Deception Island is one of several islands making up the South Shetland Islands and may be one of the first places that you visit upon arrival in Antarctica, and en-route to the Peninsula itself. Deception Island is one of the more sheltered harbours in Antarctica and thus a great place for zodiac boat excursions that bring you on to land.

Deception island used to be home to a whaling station, the remains of which can still be seen today, but is now principally visited for its colonies of Chinstrap penguins, as well as its magnificent volcanic landscape. If you're brave enough you can also don your swimsuit and dig into the hot sands of the beach, which heat the ice-cold water around the edge of the island, before setting sail to visit some of the other South Shetland Islands including Livingston Island (where Macaroni penguins have made their home).

Find out more about visiting the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula