Best Antarctica Travel Guides of 2025

Endurance by Alfred Lansing is a gripping and intense story that recounts the harrowing journey of British explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men during their 1914 expedition to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. Lansing's vivid narration of the crew's near-impossible journey over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization is both suspenseful and inspiring. This New York Times bestseller is a must-read for anyone interested in adventure stories and the heroic age of exploration.

There and Back: Photographs from the Edge is a collection of stunning adventure photography by filmmaker, photographer, and mountaineer Jimmy Chin. With over 200 extraordinary photographs captured over two decades of cutting-edge expeditions on all seven continents, Chin shares behind-the-scenes details of how he captured such astounding images in impossible conditions. The book also features stories of legendary adventurers and remarkable athletes he has photographed, including Alex Honnold and Conrad Anker. The book is an extraordinary work of art that will inspire wonder and awe in anyone who reads it.

The second edition of Atlas Obscura is a must-read for travel enthusiasts. This book takes readers on a journey to unusual and curious destinations with over 100 new places and dozens of photographs. The book also includes city guides for twelve cities and a foldout map for the ultimate around-the-world road trip. It's a cabinet of curiosities that celebrates the unexpected, the overlooked, the bizarre, and the mysterious. With compelling descriptions, hundreds of photographs, and maps for every region of the world, it's a book that transports readers to new and exciting places. Overall, Atlas Obscura is a fantastic book that inspires wanderlust and curiosity.

100 Dives of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Underwater Destinations is a must-have for anyone who loves scuba diving or has a passion for travel. With stunning National Geographic photography and expert tips, this book takes readers on a journey to 100 of the most breathtaking scuba diving sites around the world. The book is organized by diving experience and certification level, making it easy for readers to find the perfect destination for their skill level. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this book is filled with beautiful imagery, marine life guides, and trusted travel tips. Overall, it's an exquisite inspirational book that will leave readers eager to plan their next diving adventure.

The White Darkness is a gripping non-fiction book by David Grann that tells the story of Henry Worsley, a decorated British special forces officer who was obsessed with the nineteenth-century polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. In 2015, at the age of 55, Worsley embarked on a perilous quest to walk across Antarctica alone, battling the freezing, desolate landscape, life-threatening physical exhaustion, and hidden crevasses. Grann tells Worsley's remarkable story with intensity and power, accompanied by over fifty stunning photographs from Worsley's and Shackleton's journeys. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in adventure, exploration, and the human spirit.

Spike: The Penguin With Rainbow Hair is a heart-warming children's book from the popular Ocean Tales series. The story is written in lyrical rhyme and is about a penguin named Spike who was born with beautiful rainbow hair. However, he tries to change it to blend in with the crowd. Follow Spike's adventures as he learns to embrace himself for who he is. This book is perfect for teaching self-care and self-love. The illustrations are beautiful, and the rhyming is clever. Overall, it's a fantastic book that celebrates uniqueness and individuality in an adorable and relatable way.

The National Geographic Family Reference Atlas 5th Edition is an updated and comprehensive resource for all ages. The atlas features detailed maps of every country in the world, complete with flags, key statistics, and secondary maps with environmental and population information. The book also contains special sections on the ocean, the solar system, and the universe beyond, making it an indispensable source of information for inquiring minds. The atlas is fully indexed and written in a reader-friendly style. Overall, this atlas is an excellent addition to any family library.

The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition by Caroline Alexander is a riveting account of one of the last great adventures in the Heroic Age of exploration. The book tells the story of the shipwreck that stranded the crew of twenty-seven for twenty months. The book includes previously unpublished photographs and is a compelling read that captures the terrible beauty of Antarctica, the destruction of the ship, and the crew's heroic daily struggle to stay alive. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Arctic and Antarctica history and exploration.

Empire of Ice and Stone by Buddy Levy is a gripping account of the disastrous 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition and the heroic voyage of the Karluk, a wooden-hulled brigantine. Levy's vivid descriptions of the Arctic landscape and the harrowing suffering and heroism of the crew are both evocative and chilling. The book focuses on the contrasting leadership styles of the expedition's two leaders, Captain Bob Bartlett and Vilhjalmur Stefansson, and how their decisions shaped the fate of the crew. Overall, Empire of Ice and Stone is a fascinating and unique read that sheds light on one of the most audacious and disastrous expeditions in polar history.

"Madhouse at the End of the Earth" is a gripping true story of an early polar expedition that went horribly wrong. The young Belgian commandant Adrien de Gerlache set sail for a three-year expedition aboard the good ship Belgica with dreams of glory. But the ship got stuck fast in the icy hold of the Bellingshausen Sea and the occupants were condemned to months of endless night. Julian Sancton has produced a thriller that unfolds an epic story of adventure and horror for the ages. Overall, this book is a must-read for all travel and exploration enthusiasts."