Classic South Georgia

In the afternoon, board the MV Ushuaia. After a welcome drink and introductions to the crew and expedition staff, there is a time to get acquainted with your fellow shipmates. Then set sail for the Western Falkland Islands (Malvinas), renowned for their rugged landscapes and abundant seabirds and waterfowl.

The Ushuaia’s open-bridge policy invites guests to join the officers on the bridge to learn about navigation, scan for marine life, and take in sweeping ocean views. These waters are home to a fascinating variety of seabirds—such as albatrosses and petrels—that often glide effortlessly in the ship’s wake. While at sea, join the expedition staff and naturalists on deck as you search for seabirds and other wildlife, including orcas and dolphins. A series of engaging lectures can also help prepare you for your first excursions in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

With favorable conditions, your lecturers and naturalists can accompany you on your first excursion. On the western coast, you might visit the following islands:

West Point Island
West Point Island lies off the most north-westerly point of mainland West Falkland (Malvinas). The attractive settlement sits on the edge of a small harbor on the eastern side of the Island, in the lee of Black Bog Hill and Michael´s Mount. The valley between these two peaks rolls over the center of the island to the dramatic Devil´s Nose, one of the Island´s main attractions. From here visitors are treated to splendid views of Cliff Mountain, the Island´s highest point at 1,250 ft (381 m), and the highest cliffs in the Falklands (Malvinas). This is where you can encounter a vast colony of Rockhopper Penguins and Black-browed Albatrosses, nesting together in close vicinity.

Carcass Island
Carcass Island lies to the north-west of the Falklands archipelago (Malvinas). A mature tussac plantation covers much of the lower ground below Jason Hill to the east. The availability of abundant cover and the absence of cats, rats and mice throughout the island have made for a spectacularly large population of small birds, which is one of Carcass Island´s most delightful features. Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins do also nest here. Peale´s and Commerson´s dolphins come frequently close to the shoreline to get a glimpse of the visitors as well. At the settlement with its beautiful gardens, you are invited to enjoy tea and cookies with the locals.

Overnight, you sail around the northern islands of the archipelago in easterly direction to reach the capital, Stanley, in the following morning.

In the morning hours, you have time to explore the quaint little town of Stanley and its wonderful Museum, souvenir shops and pubs. The town was established in the early 1840´s. Isolation and the weather conditions made life hard, but progress was gradual and punctuated by the extremely eventful times of involvement in two world wars.

For those who are more interested in the outstanding wildlife the Islands have to offer, you do not even have to leave town to enjoy it. Southern Giant Petrels often fly close to the shoreline. The endemic Falkland Steamer Ducks abound on the shorelines while Kelp Gulls can often be seen flying together with Dolphin Gulls. The less obvious but frequent visitors to Stanley area are Black-crowned Night Herons, Red-backed Hawks and Peregrine Falcons. Turkey Vultures are regularly seen on top of any prominent building. Many pairs of Upland Geese frequent the park and it might be nice to take a stroll around the gardens of town to see some of the singing birds as well.

In the afternoon it is time to set sail, heading for South Georgia.

Located at the southeastern end of the Falkland Islands archipelago, Bleaker Island is one of the least-visited gems of the Falklands. Its rugged coastline and vast tussock-covered plains are home to rockhopper penguin and cormorant colonies nesting among the cliff rocks, while Magellanic penguins burrow into the soft ground in warrens scattered across the island. Settled and farmed since the late nineteenth century, the island is today maintained by its owners Nick and Paula Rendell, keeping alive a pastoral tradition in one of the most unspoiled landscapes of the South Atlantic.

An extensive lecture program is offered during the days at sea. Expert naturalists share their knowledge of the wildlife and unique ecosystems you can encounter throughout our voyage. South Georgia is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on earth with more wildlife than virtually anywhere else on the planet.

