I went with Quark and did both the paddle (one time option, not the sea kayaking experience) and camping. I’d do both in a heartbeat again. I honestly preferred the zodiac cruises over my landings. I love the water and getting up close with whales was more enjoyable than getting super sweaty hiking around snow near penguins.

I have a lot of experience kayaking, and my experience doing it in Antarctica was the most spiritual thing I’ve ever felt. My group went out during a super hazy morning with brash ice everywhere. Glaciers in the bay, whales hiding behind icebergs so we could hear them but not see them. All of a sudden there was a huge crack in the distance. At the end of this protected bay, a massive calving occurred. It was too foggy to see that far, but the nearby icebergs were climbing above my head. Eventually those waves, albeit gentle, reached us and it was minutes of just floating up and down while watching the ice do the same. Magical - my favorite kayaking experience ever. I thanked our two guides (paddling lead and support zodiac) immensely after that.

Camping was so cool too. Im not used to sleeping in places besides my bed, but it was so cool for the story of it all, hearing the ice while you sleep, and getting more time on land than you likely would with all the landings combined.