Precious few people ever get the chance to visit Antarctica, so allow this stunning eight-minute video to provide you with a rare glimpse of the remote region.

Swedish filmmaker Kalle Ljung and his crew shot this drone footage during a 20-day trip to Antarctica this past December/January. “We started from Ushuaia in Argentina and went to Port Williams in Chile, rounded Cape Horn and crossed the Drake Passage towards the Melchior Islands in Antarctica,” Ljung explains in the video description.

The resulting video is a breathtaking look at the region’s natural beauty. It captures an overwhelming feeling of isolation and stillness — but also captures some rare moments full of life, like a gently moving fishing boat and a family of whales.

We recommend watching this video in full-screen mode, and with the volume turned up, because it also features some very soothing music.

Read next: Antarctica May Have Just Set a Record for Its Hottest Day Ever

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