South Georgia Cruises
For sheer density of wildlife, majestic scenery, riveting history and remoteness, South Georgia is hard to beat in every single one of these categories. It’s one of the least …
Things to Consider
- South Georgia is VERY remote - 1,390 km/ 864 miles from its nearest neighbour
- You can’t fly there as there’s no airstrip, the island is only accessible by boat. The nearest airport is on The Falklands
- There’s no hotel accommodation ashore, which is why people visit by expedition ship or yacht
- Large cruise ships aren’t allowed - small expedition ships carrying around 100 people are the norm
- The visitor season is limited to November - March only, with seasonal nuances in weather, wildlife and light conditions
Most Popular South Georgia Cruises
What our customers think of South Georgia Island
South Georgia Island trips scored 4.7/5 from 25 reviews
South Georgia was daunting with all 4 seasons in one afternoon!!! It is a trip of a lifetime and we would recommend it as a "Top Priority" on any bucket list.
Travelled: January 2018
Lucien & Marie-Eve - South Africa
The trip was the most amazing experience of our lives! It's difficult to determine what the best moments were, but I would say our time in South Georgia and on the Antarctic Continent were the best.
Travelled: December 2017
Susan & Jay - Washington
Fur seals and king emperor penguins approach a zodiac © Jane Kelley
Wildlife
For a small rocky island at the bottom of the world, South Georgia punches way above its diminutive size when it comes to wildlife. South Georgia is the world’s most important penguin and seabird breeding area. This is THE PLACE to go to experience the greatest density of wildlife on the planet.
- Total of 7 million penguins across 6 species
- 2 million Antarctic fur seals - 95% of the world's population
- 50% of the world’s population of southern elephant seals
- 250,000 albatrosses of a variety of species
Fur Seal Pup, South Georgia
Photography
With majestic scenery and spectacular wildlife providing visual and sensory overload at every turn, South Georgia is naturally a mecca for photographers.
Best of all, far from bolting in the opposite direction, most of the animals are largely unperturbed by the arrival of gortex-clad and camera toting humans, if not only too willing to strike a pose. Pack plenty of memory cards!
King penguin chicks investigate the camera
Scenery
Scenically South Georgia is spectacularly picturesque. A dragon’s spine of majestic snow-capped mountains rising to over 9,000ft/ 2,745m dominates the island, encircled by pristine beaches, rocky fjords and emerald green bays.
It's a wild, rugged, untamed, treeless landscape - a feeling only accentuated by the island having no permanent inhabitants.
© Renato Granieri
Penguins
Penguins are unquestionably the ‘poster boys’ of South Georgia and unsurprisingly with a total population of +7 million individual birds. Up to 6 different penguin species can be found on South Georgia, primarily macaroni, king and gentoo:
- Macaroni: 3,000,000 pairs
- King: 500,000 pairs
- Gentoo: 105,000 pairs
Chinstraps, Adelie and rockhopper are found in far fewer numbers on South Georgia.
History
The history of this small island is no less intoxicating than the wildlife and scenery, steeped as it is in the history of both Antarctic exploration and the earlier sealers and whalers.
Discovery
South Georgia appeared on maps with the first sighting in 1675 by London merchant Antoine de la Roche. Then in 1775 Captain James Cook circumnavigated the island and made the first landing, claiming the territory for Great Britain, thereby beginning a long relationship which continues to this day.
The Sealers
Passing observations made in Cook’s reports of significant numbers of fur and elephant seals attracted the unwanted attentions of 18th-century sealers who triggered the first bloody chapter in the island’s history. By the 1830’s the fur seal population had been decimated almost to the point of collapse, leading to the decline of the unchecked sealing industry itself.
The Whalers
This wasn’t the last time though that South Georgia’s natural bounty would fall foul to commercial gain. The establishment of the first land-based whaling station at Grytviken in 1904 provided whalers with their first toe-hold on the island, after which operations expanded with further stations, and it became a base for whaling operations.
Fuelled by Europe’s growing appetite for the oils that whales could provide - mostly for margarine and soap - the whalers headed south. It's estimated the subsequent bonanza over six decades led to approx.1.6 million whales being killed in the Southern Ocean. It wasn’t until 1965 that the whaling stations doors were finally closed forever and left to decay.
Main places of interest on South Georgia
South Georgia Island: FAQs
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How do I get to South Georgia?
As South Georgia doesn’t have an airport, you have only 2 choices:
- Cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina located on the southern tip of South America, typically via The Falklands. This is the most common route.
- Fly from Punta Arenas, Chile to The Falklands Islands. From there it's a 2 day crossing by ship to get to South Georgia.
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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 is the weather like on South Georgia Island?
Weather is windy, humid and variable throughout the seasons while average temperatures are relatively similar, with a cold climate all year. Summer temperatures, between November and April, range from 1 to 8°C. The characteristics of the island are very telling of the climate; with windblown flora and 75% coverage of permanent snow and ice.
Although the weather doesn't vary significantly on a month to month basis over summer, daylight hours, ship access and wildlife do, so reading our general guide on the best time to visit Antarctica may be helpful.
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Will I need a visa for South Georgia?
You don’t need a visa to visit the island, only a visitor permit which the operator will arrange if arriving by cruise ship.
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Where can you stay on South Georgia?
There’s no accommodation on South Georgia, which is why people visit by expedition ship or yacht where they can stay onboard.
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Can I get a South Georgia passport stamp?
Yes you will. All visitors have to report to Grytviken where there are stamps for your passport stamped.
Plan your trip
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.
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…
How Can Swoop Antarctica Help You?
We know that you just want to get out there and experience the thrill of the Antarctic, but planning a trip to Antarctica can be a daunting and at times, overwhelming task. As …
South Georgia Cruises
For sheer density of wildlife, majestic scenery, riveting history and remoteness, South Georgia is hard to beat in every single one of these categories. It’s one of the least visited places on earth, however the time and effort invested to get there is paid off with rich dividends.
Ready to plan your Antarctic adventure?
1
Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2
Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3
Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
With over 50 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.
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