South Georgia comes in sight! Though extremely isolated, it has amazing scenery ranging from high mountains and mighty glaciers to deep fjords and low-lying grassland. If the weather is favorable, you would aim to visit one of the following sites in the late afternoon:

Elsehul
Situated at the northwestern extremity of South Georgia on the eastern side of the knife-edged summit ridges of Parydian Peninsula, Elsehul is a beautiful little harbor. It is the only visitor site on the island, where colonies of Black-browed and Grey-headed Albatrosses can be viewed from zodiacs within the protection of sheltered inshore waters.

Right Whale Bay
Right Whale Bay is a bay 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide, entered between Craigie Point and Nameless Point along the north coast of South Georgia. The name dates back to at least 1922, when South Georgia was still a center for commercial whaling. Today, you hope to encounter a small colony of King Penguins, along with Giant Petrels, gulls, and breeding fur seals on the black ashen beach.

Your exact itinerary depends on local land and sea conditions, but the following destinations are among those that you would like to explore:

Salisbury Plain
Sometimes called the “Serengeti of the South”, Salisbury Plain is a wildlife site without parallel. Several large glaciers provide a dramatic backdrop for the more than 44,000 breeding pairs of king penguins and their chicks that nest in the tussac grass of this remarkable ecosystem. The wide beach makes for excellent walking as you visit the colony, where you are literally surrounded and delightfully outnumbered by throngs of curious, gentle penguins. Elephant seals also abound, as well as Southern Giant Petrels and the occasional wandering Gentoo Penguin. Prepare for an awe-inspiring experience.

Willis Islands
The Willis Islands form a dramatic western outpost, rising 1,800 feet from the Southern Ocean. These rugged, tussock-covered peaks are a spectacular sanctuary for wildlife, home to colonies of albatrosses and thriving populations of macaroni penguins. This remote ecosystem offers an unforgettable glimpse into one of the world’s richest and most biodiverse seabird habitats.

Grytviken
Grytviken lies within King Edward Cove, a sheltered harbor tucked between Hope Point and Hobart Rock on the western shore of Cumberland East Bay. The rusting ruins of the Grytviken whaling station are situated on a level plain at the head of the cove, backed by steep hills and mountains. Now the site of the South Georgia Museum, the station remains a focal point of interest for many visitors, as does Sir Ernest Shackleton's grave in the nearby whaler's cemetery and his memorial cross on Hope Point. The scenery in this area is exceptionally beautiful even by South Georgia standards: the glaciers and snow-covered peaks of the Allardyce Range – Mt. Sugartop, Mt. Paget, Mt. Roots, Nordenskjöld Peak, Mt. Kling and Mt. Brooker – form a magnificent backdrop to the cove, and the views from King Edward Point in particular, must be among the finest on earth.

Godthul
Situated 5.58 miles (9 km) east of Cumberland East Bay on the eastern shores of Barff Peninsula, Godthul is a 1.86 miles (3 km) long inlet that lies between Cape George and Long Point. Gentoo Penguins are abundant on the tussac plateau and Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses echo off the natural cliff amphitheater that encircles the harbor. A floating factory ship serviced by two whale catchers was stationed here each summer between 1908 and 1929. A small shore depot supporting the whaling operations was established close by the stream in the southeast corner of the harbor, and the rusting barrels, wooden shed and boats are fascinating relics of the whaling era, as is the impressive collection of whale and elephant seal bones scattered along the beach.

Fortuna Bay
A spectacular 6-kilometer-long fjord on the central north coast of the island, Fortuna Bay lies between Cape Best and Cape Robertson, offering breathtaking views of glaciers, ice walls, and rugged mountain scenery. It was here that Sir Ernest Shackleton and his two companions descended to the shores of Whistle Cove during the final stage of their legendary crossing of South Georgia in 1916.

The bay's main attraction is a colony of approximately 7,000 breeding pairs of king penguins, spread across the glacial outwash plain in front of König Glacier, about 1.5 kilometers from the landing site. Light-mantled sooty albatrosses’ nest on the slopes of Breakwind Ridge, whose jagged silhouette contrasts beautifully with the sweeping curves of the glacier below.

