contrast of black volcanic terrain and vast white ice expanses.

As we touch down on the craggy runway, the air assaults us with its icy gusts. But it's not just the chill that greets us—the air is thick with a pungent aroma that we will soon grow familiar with: the unmistakable scent of penguin guano (poo), a sign that we are not far from the bustling rookeries. Minibuses transport us a short distance to the beach, to the waiting Zodiacs (inflatable motorised boats) to transfer us to Silver Endeavour anchored off shore waiting for us. We settle in for the four-night cruise and sail towards Orne Harbour for our first excursion the next morning.

Enjoy the silence

By dinner time, we have seen massive icebergs in a multitude of incredible shapes, some with penguins perched on them. The extended daylight hours in the summer (disconcerting but worked in our favour) enable us to take in the views until almost 11pm at night.

We wake up the next morning to ethereal snowfall and harsh, icy winds that make a wet landing ashore challenging. The captain announces that we will have stay on board and enjoy breathtaking views from the decks. I cannot stop taking pictures. I want to capture every ice berg, every mountain, every snowflake…I am in an unreal white world! I still remember the stillness. No human-made sounds. Just the gentle lapping of waves against the ship’s hull as the snow comes down on an already white continent. The morning is spent on deck, with a visit to the bridge to understand the mechanics of the ship.

Fall in love and awe

We sail onwards to Cuverville Island in the afternoon, which has clearer weather and have our first tryst with Gentoo penguins, up close and personal. The mudroom is hectic with delight as my fellow explorers and I put on our boots, strap on our life jackets to do our first Zodiac excursion and step onto the frozen expanse at the end of the world. The Zodiac wades through smaller icebergs and drops off on Antarctica terrain. As I walked on the ice, the sheer vastness of it engulfed me. I never thought I would have the chance to visit the 7th continent, yet there I was, standing on the icy shores of a continent that’s as much a mystery as it is a wonder.

As I stood in the white and wind-swept expanse of Antarctica, I could not help but feel a deep sense of awe, gratitude, and wonder.

Meet the penguins

The tuxedo-clad penguins are oblivious to the red parka clad human penguins in their midst, waddling alongside and going ballistic taking their pictures. They are either headed to the water to gather feed for their young or heading back with the nutrition or merely chilling. Our gaiters are valuable in not only keeping us warm but also warding off the pungent perfume from these agile and adaptable penguins.

Each day we made two wet landings (weather permitting) to take walks ashore, explore the continent by Zodiac or kayak, experience close encounters with wildlife—penguins, seals and whales and view the towering icebergs at close range. The landings are to former whaling stations or geological research bases. Whaling was abolished as recently as 1986 in the Antarctica Peninsula and this measure has seen an increase in many of the endangered species.

Don’t miss the secret ninjas

An interesting excursion was to Deception Island where our ship Silver Endeavour passed through the narrow entrance called Neptune’s Bellow affording a spectacular view of the caldera. Deception Island is in the South Shetland Islands with a large and "safe" natural harbour, which is occasionally affected by the underlying active volcanic activity. This island is the caldera of an active volcano, which seriously damaged local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969. As we walked on the shore line, we were enchanted by countless Weddell seals with their sleek fur and twinkling eyes. But who knew seals were secretly ninjas? To avoid becoming their next unsuspecting target, we were reminded to keep a safe 15 feet distance from them. Those adorable blubbery bodies may look sluggish, but they can move with lightning speed when they want to. The seals' antics were delightful. We watched them play, curling and stretching with abandon, completely entranced. The experience was a photographer's dream.

How it went

I have always heard that travel broadens the mind, but I did not realise just how much it could deepen your soul until now. And now that I am on the doorstep of 60, I can confidently say that it’s never too late to start something new. I am still in awe of the world around me, still open to new experiences, and still eager to learn from the beauty that surrounds me. Antarctica has given me more than I could have imagined, memories that I will carry for the rest of my life—and a reminder that the world is still full of wonder, adventure, and unexpected delights.

As I look back on my travels, I realise that this trip was more than a celebration of a milestone—it was a reminder that life, at any age, can be an adventure. And sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you never thought you would take.

Archana Jain is the founder and CEO of PR Pundit Havas Red