Reasons to go
- An unparalleled wildlife hotspot - the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean - home to some of the world’s greatest concentrations of wildlife
- Experience some of the most majestic, unspoiled and least visited scenery on earth
- A mecca for photographers, both amateur and professional alike
- A Rich history of fascinating characters including sealers, whalers and early explorers from The Heroic Era, including Shackleton
- Vast king penguin colonies numbering over 200,000 individual birds, alongside countless albatross, elephant and fur seals
Our most popular South Georgia cruises
Discover South Georgia
South Georgia Ships
The lack of hotels and limited infrastructure on South Georgia necessitates visitors to be fully self-sufficient. Expedition ships offer both the amenities of a floating base …
South Georgia Landing Sites
Expedition cruises provide an unrivalled opportunity to interact with South Georgia's environment. Walking across the spectacular landscape, going ashore to meet the abundant …
South Georgia Wildlife
The statistics alone simply can’t do justice to how extraordinary the wildlife of South Georgia is. At the height of the breeding season there are said to be more wildlife per …
What our customers think
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South Georgia is really special. The fact that we missed it on our first Antarctic trip is the major reason we went back.
Cindy & Nor, Washington February 2018
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South Georgia was simply amazing and quite overwhelming in its abundance of wildlife and history. To have king penguins filled with curiosity and pecking on our boots was unexpected and something we’ll never forget.
Phil & Mickey, Australia December 2015
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The highlights were the Shackleton history and being able to stand on the top of the pass where the trio looked down on the whaling base at Stromness - their destination.
Neill, New Zealand November 2017
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The king penguins on Salisbury Plain were something I've never experienced before - unbelievable; the wildlife was fantastic.
Glyn, UK March 2016
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South Georgia was a delightful surprise – far more to offer than I could have imagined. I knew about the whaling industry & Shackleton but was thrilled with the number of kayak outings & landings we made here. The old whaling stations were particularly overwhelming & emotional.
Freda, UK January 2017
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Too many highlights to pick out one in particular, but South Georgia is a must do. Landscapes were simply awesome. The wildlife was much more plentiful than I imagined, also unafraid and curious.
Kay and David, UK February 2017
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If you don't visit South Georgia you're missing the 'jewel in the crown'. When we did this trip in 2008 the expedition leader in her opening remarks described South Georgia as "the place where God goes for his holidays".
Roger & Marina, UK February 2018
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We would definitely recommend including South Georgia and the Falklands - whilst we weren't quite prepared for the days at sea to get between these places, they ended up being a wonderfully restorative part of our holiday.
Tish & Obadiah, Massachusetts December 2017
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South Georgia was the highlight of the trip. Be sure to choose an itinerary that includes it and you won't regret it. Salisbury Plain and St Andrews were amazing. I also loved Deception Island - I would recommend doing the polar plunge.
Janet, Sandra & Tokiki, California November 2017
Tips on Choosing the right voyage
Given the overall time and cost factors involved with a once-in-a-lifetime trip like this choosing exactly the right trip for you is crucial. To help you get started, here are a few tips on key areas you should be considering:
- The Itinerary: There’s surprising variation - between 3 - 6 days - in the time different trips actually spent in South Georgia
- When to Go: With each month having particular nuances in both wildlife activity and weather, identify the best time for you and your interests (e.g. photography)
- Ship size & stability: Given the amount of time you’ll be spending on board ship on the Southern Ocean, carefully choosing the right ship pays real dividends
- Cabin size: For the length of trip it's definitely worth considering a little extra room where you can have some privacy when booking your cabin
- Calibre of staff: If top notch guides are important to you, there are significant variations between ships in the calibre and staff-to-passenger ratio
Authentic Expedition
Comfort & Adventure
Luxury & Fine Dining
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Plan your trip
When to visit South Georgia
Hailed as the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean, South Georgia is bursting with life throughout the cruise season, so choosing when to take your voyage will ultimately depend on what…
Getting to South Georgia
South Georgia is more challenging to get to than almost any other place on each, there is however a choice of routes for getting to South Georgia.
