South Georgia Island
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands make up an archipelago in the southern Atlantic Ocean, approximately 869-miles east of the Falkland Islands. The island is best known for its history of famous Arctic exploration and is the final resting place for Sir Ernest Shackleton.
Getting there
South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands can be visited as part of certain Antarctic expedition cruises, with many voyages departing from South America on a round-trip with an overnight port stay or day-stop included at the capital of King Edward Point.
During peak season, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands attract several cruise lines, with guests immersing themselves in towering glaciers and snow-capped peaks. Throughout the season, you’ll find various expedition cruises available with the likes of Hurtigruten, Lindblad Expeditions and ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises that regularly stopover on the island.
As there are no permanent residents on the island, South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands are only accessible by sea. There is no accommodation or public services ashore; therefore, people must visit by ship.
History
South Georgia was the first Antarctic territory to be discovered in 1675, where it was quickly established as a British overseas territory. The local town of Grytviken eventually became home to the largest whaling station on the island before closing down in 1965, where it later became the military base for Argentina during the Falkland Islands War. Today, a small non-permanent population resides in South Georgia for work purposes, with the island being accessible to the public by expedition voyages only.
The old, notorious whaling station is still a popular site to visit.
Things to do
Whilst on an expedition voyage in South Georgia, the expedition team will guide you to breathtaking spots on the island, where you will have ample opportunity to participate in offshore activities, including hiking, kayaking, and snowshoeing.
One of the most notable attractions on the island is the grave of the famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, where he rests peacefully alongside fellow explorer Frank Wild at the site of Grytviken cemetery. Just around the corner, you’ll find the history museum, where you’ll learn all about South Georgia’s natural heritage, including the lives of its small population along with Grytviken’s ghost town and derelict whaling station.
South Georgia is well known for its large colonies of king penguins and elephant seals who reside between the 3-mile-long Fortuna Bay and the bight 2-mile-wide St Andrew’s Bay, both located on the island’s northeast side and collectively house over 100,000 birds, including the giant albatross.
The island’s church looks out towards Grytviken’s derelict whaling station.
Cuisine
As there are no permanent inhabitants of South Georgia, there are no restaurants or eateries on the island open to the public; however, the primary food source is seafood (particularly shellfish), including tuna, sea bass and swordfish. Due to the surrounding conditions of South Georgia, fruit and vegetables are shipped in from overseas or harvested by Antarctica’s scientists from the Antarctic greenhouse.
For the full arctic experience, you may have the opportunity to try ‘Hoosh’, which is a broth made up of pemmican, biscuits and melted ice. Pemmican is a traditional dish of its own which is a combination of ground and dried meats with lots of fat. Although certainly not the most desirable, the aim is to keep your body warm throughout the bitter climate.
Best time to visit
Visiting South Georgia between November and March is when you’d get the most out of your trip, with February being the peak whale watching season. It’s rare to have expedition cruises operating between April and October due to decreasing temperature and brewing storms.
Snow-capped mountains and glaciers tower over South Georgia Island.
