Passenger: Antarctica

Far from cities and civilisation, the continent of Antarctica tempts and beguiles.

Across the ages, explorers have been drawn to the frozen southern continent and its snow-covered secrets. Beneath the ice sit mountain ranges, cavernous trenches, vast freshwater lakes and even an active volcano. George Fenton's score to the 2011 BBC nature documentary Frozen Planet captures the drama and mystery of this hidden geography.

Antarctica is a not only the coldest place on earth, it is also often the windiest, with speeds reaching 320 km/h in some parts of the continent. Almost inexplicably, it is still able to sustain life, and seven of the world's penguin species live in the region. Nigel Westlake's Penguin Ballet, originally written to accompany the IMAX film Antarctica, paints a delightful picture of these sometimes waddling, sometimes graceful birds. And with most of the region completely dark during winter months, there's always a chance of seeing the magnificent aurora australis which light up the polar sky.