If you ever find yourself exploring the breathtaking sub-Antarctic island chain of South Georgia, one of the most captivating spots you'll encounter is the picturesque shoreline of St. Andrews Bay.
While the sheer number of king penguins – approximately 150,000 in the St. Andrews rookery, the largest in South Georgia – is a major draw, it's not the only reason to visit. The abundant populations of southern elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals also add to the allure of St. Andrews Bay.
The combination of this incredible wildlife and the stunning, remote sub-Antarctic landscape makes St. Andrews Bay an irresistible destination. But don't just take our word for it; here are 12 amazing pictures of St. Andrews Bay that speak volumes.
1. Tequila (with a dash of amaretto) sunrise over St. Andrews
2. Smiling St. Andrews Bay Antarctic fur seal pup
3. South Georgia pipit taking some down time at St. Andrews
4. St. Andrews Bay and its big, bold, beautiful mountains
5. The seemly southern elephant seals of St. Andrews
5. St. Andrews Bay scenic shoreline walks
6. Southern elephant seal pup playing cute at St. Andrews
7. St. Andrews Bay’s soothing, sun-kissed beaches
8. King penguin waiting for the St. Andrews tourists
9. Two St. Andrews locals (Antarctic fur seal and king penguin) getting the lay of the land
10. Finally, the great king penguin colony at St. Andrews Bay
11. And another of the St. Andrews king penguin colony
12. And yet another. Come meet them all at St. Andrews Bay!
Best Deals
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special
22 Oct - 11 Nov 2025$ 14.250
South Georgia Explorer
13 Nov - 27 Nov 2025$ 10.900
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
27 Nov - 16 Dec 2025$ 14.800
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
11 Dec - 29 Dec 2025$ 14.500
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
21 Dec - 08 Jan 2026$ 15.600
Related Trips
Antarctica
Puerto Madryn
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special
22 Oct 2025 - 11 Nov 2025 
21 Days / 20 Nights
From $ 14.250 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
South Georgia Explorer
13 Nov 2025 - 27 Nov 2025 15 Days / 14 Nights
From $ 10.900 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
27 Nov 2025 - 16 Dec 2025 20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 14.800 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
11 Dec 2025 - 29 Dec 2025 19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 14.500 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
21 Dec 2025 - 08 Jan 2026 19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 15.600 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
19 Jan 2026 - 06 Feb 2026 19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 16.600 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Remote Weddell Sea Explorer incl. South Georgia - South Sandwich Islands - Neuschwabenland - Larsen Ice Shelf - Paulet and Devil Island - Elephant Island, incl. helicopters
22 Jan 2026 - 18 Feb 2026 28 Days / 27 Nights
From $ 26.500 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
28 Jan 2026 - 16 Feb 2026 20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 16.900 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle
16 Feb 2026 - 10 Mar 2026 23 Days / 22 Nights
From $ 17.800 per person
Antarctica
Ushuaia
Atlantic Odyssey, excl. Antarctic Peninsula
01 Apr 2026 - 24 Apr 2026 24 Days / 23 Nights
From $ 9.050 per person
Antarctica
Puerto Madryn
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula - Photography special
24 Oct 2026 - 13 Nov 2026 21 Days / 20 Nights
From $ 14.800 per person
Antarctica
Puerto Madryn
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula
03 Nov 2026 - 23 Nov 2026 21 Days / 20 Nights
From $ 14.800 per person
Blog
Blog
True South: A New Flag for a Global Antarctica
When Evan Townsend signed up to spend the winter of 2018 working at an Antarctic research station, he had no reason to expect he would end the season by designing a new flag for the continent. He had even less reason to expect the support it would receive.
Blog
The Wonderful Weddell Sea: Places, Pics, and Impressions
When we talk about Antarctica, itâs easy to slip into familiar words: amazing, astounding, extraordinary, exceptional. And though most Antarctic locations more than deserve these descriptions, some deserve them more than others.
Blog
The Plants of Antarctica
Surviving in Antarctica is a monumental challenge for any plant. The extreme cold, limited sunlight, scarce moisture, poor soil, and short growing season make it nearly impossible for most flora to thrive. Yet, some plants have adapted to these harsh conditions and have managed to flourish where others cannot.
