Tout au long de la croisière, il y avait quelques activitées optionnelles (et payantes) dont le kayak, la raquette et le camping. Après quelques hésitations, nous avons décidé de nous inscrire pour le camping sur la neige. Il y avait 30 places et, heureusement, seulement 30 personnes se sont inscrites donc pas de déception. En début de soirée, le navire s’est arrêté dans Leith Cove et nous avons aperçu la petite île enneigée où nous passerons la nuit. L’île est entourée d’icebergs et déposée dans un écrin de montagnes couvertes de glaciers. Le décor est tout simplement extraordinaire. Malgré notre crainte de coucher à l’extérieur par des températures avoisinant le point de congélation, nous ressentions une certaine fébrilité.
Après notre transfert en Zodiac vers 21h, nous montons notre tente sans trop de problème et nous réussissons même à avoir un peu chaud. En fait, l’absence de vent rend la température très confortable. Nous ne pouvions pas avoir du meilleur temps pour le camping. Le navire est parti pour la nuit et nous sommes 30 personnes (plus 2 guides) sur une petite île perdue sur les bords de l’Antarctique. L’impression d’isolement est totale. Heureusement, nous aurons de meilleures conditions que les membres de l’équipage de Shackleton et nous savons que le navire reviendra nous chercher tôt le lendemain matin.
Nous avons attendu le coucher du soleil (23:55) en faisant plusieurs fois le tour de l’îlot, en prenant beaucoup de photos et en écoutant le bruit des multiples avalanches de neige tout autour. La plus belle lumière est venue après le coucher du soleil alors que le bleu des glaces est ressorti. Un moment magique! Un peu après une heure, nous sommes entrés dans la tente pour nous réchauffer et dormir un peu. À 4 heures ce fut le réveil et la préparation du retour. Encore une fois, la lumière était très belle. De retour sur le navire, un café et des viennoiseries nous attendaient, et la douche chaude fut bien appréciée!
Throughout the cruise, there were a few optional (and for a fee) activities including kayaking, snowshoeing and camping. After some hesitation, we decided to sign up for camping on the snow. There were 30 places and luckily only 30 people signed up so no disappointment. In the early evening, the ship stopped in Leith Cove and we saw the small snowy island where we were to spend the night. The island is surrounded by icebergs and in a setting of glacier-covered mountains. The décor is simply amazing. Despite our fear of sleeping outside in temperatures approaching the freezing point, we felt a certain excitement.
After our transfer by Zodiac around 9 p.m., we set up our tent without too much problem and we even managed to get a little warm. In fact, the absence of wind makes the temperature very comfortable. We couldn’t have had better weather for camping. The ship left for the night and we were 30 people (plus 2 guides) on a small island lost on the edges of Antarctica. The feeling of isolation is total. Fortunately, we will have better conditions than Shackleton’s crew and we know the ship will be back for us early the next morning.
We waited for sunset (11:55 p.m.) by walking around the islet several times, taking lots of photos and listening to the sound of multiple snow avalanches all around. The most beautiful light came after sunset as the blue of the ice came out. A magic moment! A little after one o’clock we entered the tent to warm up and get some sleep. At 4 o’clock it was time to get up and prepare for the return on the ship. Again, the light was very beautiful. Back on the ship, coffee and pastries were waiting for us, and the hot shower was much appreciated!
L’îlot où nous camperons / The islet where we will camp 
Le camp est prêt / The camp is ready
Notre navire sur son départ pour la nuit / Our ship on her departure for the night
Avalanche
Entre 22h et 23h50 / Between 10pm & 11:50pm
Après le coucher du soleil (entre minuit et 1h) / After sunset (between midnight and 1am)
Entre 4h et 5h / Between 4 & 5am
Leith Cove (13-14 décembre / december 2022)
[Auteur/Author: Pierre & Suzanne]
Les voyages de Suzanne & Pierre 
It looks stunning, but must have been SO cold! Well done, you two!
Thanks Sue. It was indeed stunning and a great night. The temperatures were actually quite nice (about 0C) with no wind. It could have been much worst.
Sounds like it could!
💙💙💙
Merci Christine. Bien contente que cette série ait su vous plaire.
I don’t share your sense of adventure but the experience would have been worth it. I am partial to the photos taken between 10pm & 11:50pm and the second one with the reflection in the water is perfect.
Thanks Jacqui. I must admit that I wasn’t very keen on going camping but Pierre insisted saying that it was the opportunity of a lifetime so I agreed. And it was fun and not too cold. The picture you mentioned is also one of my favourite.
Well, the pictures are stunning, as always, but I’m not sure I’d have been as brave as you to get them! I’d have been screaming after that ship to come back for me.
Thanks Anabel. It wasn’t as tough as you would think and it was only for a few hours (from 9pm to 5am) and it wasn’t too cold. As I said to Jacqui (above), this was Pierre’s idea but I came around to it and was glad we had done it. And the ship was truly just around the corner though we couldn’t see it.
Not much sleep, but what an adventure. Not many can say they camped in the Antarctic! Was it strange to have 24 hour light?
Thanks Eliza. Indeed, not much sleep but it was an amazing experience. Actually, we almost regretted to have gone into the tent. A few people stayed up all night. We had seen midnight sun in Iceland in 2008 so it was great to live through it once again. It was amazing to watch the light change so slightly.
What an experience! The colours after sunset were worth it, even if I can imagine the feeling of watching the ship sail away must have been quite 😨. I am almost moved by the intricate shades between midnight and one a.m. Bravo to you both!
Thanks Mel. Glad you enjoyed this series and it was a very unique experience. Seeing the ship going away wasn’t really scary as we knew it was only going around the corner and that it would be back to pick us up the next morning…
Fantastic light! Not much sleeping, though. I bet you took a nap the next day.
Thanks for your note. You are right it was an amazing experience and the lack of sleep wasn’t an issue. We didn’t really take a nap as there were more activities during the following day. The next few days were at sea so we had time to catch-up on our sleep.
Having winter camped several times I don’t think I would have chosen this excursion, but it was clearly worth it to see the island in the low light. Beautiful pictures! Maggie
Thanks Maggie. We aren’t campers so we had never camped on snow so it was a fun experience. We did enjoy it though I don’t think I will be rushing to do it again.