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South Georgia Island, Shackleton walk

South Georgia - In Depth

Example 17 Day Cruise aboard Akademik Sergey Vavilov
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Indulge in an in-depth exploration of the remote island of South Georgia, called ‘the greatest wildlife show on earth’. This particular departure is timed to coincide with the arrival of spring, a time of intense wildlife activity. Spend eight full days exploring South Georgia. November is a critical time in the wildlife migration and breeding cycle for many species. Scenes of male elephant seals battling for control of the beaches (and the female harems), the intimate and beautiful courtship rituals of the albatross, and antics of the young penguin chicks, will have you believing you are 'on the set' of your very own wildlife documentary. For lovers of remote, small-ship expedition cruising, this voyage ticks all the boxes.
A king penguin dives into the waterView of Stromness from the waterObserve beautiful fur sealsOld whaling boat in GrytvikenSouth Georgia Island, Shackleton walk
Highlights
  • Explore the charming and historic city of Stanley, Falkland Islands
  • Observe astonishing wildlife while sailing towards South Georgia
  • Learn about the environment, wildlife, history, and ecology from experts
  • Visit Drygalski Fjord, the most spectacular spot in South Georgia
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Punta Arenas, Chile | Falkland Islands | Embark

You journey commences this morning in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas. Meet at a central location before transferring to the airport for your scheduled flight to Stanley in the Falkland Islands. (This flight is included in the price of your voyage). After a short 90-minute journey you are met on arrival and transferred to the pier. Stanley is currently home to just over 2,000 residents and is reminiscent of a rural town in coastal Britain. It is charming with brightly colored houses, pretty flower-filled gardens, a quaint cathedral, and several local pubs. There is time to explore the town before ship embarkation. After settling in to your cabins and exploring the ship, meet your expedition team and fellow passengers. Excitement is in the air as you enjoy a welcome cocktail, dinner and cast off, bound for South Georgia.

Day 2-3: At Sea towards South Georgia

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
This stretch of the South Atlantic is rich in its biodiversity and showcases an abundance of astonishing wildlife. You are joined by hundreds of seabirds including the wandering albatross. Giant petrels and smaller Cape petrels are also constant companions as you make your way to South Georgia. Photographing these magnificent birds takes patience and skill and the photography expert is on hand to show you the best techniques. Join the ship’s Captain on the bridge and learn about the operations of your modern research vessel. Throughout the day your onboard experts educate you with a series of presentations about the environment, wildlife, and history and the locations you may visit in the coming days. History is a key theme of this voyage and the epic story of Shackleton is central to your journey.

Day 4-6: King Haakon Bay | Northwest Coast of South Georgia

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Majestic snow-covered mountains greet you on arrival in South Georgia. Weather permitting, begin your exploration on the southern coastline. Navigate the ship into the very historic location of King Haakon Bay. It was here that Shackleton and his men made landfall in their small lifeboat – the 'James Caird', after completing the perilous ocean crossing from Elephant Island, a century ago. This is a very dramatic place, visited by just a handful of ships each season. From here, make your way around to the more protected waters of the northeastern coast.

Indulge in an in-depth exploration, navigating the ship into the bays and harbors the entire length of the island. Elsehul Bay allows for great Zodiac cruising and a possible location to launch the kayakers for a paddle. One of the most anticipated sites in South Georgia is Salisbury Plain. The black sand beaches and tussock-covered dunes are home to a staggering abundance of king penguin adults and their young. The rookery is estimated to have a population of up to 100,000 adult and juvenile penguins. This is just one of several such king penguin rookeries on South Georgia. At the height of breeding season, the rookeries are believed to have more wildlife per square foot than any other place on the planet. The majestic ‘Kings’ are not the only wildlife on display as you explore the rugged coastline. Fur seals can be seen poking their heads above the water, the elephant seals enjoy lazing about the beach, while the skuas and giant petrels fill the skies above. Meanwhile, the albatross – your constant companion on this journey – is never far away.

