The Arctic Tern's 50,000 mile Migratory Route Uncovered...

Upon reading the news recently I was fascinated to discover that for the first time ever a team of international scientists have tracked the complete migration of the Arctic Tern. Whilst this incredible bird has always been known for its vast migratory journey, researchers using traditional bird ringing methods have only previously been able to track the birds as far as South Africa. However, using miniature ‘geolocators’, researchers have managed to follow the birds complete route, one that is largely dictated by food availability.

Research suggests that the Arctic Tern makes not only the furthest journey of any creature on Earth, a mere 50,000 mile year round trip but also sees the most daylight by travelling between the Arctic and Antarctic summers. Furthermore, despite this extraordinary migratory route, few Terns die each year and can live for up to 34 years! Truly fascinating.

Not only is this a wonderfully curious piece of research it is significant for us here at Discover the World as the Arctic Tern has long been part of our history. Discover the World began in 1983 operating holidays to Iceland and the Arctic and appropriately we adopted the Tern as our logo. Soon, we began introducing new holiday destinations with our expanding portfolio reaching as far as Antarctica. The Arctic Tern thus then became even more symbolic of our company, embodying not only the destinations we travel to but the unique and specialist operator, that is Discover the World.

Passionate about Wildlife and Photography?

Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October sees the return of Wildscreen’s WildPhotos event, the UK’s premier photography symposium for those passionate about nature photography. With a sensational line-up of the world’s finest nature photographers and industry experts, including winners from the prestigious Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, this two-day event, held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, promises to inspire and enthuse.   
 
WildPhotos is aimed at anyone with a passion for wildlife and high-quality imagery, whether amateur or professional photographers, working in the photography or publishing industries or wanting to make more use of the power of nature photography to move and inspire people.

This year’s event, hosted by Springwatch presenter and wildlife photographer Chris Packham, includes a keynote presentation by Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, National Geographic Editor at Large for Photography.
  
Over the course of the two-day event, more than 20 expert speakers will present their work, deliver inspiring talks and offer technical advice on topics ranging from marine, black and white and macro photography to how to sell your pictures.  

A one-day ticket costs £105; two-day tickets are £175. You can register online at www.wildphotos.org.uk or please contact WildPhotos on +44 (0)117 328 5975
/ wildphotos@wildscreen.org.uk

Invitation to our Travel Day - Saturday 10th October

TRAVEL TALKS * WINE-TASTING * PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP * STANFORDS

Whether you’re looking for travel ideas or purely wishing to discover delightful wine from the stunning countries of New Zealand and Australia then join us for a day of travel inspiration!

Enjoy a day of talks on travel to Iceland, Lapland and the ICEHOTEL, New Zealand and the Polar Regions and discover the wonder of the northern lights and where best to observe them.

Sample fine New Zealand and Australian wine with Great Western Wines and perhaps pick up your favourite travel book at the Stanfords stand and take advantage of a 15% discount. Then learn how to capture the perfect shot during a photography workshop with Icelandic photographer Ragnar Sigurdsson.

A fantastic opportunity to meet our team of travel specialists, look around a Maui Motorhome first-hand for your adventure to New Zealand or Australia and meet our worldwide travel partners before your trip!

Places limited. Click here to RSVP

 

Galapagos on the Big Screen this Autumn

As the nights start to draw in, now is a great time to start planning a holiday to look forward to and there’s plenty of inspiration on the big screen at the moment.  This week sees the UK release of the new film ‘Creation’, a portrayal of the life of Charles Darwin starring Paul Bettany.  The controversial film charts the story behind the eventual publication of the theory of evolution, a discovery which came about following Darwin's visits to the Galapagos Islands in 1835 and other key destinations in South America and worldwide. You can find out more about Darwin's life and travels at the Natural History Museum's newly-opened Darwin Centre.

Of a completely different nature is the Antarctica-based film ‘Whiteout’ – the story of a serial killer on the loose in the Great White Continent!  It might not make for a cosy autumn evening’s viewing and it’s not exactly an activity we'd recommend in Antarctica (!), but it’s still a rare chance to marvel at these incredible frozen landscapes before planning your own Antarctic adventure…

Popcorn anybody..?!

Join James Cracknell and Discover the World for a night of Antarctic adventures!

We are delighted to announce that we will be joining James Cracknell at his forthcoming London lecture 'Race to the Pole'.  Taking place at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday 18th June, James will be sharing the details of his recent Antarctic experiences and promoting his new book, Race to the Pole, co-written with Ben Fogle.

In addition the Discover the World team will be on hand to help you start planning your own adventure to the Great White Continent - we look forward to seeing you there!

Tickets cost £7.50 and are available through Stanfords at sales@stanfords.co.uk   Full contact details can be found here.  
The event is organised by Stanfords, The World’s Largest Map and Travel Retailer, and will take place at 7pm on the 18th June, at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR. The nearest Underground stops are South Kensington and Knightsbridge.

Guardian Travel Award - Last Chance to Nominate Us!

Enjoyed your holiday with us within the last year? Want to shout about your fantastic experience? Would like to recommend Discover the World to a wider audience?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then click here to nominate Discover the World in the Guardian Readers’ Travel Award 2009 and be entered into a prize draw to win £20,000 worth of prizes!

All you need to do is fill in a questionnaire about your holiday and potentially win another holiday – a great opportunity if ever there was one.

But hurry…your last chance to do this is tomorrow - Saturday 18 April! 

