For most us of, the dream of seeing the land of extremes with our own eyes remains just that: a dream. But thanks to Stockholm-based filmmaker Kalle Ljung, we can at least experience a bit of Antarctica's wonder vicariously.  

This incredible footage of the continent's frozen landscapes was filmed by Ljung and a small crew during a 20-day trip that kicked off in Ushuaia in Argentina in December last year, taking the team round Cape Horn to cross the Drake Passage towards the Melchior Islands in Antarctica.

"We spent 16 days in the Antarctic and got to experience the most amazing scenery and wildlife before we returned back to Ushuaia," recalls Ljung.

Armed with a quadcopter drone and a GoPro camera, the crew managed to capture the region's stark beauty (and some of its supersized inhabitants) from a unique perspective – make sure you don't miss the whale pod cameo at 06:19! 

And while this rare glimpse of the world's highest, driest, windiest and coldest continent will fill you with a sense of wonder, it should also drive home the importance of safeguarding this truly unique environment from a growing list of threats. Just two months after Ljung and his crew returned from their trip, the continent logged its highest temperature yet.

MORE: Journey to Antarctica (SERIES)