900,000 King Penguins
Walk amongst the hundreds of thousands of king penguins that inhabit South Georgia.
Welcome to “the most staggering wildlife show on Earth”. This in-depth exploration of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands is a memorable wildlife-centric sailing voyage that travels to one of the planet’s most isolated islands.
Allowing a week for exploration of South Georgia Island, this voyage spends twice as much time in the wildlife haven than the majority of other options. With beaches crammed full of prolific wildlife and a backdrop of snow-capped peaks, this journey presents the opportunity to walk amongst some of the hundreds of thousands of king penguins that call this place home.
Walk amongst the hundreds of thousands of king penguins that inhabit South Georgia.
Watch as rival male elephant seal “beachmasters” contend for their harem of females.
Visit South Georgia Island, one of the remotest and most inaccessible islands on Earth.
Follow in the footsteps of British Antarctic explorers and visit their final resting sites.
Day 1
Ushuaia
Day 2
Embarkation in Ushuaia
Day 3
At Sea
Sailing towards the Falklands in the company of pelagic birdlife
Days 4-6
Falkland Islands
Days 7 - 8
Sailing the Scotia Sea
Photograph the albatross and petrels swirling around the ship.
Days 9 - 13
South Georgia
Days 14 - 16
Sailing to Ushuaia
Day 17
Ushuaia
Disembark in Ushuaia
Day 1
Ushuaia
A day to explore the city of Ushuaia prior to embarkation.
Day 2
Embarkation in Ushuaia
Set sail from Ushuaia heading out through the Beagle Channel.
Day 3
At Sea
Days 4-6
Falkland Islands
Visit albatross and rock hopper penguin colonies, search the seas for Commerson’s & Peale’s dolphins and take in the museum at Stanley.
Days 7 - 8
Sailing the Scotia Sea
Days 9 - 13
South Georgia
Walk amongst the hundreds of thousands of king penguins that inhabit South Georgia, one of the remotest and most inaccessible islands on Earth.
Days 14 - 16
Sailing to Ushuaia
Sailing back to Ushuaia with full hard drives.
Day 17
Ushuaia
These windswept and isolated islands are home to over 60 species of breeding birds including the great numbers of rock hopper penguins and black browed albatross whose colonies are easily accessible. The surrounding waters are home to Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins along with Orca. After visiting the church and museum sip a tipple in a colourful English pub in the Falkland’s capital of Stanley. sailing past sea ice from calving glaciers to sipping a tipple in a colourful English pub in the Falkland Islands’ city of Stanley, the unique wonders of the South Atlantic Ocean are not overlooked during this voyage.
Despite its 3,000-metre towering mountains that are permanently covered in snow and ice, the real highlight of South Georgia Island is its wildlife – there are over 50 million seabirds, 5 million seals and 4 million penguin pairs. From rare rockhopper penguins and distinctive fur seals to lazing elephant seals and weaving skuas, there is no shortage of phenomenal wildlife thriving in this glacial region. The jewel in the crown of South Georgia’s biodiversity are the nearly million-strong population of king penguins and colossal elephant seals that battle for control.
Seek out the relics of old abandoned whaling stations, which now seem entirely out of place in this pristine and protected environment, and find the graves of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his right-hand man Frank Wild. On-board expert historians will shed light on to their epic crossing from King Haakon Bay in 1916 and it may be possible to follow in their footsteps by hiking across the saddle separating Fortuna Bay from Stromness.
In the early season, South Georgia Island is veiled in a phenomenal light that makes for a photographers’ paradise. With astonishing compositions around every corner and opportunities to go up on deck to catch the pre-dawn light, this island is the place where veteran wilderness photographers flock.
Prices will vary depending on the ship and cabin type that your choose. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?