South Georgia & Falkland Islands
Subantarctic king penguin colonies, Shackleton's grave, and Furious Fifties wildlife photography
When to Go
Drag across months to filter by season, conditions, and light
Sea ice closes South Georgia routes Apr-Sep. Combined expedition cruises (Falklands + South Georgia + Antarctic Peninsula) are the standard way to visit. Book 18-24 months ahead through IAATO operators: Quark, Oceanwide, Antarctica21, Lindblad, Aurora.
Photography Route
Route
Stanley → Volunteer Point → Saunders → Sea Lion Island → (Atlantic crossing) → Salisbury Plain → St. Andrews → Gold Harbour → Grytviken
Getting There & Around
LATAM Saturday flight Santiago → Stanley (MPN). Expedition ship for South Georgia (no airport). 4WD overland for Volunteer Point. Zodiac landings at all wildlife sites.
Best Windows
Trip Overview
Daily Budget
$1,000–$3,500 / day
Permits & Visa
Permit / fee required
Falklands $25/person + SGSSI $300/person landing fees (paid by ship operator). IAATO operators only.
Duration
14-22 days (full combined itinerary)
The Falkland Islands and South Georgia together offer the world's most concentrated subantarctic wildlife photography — multiple king penguin colonies above 100,000 birds, black-browed albatross at courting nests, elephant seal harems, and the Shackleton history at Grytviken whaling station. Most accessible via expedition cruise from Stanley (Falklands) or Ushuaia (Argentina) — 14-22 day round trips.
Gear Essentials
Itinerary at a Glance
A 16-Day Subantarctic Expedition Arc
Day 1-2 — Fly Santiago / Buenos Aires → Falkland Islands. Charter flight to Stanley (MPN). Overnight at the Malvina House or Waterfront Hotel. Stanley town walking tour: Christ Church Cathedral, whalebone arch, FIM Museum.
Day 3 — Volunteer Point. 4WD overland to the king penguin colony (2-3 hr). All-day photography with chicks + courting pairs. Return to Stanley.
Day 4-5 — Falkland Islands outer (board expedition vessel). Saunders Island (rockhoppers, gentoos, black-browed albatross at The Neck). Sea Lion Island (elephant seals, sea lions, gentoos). 50+ wildlife species in two days.
Day 6-7 — Sea crossing to South Georgia. Open South Atlantic. Albatross + petrel + storm-bird photography from deck. Onboard lectures + image review.
Day 8-12 — South Georgia island circuit. Daily zodiac landings: Salisbury Plain (100,000+ kings), St. Andrews Bay (300,000+ kings), Gold Harbour (kings + glacier), Grytviken (Shackleton’s grave + whaling station + post office stamp). Elephant seals + Antarctic fur seals at every landing.
Day 13-14 — Return crossing to Falklands. More albatross + petrel photography. Drake-style swells possible.
Day 15 — Stanley & departure. Final morning in Stanley. Charter flight back to Santiago or Buenos Aires.
Day 16 — Onward home.
Best done November through early February (austral summer + maximum penguin activity). Most operators run 14-22 day combined Falklands + South Georgia + Antarctic Peninsula itineraries. Photographer-focused vessels: Quark, Oceanwide, Antarctica21. Book 18-24 months ahead.
Useful Info & Physical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
Moderate. Most photography from zodiac landings on rough beaches:
- Zodiac transfers in cold-water swell — Russian-style waterproof grab handles + balance required
- Beach landings wet-foot: stand in surf, walk on rocky/penguin-dense shores
- St. Andrews Bay: 2 km walk along king colony to ridge viewpoint
- Grytviken: 1 km walk through whaling station + cemetery
Cold & Wind
Subantarctic conditions, ~3-10°C austral summer, with 30-50 km/h sustained winds typical. Falklands milder; South Georgia harsher.
- Layered system: base + mid + outer waterproof shell
- Rubber boots (most operators provide)
- Gloves: liner + heavy insulated pair, both windproof
- Beanie + neck gaiter essential
- Lens cleaning kit + lots of microfiber cloths
Wildlife Protocol (IAATO)
- 5m distance from penguins minimum (chicks may approach you — stay still)
- No sitting on the ground or rocks where penguins might want to be
- Boot rinse + biosecurity mandatory between landings to prevent disease transfer
Sea State
Drake-style swells common on the SG ↔ Falklands crossing. Scopolamine patches (Trans-derm Scop) or other motion sickness preparation strongly recommended. Vessels are stabilized but the Furious Fifties earn the name.
Time of Year
- Oct-Mar (austral summer): only viable window for South Georgia. Sea ice closes routes outside this.
- Nov-Dec: peak king penguin nesting + courting + chick emergence
- Jan-Feb: chicks grown, elephant seal moult, last expedition voyages
Airports, Lodging & Logistics
Access
- Falkland Islands (Stanley / MPN) — twice-weekly LATAM flights from Santiago (Chile). Saturday flights stop in Punta Arenas. Air Bridge (RAF) flight from UK is military, not public.
- South Georgia — NO airport. Access by expedition ship only from Stanley (Falklands) or Ushuaia (Argentina).
Ships
- Quark Expeditions — flagship subantarctic operator, 14-22 day itineraries
- Oceanwide Expeditions — Plancius / Ortelius vessels, value-priced
- Antarctica21 — fly-cruise hybrids (fly across the Drake)
- Lindblad / National Geographic — premium photographer-focused
- Aurora Expeditions — Greg Mortimer ice-class
Cabins: $15,000-40,000 per person for 14-22 day combined itineraries.
Lodging (Falklands)
- Malvina House Hotel (Stanley) — main hotel
- Waterfront Hotel (Stanley) — modern, harbor view
- Sea Lion Lodge (Sea Lion Island) — only accommodation on the island
- The Saunders Settlement (Saunders Island) — basic farm-style
South Georgia has NO public lodging — ship-based only.
Food
Ship-based: full meals, expedition catering. Stanley has small restaurants + chip shops.
Transport
- Charter flight (LATAM Saturday MPN service) to/from Stanley
- Expedition ship (~5,000-8,000 ton ice-strengthened vessels)
- Zodiac inflatables for shore landings — 10-12 passengers per boat
- 4WD overland required for Volunteer Point (2hr from Stanley on rough farm tracks)
Permits
- Falkland Islands: $25/person tourism levy
- South Georgia + South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI): $300/person landing fee, paid by ship operator
- IAATO compliance mandatory — bookable only with IAATO member operators
- Visa: free on arrival for most Western passports (Falklands)