South Georgia is home to two mountain ranges – the Salvesen and the Allardyce – which soar to a peak of almost 3,000 metres above the sea. In the summer almost 75% of the island is covered in snow, ice, and glaciers. Come winter, a covering of snow reaches right down to the water’s edge.
The island is also called an Antarctic Oasis because of the huge numbers of penguins and seals that breed here. The marine ecosystem is considered one of the densest examples of biodiversity in the world. Visitors can spot seals on both the land and in the waters, and a variety of whales pass through the area.
South Georgia is one of the remotest and wildest places on earth.
Cruises to South Georgia
Atlantic Odyssey, excl. Antarctic Peninsula
This far-ranging expedition voyage sails the breadth of the Atlantic, viewing the changing celestial bodies as we cross the equator
HDS34-23 The Atlantic Odyssey cruise visits some of the remotest islands in the world, crossing the migratory paths of Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas, other birds, and a variety of whales as they make their annual expeditions north for the breeding season.
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
27 Mar - 18 Apr, 2023
Price:
8100 USD
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Meet at least six penguin species!
OTL21-23 A cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula. Visit some of the most beautiful arrays of wildlife on Earth. This journey will introduce you to at least 6 species of penguin and a whole lot of Antarctic fur seals!
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
21 Oct - 10 Nov, 2023
Price:
13350 USD
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Meet at least six penguin species!
HDS21-23 A cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula. Visit some of the most beautiful arrays of wildlife on Earth. This journey will introduce you to at least 6 species of penguin and a whole lot of Antarctic fur seals!
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
24 Oct - 13 Nov, 2023
Price:
13350 USD
South Georgia Explorer
Experience the best of the South Georgia
PLA22-23 Few places compare to South Georgia in terms of exotic wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery. On this exploratory voyage you can enjoy wandering albatross colonies while also seeing some of the biggest breeding spots for king penguins and elephant seals...
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
9 Nov - 23 Nov, 2023
Price:
10500 USD
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Meet at least six penguin species
PLA23-23 This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
23 Nov - 11 Dec, 2023
Price:
13550 USD
South Georgia cruise video
South Georgia photo
South Georgia story
Antarctica and My Old Friend, Ortelius: Passenger Story by Ann Lane
I was on the recent Antarctic trip on Ortelius, 16 Feb - 7 March. This has been my third expedition with Oceanwide, and
South Georgia blog
South Georgia Whaling Stations
South Georgia is an animal lover’s dream. In fact, it’s one of the most wildlife-rich locations we visit in all of our p
To do in South Georgia
See the highlights you may experience:
South Georgia wildlife
See the highlights you may experience:
Map of
South Georgia cruise reviews
Good Cruise with great wildlife and awesome talks
The food and rooms were nice. The staff was pleasant and informative. They tried to get us into as many landings for wildlife viewing as possible. My favorite location was South Georgia Island where we say n
trip review
2 things i was disappointed in was that trays of hot foods, ie main entry were not hot, even if i was there when dining room first opened.Would like to have a small gym, maybe a bicycle & treadmill. my f
Read full review »Surpassed expectations
We had a wonderful 18 day expedition on the Hondius. The wildlife and scenery were magnificent. All of the crew were wonderful and constantly cheerful. The expedition crew were highly professional and worked
Read full review »Extraordinary Elephant Seals.....
An excellent Oceanwide 18 day trip to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica. Fantastic to walk amongst the wildlife in all 3 places. Watching the young male Elephant Seals 'fighting' at 2 beach
A dream come true
Extraordinary experience on the Hondius travelling from Ushuaia to Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkney and Antarctica Peninsula, unique concentration of wildlife in the world, amazing polar scenery and la
Read full review »Excellent overall - Amazing staff!
Absolute beautiful expedition cruise! The staff went out of their way to give us a lot of landings and we only had beautiful ones. I will honestly never forget all of the beauty we have seen! The vibe on boa
Read full review »South Georgia FAQ
What is the time in South Georgia?
South Georgia follows Gulf Standard Time (GST). This means that if it is 16:00 GST (4 p.m.) during your holiday to South Georgia, it would be 14:00 (2 p.m.) in New York City, 19:00 (7 p.m.) in London, and 6:00 (6 a.m.) the following morning in the An
Read more »What is the temperature and weather like in South Georgia?
The climate in South Georgia is polar. It is possible that you will experience a variety of different weather types while on a South Georgia cruise. The average temperatures vary widely depending on your exact location. For example, it is usually 0.7
Read more »What wildlife can I see in South Georgia?
Many people take a cruise to South Georgia specifically with wildlife in mind, and for good reason. The area has rich and diverse bird life, not only for its huge king penguin colonies. Other birds that you may see when you travel to South Georgia in
Read more »How many people live in South Georgia?
South Georgia has no resident population. Throughout the year, the research station and governmental facilities are staffed from GSGSS and BAS. In the summer season, the numbers increase with staff from SGHT as well as science and government projects
Read more »Who owns South Georgia?
South Georgia is a British overseas territory. The island was first sighted in 1675 by a London merchant, but it does not appear to have been explored until 1775, when it was claimed for the British. The area was primarily used during the 19th and 20
Read more »What unique features does South Georgia have?
Grytviken is surprisingly well-sheltered, and it has become a popular spot for couples that want a truly unique wedding. The highest peaks on the island are permanently covered in snow, and it is common to see icebergs in the water around South Georg
Read more »
About
South Georgia weather
Temperatures during the winter months (around August) average around 0°C, usually going no lower than -10°C. During the summer (around January) temperatures average around 8°C. Since the weather can be quite variable your best bet is to bring layers.
Facts About South Georgia
- Famed explorer Ernest Shackleton is buried at Grytviken (an old whaling settlement).
- The highest point found on South Georgia is Mount Paget which reaches up to 2,934 metres in height.
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are encompassed by one of the world’s largest Marine Protected Areas. The MPA covers an area of 1.07 million km2.
- South Georgia doesn’t have any sort of permanent human population.
- South Georgia was part of the disputed land claims between Argentina and the U.K. during the Falklands War in 1982. Britain still regularly patrols the waters.
- The only permanent settlements on the island are research stations.
- The only way to get to South Georgia is by boat.
Travel to South Georgia
Take a South Georgia expedition cruise and prepare yourself to venture into a dense oasis of life in the midst of the cold Atlantic Ocean.
On your South Georgia cruise you’ll have a wide variety of activities through which you’ll get to introduce yourself to the wildlife – walks along the shore, extended hikes, diving for the experienced, wildlife watching… the list goes on.
You’ll get to meet a variety of seals, set eyes on a catalogue of birds, and make friends with King penguins who just might investigate you up close and personal.
