Behind The Beauty of Antarctica's Top Islands

Antarctica still ranks as my number one travel adventure to-date — a pure Winter Wonderland and an untouched paradise.

Top 5 Islands in Antarctica.

1. Deception Island
Try and ensure a visit to Deception Island is included on your trip. It’s a forever deceiving island and a former volcano. A narrow passage takes you through the opening in the letter “C” and you’ll spend a day inside the letter “C” shaped island. Notable places inside are Whaler’s Bay, Neptune’s Window, Pendulum Cove and Telefon Bay.

The magical Whaler’s Bay in Deception Island, Antarctica

There is also a disused whaling station and an airline hangar plus some graves in Whaler’s Bay.

2. Wiencke Island

Wiencke Island is not noted or recognized for its name, but for the significance of what sits on it – the British Base of Port Lockroy. This astonishingly proudly British quarter in Antarctica houses a post office, a museum and plenty more.

Arrival at the British Base in Port Lockroy in Wiencke Island, Antarctica

A tour of Bransfield House shows there’s even an old radio station here and British people live here all year round.

3. Cuverville Island
The magic of Cuverville will never leave me. I was in tears amidst its beauty. Imagine hiking to the top of a mountain through thick snow for a triumphant moment, while breathtaking views leave you breathless after you dive into its clean crisp snow.

4. Half Moon Island
Half Moon was the island where the sun shone down on us again and again. It was the island of penguins and seals that is shaped like a half moon.

There is also an unusual Macaroni penguin to be found here – in amongst a load of chinstraps and gentoos!

5.  Barrientos
Last on this list but definitely not least is the little unknown Barrientos. A song which goes “it just don’t matter anymore” begins to echo over the boat’s speaker system as we dock in the group known as Aitcho Islands. It’s time to head to Barrientos.

As I stepped foot on Antarctic snow for the first time here at Barrientos, I was truly inspired. It was a life changing moment and one which I will never forget.

The beach and landscape at Barrientos Island, Antarctica

We also visited the Antarctic Mainland on our tour and cruised through a load of Antarctic waters and channels. I didn’t mention some of the other islands we visited on this post, but have covered them elsewhere, including Elephant Island, the Day we got caught in a Snowstorm and King George Island.

Jonny Scott Blair

Jonny Blair is a self confessed traveling nomad who founded and blogs at Don't Stop Living. He sees every day as an adventure. Since leaving behind his home town of Bangor in Northern Ireland ten years ago he has traveled to all seven continents, working his way through various jobs and funding it all with hard work and an appetite for travel. Don’t Stop Living, a lifestyle of travel' contains over 1,000 stories and tips from his journeys round the globe. He wants to show others how easy it is to travel the world, give them some ideas and encourage them to do the same but most of all he aims to constantly live a lifestyle of travel. He is currently based in Hong Kong and on Twitter @jonnyblair.