Southern elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals add to the area's remarkably rich terrestrial wildlife around Whistle Cove. At the far end of the beach, a historic sealers' cave with a low stone wall at its entrance serves as a reminder of the seal hunters who once spent weeks ashore under harsh and isolated conditions.

The 1.5-kilometer walk from the landing site to the king penguin colony crosses the flat glacial plain and offers continuous views of the route followed by Shackleton from Breakwind Ridge to the pass leading toward Stromness, bringing one of the most celebrated survival stories in polar exploration vividly to life.

Stromness
Located at the head of the bay of the same name, Stromness is a sheltered inlet dominated by the remains of a former whaling station that began operations in 1907. The broad valley stretching inland follows the route taken by Sir Ernest Shackleton in 1916 at the end of his epic journey across South Georgia, when he arrived exhausted at the station after crossing the island from the opposite coast.

Each summer, hundreds of Antarctic fur seal pups gather near the mouth of the river, while several hundred southern elephant seals use the abandoned buildings as shelter. A small colony of gentoo penguins nest on the hills behind the station, and a few pairs of Antarctic terns breed along the river's gravel bed.

The remains of the whaling station—permanently closed after the 1960–61 season—include whaling ship propellers, masts, and scattered whale vertebrae along the shoreline, serving as poignant reminders of an industry that collapsed during the 1930s due to declining whale stocks and falling global prices.

Cooper Bay
Cooper Bay is found at the southeast extremity of South Georgia. There is a wealth of wildlife at this site, in a spectacular setting. Fascinating volcanic rocks tower over small fjords, giving a stunning invitation for a thrilling zodiac cruise to observe wildlife from the waterfront. Watch out for Chinstrap and Macaroni Penguins.

St Andrews Bay
The surf beaten coastline at St. Andrews Bay runs north-south in a 1.86 mile (3 km) long uninterrupted sweep of fine dark sand, covered in penguins and seals and bounded in the interior by the Cook, Buxton and Heaney Glaciers. The bay hosts the biggest colony of King Penguins on South Georgia with over 250,000 breeding pairs and their chicks. Now in springtime, the beach is also carpeted with elephant seals. Such a large assemblage of wildlife attracts an entourage of persistent and voracious scavengers. Sheathbills dart in and around the penguin colony. Pintado Petrels nest in a small number on the cliffs north of St. Andrews Bay. Leopard seals patrol the rocks at this end of the beach too, hunting for penguins along the edge of kelp beds. A few White-chinned Petrels and Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses nest on the tussac slopes. Brown Skuas and Antarctic Terns breed on the outwash plain and scree slopes at the north end of the beach, defending their nest sites with their characteristic noise and vigor.

Drygalski Fjord
Drygalski Fjord is also located in the far southeast of the island. The glaciers found in this dramatic fjord have retreated significantly in recent decades, but they remain one of the most striking features of this coastline, particularly the Risting and Jenkins Glaciers. With a little luck, you might see the glaciers calve and witness the birth of a new iceberg from on board the ship.

The return from subantarctic waters brings you back into the South Atlantic along the same historic route that has connected the Falkland Islands with the far Southern Ocean for centuries.

During your final day and a half of navigation toward the Beagle Channel, you continue to expand your knowledge through engaging presentations by your Expedition Team while reflecting on and reliving the unforgettable experiences shared throughout these remarkable southern islands. You also remain on the lookout for seabirds and other wildlife that may accompany you on your journey back.

As your voyage gradually draws to a close, you begin preparing to bring this truly unique and unforgettable experience to a fitting conclusion. On your final evening aboard, you enjoy a special farewell dinner in the presence of the Captain, following the traditional closing ceremony, where together with fellow expeditioners you celebrate the memories, friendships, and shared experiences forged throughout this extraordinary adventure.

Arrive at the port of Ushuaia in the early morning and disembark your ship after breakfast.