King Penguins and Elephant Seals, South Georgia

South Georgia & the Falkland Islands

  • EXPERT-LED CRUISE
Start date End date Days
Prices from
ex. flights
Boat
23/09/24 09/10/24 17 days £8,715 Magellan Explorer Reserve place
09/10/24 25/10/24 17 days £8,715 Magellan Explorer Reserve place

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 voyage that travels to one of the planet’s most isolated islands.

With beaches crammed full of prolific wildlife and a backdrop of snow-capped peaks, South Georgia is a spectacular wildlife haven and this journey presents the opportunity to walk amongst some of the hundreds of thousands of king penguins that call it home.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

King Penguins, Antarctica 1

900,000 King Penguins

Walk amongst the hundreds of thousands of king penguins that inhabit South Georgia.

Grytviken Cemetry, South Georgia, Antarctica 2

Shackleton & Wild

Follow in the footsteps of British Antarctic explorers and visit their final resting sites.

Elephant Sea Lion, South Georgia 3

Battling Beachmasters

Watch as rival male elephant seal “beachmasters” contend for their harem of females.

Gentoo Penguins, South Georgia Islands, Antarctica 4

Human Population: 0

Visit South Georgia Island, one of the remotest and most inaccessible islands on Earth.

Explore our suggested itinerary

  • Day 1

    Punta Arenas

  • Day 2

    Embarkation in Punta Arenas

  • Day 3

    At Sea

  • Day 4

    Saunders Island & Carcass Island (Falkland Islands)

  • Day 5

    Port Stanley (Falkland Islands)

  • Days 6 - 7

    At Sea

  • Day 8

    Elsehul Bay (South Georgia)

  • Day 9

    Grytviken & Fortuna Bay (South Georgia)

  • Day 10

    Gold Harbour & Cooper Bay (South Georgia)

  • Day 11

    St Andrews Bay & Ocean Harbour (South Georgia)

  • Day 12

    Prion Island & Salisbury Plain (South Georgia)

  • Day 13 - 15

    At Sea

  • Day 16

    Bleaker Island (Falkland Islands)

  • Day 17

    At Sea

  • Day 18

Day 1

Punta Arenas

Arrive into Punta Arenas and transfer to your accommodation to overnight.

Day 2

Embarkation in Punta Arenas

In the afternoon transfer to the port for embarkation. As sailing begins along the Strait of Magellan, the expedition team will introduce the history of this fabled sea route.

Day 3

At Sea

Relax onboard and enjoy the ship’s hospitality as you cruise to the Falklands (Malvinas). Enjoy some of the lectures and presentations on board and look out for the company of pelagic birdlife as you sail.

Day 4

Saunders Island & Carcass Island (Falkland Islands)

Disembark and walk along the long white-sand beach of Saunders Island, home to rockhopper penguins, nesting
black-browed albatross, and sub-Antarctic gentoo penguins. In the afternoon, visit Carcass Island with an optional, easy hike to the settlement there for bird watching and a typical Falklands tea experience.

Day 5

Port Stanley (Falkland Islands)

Join the expedition team on guided walking tours of Port Stanley or Gipsy Cove. Alternatively, explore independently, absorbing the atmosphere, maybe stopping for lunch at the local pub, visiting the Maritime Museum or walking down Ross Road, paying
tribute at the waterfront war memorials.

Days 6 - 7

At Sea

Sail towards South Georgia, joining the expert guides to watch for wildlife from the deck or lounge – magnificent seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels can be seen as well as various whale species. Presentations on the history and fauna of the archipelago will also be given.

Day 8

Elsehul Bay (South Georgia)

Depending on sea conditions over the previous days, arrival is planned for the afternoon. Pending approval from the South Georgia government, take an evening Zodiac cruise at Elsehul Bay. This beautiful natural harbour ringed by cliffs is home to three species of nesting albatrosses as well as macaroni and gentoo penguins plus several petrel species.

Day 9

Grytviken & Fortuna Bay (South Georgia)

First landing today is at Grytviken. After clearing Customs, visit the historical site with the museum and Ernest
Shackleton’s grave. Afternoon landing at Fortuna Bay/Stromness to see king penguins and learn more about Shackleton and his expedition. There is an additional, optional 2-3 hours “Shackleton walk.”

Day 10

Gold Harbour & Cooper Bay (South Georgia)

Planned morning landing at Gold Harbour, a spectacular location with king penguins, elephant seals, and hanging glaciers. There are also sooty albatrosses here. In the afternoon  visit Cooper Bay by Zodiac, to see macaroni penguins.

Day 11

St Andrews Bay & Ocean Harbour (South Georgia)

Morning excursion to St Andrews Bay to see a shipwreck and the remains of the whaling industry as well as the largest king
penguin colony and elephant seal bulls. Take a Zodiac cruise this afternoon, landing at the old whaling station of Ocean Harbour.

Day 12

Prion Island & Salisbury Plain (South Georgia)

Morning visit to Prion Island to see the nesting wandering albatross. Afternoon visit to Salisbury Plain for more king penguins and stunning landscapes.

Day 13 - 15

At Sea

Time onboard as the ship cruises back to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).

Day 16

Bleaker Island (Falkland Islands)

Evening landing at Bleaker Island, a natural reserve with a famous bird area featuring a large variety of birds.

Day 17

At Sea

Another day at sea with time to photograph the albatross and petrels swirling around the ship.

Day 18

Disembark in Punta Arenas today and transfer to the airport for onward travel.

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

Gypsy Cove, Falkland Islands
Gypsy Cove, Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

These windswept and isolated islands are home to over 60 species of breeding birds including a 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.

King Penguins, South Georgia
King Penguins, South Georgia

Millions of King Penguins

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 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.

The grave of Shackleton
The grave of Shackleton, South Georgia

Sir Ernest Shackleton

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.

King Penguins, Beach, South Georgia Islands, Antarctica
King Penguins, Beach, South Georgia Islands, Antarctica

Capturing the Light

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.

How does this holiday make a positive impact?

The Magellan Explorer complies with the most stringent tier III emission standards – it is equipped with an energy-recovery system that recycles the heat produced by the engines which in turn warms the ship and its water supply.

Travel is a great educator. Get hands on with the Citizen Science Program supporting research facilities and providing invaluable data to the scientific community. This could be anything from counting penguins and taking ocean samples to cloud mapping or taking photo identification images for the whale data bank. An enriching experience offering a new perspective to your travels.

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Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Magellan Explorer £££££

  • Antarctica

The 100-passenger Magellan Explorer launched in December 2019 specialising in fly-cruise itineraries to Antarctica. During Antarctic fly cruise itineraries the ship will operate with a maximum of 76 passengers. Specific measures have been taken to minimize Magellan Explorer’s carbon footprint, including state-of-the-art low emission engines. There are 50 spacious passenger suites and cabins in five categories, including dedicated single cabins. All double cabins have twin beds that can be configured as one queen-size bed. 42 cabins feature a large window and a private balcony, while eight lowest grade cabins have a porthole. All cabins have a private bathroom and a sitting area.

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Other available dates

For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980

Start date End date Days
Prices from
ex. flights
Boat
23/09/24 09/10/24 17 days £8,715 Magellan Explorer Reserve place
09/10/24 25/10/24 17 days £8,715 Magellan Explorer Reserve place

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