Blog
North Norway, Northern Lights, and All the Pretty Whales
At first glance, visiting Northern Norway outside of a blazing-hot summer might seem daunting for the average traveler.
Blog
Eight Antarctic Misconceptions
Antarctica has given rise to some pretty far-fetched rumors.
Blog
Polar Bear Primer: Eight Facts About the Arctic Wanderer
Polar bears inhabit the Arctic region across 19 subpopulations, including areas in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. These majestic creatures prefer the edges of pack ice where currents and wind interact, creating a dynamic environment of melting and refreezing that forms ice patches and leads, which are open spaces in the sea between sea ice.
Blog
All things ice in the Antarctic
The first documented sighting of an iceberg in Antarctica occurred on February 1, 1700, when Edmond Halley was on an expedition to measure the Earth's magnetic field. He noted in his diary that he encountered "great Islands of Ice, of Soe Incredible a hight and Magnitude that I scare dare to write my thoughts on it."
Blog
Penguin Wisdom: Life Lessons from Our Favorite Flightless Birds
As enthusiasts of wildlife travel, we believe every creature has something valuable to impart - from the grand blue whale to the tiny cephalopod, the formidable polar bear to the elusive Arctic fox.
Blog
The bowhead whale, whaling about the Arctic
The bowhead whale typically resides near pack ice, often in shallow waters. These whales are commonly found north of Europe, between Canada and Greenland, in the Hudson Bay area, the Okhotsk Sea, and the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. In these regions, they filter food through their large baleen plates. Bowheads are known to open their large mouths and graze along the surface, in the water column, or on the sea floor.
Blog
Antarctica in Pictures: Photos from 2018
Pictures can never truly capture the essence of an experience, and this is especially true for the breathtaking adventures in Antarctica.
Blog
The Overlooked Treasures of Ascension Island
If you know anything about Ascension Island, which is unlikely, it probably has to do with the green turtle breeding population that exists there.
Blog
Why a Polar Diving Cruise Should be Your Next Great Decision
Not so very long ago, all you had to do to qualify as a thrill-seeker was hop a ship to the polar regions and make it back with all your fingers â or your life, if you werenât picky.
Blog
The Eight Albatrosses of Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic
Our guests are typically wildlife enthusiasts, with a particular interest in bird life. While many bird lovers focus on the penguins we encounter, there's a smaller yet equally passionate group that favors the more airborne seabirds. Among this birdwatching subset, the albatross is a species that garners (and deserves) significant attention.
Blog
Seven Things to Do around Ushuaia
We often recommend arriving early to Ushuaia before embarking on an Antarctica cruise, and for good reason: Ushuaia, on top of being the southernmost city in the world, has in recent years developed into a decidedly charming tourist destination.
Blog
“The polar bear will still be there”
For several hours, we had been navigating the pack ice in search of polar bears. Despite numerous binoculars scanning the ice, no bears were visible, and only a few tracks were found. This suggested we might be in an area with fewer bears. Later that morning, we decided to head a few miles east, suspecting a higher bear population there.
Blog
Going Green: Ascension Island Sea Turtles
Gold beaches, green mountains - and greener turtles.
Blog
Ice streams and lakes under the Greenland Ice Sheet
The Greenland ice sheet is a dynamic mass of dense, flowing, and deforming ice. Snow deposited on the central parts of the ice sheet is gradually compressed into ice that slowly moves towards the ice margin. At the ice margin, the ice is removed by melting or by breaking off into icebergs.
Blog
Penguins, Albatrosses, Petrels: The Winged Wildlife of South Georgia
South Georgiaâs location south of the Antarctic Convergence gives the island a more Antarctic-like climate compared to other regions at the same latitude. The climate here is marked by cold, cloudy, wet, and windy conditions with highly variable weather.
Blog
The Ins, Outs, and Ups of Polar Mountaineering & Ski Mountaineering
Traveling to the polar regions, whether to the Arctic or Antarctica, is an adventure almost no matter what you do.
Blog
Arctic and Antarctic Basecamp Cruises – Choose Your Own Adventure
Thereâs an astonishing variety of activities to choose from when planning an Arctic trip or Antarctic cruise, which can be a bit overwhelming. How do you choose just one voyage over another when you want to experience everything? Happily, you donât have to give up one activity for another. Basecamp cruises have you covered.