To main content
Information on upcoming sailings and your health and safety
Hurtigruten logo Hurtigruten logo 8665520371
Find Your Cruise Destinations Offers Health and safety My Booking
  • Find a Voyage
  • Destinations
  • Our Ships
  • Special Offers
  • Excursions
  • Pre- and post-programs
  • Get Inspired
  • My Booking
8665520371
  • Switch to United States
Search
  • Map
  • Why Cruise with Hurtigruten
  • About Hurtigruten
  • Practical Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Register for our Newsletter!
  • Request a Quote
  • Order Brochures
  • Press
  • Contact Us
  1. Home
  2. Our Destinations
  3. Antarctica
  4. Antarctica Travel Guide
  5. Top Five Things to Do on South Georgia Island

National Plan for Vacation Day

$500 Deposit Today Only!

Book Now

National Plan for Vacation Day

$500 Deposit Today Only!

Book Now

Updating your booking
Info: We at Hurtigruten use cookies to optimize our websites for your needs. By using this website you consent to our cookie policy
The grave of Ernest Shackleton in Grytviken, South Georgia
Photo: Tim Hart Photo

Top Five Things to Do on South Georgia Island

South Georgia Island is among the earth’s most remote territories. Things to do here include following the trails of famous explorers, paying respects at their grave sites, and releasing your inner adventurer in one of the planet’s most distinctive places.

With no airport, South Georgia is only reachable by boat. Famed for its diverse wildlife (particularly penguins and seals), it’s also a historically important destination. Here is a list of the top five things to do on your visit. 

Explore South Georgia Island’s History

South Georgia’s history is as fascinating as its dramatic landscapes. It was first traversed by Captain James Cook, who claimed the land for the British in 1775, a governance that’s still in place today. The South Georgia Museum , situated in a former whaling manager's house, gives visitors a chance to learn about the island’s rich history. The museum covers diverse subjects, from South Georgia’s natural heritage to the lives of its small transient population.

Visit the grave of Ernest Shackleton

Intrepid explorer Ernest Shackleton died of a heart attack while exploring the continent of Antarctica in 1922. Up-on learning the news, his wife requested that he be buried in one of his most beloved locations, Grytviken on South Georgia Island. In 2013, a stone that had been taken from the grave 75 years earlier by sailor Joseph Collins was returned to its rightful home by the Royal Navy. It’s said that removing the stone was one of the sailor’s biggest regrets, and one of his dying wishes was for it to be returned to Shackleton’s grave.

Visit Fortuna Bay

This often snow-covered enclave is one of South Georgia’s wildlife hot spots. Fortuna Bay is famed for its magnificent king penguin colonies , along with a large number of elephant seals. The bay is named after a Norwegian-Argentine whaling vessel that was instrumental in establishing the first whaling station on South Georgia Island. Visit Shackleton’s grave in the morning and spend the afternoon watching colonies of fluffy penguins swimming off the shores.

Visit the ghost town of Grytviken

Grytviken was established in 1904 as a whaling station for Norwegian sea captain Carl Anton Larsen. After nearly 60 years of operation, and processing more than 53,000 whales, the station closed down. Whaling has largely been abandoned around the world now, and all that remains of this once-busy whaling station on South Georgia Island are a few government officials who collect a fee from the island’s visitors.

Explore St. Andrew’s Bay

The isolated St. Andrew’s Bay in South Georgia is home to a huge variety of wildlife. Visitors to are rewarded with impressive landscapes of snowcapped mountains and the sight of penguin colonies traversing the wild terrains. It’s thought that more than 100,000 birds inhabit St. Andrew’s Bay, making the long hike more than worth it.

If you’re looking for somewhere that’s a little bit different — or, that has lots of penguins — this snowy destination could be just the thing. A visit to South Georgia Island is as unique as it is unforgettable, as natural and human history coalesce to make it one of the most intriguing places in the Antarctic region.

Further reading

  • Amazing Facts about South Georgia Island Travel
  • Grytviken Travel Guide: From Whaling Station to Intriguing Destination

Receive $100 On Board Credit Today

Sign up for our newsletter today to received $100 On Board Credit on Your First Cruise

Yes, sign me up!
When packing for Antarctica, remember to bring your mittens! 🧤
.
.
.
.
#hurtigruten #antarctica #weexplore #whattopack #ribboat #travel #berniesanders #berniesmittens #berniesandersmeme #bernie #berniesandersmemes What's better than a warm embrace from someone you love? We hope we can all hug each other soon again. For now, we're sending you a virtual hug for National Hug Day. 📷: Chelsea Claus / Hurtigruten 
.
.
.
#hurtigruten #weexplore #nationalhugday #hug #penguin #antarctica #travel #adventuretravel #wildlife For Penguin Awareness Day, here are some facts you might not know about everyone's favorite flightless bird: 
- Their black and white "tuxedo" is a smart camouflage called countershading
- You'll never actually see them with polar bears (despite what you've seen in classic cartoons)
- Penguins huddle together to protect themselves—or to stay warm
- You can see this fascinating creature if you go with Hurtigruten to Antarctica (but this we bet you knew already!)
 📸: Ingemund Skålnes / Hurtigruten

Contact

  • 8665520371
    or contact a Certified Hurtigruten Specialist

  • [email protected]
  • 1505 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 125, Seattle, WA 98109

  • Contact us

About Hurtigruten

  • Why travel with us?
  • Sustainability
  • Careers
  • Charters and Incentives
  • Agent Portal
  • Hurtigruten Svalbard
  • Press

Support

  • Request a Quote
  • Coronavirus Update
  • My Booking
  • Make a Payment
  • Uplift - Book Now, Pay Later
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Statement of Privacy
  • Cookie Compliance

Social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Hurtigruten LTD

Search for destinations, attractions, or information

Got a promotion code?