Day 7-9: Fortuna Bay | Stromness | Grytviken

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Fortuna Bay is a majestic three-mile-long fjord. It was named after the ship 'Fortuna' – one of the original vessels of the Norwegian–Argentine whaling expedition which established the first permanent whaling station at Grytviken further along the coast. History comes into sharp focus as you continue west to Stromness and onto Grytviken. From 1912 until the 1930s, Stromness (and nearby Leith and Husvik) operated as whaling stations and the rusted and ghostly remnants of these old stations seem out of place in such a pristine environment. This area is key to the Shackleton story and it was here in 1916 that Shackleton and his companions, Frank Worsley and Tom Crean, arrived after their epic mountain crossing from King Haakon Bay on the south coast. This is after having completed their 800-mile journey by small boat from Elephant Island in Antarctica.

If the weather co-operates, hike in Shackleton's footsteps, the last few miles across the saddle separating Fortuna Bay from neighboring Stromness. Eventually enter the broad expanse of Cumberland Bay, anchoring off Grytviken – the largest of the old whaling stations on South Georgia. A highlight of your landing here is a visit to the grave site of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his loyal right hand man, Frank Wild. Frank Wild’s lifelong wish was to be buried beside Shackleton. However his wish never materialized due to the outbreak of WWII, a week after Wild’s passing in South Africa. Your voyage falls exactly five years following the transport of Wild’s ashes to South Georgia aboard your ship, and some 97 years after his last voyage with Shackleton in 1921.

Day 10-13: St. Andrews Bay | Gold Harbour

  • Ship
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
The next few days take you to St Andrew’s Bay and Gold Harbour – places that are teeming with wildlife including fur seals, elephant seals, and massive colonies of the colorful king penguins. As with all of your landings explore on foot with the experienced guides. Locations may include the old whaling depot at Godthul. There is a terrific hike here up to a beautiful lake. Gold Harbour is so called because the sun's rays make the cliffs yellow with their light in the morning and evening. It’s an exhilarating location. Drygalski Fjord at the far eastern extremity of the island has been called one of the most spectacular sites in South Georgia. If it is calm enough you can hear the glacier calving large chunks of ice, reminders of what early sealers, whalers, and vessels needed to pay close attention to. Your visit to this breathtaking place is a fitting way to complete your journey. Reflecting on ten epic days of exploration, chart a course for South America and your final destination - Ushuaia.

Day 14-16: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Your final days are spent catching up on journal entries, or perhaps downloading and reviewing photos in the multimedia lab with the photography expert. For some, it’s a chance to catch some well-earned rest after a busy eight days of exploration. The wonderful lounge and bar on the ship provides fantastic panoramas and is a great place to sit with a book and a hot drink. A particular highlight of your return journey is frequent sightings of the majestic albatross, petrels, and other seabirds as they soar above the ship on the winds of the Southern Ocean. The educational presentations continue and you enjoy an entertaining and memorable voyage recap by your Expedition Leader. Take the time to enjoy a quiet moment on the outer deck and reflect on a truly remarkable journey to the farthest reaches of the planet.

Day 17: Ushuaia, Argentina | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
In the early morning, arrive into Ushuaia, Argentina. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travelers. Guests are transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home. It is possible to connect to flights through to Buenos Aires or other destinations in South America. Otherwise, enjoy a night in town or venture further afield to explore the highlights of Patagonia.

Ship/Hotel

Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Shared Lounge on the Vavilov
Vavilov lounge
Enjoy delicious wines with your meal.

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$12,895
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Triple Share
Twin Semi Private Cabins
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Twin Semi-Private
Deck 4. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and tall wardrobes with internal shelving for storage. Facilities are semi-private (one bathroom between two cabins) and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
Twin Private Cabins
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Twin Private
Deck 3, 4 and 5. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and tall wardrobes with internal shelving storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
Shackleton Suites
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Shackleton Suite
Deck 4 & 5. One double bed, one sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, up-graded bedding, a writing desk/chair, IPod alarm clock, mini stereo, capsule coffee maker, mini bar. Private facilities. Large window that can be opened.

Notes

- Single Supplement: 1.5x for twin and superior cabins and 2x for suites. Single supplement is not available in the triple cabin category.

- Child and Youth Prices: 25% discount for young people aged up to 17 years, and 20% off for those aged from 18-21 years who can prove they are in full-time education.
Included
  • 16 Breakfasts, 15 Lunches, 16 Dinners
  • 16 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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