South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula

Board your Ship Cruising toward South Georgia

Nov 12

Board your ship and like the great explorers before you, depart South America, heading to South Georgia Island. Take in the beauty of Tierra del Fuego and Navarino Island as you make your way southeast.

Cruising toward South Georgia

Nov 13-15

You will be exploring as you cruise, looking for various seabird species and being provided informative lectures in preparation for South Georgia Island.

Explore South Georgia

Nov 16-21

Arrival time at South Georgia will depend on weather conditions and currents. We aim to spend six days exploring sites on South Georgia, one of the most remote islands in the world. There is much to explore in this wild landscape of penguins, albatrosses, and seals. The mountainous rugged interior, a geologic continuation of the Andes chain, is carved by more than 150 glaciers into spectacular fjords and ringed by islands. Our timing in this voyage is carefully chosen to experience South Georgia in a seldom seen but extremely vibrant time. You’ll arrive at an ideal time to catch the height of fur seal breeding (usually in November and December), when males stake out territories at densities so high that travel ashore becomes both dangerous and disruptive. In addition, you arrive during the peak of southern elephant seal breeding. Many large male ‘beachmasters’ seek to own a stretch of beach and are willing to fight in great tonnages of seal jousting because here lie their best hopes for breeding. The male elephant seal puts so much into his territorial defense that his life expectancy is less than half of a female’s. If he is a successful ‘beachmaster’, however, this short life is one of great glory!

In the northeast of the island, you’ll land or zodiac cruise at some of the special sites that become very difficult to impossible to land on once fur seals are in the height of their breeding, and then you will travel south to experience the scale and density of penguin breeding colonies at St. Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain, absorbing the great richness and variety offered by South Georgia to voyagers so fortunate as ourselves. Here are some of the landing sites we hope to reach, though we will not be able to visit them all.

Due to the expeditionary nature of our voyage, specific stops cannot be guaranteed. Flexibility is paramount in expedition travel; our itinerary depends on the conditions. In addition, itineraries adapt as necessary to adhere to current or updated biosecurity protocols and environmental factors. We strive to land often and stay as long as possible, abiding by the Guidelines for Responsible Ecotourism from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands. Below is an overview of various potential landing or cruising sites.

Elsehul
Nestled on the northwestern tip of South Georgia along the rugged Paryadin Peninsula, Elsehul is a sheltered cove with 400‑meter walls of folded sedimentary rock that buffer it from Southern Ocean winds. Visit early in the season, before fur seals overwhelm the beaches, and you’ll find Gray-headed Albatrosses nesting on steep tussock slopes—they are often the first to lay eggs here. Also watch for Black-browed Albatrosses, Macaroni, Gentoo, and King Penguins, and Southern Giant-Petrels quietly incubating nearby. 

Right Whale Bay
Fur seals begin establishing territories on this dramatic, walled beach. At the eastern end, a King Penguin colony gathers near a cascading waterfall flowing from the island’s interior.

Salisbury Plain
A glacial plain in the Bay of Isles, Salisbury hosts around 60,000 pairs of King Penguins. With staggered breeding cycles, you’ll see courting pairs, molting adults, and chicks in various stages of development. South Georgia Pipits, the world’s southernmost perching birds, sing from nearby grasses. Fur and elephant seals share the shore, while Southern Giant-Petrels circle overhead, scavenging the edges of the colony. 

Prion Island
If open for visitation, this is your rare chance to observe Wandering Albatross chicks preparing to fledge. Each pair commands at least 30 square meters around its nest—a dramatic contrast to the tight clusters of King Penguins. Sadly, Wandering Albatross numbers are declining due to longline bycatch and illegal fishing for Chilean Seabass, also known as “white gold.”

Grytviken and King Edward Point
Once a hub of industrial whaling, Grytviken is now silent. Visit the South Georgia Museum for history and natural science exhibits, and walk to Shackleton’s grave. Hear how Sir Ernest Shackleton crossed South Georgia’s rugged interior to rescue his stranded crew, a legendary tale of Antarctic endurance and leadership.

Fortuna Bay
Sheltered by South Georgia’s spine, Fortuna often enjoys calm skies. A King Penguin colony thrives on the grass-covered glacial plain. Above, scan the tussock slopes for Light-mantled Albatrosses performing graceful aerial displays.

