Venture past Ushuaia, an Argentinian town at the bottom of the world, find a Russian icebreaker (preferably one that began its life as a Cold War spy ship), brave the ever-turbulent Southern Ocean and you’ll be rewarded with Paradise. Otherwise known as Antarctica.

A true wilderness area, this icy continent is packed with snow covered mountains, breaching humpback whales (who find boat-dwelling humans fascinating), glaciers that roar and crumble into the sea, seemingly endless amounts of sunlight, and icebergs a fluorescent shade of turquoise. Look around and everything is stark, cold, captivating.

When here, feeling small and in awe, like a inept yet suitably intrepid explorer, all you can do is take out your camera and hope you do the expansive surrounds a little bit of justice.

For more on Liz's adventures, visit her website and Flickr. Photos: 1. Lemaire Channel. 2. Pleneau Island. 3, 4. Paradise Bay. 5. Danco Island.