The South Georgia Seven Hikes Fjords Whales Penguins - Nexta Expeditions
The South Georgia Seven: Hikes, Fjords, Whales, & Penguins

The South Georgia Seven: Hikes, Fjords, Whales, & Penguins

Few places encapsulate such a staggeringly rich assortment of sub-Antarctic scenery, wildlife, and outing opportunities as South Georgia.

In this dazzlingly picturesque island chain, a few hours of exploring by foot or Zodiac can yield a veritable theme park (but so, so better) of snow-dusted mountains, shimmering blue bays, and penguin colonies so vast they need their own postal codes.

Below are a few of our favorite things about South Georgia, limited to (but by no means lessened by) the features you can actually experience on our Antarctica expedition cruises.

blog-image

1. Ernest Shackleton hike

As we’ve detailed in an earlier blog about this trail, the Shackleton Traverse is one of the prime highlights of visiting South Georgia.

During some of our voyages to the main island, you’ll have the option (weather conditions permitting) of hiking part of the route Ernest Shackleton took in 1916 to bring help back to his stranded crew on Elephant Island, Antarctica.

blog-image

Our portion of this famous route follows about 6 km (3.7 miles) of the originally 41-km (26 miles) traverse across South Georgia, giving you some of the high points without the too-high points.

We walk the trail from beautiful Fortuna Bay to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness, enjoying all the amazing vistas along the way.

2. Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, & Gold Harbor

We’ve grouped these landing sites together not only due to their proximity, but because the terrain and wildlife you can see there is so similarly incredible. These areas house the three largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia (but we’ll get to them later).

They’re also three of the world’s largest breeding beaches for southern elephant seals, which during our sub-Antarctic cruise season are at the peak of their breeding cycle.

blog-image

You’ll enjoy watching the four-ton elephant seal bulls aggressively guarding territories where dozens of females have just given birth or are about to deliver. You can also see a number of Antarctic fur seals here during the breeding season.

3. Seabirds galore

Albatrosses, shags, prions, petrels, skuas, terns, gulls…

The list goes on and on. Indeed, because of the islands’ epic avian life, South Georgia (and the nearby South Sandwich Islands) are designated Important Bird Areas by BirdLife International.

blog-image

Birds unique to the archipelago are the South Georgia shag, South Georgia pipit, and the South Georgia pintail. Another winged favorite on South Georgia include wandering albatrosses (especially around Prion Island), which has the largest wingspan of any bird on the planet.

blog-image

4. Grytviken’s animal inhabitants

Another of South Georgia’s abandoned whaling stations, Grytviken has long since been claimed by its original inhabitants: elephant seals, king penguins, and many other seabirds. You can observe these animals as they doze, waddle, and flap about the streets like they own the place – because they basically do.

blog-image

In Grytviken you might also be able to see the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave, which add great historic depth to South Georgia’s awesome natural majesty.

5. Fortuna Bay seals and penguins

As previously mentioned, Fortuna Bay is the starting point for our leg of the Shackleton Traverse. But even if you don’t end up doing the hike, there’s plenty of wildlife to enjoy: Fortuna Bay is populated by seals and penguins more than happy to liven up your photos.

blog-image

Specifically, fur seals and king penguins are usually out in force at Fortuna. The Shackleton path from Fortuna cuts across the mountain pass beyond Shackleton’s Waterfall, and as the terrain is partly swampy, be prepared to cross a few small streams.

6. Prion Island

Though this location is closed during the early part of the wandering albatross breeding season (November 20 – January 7), from January on you can see these impressive birds here.

blog-image

By the time you see them, the breeding adult birds have found their partners and are sitting on eggs or nursing their chicks, making for a pleasant domestic scene on Prion Island.

7. Mighty massive penguins colonies

Macaroni penguins are abundant on South Georgia, but it is typically the islands’ enormous king penguin colonies that really draw the visitors.

