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…
6 reasons to book a South Georgia adventure
- Immerse yourself in the largest king penguin colonies on the planet, home to an almost uncountable number of birds.
- Wade ashore on South Georgia's beaches to watch battling bull elephant seals or playful fur seal pups gambolling in the surf.
- Retrace the final leg of Shackleton's epic hike across the island to the old whaling station at Stromness.
- Gaze in awe at some of the most dramatic and least visited scenery on earth, while albatrosses and petrels wheel above you.
- Explore the island's fascinating history, from the dark days of whaling to the modern stewardship that has created an ecosystem in recovery.
- Combine South Georgia with the Antarctic Peninsula and the Falkland Islands to make one truly epic voyage.
Map of South Georgia
Our most popular South Georgia cruises
Highlights of South Georgia
Wildlife
King penguins at Salisbury Plain
Numbers along fail to convey the sheer density of wildlife in South Georgia. Millions of seals, penguins and other seabirds make this sub-Antarctic island their home: at the height of the breeding season, there is said to be more wildlife here per square metre than any other place on the planet.
The bright and endless cacophony of South Georgia's king penguin colonies are one of the island's biggest drawcards, and the bird's unusual breeding cycle means that whenever you visit you're guaranteed to see lots of woolly chicks. In other locations, other penguin species are to be found in large numbers: gentoos, chinstraps and macaronis with their luxuriant yellow eyebrow feathers.
On the beaches, seals gather in vast numbers. In the early season you'll see giant beachmaster elephant seals weighing in at nearly five tonnes. In the new year, the seas froth with new-born fur seal pups swimming around your zodiac.
The wildlife's lack of fear of humans makes them incredibly curious, so wherever you land you're never far from an amazing wildlife photo opportunity.
History
Toasting 'the Boss' at Shackleton's grave in Grytviken
The human history of South Georgia is tucked into its bays and harbours, where traces of the bloody plunder of the sealing and whaling industries are slowly being reclaimed as the island's wildlife rebounds from centuries of exploitation.
The rusting remains of the whaling station at Grytviken are compelling place to explore, along with its fabulous museum and old Norwegian church. Its cemetery is the last resting place of the polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, and the traditional graveside toast to 'The Boss' is a touching moment for many visitors.
Weather-permitting, it's often possible to do the Shackleton Walk, which recreates the final stages of the epic hike from Fortuna Bay to the whaling station at Stromness that he and two of his companions made across the island in 1916 to raise the alarm after the desperate failure of the Endurance expedition. They walked from King Haakon Bay on storm-battered western side of the island after their voyage from Elephant Island – a landing here is a rare treat for Shackleton enthusiasts.
Places to visit
Which locations you visit depends on the weather and the season. With the exception of Grytviken, where alongside paying tribute to Shackleton you'll undergo essential biosecurity and immigration checks, it's impossible to guarantee where you'll land – but wherever you come ashore, the diversity of landing sites means you'll be visiting some of the spectacular places it's possible to see on an Antarctic trip.
From the vast colonies of king penguins at St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain, to Gold Harbour where the sun's rays bathe hanging glaciers in glowing yellows and oranges, the scale of opportunities for wildlife spotting and taking in the scenery is unmatched.
On Prion Island there are seasonal opportunities to walk near wandering albatrosses and their chicks, while at other locations you can zodiac cruise past the glaciers of Drygalski Fjord, or the sheer cliffs of Elsehul which are covered with the nests of tens of thousands of seabirds.
Brandon says
The anticipation of your first landing in South Georgia is intoxicating: seeing the beaches dotted with seals while penguins porpoise through the water, all set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and glaciers
Brandon Hagg Polar Specialist
Planning your South Georgia trip
When to go
King penguin chicks are present throughout the year
South Georgia's visiting season runs through the austral summer months from the end of October to late March. The weather is at its most benign (if still unpredictable), with snow-free beaches and long days offering the most favourable light for photographers.
Summer in South Georgia offers an ever-changing wildlife experience depending on when you visit.
- Late October–November Catch the last of the season's battling bull elephant seals, while male fur seals start to haul up to claim their territories. Seabirds start to return to nest, while early season king penguin chicks start laying eggs.
- December–January In December, the sheer density of fur seals on the beaches sometimes makes landings a challenge. In January, gentoo, chinstrap and macaroni penguin chicks are all hatching, and Prion Island becomes accessible to see the wandering albatrosses.
