Falklands & South Georgia - Local Naturalist

Your Falklands & South Georgia photography special itinerary will begin in the Chilean capital of Santiago where having arrived independently you will take your included flight to Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands. Upon arrival at Mount Pleasant you will be greeted by your expert guide and local naturalist, Andy Pollard, and will transfer via internal FIGAS flight to the wonderful Pebble Island. Named for the brightly coloured pebbles which adorn the island’s beautiful beaches, the origins of which remain a mystery, Pebble Island is the third largest of the offshore islands of the archipelago.

After arriving on Pebble Island and checking into your comfortable guest house, there may be time for a quick orientation tour around the island before settling down for your welcome dinner at the lodge.

3 nights accommodation at Pebble Lodge on a full board basis.

You will now spend the next 2 full days, accompanied by your expert guide, seeking out the best wildlife and scenery photo opportunities on the island. Andy will offer his expertise in photography and first-hand knowledge of the island throughout your time here and photography sessions will either be on a 1-2-1 basis or in groups with a maximum of 8 participants.

Home to the largest sand beach in the Falklands, Pebble Island’s pretty landscape features mountain peaks and many large lakes and ponds which attract a wide range of wildfowl and wading birds. The island qualifies as an Important Bird Area and during your time here you will travel all around in the island in search, not only of exceptional scenic opportunities, but also of wildlife encounters. Around 40 birds species have been recorded on the island including over 1,000 pairs of Imperial cormorants as well as several large colonies of Gentoo, Megellanic and Southern Rockhopper penguins. There are also good chances of spotting Commerson’s dolphins and the Queen of the Falklands fritillary butterfly which are regularly recorded here.

This morning you will take an internal flight to Sea Lion Island where you will check into the Sea Lion Lodge before continuing your photographic tours. Sea Lion Island lies 17km south of mainland East Falkland and is the premier wildlife tourism site in the archipelago. As its name suggests, you can expect to see a number of sea lions hauled out on the shore, and the island is also home to 95% of the Falklands’ southern elephant seal population. You will be visiting during Killer whale season so you may be able to tick these off your bucket list of wildlife viewing experiences too. As well as marine wildlife, as with the majority of the Falkland Islands there are also excellent bird watching opportunities, with the island being home to Gentoo, Magellanic and Southern rockhopper penguins, along with an abundance of ground-nesting birds.

As always, Andy will be your expert guide and will take you to best spots on the island for wildlife and landscape phot opportunities.

2 nights’ accommodation at Sea Lion Lodge on a full board basis.

On day 6 you will take another internal flight to Stanley and check in to the welcoming Malvina House Hotel. Stanley is a charming town which looks very much like a traditional English village, and is a place of great historical interest. There is a harbour, cathedral and a number of welcoming British-style pubs. There is also the fantastic Falkland Islands Museum. Your time here will include a mixture of free time at leisure to explore through the colourful streets, and further photographic outings. Lots of birds can be seen within the town and along the waterfront area including geese, ducks, petrels and penguins.

On the evening of day 7 you will be invited to join a special farewell dinner with your group and tour leader.

2 nights’ accommodation at Malvina House Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis.

Today the second portion of your exciting itinerary begins as you make your way to the port to board the fantastic M/V Sea Spirit expedition ship. After settling into your comfortable cabin and familiarising yourself with the ship, you can make your way to the restaurant for a refreshing welcome cocktail and your first dinner on board.

The next 2 days will be spent at sea as the ship sails east towards beautiful South Georgia. On the way you will pass the remote, seabird-covered Shag Rocks, so have your camera ready on deck. This expedition cruise has been designed specially for photographers (amateurs and professionals alike), so this time at sea is a great opportunity to meet your fellow travellers so discuss techniques and experiences, and to attend some of the photography workshops available onboard.

Your ship will cross the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. Your expert crew will provide lectures and presentations on the wildlife and history of South Georgia as well as briefings on bio-security procedures and the conservation efforts that are in place to protect the natural beauty of the area.

Welcome to the wildlife paradise of South Georgia Island, thought of as the best place on Earth for wildlife and landscape photographers! This exceptionally scenic wilderness is said to be home to over 100 million seabirds, including numerous species of albatross, penguins, prions, petrels, and terns, as well as over 100,000 elephant seals and three million fur seals! Your captain and photography team will take advantage of every opportunity for up-close wildlife encounters by creating a flexible itinerary for your time here, and each day the captain (and the weather) will decide which area to visit in order to get the very most from your South Georgia experience. We will seek out some great locations for the best light and settings for remarkable photography opportunities.

Likely places for exploration include Salisbury Plain and St Andrew’s Bay where penguins and seals flood the beaches jostling for a coveted spot. Don’t be surprised if your arrival is greeted by the inquisitive penguins coming up to you for a closer inspection!

The bountiful waters surrounding South Georgia are also inhabited by an increasing number of whales and you will have the chance to visit the historical whaling station of Grytviken which is also home to the South Georgia Museum. There will also be chance to visit Ernest Shackleton’s grave to pay your respects at the final resting place of this legendary polar explorer.

Your time on this uninhabited island will be filled with exciting Zodiac excursions, photo workshops, wildlife encounters and incredible scenery that will live long in your memory.

As we bid farewell to South Georgia, we now spend 2 days at sea sailing back to the Falkland Islands. This is the perfect time to relax after what will have been a very busy 3 weeks, collate and perfect those images you have shot, join the last photo workshops and presentations, and regale stories of your adventures.

Your adventure concludes where it started as your ship arrives back in Stanley. After breakfast onboard you will disembark and take your transfer to the airport for your included flight back to Santiago. We recommend spending an extra day or 2 in Santiago to explore this vibrant capital city. Please let us know if we can help you with any arrangements.