As previously stated, the largest king penguin breeding rookeries are seen at Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, and Gold Harbor. These rookeries form a combined total of several hundred thousand across the South Georgia archipelago.

blog-image

The St. Andrews colony alone is estimated to have around 150,000 king penguins, a perfect capstone to this list and more than reason enough for a South Georgia expedition cruise.

blog-image

Best Deals

Related Trips

Atlantic Odyssey - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Atlantic Odyssey

calendar23 Mar 2025 - 15 Apr 2025
clock24 Days / 23 Nights
From $ 8.500 per person
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Puerto Madryn

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special

calendar22 Oct 2025 - 11 Nov 2025
clock21 Days / 20 Nights
From $ 14.250 per person
South Georgia Explorer - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

South Georgia Explorer

calendar13 Nov 2025 - 27 Nov 2025
clock15 Days / 14 Nights
From $ 10.900 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar27 Nov 2025 - 16 Dec 2025
clock20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 14.800 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar11 Dec 2025 - 29 Dec 2025
clock19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 14.500 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar21 Dec 2025 - 08 Jan 2026
clock19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 15.600 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar19 Jan 2026 - 06 Feb 2026
clock19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 16.600 per person
Remote Weddell Sea Explorer incl. South Georgia - South Sandwich Islands - Neuschwabenland - Larsen Ice Shelf - Paulet and Devil Island - Elephant Island, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Remote Weddell Sea Explorer incl. South Georgia - South Sandwich Islands - Neuschwabenland - Larsen Ice Shelf - Paulet and Devil Island - Elephant Island, incl. helicopters

calendar22 Jan 2026 - 18 Feb 2026
clock28 Days / 27 Nights
From $ 26.500 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar28 Jan 2026 - 16 Feb 2026
clock20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 16.900 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle

calendar16 Feb 2026 - 10 Mar 2026
clock23 Days / 22 Nights
From $ 17.800 per person
Remote Weddell Sea Explorer incl. South Georgia - South Sandwich Islands - Neuschwabenland - Larsen Ice Shelf - Paulet and Devil Island - Elephant Island, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Remote Weddell Sea Explorer incl. South Georgia - South Sandwich Islands - Neuschwabenland - Larsen Ice Shelf - Paulet and Devil Island - Elephant Island, incl. helicopters

calendar18 Feb 2026 - 17 Mar 2026
clock28 Days / 27 Nights
From $ 26.500 per person
Atlantic Odyssey, excl. Antarctic Peninsula - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Atlantic Odyssey, excl. Antarctic Peninsula

calendar01 Apr 2026 - 24 Apr 2026
clock24 Days / 23 Nights
From $ 9.050 per person

Blog
go-leftgo-right

The Small Mammals of the Arctic and Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Small Mammals of the Arctic and Antarctica

As Lillian Gish says in Night of the Hunter, “It’s a hard world for little things.”
Churches in Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Churches in Antarctica

'Below 40 degrees South there is no law; below 50 degrees South, there is no God', goes the old adage. When faced with a storm in the turbulent and freezing waters of the Drake Passage, one might think so.
Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List

Many travelers aspire to visit all seven continents, a goal that fits naturally with the concept of a "bucket list," a term popularized by the 2007 movie.
Flowers in Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Flowers in Antarctica

The polar regions are among the most inhospitable environments for plants and animals. Life here faces numerous challenges, including low temperatures, high winds, solar radiation, and cell freezing. The Antarctic continent experiences extreme conditions, with darkness during winter and continuous light during summer. Winter temperatures can drop to -60°C or lower.
How Arctic Wildlife Differs from Antarctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

How Arctic Wildlife Differs from Antarctic

While the north and south poles share certain characteristics, they are also remarkably distinct. Both regions are cold and dry, yet each has its own unique terrain and climate. The Antarctic is particularly harsh and inhospitable, with only two native vascular plant species, whereas the Arctic tundra supports a wider range of fauna due to its relatively warmer temperatures and greater plant diversity. Here are some of the animals you can find in the Arctic compared to the Antarctic.
Seven Frightfully Fun Polar Ghost Stories - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Seven Frightfully Fun Polar Ghost Stories

The polar regions are unparalleled when it comes to ghost stories.
South Georgia in Spring - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

South Georgia in Spring

What a fantastic time to be in South Georgia! Perhaps the best time of the year! The wildlife is abundant, and the light is simply magical for photography. Kings, Gentoos, Chinstraps, and Macaronis are all present along the shorelines. Elephant and Fur seals are also plentiful! Wandering albatrosses are welcoming their newly hatched chicks, while the non-breeders are actively engaged in their courtship rituals, practicing a ceremonial dance. Light-mantled, Sooty, and Grey-headed albatrosses are still feeding their fluffy chicks, as are the Giant petrels. We've been fortunate with the weather, finding ourselves in the right place at the right time to succeed in all our landings and zodiac cruises so far.
Highlights from the First Arctic Voyage of Hondius - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Highlights from the First Arctic Voyage of Hondius

