The Falklands & South Georgia

Your Falklands and South Georgia expedition cruise begins in the Chilean port city of Punta Arenas, where having arrived independently, you can make your way to the cruise operator’s exclusive Explorer’s House base, a purpose-built open space where you can prepare for your expedition by attending briefings, practicing your Zodiac-boarding skills, shopping for expedition gear, and more. A group transfer will then take you to the port for embarkation at 4pm. As you familiarise yourself with the ship, you will set sail through the beautiful Strait of Magellan where your expedition crew will introduce you to the history of this fabled sea route.

Many guests choose to arrive in Punta Arenas, the gateway to Patagonia, a day before their tour starts in order to enjoy some of the nearby countryside and national park. If this is something that may be of interest to you please feel free to ask for details and special offers that may be available for extending your stay.

Today will be spent at sea sailing towards the Falkland Islands. This is the perfect opportunity to relax before the adventures that lie ahead. Your programme of expert lectures and presentations will begin, offering fascinating insights into the wildlife, nature and history of the Falklands and South Georgia.

Your first day in the Falklands will take you to the western side of the archipelago, and it will be time to get ready for your first of many shore excursions as you take an enjoyable walk along the remote white sandy beach of Saunders Island. Here we hope to have our first encounters with rockhopper and gentoo penguins along with nesting black browed albatross before moving on to Carcass Island. On Carcass there will be options available for a hike to the settlement to enjoy a typical Falklands tea experience and ample birdwatching opportunities.

The following day we will make our way to Stanley, the charming capital of the Falkland Islands, where you can enjoy a guided walk of the town or nearby Gypsy Cove. Alternatively, you may choose to wander around the town at your own pace, stopping for lunch in a welcoming local pub, absorbing the unique atmosphere, or visiting the war memorials, maritime museum and church.

As we sail towards South Georgia you can spend some time relaxing in the comfort and style of your brand-new expedition vessel, including the two observation areas and spacious deck that will allow you a front row seat for spotting the magnificent seabirds including petrels and albatrosses that may be following the ship along with numerous species of whales. Your informative and entertaining lecture and presentation programme will also continue, covering everything from historical sea explorations to the wildlife and geology of the fascinating areas visited on your trip.

Depending on sea conditions over the previous days, we plan to arrive in South Georgia on the afternoon of day 7. Provided we receive approval from the South Georgia Government, we plan to do an evening Zodiac cruise at Elsehul Bay to celebrate our arrival in this wildlife paradise.

On day 8 we will make our first landing on South Georgia as we arrive at Grytviken to learn all about the legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and to pay our respects at his final resting place. We will also visit the museum as well as some other important historical sites. In the afternoon our focus will turn to wildlife as we arrive at Fortuna Bay to witness the memorable spectacle of uncountable king penguins bustling along the shore. From here you will also have the opportunity to hike the “Shackleton Walk” from Fortuna Bay to Stromness which retraces the last part of his epic journey.

On the morning of day 9 we plan to land at the spectacular location of Gold Harbour where a blanket of penguins, huge elephant seals and sooty albatross amongst the backdrop of hanging glaciers creates the most unforgettable scene. We will spend some time exploring the area and photographing the wildlife before moving on to Cooper Bay to enjoy a Zodiac cruise in search of sightings of macaroni penguins.

The following day St Andrews Bay is the destination of our morning excursion. Here we see the largest king penguin colony on the island as well as huge numbers of elephant seal bulls. In the afternoon we plan a Zodiac cruise and landing at Ocean Harbour to see a shipwreck and some remains of the whaling industry.

On the morning of our last day in South Georgia we plan to visit Prion Island to see the nesting wandering albatross before heading to the famous Salisbury Plain for even more king penguins and stunning landscapes that will offer the perfect farewell to this incredible area.

As we make our way back to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), our program of lectures and presentations continues. These days at sea are a great chance to relax with your new-found friends, collate the countless pictures you will have taken on your voyage, and enjoy the fantastic facilities onboard.

On our way back to Punta Arenas we will make one last stop in the Falklands to make an evening landing on the natural reserve and famous bird area of Bleaker Island where we can enjoy some fantastic birdwatching experiences.

We now may our way back to Punta Arenas, filled with memories of an unforgettable adventure. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, you can take a group transfer to the town centre where the Explorer’s House will remain available to you for the day, or make your way to the airport for your onward journey.