South Georgia Island
South Georgia may be a cartographic speck on the map and one of the least visited territories on Earth, but it's a true gem amidst the roiling southern ocean. Spectacular …
Loli says
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On South Georgia we sometimes had a real challenge to find a safe landing place for the zodiacs because the beach was so packed with elephant and fur seals. The sheer quantity of animals is staggering.
Loli Figueroa Polar Specialist
Wildlife on South Georgia
South Georgia’s prodigious wildlife fit broadly into 4 main categories: penguins, birds, whales & seals. Understanding their respective breeding cycles and at what stage they will be at when you plan to visit is a key consideration.
Weather in South Georgia
‘Unpredictable’ is a fitting way to describe South Georgia’s weather, particularly during the spring (November) and autumn (March). This means that a flexible approach needs to be taken to planned landings. On the plus, changeable light conditions and dramatic weather is often welcomed by photographers. Things to consider:
- November - Battling bull elephant seals at this time make for great drama and photo opportunities
- December - Sheer density of animals can make landings are real challenge on certain landings
- January - Prion Island, a favourite for birders due to the albatross, becomes accessible from 7th Jan
When to book a South Georgia cruise
The short answer is simply as soon as possible. There are not only far fewer of these longer voyages than the more regular trips to the Antarctic Peninsula only, but because they’re so amazing they’re also very popular and always in high demand.
To be confident of securing your preferred first choice you should start planning as early as possible, and then ideally booking 12 - 18 months in advance. This may also mean you can take advantage of possible early booking discounts.
Voyage dates are typically released by the different boat operators between 15 - 20 months in advance.
How much does it cost to cruise to South Georgia?
It’s an important question to ask up front and before getting too carried away. It’s by virtue of its location an expensive place to visit, but be warned, if you go once it’ll be hard to stay away.
Prices start from around $8,500 per person, but vary markedly depending on the trip, ship, timing of travel and cabin category you choose.
While discounts are rare, those people booking early can take advantage of early booking incentives of up to USD$1,500 per person offered on select trips.
It’s a substantial investment, but in well over a decade of helping people experience South Georgia, nobody has ever been remotely disappointed.
Swoop Says
South Georgia Cruises: FAQs
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How long can I spend in South Georgia?
This will very much depend on which voyage you choose, most voyages spend between 3- 5 days exploring South Georgia, while the maximum is 8 days.
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How much luggage am I allowed?
A crucial question for photographers in particular. As ship’s don’t suffer from the same weight limitations as airlines, there are no restrictions once on board the vessel. However, you need to check weight limits on the domestic flights, which are typically only 15-20kg for hold luggage.
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Can my food requirements be catered?
The answer is ‘Yes’. The kitchens on all ships are very experienced at catering for all food requirements, whether you are vegetarian, gluten free, lactose intolerant, or just prefer to avoid certain foods.
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When is the best time to visit?
The visitor season runs from late October to end March. There isn’t a ‘best time’ to visit as such, there’s always huge amounts of wildlife and the weather is changeable. November and March are chillier, but the softer light is favourable for photographers. Keen birders should be aware that Prion Island is only accessible from 7th January each year.
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What wildlife will I see?
Penguins, seals and birds are found on South Georgia literally in their millions. There’s also a good chance of seeing whales. Visit our South Georgia Wildlife page for more information.
Looking for a shorter cruise?
Whilst a magnificent sea journey, the number of vacation days required to visit the islands of South Georgia & the Falklands can be too great a constraint for some people.
Flights to Antarctica
Established over ten years ago, flying is an increasingly popular way to access Antarctica, particularly if you are short on time or concerned about the sea crossing.
Antarctic Peninsula Cruises
This is the classic way to see Antarctica, and most cruises take you only to this part of Antarctica. A typical cruise will start out from Ushuaia and explore all that the …
Antarctic Circle Cruises
For the ultimate adventure, join a cruise that crosses the Antarctic Circle at 66 Degrees South and visits some of the most beautiful landmarks both north and south of the Circle.
Ready to plan your Antarctic adventure?
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With over 50 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.