Shackleton Walk to Stromness
Retrace the final steps of Shackleton, Crean, and Worsley’s heroic overland crossing from Fortuna Bay to Stromness Harbor. A three-mile trek over a 300-meter ridge offers sweeping glacier views before descending to the rusting remnants of a bygone whaling station.

Godthul
Now home to Gentoo Penguins, this former whaling site features lakes fed by twin waterfalls and framed by jagged peaks. Overhead, the haunting calls of Light-mantled Albatrosses echo as pairs court in synchronized flight.

St. Andrews Bay
One of the planet’s most awe-inspiring wildlife spectacles, St. Andrews Bay hosts over 150,000 pairs of King Penguins stretching across the glacial moraine. The scene is alive with sound, color, and scent. Thousands of southern elephant seals gather here during pupping season—watch for beachmaster battles and tender nursing pups. Weather can turn rapidly with katabatic winds flowing off surrounding glaciers, so heed your expedition leaders. 

Gold Harbour
One of South Georgia’s most protected sites, Gold Harbour is home to dense groups of southern elephant seals, roughly 25,000 King Penguins, a Gentoo Penguin colony, and Light-mantled Albatrosses nesting on cliffs. A striking icefall at the harbor’s edge adds dynamic beauty to this rich wildlife haven. 

Royal Bay
Access is weather-dependent, but landings here reveal a booming King Penguin colony of over 30,000 pairs at Brisbane Point. The cobbled beach is alive with activity, while a glacially carved valley at Moltke Harbour often shelters up to 1,000 elephant seals.

Cooper Bay
A bit of a South Georgia hotspot featuring South Georgia’s only Chinstrap Penguin colony and a thriving group of Macaroni Penguins. Climb through tussock grass to watch breeding activity up close. Though land access to Chinstrap Penguin colonies may still be restricted due to past avian cholera outbreaks, Cooper Island—rat-free and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest—remains critical for South Georgia Pipits and burrow-nesting seabirds. 

Drygalski Fjord and Larsen Harbour
South Georgia’s southern coast showcases unique geology. As your ship cruises the sheer-sided fjord, look starboard to see granite and metamorphic rocks, and port to see the Larsen Harbor Complex, formed from uplifted seafloor basalt. Watch for ice calving from Risting Glacier and flocks of Antarctic Terns and Snow Petrels. Weddell Seals often pup in nearby Larsen Harbor. 

Cape Disappointment
Named by Captain Cook when he realized South Georgia wasn’t a continent, this point is now home to large colonies of Black-browed Albatrosses nesting on steep slopes. Though longline fishing has reduced their numbers, these elegant seabirds still thrive on South Georgia’s wild coastlines.

Cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula

Nov 22-23

As we cruise to Antarctica, you’ll spend time wildlife watching from the ship’s deck and learning from the guides as you attend informative lectures and workshops. Whale numbers are rebounding, so this is a good opportunity to look for various species, including fin whales. And the bird species to look for include Antarctic Petrel, Kerguelen Petrel, and the Snow Petrel.

Due to the expeditionary nature of our voyage, our passage length may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Cruising time may exceed two days between South Georgia Island and the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.

Explore the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

Nov 24-27

We hope to make good time on the navigation from South Georgia to the Antarctic Peninsula giving us four days to explore the Antarctic. The early season is an exciting time as ice begins to recede, allowing passage to some of our favorite landing sites. During the spring season, penguin colonies are re-forming with penguins courting, setting up nests, and some laying eggs. We’re very excited to share the Antarctic’s early season with you. These are some of our favorite sites and routes we choose from, although we will not be able to visit them all! 

Due to the expeditionary nature of our voyage, specific stops cannot be guaranteed. Flexibility is paramount in expedition travel; our itinerary depends on the conditions. We strive to land often and stay as long as possible, abiding by the Guidelines for Responsible Ecotourism from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.

The South Shetland Islands
Stretching across the Bransfield Strait and paralleling the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Shetland Islands are a chain of volcanic islands—some still active—that offer the richest concentrations of terrestrial wildlife in Antarctica. Nicknamed the “Banana Belt of Antarctica”, they benefit from productive upwelling waters of the Circumpolar Current. Even with our immersive itinerary, you’ll need to choose from many spectacular landing sites.

