South Georgia In Depth

Your South Georgia photography cruise will begin in the Chilean capital of Santiago where having arrived independently you will take your included flight to Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Upon arrival in Stanley, there will be time explore around some of this charming city and we recommend a visit to the museum, the Governor’s house or the cathedral followed by a visit to one of the British-style pubs and lunch at the harbour. In the afternoon, you will transfer to the port to board the fantastic M/V Sea Spirit expedition ship. After settling into your comfortable cabin and familiarising yourself with the ship, you can make your way to the restaurant for a refreshing welcome cocktail and your first dinner on board.

The next 2 days will be spent at sea as the ship sails east towards beautiful South Georgia. On the way you will pass the remote, seabird-covered Shag Rocks, so have your camera ready on deck. This expedition cruise has been designed specially for photographers (amateurs and professionals alike), so this time at sea is a great opportunity to meet your fellow travellers so discuss techniques and experiences, and to attend some of the photography workshops available onboard. Depending on your departure date, you will be joined by expert photography guides such Mike Reyfman, Dmitry Kokh, Dimitry Arkhipov, Marco Grassi and Svein Wik, so this is the perfect time to obtain hints and tips.

Your ship will cross the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. Your expert crew will provide lectures and presentations on the wildlife and history of South Georgia as well as briefings on bio-security procedures and the conservation efforts that are in place to protect the natural beauty of the area.

Welcome to the wildlife paradise of South Georgia Island, thought of as the best place on Earth for wildlife and landscape photographers! This exceptionally scenic wilderness is said to be home to over 100 million seabirds, including numerous species of albatross, penguins, prions, petrels, and terns, as well as over 100,000 elephant seals and three million fur seals! Your captain and photography team will take advantage of every opportunity for up-close wildlife encounters by creating a flexible itinerary for your time here, and each day the captain (and the weather) will decide which area to visit in order to get the very most from your South Georgia experience. We will seek out some great locations for the best light and settings for remarkable photography opportunities.

Likely places for exploration include Salisbury Plain and St Andrew’s Bay where penguins and seals flood the beaches jostling for a coveted spot. Don’t be surprised if your arrival is greeted by the inquisitive penguins coming up to you for a closer inspection!

The bountiful waters surrounding South Georgia are also inhabited by an increasing number of whales and you will have the chance to visit the historical whaling station of Grytviken which is also home to the South Georgia Museum. There will also be chance to visit Ernest Shackleton’s grave to pay your respects at the final resting place of this legendary polar explorer.

Your time on this uninhabited island will be filled with exciting Zodiac excursions, photo workshops, wildlife encounters and incredible scenery that will live long in your memory.

As we bid farewell to South Georgia, we now spend 2 days at sea sailing back to the Falkland Islands. This is the perfect time to relax after what will have been an exciting couple of weeks, collate and perfect those images you have shot, join the last photo workshops and presentations, and regale stories of your adventures.

Your adventure concludes back in Stanley. After breakfast onboard you will disembark and take your transfer to the airport for your included flight back to Santiago. We recommend spending an extra day or 2 in Santiago to explore this vibrant capital city. Please let us know if we can help you with any arrangements.