The world's only place where the sun never sets for two months every year - and how to travel there
Antarctica is located at southernmost point of the planet and is the least populated continent in the world.
The chilly location attracts thousands of visitors a year with its gigantic icebergs and clear waters.
Unknown to some, a natural phenomenon happens annually, mostly during Antarctica's summer months where the sun never completely sits below the horizon due to the Earth's tilt.
This creates a constantly glowing sky, a natural wonder dubbed the Midnight Sun.
Wildlife activity is also enhanced during the enchanting time and elephant seals basking on ice floes are a common sight.
Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins tending to their chicks can also be seen.
Holiday website Wildfoot Travel described the natural wonder as 'disorienting yet magical'.
They said: 'You'll find yourself walking among penguins at 10pm, sailing past glowing blue icebergs well past midnight, or standing on deck as the sky turns gold and pink – and never goes dark.
'It's one of the most disorienting yet magical sensations on Earth.'
Interest in visiting Antarctica is 'surging', according to the travel site, and travellers are encouraged to book early, especially for trips during the festive season.
The company added: 'For many, it's not just about seeing the wildlife or the scenery – it's about feeling like you're part of a completely different world.
'The Midnight Sun adds a dreamlike quality that you can't get anywhere else on the planet.'
Visitors not prepared for the sun never setting often find it difficult to sleep at first or feel confused over what time it is.
The travel site recommends bringing a sleep mask to help block out light.
Weather appropriate clothes are also recommended with temperatures only as high as -2 to 5 degrees in the summer months.
It is advised to stick to a regular schedule, including set times for meals, to help stay regulated during the constant light.
Though it isn't a tropical location, sun cream and moisturisers are still recommended because of how much the sun reflects off the ice.
The cold temperatures can drain batteries quickly, so extra equipment is also encouraged.
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BBC News
15 hours ago
- BBC News
Are 'the world's most beautiful islands' in danger?
Norway's stunning Lofoten Islands have gone viral for their midnight summer sun. But as the isles face overtourism for the first time, residents have an important message for visitors. Located 300km inside the Arctic Circle, Norway's Lofoten archipelago rises dramatically from the sea in a jagged, mountainous crescendo. Its otherworldly glacier-sculpted landscapes and magical 24-hour summer daylight have led the isles to proudly dub themselves "the world's most beautiful islands". But it's a roadside stop, not a soaring summit or majestic fjord, that convinces me of this self-declared moniker. Just a few paces away from the village of Flakstad on the island of Flakstadøya, I spy a beach where the water shifts from turquoise to glass-clear as it laps against basalt rock and sugar-white sand. It's a scene more Aegean than Arctic – until you see the ridge of craggy mountains floating above the fjord, the last snow clinging to their flanks. From late May to the end of July, Lofoten is bathed in constant daylight, and in this endless summer sun, the colours feel heightened. Standing on the sand, it's hard to imagine anywhere more idyllic. Locals tell me that the 24-hour sun bathes these islands in a unique light and point to round-the-clock fishing and 02:00 tee times as quintessential summertime experiences. But kayaks crisscross the waters in every season, and hikers come year-round for the panoramic mountaintop views of silent fjords and romantic waterside villages that define the islands, chasing the midnight sun or the Northern Lights. At times, the only sounds around are the cries of the island's resident avians: sea eagles, puffins and razorbills. Arctic overtourism The Lofoten archipelago is made up of seven principal islands off the North West coast of Norway. The E10 highway runs for nearly 175km through the archipelago, threading the five largest, Austvågøya, Vestvågøya, Moskenesøya, Flakstadøya and Gimsøya, by a series of impressively engineered bridges and tunnels, allowing drivers to move between islands with ease. Visitors here are nothing new. The islands were home to northern Norway's earliest Viking settlement, drawing traders from as far away as Iceland. For centuries, tens of thousands of sailors journeyed here each winter to fish for Arctic cod, a tradition still reflected in the red rorbuer (fishermen's cabins) that now host tourists instead of seafarers. And yet, tourism was late to come to this far-flung corner of the world. It only started to grow significantly in the past 20 years, helped initially by improved road and ferry links, then accelerated as social media began showcasing Lofoten's stunning scenery to a global audience. Now Lofoten's beauty is no longer a