Southern Georgia Islands 2026
This expedition promises an unforgettable adventure, combining luxury, education, and unparalleled access to one of the planet’s most remote and captivating regions.
EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS
- 90 passengers only making for a unique experience
- Penguin Encounters: Immerse yourself in the world of playful penguins, watching thousands in their natural habitat.
- Whale Watching: Experience the thrill of spotting these majestic giants of the ocean, as they glide gracefully through Antarctic waters.
- Seal Sightings: Get up close to sunbathing seals lounging on ice floes or watch them dive elegantly into the icy depths.
- Expert-Led Adventures: Gain unparalleled insights from seasoned guides and naturalists, enriching your journey with knowledge and expertise.
- Close to Nature: Discover Antarctica in the most intimate way possible. Zodiac cruises and guided landings bring you face to face with untouched landscapes and abundant wildlife.
EXPEDITION
FACTS
17 Days
Dates
90
Magellan Explorer
Starting at 13,795$
POLAR WONDER FOUNDED BY
ROIE GALITZ
Renowned wildlife photographer and polar expert, Roie is a Greenpeace ambassador, Nikon Europe Ambassador, and a member of The Explorers Club.
THE Voyage
A unique cruise experience on a private ship to Antarctica’s hidden paradise – the South Georgia Islands. This pristine, untouched destination ranks among the world’s most isolated places, yet it hosts one of the planet’s most spectacular wildlife concentrations. Massive colonies of penguins, elephant seals, whales, and countless bird species stretch as far as the eye can see. All of this unfolds against a dramatic landscape that appears otherworldly.
- The itinerary is an example, the expedition is flexible and its course will be defined daily sustained by the opportunities presented by weather, ice and wildlife.
- We always recommend to arrive in Punta Arenas at least 24 hours before departure.
We’ll board the ship in Punta Arenas in the afternoon and set sail through the stunning Strait of Magellan, named after the famous explorer. This region, known as “Tierra del Fuego” (Land of Fire), is renowned worldwide for its spectacular mountain landscapes. From here, we’ll continue toward the Falkland Islands while conducting preparations for our journey ahead. adventurers and guides.
We’ll continue our voyage toward the West Falkland region. Throughout the day, we’ll enjoy a rich program of lectures and activities aboard the ship, including geographical presentations covering natural history, photography workshops focusing on nature photography, landscape photography, and smartphone photography techniques to ensure we’re fully prepared for the days ahead.
We’ll begin the morning with a visit to Saunders Island, where we’ll observe rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatrosses during nesting season, and Magellanic penguins. Later, we’ll continue to Carcass Island for a leisurely coastal walk to observe nesting seabirds while enjoying a warm cup of tea.
We’ll spend the day on enchanting New Island, experiencing a classic West Falkland adventure. Here we’ll observe albatrosses and large penguin colonies. Weather and terrain permitting, we’ll continue to Weddell Island in the afternoon.
As we make our way toward South Georgia Islands, we’ll enjoy fascinating lectures from our expert guides covering various topics from photography to wildlife and natural history. On the upper decks, we’ll take in the breathtaking views of the open ocean and spot various seabirds soaring over the vast waters.
Depending on sea conditions during our voyage, we plan to arrive at the bay in the afternoon and conduct an evening Zodiac excursion to explore the area.
Our first landing will be at Grytviken Bay, also known as Pot Bay. We’ll visit the grave and museum of Ernest Shackleton, paying tribute to one of history’s most legendary explorers and discoverers. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Fortuna Bay to observe the famous king penguins.
From here forward, we’ll visit Gold Harbour, Cooper Bay, St. Andrews Bay, Ocean Harbour, Prion Island, Salisbury Plain, Bleaker Island, and begin our return voyage to Punta Arenas. Each day will offer breathtaking landscapes, penguin colonies, albatrosses, elephant seals, historic shipwrecks, and rich onboard programming. On Day 17, we’ll disembark the ship with the option to continue exploring South America or fly back home.
EXPEDITION FACTS
Around 75°–85° south
None. Managed through international cooperation
14 million km² (5.4 million mi²)
−20°C to −30°C (−4°F to −22°F)
~1,000
~12 million
What
our travelers say
"This trip was the best gift I could ask for myself"
Rachel Nachshon
01.01.2024
“This trip was the best gift I could ask for myself, from the magical landscapes to the spirit of the group, the top-notch hotels, the itinerary and its extreme activities, and the outstanding organisation by the entire system and especially Dor, who conducted this orchestra with a perfect balance of assertiveness, resolve, professionalism, friendliness and humor, making this an unforgettable experience”.
"It’s hard to describe such a powerful experience"
Moshe Bivas
27.07.2023
“It’s hard to describe such a powerful experience. The joy of the adventure is poignant and full of satisfaction in the successful completion of the journey to Spitsbergen. Witnessing and feeling the forces of nature; the wild, white beauty floating away. The bears, the foxes, the birds, the whales, the elk, and of course the ship and crew that were almost part of the landscape. And most of all, our guide Yarin Klein, who made this an unforgettable experience.”.
"I will cherish the experiences for life"
Yehudit Rosenthal
22.06.2023
“It was indeed a wild journey and I will cherish the experiences for life. The landscapes were wonderful, the guides were excellent, the group was great and the atmosphere was fun and cheerful. I enjoyed everything, and have no complaints. Here’s to the next trips :)”.
THE SHIP
more cruises
Antarctica
Cruises FAQ
How comfortable are the boats?
How is the food on board?
We are working with awesome chefs, which have received amazing reviews on our previous expeditions. They make our meals with a personal touch, since we’re such a small party. But, since we are on a boat in the high Arctic, please remember that it won’t be like a restaurant in Provence, but we will do the best we can. The chef will make adjustments to your requirements in terms of allergies and food requirements (vegetarian, vegan etc.)
What should I wear?
Inside the boat we keep temperatures at a warm +22°C / 70°F, so bring some short sleeved shirts and indoor shoes for the indoors. Outside it’s nice and cool, so bring layers: base layer and mid layer plus a warm coat, hat, gloves etc. We would rather have you complain on the heat, rather than on the cold. No need to bring classy clothes, we would prefer you’re feeling as comfortable as you can be.
What are we doing while cruising on the boat?
We have a packed schedule with talks, presentations and information on the magical land we’re visiting, also we plan our schedule to make the large distances while we’re sleeping, so we don’t “waste” our uptime for cruising between locations.
How often do we go on land?
We will go on land as often as we need/desire and depending on the activity and opportunities. It can be even twice a day. We won’t do long hikes, and concentrate on the areas of highest interest for our expedition without wasting time at the boring locations other vessels must visit to pass the time.