The Antarctic remains probably the world’s last great frontier. It is estimated that no more than 270,000 people have ever visited the Antarctic since it was first discovered – a miniscule number in this day and age. This cruise gives you the opportunity to do something truly out of the ordinary by venturing to this Ice bound mysterious, harsh yet beautiful land. This far off Continent is other worldly – as far away from anything as you are likely to get. Its sheer immensity and splendour, its unique light, ice, air, weather and wildlife – humbles you as almost no other place on earth can.

In January 2010 we feature two Star Princess Cruises to the Antarctic. Besides the Antarctic you will also experience some of the most magnificent scenery in South America when you visit the vibrant Buenos Aires, Montevideo, the Chilean fjords and glaciers, the Falkland Islands. The cruise returns to Buenos Aires where you can spend two days enjoying the sights.

For centuries, the seventh continent was uncharted, unexplored and even rumoured not to exist at all. But the colonies of penguins that make this icy world their home would beg to differ. So will you after you have ventured to this, one of the earth's most remote and astonishingly beautiful places.

At the turn of the 20th century the race to the Pole saw some of the world’s most heroic feats of exploration and endurance. Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton are amongst those whose feats of endurance and gentlemanly heroism still resonate today.

Antarctica’s ice comprises 70% of the world’s fresh water, a dense coat of white up to four kilometers thick. The sheer weight of this ice forces the Antarctic continent down below sea level and even affects the shape of the globe, making the planet slightly pear-shaped. Where visitors see ice is as it breaks free from the edge of Antarctica or calves off from glaciers into the sea.

At ICAN Holidays we pride ourselves in the fact that we offer clients what they want - our packages are all tailor made. Only you know what your ideal holiday should include. Whether you want to concentrate on culture or spend time wildlife watching, sample a city’s hustle and bustle or relax in a secluded beauty spot, ICAN Holidays will assist you discover the joy of designing a unique holiday just for you.

Throughout this website we have provided suggested itineraries for all the regions we visit, and you may wish to base your travels on these. After an initial consultation, one of our Specialists will create a unique itinerary for your holiday, complete with background information, historical notes, colour pictures, etc. We will not begin to book your holiday until you are completely satisfied with it.

Because our Specialists regularly travel to the regions you will be visiting, they can offer invaluable advice and suggestions for things to see and do while you are there and you can be confident that your unique itinerary has been created by someone who has extensive first-hand knowledge of the places and accommodation it contains.

Tourists cannot visit the Antarctic during the winter; pack ice extends 1000km (620mi) around the continent making ship access impossible and the darkness (almost 24 hours a day) does not lift until summer time. Add to this the midwinter 'chill' - temperatures can be -80 or 90° Celsius - and you begin to realize that summer might be slightly more pleasant anyway.

October and November are early summer when the pack ice is breaking up and the birds, especially penguins, are courting and mating. December and January are the height of the austral summer and bring with them warmer weather, up to 20 hours of daylight each day and the bulk of the region's tourists visit at this time. This is also the time when the penguins are hatching eggs and feeding chicks. In the late summer months of February and March there are terrific whale-watching opportunities and the adult penguins are ashore molting.

All our holidays are unique travel experiences, and therefore tailor-made to suit individual requirements. We do not publish prices on our website as they can vary enormously for tailor-made travel.

Prices are generally for private arrangements and are per person using economy class flights based on two people travelling together and sharing a room.

There are a number of factors which will influence the price of your travel arrangements, these include the standard of hotel (we offer a variety of standards from ‘three star’ to the super-luxurious), the season, the duration of your trip, the class of flights and the airline used, the level of private guiding and the complexity of the itinerary. Our specialists will be delighted to discuss the various options in more detail with you.