South Georgia

Antartica

South Georgia Island South Georgia is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. On the northeastern flanks of the island, the harbours that once sheltered large fleets of whaling ships are now home to a staggering variety and profusion of wildlife. In Stromness, Leith and Grytviken Harbours, the well-preserved remains of vast whaling factories sit quietly at the base of 3000 meter high mountains. The nearby bays are home to literally hundreds of thousands of king, macaroni and rockhopper penguins. On this voyage, we spend an extra day on South Georgia under the keen eye of a bird expert, Dr Phil Hansbro. An optional trekking excursion follows Shackleton's overland route from King Haakon Bay to Stromness.

Officially a subantarctic island, but sharing many of the biological characteristics of Antarctica, South Georgia has no permanent inhabitants, can only be visited by ship, and is viewed by many who have been there as one of the most beautiful places on earth. It has awe-inspiring scenery, with towering 7,000-foot mountains and mighty glaciers, but also low-lying, grassy areas and beaches. The wildlife is extraordinary, not only in its variety, but also for its sheer abundance. South Georgia is home to some 300,000 elephant seals, millions of fur seals, and 25 species of breeding birds, including Wandering Albatrosses, colorful King Penguins and an estimated five million Macaroni Penguins. At this time of the year the elephant seals could still be involved in breeding, and you may see the big males ferociously guarding their harems of females. Fur seals, too, are very territorial. Sir Ernest Shackleton
On 20 May 1916, Sir Ernest Shackleton stumbled into the busy whaling station at Stromness — hungry, exhausted, and covered in grime. He had just made the first-ever crossing of the island of South Georgia from King Haakon Bay. This epic story of survival, which Began with the sinking of his ship, Endurance, in the Weddell Sea six months earlier, symbolizes heroic Antarctic exploration. Shackleton's odyssey started in the northern Weddell Sea, past Elephant Island, and across the Scotia Sea to the southwestern side of South Georgia. This is a magical region, where only a privileged few have walked among the tussock grass, sat quietly near an albatross nest, or gazed at the enormity of an ice cliff reflected in still, midnight-blue water.