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
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Birding
Meet at least six penguin species!
OTL21-21 A cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula. Visit some of the most beautiful arrays of wildlife on Earth. This journey
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
25 Oct - 14 Nov, 2021
Price:
12600 USD
8 days South Georgia Special incl. Steeple Jason, Carcass Island, Falkland Islands - Birding
Experience the best of the sub-Antarctic
JNS21-21 Few places compare to South Georgia in terms of exotic wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery, and the Falklands are no different. On this exploratory voya
m/v Janssonius
Cruise date:
5 Nov - 25 Nov, 2021
Price:
12600 USD
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Meet at least six penguin species!
HDS21-21 A cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula. Visit some of the most beautiful arrays of wildlife on Earth. This journey
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
6 Nov - 26 Nov, 2021
Price:
12600 USD
Falkland Islands – South Georgia – SOLAR ECLIPSE – Antarctic Peninsula
A riveting cosmic event only fully experienced along a narrow terrestrial pathway
PLAEC-21 Though you can see the total solar eclipse along a few key path locations around the globe, none of them offers as unique a “venue” as Antarctica. Com
m/v Plancius
Cruise date:
23 Nov - 12 Dec, 2021
Price:
16400 USD
Antarctic Peninsula - SOLAR ECLIPSE - South Georgia - Falkland Islands
A riveting cosmic event only fully experienced along a narrow terrestrial pathway
JNSEC-21 Though you can see the total solar eclipse along a few key path locations around the globe, none of them offers as unique a “venue” as Antarctica. Com
m/v Janssonius
Cruise date:
25 Nov - 14 Dec, 2021
Price:
16400 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
Oceanwide Expeditions’ “Wild, Wild South” video an Adventure in Motion finalist
Oceanwide’s short video, “Wild, Wild South: Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctica,” has been selected as a finalist in th
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
IT DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS
Congratulations to everyone at Oceanwide for providing a superbly well run expedition on a marvellous ship. The Hondius is a world-leader in its eco credentials and superb for its operating environment. Ever
Read full review »A memorable trip
This was dream trip of a lifetime. We are very please that we chose the Hondius. The hotel staff were superb , friendly and very helpful , the food was excellent and the facilities appropriate for an expedit
Read full review »A Superb Antarctic Trip
An outstanding trip which was everything we hoped for and more. The passionate Oceanwide Expedition leader who , with his team epitomised the spirit of expedition by ensuring, (whether permitting!) we landed
Read full review »Unforgettable Holiday
Every aspect of this cruise exceeded our expectations. The staff were all most welcoming, enthusiastic, very experienced and thought of everything each of us could possibly need or want to make this the most
Read full review »Trip of a lifetime
Incredible, probably does not describe our trip and I’m not sure any word can. The ship, Captain, leaders, guides, food, wait staff, housekeeping- everyone treated us like royalty. The wildlife just mi
Read full review »
Life Changing Expedition
Although it's impossible to sum up our Oceanwide trip on Hondius from Ushuaia to The Falklands/Malvinas, South Georgia, South Orkneys, Elephant Island, South Shetlands and the Antarctic Peninsula below t
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, USA, 19:00 (7 p.m.) in London, U.K. and 6:00 (6 a.m.) the following morning
Read more »What is the Temperature and Weather Like in South Georgia?
The climate in South Georgia is considered to be polar. Therefore, it is possible that you will experience a variety of different weather types while participating in an expedition cruise to South Georgia. The average temperatures vary widely dependi
Read more »What Wildlife Can I See in South Georgia?
Many people take a cruise to South Georgia specifically with wildlife in mind. The area has a rich and diverse bird life such as huge king penguin colonies. Other birds that you will see when you travel to South Georgia include albatrosses, terns and
Read more »How Many People Live in South Georgia?
South Georgia has an average population of only 30 people, but none of them are native, and they are not considered to be permanent inhabitants. Two-thirds of these residents live in Grytviken, with the remainder being British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
Read more »Who Owns South Georgia?
South Georgia is a British overseas territory. The island was reportedly first spotted 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
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.