- February–March The shores are thick with fur seal pups and moulting elephant seals, while king penguin chicks are at their fattest in preparation for their first winter. Fin and humpback whales are at their most plentiful off the coast.
How to choose your South Georgia voyage
Longer trips make for a better chance of completing the Shackleton Walk
South Georgia is visited as part of a longer cruise visiting the Antarctic Peninsula and the Falkland Islands. On a once-in-a-lifetime trip like this, finding the right voyage is crucial, so you'll want to carefully consider both the itinerary and the type of ship as well as your travel dates.
- Itinerary Voyages typically spend between 3–5 days in South Georgia: some ships pass by quickly to concentrate on the Antarctic Peninsula, while others stay for longer to take advantage of the wealth of landing sites. If possible, we'd recommend at least four days in South Georgia to maximise your time onshore and reduce the chance of losing landings to poor weather.
- Ship type Given the amount of time you’ll be spending on the Southern Ocean, carefully choosing the right ship pays real dividends. For longer trips, it's definitely worth considering a little extra room when booking your cabin; balconies are an option on many ships. Larger ships can give more space, but smaller ships can mean more opportunities for landings and zodiac cruises. Depending on the ship size, there can also be significant variations between vessels in staff-to-passenger ratio.
A trip to the Antarctic Peninsula is going to be mind-blowing, there’s no doubt about that. But a trip to South Georgia is going to be like walking through a BBC wildlife documentary – it’s almost impossible to describe unless you’ve been there.
Nate Polar expedition leader
Comfort & adventure
Daily landings and adventurous activities abound, but with the option of coming back to a more luxurious cabin, or your own private balcony.
Luxury & fine dining
South Georgia and Antarctic cruises on boar the finest ships. Bright, spacious cabins, exquisite food, and the highest standard of service throughout.
What our customers think of South Georgia Cruises
South Georgia Cruises trips scored 4.3/5 from 234 reviews
South Georgia is really special. The fact that we missed it on our first Antarctic trip is the major reason we went back.
Travelled: February 2018
Cindy & Nor - Washington
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.
Travelled: November 2017
Neill - New Zealand
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.
Travelled: December 2015
Phil & Mickey - Australia
Review:
South Georgia cruises FAQs
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Can I fly to South Georgia?
No. There isn't enough flat land on South Georgia to build an airstrip, so all visitors must arrive by sea. The closest airport to South Georgia is at Stanley on the Falkland Islands. Under usual sea conditions it takes two days to sail to South Georgia from either the Falkland Islands or the Antarctic Peninsula.
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How much time will 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. Four days is the optimum period, as it allows plenty of time to explore even under changeable weather conditions.
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How much does a cruise to South Georgia cost?
Prices start from around $10,500-$13,000/person for a Quad or Triple cabin or $14,000-$16,000 per person for a twin cabin, but vary markedly depending on the trip, ship, the timing of travel and which cabin category you choose.
While discounts are rare, those people booking early can sometimes take advantage of early booking incentives of up to USD $1,500 per person offered on select trips.
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Will I see penguin chicks?
It takes more than a year for a king penguin chick to fledge, so there are chicks present on South Georgia all year round. If you're able to make a landing at one of the big king penguin colonies, you are pretty much guaranteed to see plenty of fluffy brown chicks, along with year-old chicks in the middle of the final moult into their adult plumage.
Macaroni and gentoo penguin chicks can generally be spotted in their colonies from mid-November, fledging from January and February respectively.
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What Shackleton history is there to see on South Georgia?
All cruise ships visit Grytviken to carry out immigration and biosecurity checks, so you'll almost always be able to land here to visit Shackleton's grave in the old whaling station cemetery: guides will arrange a toast to 'the Boss' here. The museum in Grytviken has plenty of interest for Shackleton fans, including a full-sized replica of the James Caird.
It is sometimes possible to do the Shackleton Walk from Fortuna Bay to Stromness, recreating the final stage of his epic walk across the island in 1916. On some itineraries, ships may also attempt to visit King Haakon Bay on the western side of the island, where the James Caird made landfall after sailing from Elephant Island.
See our Following in Shackleton’s footsteps on South Georgia blog for a guide to the sites associated with the great man. -
When should I start to plan my trip?
Plan your South Georgia trip
Getting to South Georgia
Although South Georgia is more challenging to get to than almost any other place on earth, there is a choice of routes for getting to this remote island.
South Georgia Island
With spectacular mountains and pristine beaches dense with king penguins and fur seals, South Georgia is like stepping into a real-life nature film.
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 …
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