Deception Island
It is an active volcanic caldera and offers a surreal landscape of black-sand beaches, steaming hot springs, and icy cliffs. Enter through Neptune’s Bellows and explore Whaler’s Bay, where Weddell seals haul out onshore and a short hike to Neptune’s Window reveals panoramic views. If seas allow land at Bailey Head, home to 60,000 Chinstrap Penguins.

Half Moon Island & Aitcho Island
At Half Moon Island, Chinstrap Penguins nest against the dramatic backdrop of Livingston Island. Nearby Aitcho Island—blanketed in lush moss and lichen—hosts colonies of both Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins, along with excellent opportunities to see southern elephant seals, Weddell seals, and South American fur seals.

On Aitcho Island, conditions permitting, you may walk across the mossy green terrain—an unexpectedly vibrant contrast to Antarctica’s stark, monochrome landscapes. The route often passes southern elephant seal wallows, offering a memorable chance to observe (and smell!) the world’s largest species of seal, as well as hauled-out Weddell and southern fur seals.

From the South Shetlands, cross the Bransfield Strait into the Gerlache Strait, a prime area for whale sightings and sculpted icebergs. Explore waters around Anvers Island, Dallmann Bay, and the Gerlache proper—home to dramatic peaks, towering glaciers, and rich marine life. 

Climate change has profoundly impacted the Peninsula, with average winter temperatures rising by 9°F (5°C) over the past 50 years. Even so, shifting ice conditions still reveal breathtaking ice formations and an incredible diversity of wildlife.

Western Antarctic Peninsula ~ The Danco Coast, Neumeyer Channel, and Lemaire Channel
Weather and ice dictate whether we explore the Danco Coast or navigate east into the Weddell Sea. On the western side, the Danco Coast dazzles with deep fjords, towering peaks, and tidewater glaciers. Zodiac cruises and landings at sites like Wilhelmina Bay, Neko Harbor, and Paradise Bay offer excellent whale encounters—humpback, minke, and orca—and close-ups of Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins. Look for Snowy Sheathbills, South Polar Skuas, Brown Skuas, and Kelp Gulls scavenging the colonies. 

Cruising through Neumeyer and Lemaire Channels, or around Anvers Island to Biscoe Bay, you’ll find crabeater, Weddell, and leopard seals hauled out on ice floes, with whales surfacing nearby. Towering ice cliffs and fractured glaciers line the coast for epic photography.

At Petermann Island (65°S), observe Gentoo and Adélie Penguins using well-worn snow highways between nests and the sea. The species composition has shifted here—Adélie numbers have halved in 20 years, while Gentoo numbers have doubled, reflecting regional climate changes.

Additional landing sites along the western Peninsula are expected, but which ones will depend on conditions (as is the case with any landing). Port Lockroy, located at the end of the very narrow and beautiful Peltier Channel close to Neumeyer Channel, has a British Antarctica Survey maritime museum and a sprawling Gentoo Penguin colony. Tiny Cuverville Island is also a treat with Gentoo Penguins walking amid the snow and entering and exiting the beach. 

As you return, you will likely pass through the South Shetland Islands again, possibly for a landing at Yankee Harbor on Greenwich Island. Look for Macaroni Penguins among the Chinstrap and Gentoo colonies and keep an eye out for the usual rookery scavengers (Skuas, Gulls, Giant-petrels, and Sheathbills). Here you will find excellent examples of Antarctica’s only two flowering plants, the Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort, the continent’s complete flora at one site!

Flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas, Chile

Nov 28

A smooth two-hour flight carries you from King George Island in the South Shetland Islands back to Punta Arenas, Chile, marking the final leg of your Antarctic adventure. As you board the plane, take one last look at the icy expanse stretching to the horizon—its pristine silence and crisp Antarctic air lingering in your memory. Upon landing in Punta Arenas, you’ll feel the shift from polar wilderness to civilization, carrying with you the profound stillness and wonder of the White Continent. Depending on your flight schedule, you will have accommodation that night in Punta Arenas.

Fly homeward

Nov 29

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and your flight home.

Arrive home

Nov 30