secret, and what was once a seasonal outpost of survival and commerce has evolved into one of Norway's most popular destinations. In 2023, the islands welcomed around one million visitors, or roughly 40 times Lofoten's permanent population of 25,000. But as European heatwaves drive travellers further north and new seasonal flights from Paris, Frankfurt and Zurich launched last year, tourism is only set to rise further. A weaker Norwegian krone is helping to seal the deal. Lofoten residents Astrid Haugen and Frida Berg explain that they're proud to share their home and welcome the jobs (and the new bars and restaurants) brought about by tourism, but wonder whether infrastructure can keep up. They also worry whether this influx of visitors will affect the landscape and fragile ecosystem that make Lofoten so special. I meet up with them on Unstad beach, at the north-western corner of Vestvågøy, one of the best places on the islands to catch the midnight sun, thanks to its unobstructed views across the bay. Even at 23:00, surfers cheer each another on from the waves. Families enjoy snacks on the rocks while children shriek in the shallows as they splash in the frigid, single-digit Arctic waters. Mountains hover on either side of us, framed by a sky a few shades paler than the sea. "When I used to travel abroad and said I was from Lofoten, people looked blank," says Haugen, as we stroll the beach. "Now they've seen pictures online and can't believe this is my everyday view." "That's part of the problem," adds Berg. "This is our home – not just a backdrop for a Facebook selfie. When people litter or block roads, it's so frustrating". Many residents I speak with share this frustration. They're not just bothered by the number of visitors, but by their behaviour. I see many examples of this during my week on Lofoten. RVs creep along narrow fjordside roads to snap a photo, oblivious to the traffic building behind them. At 20:00, the car park hike up the vertiginous Reinebringen mountain resembles a suburban shopping centre on Black Friday, jarring with the peaceful surroundings. Groups of eager tourists spill out, eager to tackle the 1,978 steps that separate them from the vertiginous panorama at the summit. Some locals have had enough. In a recent radio interview, Flakstad mayor Einar Benjaminson warned of shifting sentiment: "Ten years ago, maybe 2% of our residents didn't want tourism. Now it's more like 25%." A tale of two villages As in many tourist hotspots, Lofoten residents are also frustrated that an increasing number of homes are being bought by wealthy outsiders. Some are purchased as seasonal getaways or turned into short-term accommodation, hollowing out villages in winter; in other areas whole settlements have been turned into sleek resorts. Nusfjord, on Lofoten's southern coast, illustrates this shift. The historic fishing village is postcard-perfect, with red and ochre warehouses perched on a narrow isthmus facing the sea, appearing frozen in time on its 19th-Century foundations. The permanent population? 22. The number of annual tourists? 90,000. After the village's fishing industry migrated to more populated areas, Nusfjord's centre became a Unesco World Heritage site, combining tourist accommodation and "a living museum where you can touch, feel and breathe the history of coastal Norway," according to local historian Ingrid Larsen. It remains an utterly charming stop: the museum, set in a former cod liver factory, offers insights into the village's fishing legacy; the restored general store serves excellent cinnamon buns; and the boardwalk, backed by a rippled grey ridgeline, is undeniably scenic. Erling Hansen, a tour guide, understands the locals' concern but is pragmatic: "Without tourism, there probably would be no village in Nusfjord anymore." Later that day in Henningsvær – 80km and several peninsulas away from Nusfjord – the contrast is stark. Even at 22:00, the village hums with life as locals revel in the extended daylight. Teenagers swarm towards the floodlit football pitch, improbably perched on a rocky outcrop. Two neighbours paint their front doors – one white, one blue – gesturing mid-conversation with dripping brushes. At the harbour, tools clank as fishermen check their nets. "The fish bite better at midnight," one says with a grin. Tourism supports 19% of local jobs on the islands. Around-the-clock fishing trips offer visitors a taste of tradition – and locals a new income stream. The message is clear: guests are welcome, but as Hansen says, "We're not some Arctic Disneyworld". A new strategy Earlier this year, the Norwegian government gave councils in high-tourism areas the right to introduce a visitor tax. Lofoten plans to roll it out in 2026. The revenue will help fund overstretched infrastructure, from extra parking to trail signage urging hikers to stick to the path – in case the dizzying drop-offs weren't clear enough. Mayor Benjaminson welcomes the budgetary relief. "We no longer need to choose between renovating a school or cleaning up after tourists," he says dryly. It's part of a