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
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Top Landing Sites on South Georgia
Grytviken
The largest of the former whaling stations, sleepy Grytviken is a mandatory port of call for all visitors and where your passport gets stamped.
The island’s best natural harbour, it's also home to the church, museum and post office. Raise a glass at the gravesite of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his loyal right hand man, Frank Wild, who are interned in the whaler’s cemetery. It's also a fun place to send postcards home.
St Andrews Bay
Imagine a pristine 2 mile/ 3.2km long beach commanding panoramic views, framed by a rugged mountainous backdrop and dense with up to 300,000 King Penguins - the island’s largest colony - as well as countless seals. It's an exhilarating location to put it mildly.
The colour, the noise, the smell guarantee a visual and sensory overload matched by very few other wildlife destinations on earth.
Stromness
History comes into sharp focus at Stromness. It's not only the most well preserved of the former whaling stations, but it's also from where Shackleton in 1916 after a gruelling journey raised the alarm and ultimately rescued his beleaguered men from Elephant Island.
Weather-permitting the Shackleton Walk - hiking the last few miles from Fortuna Bay to Stromness following the footsteps of Shackleton - is well worth the effort.
Gold Harbour
So called because the sun's rays make the cliffs glow yellow in morning and evening light, this small bay is a beautiful place with the beach ringed in by a curtain of vertical cliffs and hanging glaciers.
It's also home to an abundance of wildlife, including a large king penguin colony and breeding elephant seals.
Salisbury Plain
One of the island’s ‘must-see’ landing sites and eagerly anticipated, the sheer profusion of wildlife is overwhelming.
Standing amongst the tussock grass above the beach with paired glaciers to left and right, the sight of up to quarter of a million individual king penguins - interspersed by vast numbers of fur and elephant seals - all scattered across the broad plain below is staggering and a challenge to really compute.
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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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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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 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
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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
When to Go
The visitor season is limited to November through to March when the weather should be at its more benign, although it’s far from guaranteed! Within this 5 month ‘visitor window’ it's important to be aware of the nuances in terms of both wildlife and weather:
Wildlife
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
‘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
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
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: Your Questions Answered
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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.
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Ready to plan your Antarctic adventure?
With over 14 years' experience in Antarctica, we can guide you through the maze of options to choose the perfect voyage.