Have you got an insatiable thirst for adventure? Are you hardy enough to withstand some of the toughest conditions on the planet (as in our featured image by winkyintheuk)? Do you have £19,025 ($30,500 for our American readers) burning a hole in your pocket?
Okay, the odds of this being any of us are pretty slim. Still – ten brave and, let’s face it, well-heeled souls will soon have the chance to join a re-enactment of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary 1916 Antarctic expedition.
The name of the adventure, The Shackleton Epic, seems apt. Not only will it follow in the footsteps of the eponymous explorer’s 56-day, 800-nautical-mile journey, but it will also shun modern-day technology in favour of the equipment that was available to Shackleton and his team at the time of his expedition.
You don’t need any exploration experience to join the trip. It’s a case of first-come, first-served. Naturally the lucky/crazy ten won’t be left to fend for themselves – that would be madness. They’ll be led by veteran British-Australian explorer Tim Jarvis, who has the enviable/unenviable (we’re not sure which) task of ensuring the safety and success of his potentially inexperienced recruits.
The expedition sets sail on TS Pelican – a tall ship similar in size to Shackleton’s Endurance, the original expedition ship – from Punta Arenas, Chile on January 3, 2013 and is expected to reach its final destination of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil late in February (note there’s no exact finish – this expedition’s the real deal).
Those who secure a berth on the TS Pelican will have the opportunity to help sail the vessel, gain navigational skills, learn about the Antarctic’s geography and wildlife, and assist with environmental monitoring.
To join up head to The Shackleton Epic website or contact Intrepid Travel, the adventure travel company running the expedition.
Shackleton Epic from GoFundraise on Vimeo.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