broader, gently persuasive strategy. Local tourism campaigns feature locals – including schoolchildren – asking visitors to drive responsibly, take their rubbish home and avoid disturbing local wildlife when hiking. Officials also hope to promote Lofoten year-round, easing the summer surge and preventing areas becoming ghost towns when the light fades. Back at Unstad, the light softens to amber as I walk along the shore with Haugen and Berg. A lone surfer rides a gilded wave while multiple families are trying – and failing – to convince their children that constant daylight doesn't cancel bedtime. "It's hard," says Berg. "We want people to love Lofoten – just not so much that it stops being Lofoten." She has captured the dilemma. Tourism funds heritage projects that might otherwise vanish, but the endless days – and the crowds they bring – stretch local patience and infrastructure. And still, Lofoten captivates. Peaks catch fire as the sun stretches over the sea, quietly inviting us to linger. Amid this serene beauty are homes, schools and businesses. Locals are learning how to share the magic without losing it. They hope visitors will do more than admire the view – that they'll tread lightly, listen closely and help protect what attracted them in the first place. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Pilot with 22 years of experience reveals the place he would NEVER go near
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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
'I'm an experienced pilot but there's one place in the world I would never fly'
Despite decades of flying experience many pilots will refuse to navigate one place A long-haul airline pilot has revealed the one place in the world he avoids. Despite having more than 10,000 flying hours under his belt and two decades of flying experience in places across the globe, he steers clear of one location. Commercial airline pilot, Richard Wells, spent more than 22 years flying across Europe, Asia and the Americas before retiring. But there's a spot on his no-fly list because the conditions are far too extreme. The 54-year-old said he draws the line at flying in Antarctica. According to travel experts from Wildfoot Travel, Richard is not alone. They said that seasoned pilots with vast experience will avoid the area thanks to its unpredictable and unforgiving conditions. Tourists to the area will usually get their own specialised expedition vessels rather than on a commercial aircraft for this reason, reports The Mirror. Richard said he has encountered every type of flight scenario in his time in the skies, but explained why Antarctica is a no go. He said: "I've flown into mountainous regions, remote islands and through tropical storms. But Antarctica? That's different. " Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong — there's no backup. It's not worth the risk. While a limited number of flights do operate into the continent, particularly to King George Island, these are highly regulated and weather-dependent, with frequent delays and cancellations due to sudden whiteouts, high winds, and near-zero visibility. Commercial airline pilots do not fly there. Only highly specialised charter flights or military and scientific missions operate in the region. Richard added: 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with.' In addition to visibility and runway issues, the lack of air traffic control, unpredictable jet streams, and absence of emergency diversion routes all add to the risk. Despite the aviation challenges, Antarctica remains a dream destination for thousands of British tourists every year. Wildfoot Travel reports a sharp increase in interest for 2025 departures, especially for those seeking to explore the continent's wildlife, towering glaciers, and surreal landscapes without relying on direct air access. Their most popular options include: Small-ship cruises from Ushuaia, Argentina, crossing the Drake Passage Fly-cruise hybrids, where travellers fly to King George Island and board an expedition vessel Extended voyages including the Falklands and South Georgia, known for penguin megacolonies and elephant seals All itineraries are supported by expert guides, marine biologists, and ice navigation crews trained specifically for polar conditions. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Passengers also benefit from daily landings, often by Zodiac boat, with chances to see Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins, whales, leopard seals, and towering icebergs up close — something impossible to do by air alone. Antarctica is not only the coldest and windiest continent, but also one of the most aviation-unfriendly. There are no large-scale commercial airports, minimal navigation aids, and the environment can shift rapidly with little warning. Extreme temperatures also regularly affect flight instruments and engines, and strong katabatic winds - wind that flows downhill and are caused by gravity pulling higher density air downslope to lower density air - can make landings unsafe with little notice.
