e General information for passengers• FieldcampingoptionwillbeofferedonselectedPlanciusvoyagesinAntarctica

• Everyonecanparticipate,nopreviousexperiencerequired

• Maximumnumberislimitedto30personspernight

• Onceinalifetime,intensiveAntarcticexperience!

• Thecampingisassistedbyexpertfieldguides

• Equipmentprovided(bivouac&sleepingbag,mats,tents)

• Fieldcampingissubjecttoweather,localsiteandenvironmentalregulations

• 1nighthastobebookedpriortotrip,extranightsmightbearrangedonboard(nowaitlist)

• Supplement:Pleaseseeourdates&ratesforthecampingsupplement

OceanwideExpeditionsoffersanexciting‘openair’campingoption,providinganintensiveexperienceoftheAntarc-ticwilderness.OceanwideExpeditionswillprovideindustryleadingspecialgearandfieldequipmentwhichincludestopqualitywindandwaterproofbreathablebivouacbags(lightweightalternativetotentsystem).Tentsforthosethatpreferalittlebitmorecomfortwillalsobebroughtashore.Polarsleepingbagswillkeepcampersdry,warmandcomfortableduringthenightintheopenairofAntarctica.Thenightashorewillbesupervisedbyoneexperi-encedfieldguide.Pleasenotethatcampingisalwayssubjecttoweather,localsiteandenvironmentalregulations.

Field Camping in AntarcticaWeaimatleastonenightoutoneachtripbuttheexpeditionteamwilloffermorecampingoccasionswhenpossible.Additionalnightsashoreareweatherandsitepermittingandcanonlybeofferedattimesthatthereisapossibi-lityforthevesseltostaycloseenoughtotheshoreduringthenight.Whenthevesselisrelocatingduringthenightcampingisnotpossible.Accordingtointernationalregulationswearenotallowedtotakestoves,fuelnorfoodas-hore–withtheexceptionofemergencyrationsandsurvivalgear,drinkingwaterandmedicalsupplies.Thecampinggroupwillbetakenashoreafterdinner,andreturnstotheshipjustbeforebreakfast.Thismeanswewillhavethenighthoursashore.Onshoreacampwillbemadeinaplacewherewildlifewillnotbedisturbed.Allcamperswillbeequippedwithapersonalwaterproofbagcontainingasleepingmattress,apolarsyntheticsleepingbagwithinnerlinerandabreathablebivouacbag.Besidesthesepersonalitemsotherequipmentsuchastentswillbetakenashore.Infavourableweatherconditions,campershavethepossibilitytosleepinthebivouacbagundertheopensky.Forthosethatfindabivy-bagabittoospartan,andwhentheweatherisnotpleasantenoughforthebivy-bag,tentsareprovided.Oursturdydometentswillsleep3persons.Whilethefieldpartyisashore,ourstaffwillbeinfullradiocontactwiththeship.Staffwillalsostayashoretoassistandsupervisethecampers.Upondepartureevery-thingthatwascarriedashoremustbereturnedtotheship.Fieldstaffwillensurethatthefieldcampsarecleanedproperlyaftereachnight’scamp.

Field Camping

e FrequentlyAskedQuestionsIs it possible to take food?Eatingfood/snacksonshoreisnotallowed(AntarcticTreaty/IAATOregulations)inordertopreventthespreadingofdiseasesandseedsofalienplantspecies.

Is there a possibility to go to the toilet?Toilet visits should be avoided on land (AntarcticTreaty/ IAATO regulations). Campers are encouraged to usethe toilet facilities onboard,prior to the camping.Aportable toilet facilitywill be available ashore though. Allsolidwaste has to be returned to the ship. It is advisable is that campers bring an individual “peebottle” (e.g.wide opening plastic Nalgene bottle) for use during the night in order to avoid the use of the portable toilet.

How long do we stay ashore and where?Weoffernearshorecampingonthecontinentand/ornearbyislands(dependingonitinerary,weatherandsiteregu-lations).Campinggroupswillstayuptoamaximum10hoursashore.

Any prior experience required?No,everyonecanparticipateinthisactivity.Therearenophysicalrequirementsexceptgivinghelpinghandstofieldstaffputtinguptentsandcleaningthecampsite.Pleasenotethatwearenotcampingonacampingground,weareinAntarctica!Therecanberocks,snow,mudorafrozenhardsurface.Weexpectfromourcamperstoparticipateinerectingandpreparing thecampsiteandalsobreakingupcampnextmorning.Allcampingequipment,mostparticularlytentbasesandmats,mustbecleanedthoroughlyaftereachuseashore.Theweathercanalsomaketheoperationdifficult.

What are the weather conditions?AroundthecoastsofAntarctica,temperaturesaregenerallyclosetofreezinginthesummer(December-February)months,orevenslightlypositiveinthenorthernpartoftheAntarcticPeninsula.ThetemperaturesinAntarcticavarybetweenabout-5and8°C.Togetherwithastrongwindtheselowtemperaturesfeellikerealsub-zerotemperatures.Thisiscausedbythewind-chillfactor.Warmandefficientclothing(andaflexibleattitude)arethebestmeanstoovercomethesesometimesharshcircumstances.

An exciting exploration inthe Antarctic Wilderness.

e ClothingAsconditionscanchangerapidly,makesureyouhaveclothingandequipmentsuitablefortheworstweather.

Important personal clothing and gear to bring (required):“pee”bottleforAntarctica,e.g.wideopeningNalgenebottle(therearespecialonesforladiesinoutdoorshops•available)thermalunderwear•fleecevestorjacket•downjacket•breathable(eg.Gore-Tex®)jacketandtrousers•warmhat•turtleneck(neckgaiter)•thermalundergloves(fleecefingergloves)•warmgloves(mittens)•thicksocks(plussparesocks)•goodsunglasses•suncream/sunblock•torch/flashlight(ideallylightweightheadtorch/flashlight)fordeparturesFebruary-March•

The following items will be provided by Oceanwide Expeditions:warm,insulatedwaterproofrubberboots•bivouacbag(oneperperson)•mattresses•polarsleepingbagwithcottoninnerliner•portablefieldtoilet(onepergroup•tents(1tentper3persons)•waterproofbag•tentlantern(batterypowered)•

Please note...Cottonclothinglikenormalt-shirtsandjeansarenotadvisableascottontendstogetwetandstaywetwhilemovinginacoldenvironment.Usethermalunderwear.ExploringremoteandwildregionslikeAntarcticarequiresasensibleandflexibleapproach.Althoughtherecanbebrightskieswithsunshinetheweatherisunpredictable.Catabaticwinds,causedbytheicecapsandglaciers,canpickupsuddenlyandareafierceopponentforpolartravellers.Thismightleadtothecancellationofplannedcampnightsasfieldcampingcanandwillonlytakeplaceinsafeweatherconditions.

Minimum / maximum participant number:1personminimum/30personsmaximum+1fieldguideper20campers(2fieldguides20+)

e ContactusOceanwide Expeditions, Head OfficeBellamypark94381CGVlissingenTheNetherlandsT+31(0)118410410E+31(0)118410417Einfo@oceanwide-expeditions.comWwww.oceanwide-expedtions.com

Oceanwide Expeditions, USA & Canada Reservations15710JFKBlvd,Suite285Houston,TX77032–USAT+18004537245or+12819879600F+12819871140Eusa@oceanwide-expeditions.comWwww.oceanwide-expeditions.com

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Field Camping Manual, version: 29December,2010©OceanwideExpeditions