Travel Courses   

Antarctica is bigger than the U.S. and Mexico combined, with ice sheets in East Antarctica reaching up to two miles thick. It’s my favorite continent—but who actually owns it? Getting there is an adventure in itself: after flying to the southern tip of South America, you’ll sail for two days aboard a converted Russian passenger ship, staffed by a mostly English-speaking crew. With good weather, you might make two landings in one day—by zodiac!

Iceland is like a front-row seat to the power of the planet—perched right on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where lava bubbles up near the airport and a warm soak in the Blue Lagoon is just a short walk away. Stand with one foot in Europe and the other in North America, and visit Heimaey Island, where a volcanic eruption once buried part of a town—lava that now helps heat local homes!

Explore the volcanic landscapes of Europe with unforgettable experiences: ride a bus nearly to the summit of Europe’s most continuously active volcano, hike to the top of its most infamous one, enjoy a rejuvenating hot mud bath in the Ionian Sea, or cruise to the volcanic island of Stromboli—made famous by Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini. There, you can even hike to the crater for an up-close look at the island’s fiery activity.