2009 - A Year of Anniversaries

Happy New Year!   Welcome to 2009, which marks a number of interesting anniversaries…  

In 1907 Sir Ernest Shackleton set out on the first significant attempt to walk to the South Pole, and trekked further south than any man before him. But on 9th January 1909, just 100 miles from the Pole at latitude 88’23”S, Shackleton was forced to turn back due to low supplies. This unfinished journey was a remarkable achievement, but for those of you with less time on your hands, why not fly to the South Pole instead?!  Contact our specialist sales team for further details.

2009 is also a special year for the Galapagos, as we celebrate several landmarks including the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of The Species, and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos and the Galapagos National Park. Darwin200 have organized numerous events in honour of Darwin, and the Natural History Museum are also hosting a major exhibition until 19th April. Alternatively follow in the footsteps of the great man with a 7 night cruise on The Beagle - and discover the wonders of the Galapagos for yourself.

Tea to help preserve Scott’s hut!

There’s nothing like a good cup of tea first thing in the morning. Swiftly followed by a second one if you ask me! Now tea drinking is just getting better and better, with the launch of a new tea range which will help to raise funds to help preserve Captain Robert Scott’s hut in Antarctica.

We all know that drinking tea in moderation can be good for us. Not only does it help to refresh and rehydrate us, but it’s also thought to provide certain antioxidants which help protect us against illness. Excellent news – put the kettle on please!

Now you can enjoy a tasty cuppa with the added bonus of knowing you are helping to raise money to  preserve a historical landmark, and an endangered one at that. Captain Scott’s Strong Blend tea has been revived by Tescos as a fundraiser for the Christchurch-based Antarctic Heritage Trust’s campaign to save Scott’s hut at Cape Evans, near Scott Base. 5p from every pack of tea sold will go towards the Scott’s hut restoration fund. For more info about what you can do to help in the UK visit the Antarctic Heritage Fund site.

Scott’s hut was named earlier this year as one of the 100 most endangered historic sites in the world,  so by drinking this brew you will be helping to preserve an important part of the world’s heritage. Lots of milk and one sugar please.

Are you content to stay at home drinking tea or would you like to follow in the footsteps of the great explorers and experience the great white continent for yourself? Then why not take a look at our voyages in Antarctica or read Nikki’s fantastic Antarctic blog.

Have you always wanted to visit Christchurch as part of a holiday to New Zealand? Then why not take a look at our exciting range of self drive holidays in New Zealand or read more about Kiwi life on Pam’s Blog.

Fascinated by how drinking tea can help preserve history? Read the full online article about how tea will help to save Scott’s hut here. Want to find out more about how tea is good for you? Then take a look at this interesting BBC article.

‘Antarctica The Big Ice’ opens in New Zealand!

Picture the great white continent stretching out before you. Imagine the silence. Listen to the polar wind whispering as it whistles across this vast continent and hear the faint sound of the ice gently creaking and sighing. 

Now imagine a vast canvas of silence painted with sound bytes. Imagine the pristine landscapes of Antarctica, brought alive with surreal snippets of sound like the squabble of a penguin rookery and the snorts and bellows of a seal, and transport all of this to an exhibition in New Zealand!

Sound surreal? It is, and it’s incredible. Antarctica ‘The Big Ice Exploration’ is now open at ‘Our City O-Tautahi’ in Christchurch and runs until midday on Saturday Oct 27th 2007. So if you’re heading to New Zealand for your holiday this autumn then make sure you visit this amazing free exhibition.

Electroacoustic artist Dr Chris Cree Brown believes that no place else on Earth can offer such a  heightened sense of sound as in Antarctica.  Now you can experience an insight into this phenomena as you listen to his ‘Under Erebus’ composition which is currently playing in the Artist’s Gallery at the ‘Our City O-Tautahi’ building in Christchurch, in conjunction with the ‘Antarctica The Big Ice’ Exploration.

This inspirational science exhibition examines the role of protecting Antarctica’s history and explores the Antarctic Treaty and International Polar Year in 2007 – 2008. If you’re visiting Christchurch in September or October then make sure you visit this informative and exciting exhibition as part of your holiday.

If you’d like to experience the vastness and surreal phenomena of Antarctica first hand then why not take a look at our range of expedition voyages through Antarctica or read the latest News from Nikki’s Antarctic Blog. Or if you’re feeling inspired to travel to the land of the long white cloud then browse our extensive range of holidays in New Zealand and soon you could be enjoying this surreal Antarctic exhibition in Christchurch! To get the low down on all things kiwi don’t forget to visit Pam’s New Zealand Blog.

For further details of the ‘Antarctica The Big Ice’ exhibition visit the ‘Our City O-Tautahi’ website.
Or read the full review about this fascinating exhibition online at Scoop News.

Pictures: © Pam Forrest, Discover the World.

Live Earth Antarctica - Debut from Nunatak

With Live Earth set to storm the musical world this weekend, Nicola- our Polar voyage manager - has taken a sneaky peak at what they have planned for Antarctica. Whilst the world's most famous entertainers including Shakira, Duran Duran, The Police will be playing to huge crowds on all seven continents....the band of the moment on the world's most remote, windiest and coldest stage will be none other than the British Antarctic Survey's own Nunatak (aka a group of musical scientists at Rothera Research Station).

You can see them rehearsing for their gig by clicking here on YouTube. They have a lively crowd of 17 to play too in their international debut! In probably the most unique arena of any of the planned shows, the concert will kick off in temperatures of around 10 degrees C below zero on a stage at Rothera Station's airstrip. Check out more info on our Antarctica blog - www.antarcticblog.com