Our new ship Hondius completed its first Arctic expedition cruise on June 14, 2019. This being a new ship, the maiden voyage was not without its hiccups. But despite these, passenger response to the expedition was overwhelmingly positive.
The Best Arctic and Antarctic Trips for Families - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Best Arctic and Antarctic Trips for Families

Polar expedition cruises are often enjoyed by couples and an increasing number of solo travelers, but they can also be a fantastic adventure for families. If you have the budget to bring the whole family along, there are various polar trips that will make everyone equally excited about the ice.
Exploration of the Polar Regions - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Exploration of the Polar Regions

From the Vikings via the first whale and seal hunters to Scott and Amundsen, from the maritime explorers Franklin and Nordenskiöld to present-day polar tourism, a quick tour through history reveals some of the aspects which motivated people to extend their horizons. Existential need, sheer curiosity, imperial greed, polar science, and a taste for adventure all converged in regions which pardon no mistakes.
Polar bear encounter in Spitsbergen - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Polar bear encounter in Spitsbergen

I watch the sea ice from the bridge of a ship in one of the fjords of Spitsbergen, an archipelago north of Norway. I observe a perfectly adapted animal moving on the ice, the results of hundreds of thousands of years of ecological fine-tuning. Snowshoe-sized paws distribute weight, fur handles the cold and sunlight to perfection, and an incredible sense of smell samples this monochromatic realm.
Puffins: Clown Birds of the Atlantic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Puffins: Clown Birds of the Atlantic

Puffins are part of a family of 22 seabird species known as auks, which are pigeon-sized birds that thrive on a diet of small fish and crustaceans.
What the ice reveals about Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

What the ice reveals about Antarctica

The continent you'll explore during your Antarctica cruise is far more than just an ice-covered land with penguins, whales, and seals. Beneath the thick ice lie hidden freshwater lakes teeming with thousands of microbes, hinting at a diverse array of life. In 2013, a team of researchers obtained the first uncontaminated water sample ever retrieved directly from an Antarctic lake.
Orcas (aka Killer Whales) of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Orcas (aka Killer Whales) of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic

Orcas are highly social and intelligent members of the dolphin family Delphinidae. They are sometimes referred to as killer whales, though this name has somewhat fallen out of fashion due to inaccurately characterizing orcas as ferocious predators.
Port Lockroy: History, Post Office, and Resident Penguins - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Port Lockroy: History, Post Office, and Resident Penguins

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the stunning coastlines, fjords, and other natural wonders of Antarctica, overlooking the man-made attractions nestled in between.
Birds of the South: 33 Antarctic Birds and Seabirds - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Birds of the South: 33 Antarctic Birds and Seabirds

Of the many compelling reasons people travel to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic, bird life is among the most beloved.
Seven Facts About Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Penguins - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Seven Facts About Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Penguins

Approximately 50 million years ago, Antarctica was detaching from the vast supercontinent of Gondwana, and penguins were emerging as a distinct species. Initially native to warmer regions, they gradually adapted to the cooling climate of Antarctica as they ventured further south.
12 photo tips to make better pictures on your Antarctica cruise - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

12 photo tips to make better pictures on your Antarctica cruise

During your trip in the Arctic or Antarctic cruise you and your camera equipment will be exposed to a variety of challenging conditions. Be careful with your equipment and protect it from the salty spray when in Zodiacs, on a beach, or on deck. Salt water and electronics is not a good mix!
Seven Sublime Antarctic Bays - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Seven Sublime Antarctic Bays

Antarctica is renowned for its glaciers, icebergs, and panoramic colonies of penguins. However, less known are the stunning crystal-clear bays that dot the Great White Continent, many of which are explored on our Antarctica cruise routes.
The Ancient Fossil Forests of Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Ancient Fossil Forests of Antarctica

Over a hundred years ago, Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to Antarctica discovered fossils of plants on the Beardmore Glacier, less than 500 km (310 miles) from the South Pole. Edward Wilson, who was the expedition’s chief scientist, recorded the findings in his diary, stating that “most of the bigger leaves were like beech leaves in shape and venation.”