South Georgia. This wild, remote, and rugged sub-Antarctic island is renowned as one of the most spectacular places on Earth, with vibrant wildlife in the skies, seas, and on its seldom-trodden shores. South Georgia is also forever etched into the annals of Antarctic exploration, and is almost intrinsically linked to the extraordinary career and exploits of one of the Antarctic greats - Sir Ernest Shackleton.
Photo: Sir Ernest Shackleton
Though often overshadowed by the events that played out in Antarctica's Weddell Sea, South Georgia played a crucial role in the dramatic climax of Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–1917). It was here that one of the closing chapters in a tale of endurance, leadership, and sheer human willpower played out, drawing to a close one of the great survival epics of human history.
Many of the locations tied to Shackleton's career and linked with South Georgia can be visited on an expedition cruise with us. Several, perhaps the most significant, such as King Haakon Bay and Peggotty Camp, can only be visited on unique itineraries, such as our South Georgia Explorer voyage, which, across 14 nights, fully immerses you in the world of South Georgia, exploring the rarely-visited southern coast.
Our South Georgia Explorer itinerary departs on 13 November 2025 and ends on 27 November 2025. Berths remain available for last-minute departures with discounted rates of up to 35%.
A Tale of True Endurance
Aiming for a trans-continental crossing of Antarctica, Shackleton and the men of the Endurance set out from South Georgia in December 1914, departing Grytviken on a course south. After being beset by heavy pack ice, the ship was eventually crushed by sea ice in the Weddell Sea, leaving Shackleton and his 27 men drifting on ice floes for months before reaching the desolate Elephant Island 467 days after leaving the safety of South Georgia.
Photo: Endurance trapped in ice
Knowing that salvation would not come to his men on Elephant Island, Shackleton made the bold decision to sail nearly 800 nautical miles across one of the most dangerous stretches of ocean - the Scotia Sea. The expedition's carpenter, 'Chippy' McNish, refitted as best he could one of Endurance's ship's boats, the James Caird. Shackleton, along with five others, including McNish, polar veteran Tom Crean, and navigator Frank Worsley, left Elephant Island behind on 24 April 1916, aiming for South Georgia's distant shores.
If they missed, they would find themselves adrift in the wild Southern Atlantic and beyond all hope. But thanks to the navigational skill of Worsley, who, by a combination of dead reckoning, navigational skill, and daring, set their course, the James Caird made slow but steady progress. After two weeks and 1,300 km (800 mi), South Georgia was in sight, but ferocious seas kept them from landing, and made it clear that the original plan, to follow the coastline round to the inhabited Northern shore, would not be possible.
Instead, the party landed on the uninhabited southern side of the island, in the isolated King Haakon Bay. Cold, soaked, and exhausted, they faced a choice. Remain and perish, dooming the men left behind on Elephant Island, or achieve a dramatic first. Shackleton, along with Tom Crean and Frank Worsley, realized they would have to cross the mountainous, glacier-covered interior of South Georgia on foot to reach help. Leaving McNish, McCarthy, and Vincent behind at the newly christened 'Peggotty Camp', they set out. Lacking maps, climbing gear, or proper clothing, they endured a 36-hour march across treacherous terrain, completing the first known crossing of South Georgia's wild glaciated interior. It was a truly incredible feat, navigating crevasses, scaling high passes, and enduring sub-zero conditions.
On 20 May, they finally reached the Stromness whaling station on the north coast, gaunt and unrecognizable. After several failed attempts, Shackleton finally succeeded in rescuing his men on Elephant Island on 30 August 1916. Miraculously, every member of the Endurance crew survived.
Photo: Abandoned whaling station at Stromness by Stefanie Liller
Today, King Haakon Bay remains remote, isolated, and stunningly beautiful. The small beach at Peggotty Camp, named after the family living in the upturned boat home in Dickens' David Copperfield, marks where the James Caird landed and the men recovered from their ordeal at sea. Often overlooked on most expedition cruises, our South Georgia Explorer itinerary will not only give you the chance of visiting King Haakon Bay, but also to stand where Shackleton and the James Caird party staggered ashore before their herculean trek inland.
On the South Georgia Explorer, a small group of guests will also undertake something truly unique. Utilizing skis and carrying supplies, a small party will retrace portions of the route Shackleton, Crean, and Worsley took on their march back to civilization.
Shackleton's Final Journey - a South Georgia Legacy
In late 1921, Shackleton set out once again for Antarctic waters, leading what would become known as the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition aboard the ship Quest. Though the world was changing - air travel and modern technology were beginning to eclipse the Heroic Age of exploration - Shackleton's ambitions drew him once more toward the Great White.
On 4 January 1922, as Quest lay anchored in King Edward Cove, South Georgia, Shackleton suffered a fatal heart attack in the early hours of the morning, aged 47 years old. His death came as a shock to his crew and the wider world.
Shackleton was ultimately buried on South Georgia, being laid to rest in the whalers' cemetery at Grytviken. Many years later, the ashes of Shackleton's right-hand man and polar legend in his own right, Frank Wild, were interred next to those of 'The Boss'. Today, Shackleton's grave can be visited during your time in South Georgia. Other locations linked to his career, including the remains of Stromness station, where he found refuge, form part of the itinerary of many of our South Georgia trips, including our in-depth South Georgia Explorer itinerary.
Photo: Ernest Shackleton's grave at Grytviken by Dietmar Denger
Wild South Georgia: A Wildlife Haven
Beyond its historic significance, South Georgia is also renowned as one of the most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries on Earth. The island teems with life. Particularly noteworthy are the immense king penguin colonies and boisterous groups of elephant seals, which dominate the beaches.
King penguins are a signature species of South Georgia. St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain are home to the largest king penguin colonies in the world, with hundreds of thousands of breeding pairs. Here, as snow-capped peaks and glaciated rock towers above, seemingly impossible numbers of penguins thrive, their harsh calls echoing back from rock and water.
Alongside them, southern elephant seals haul out onto the beaches in significant numbers, especially during the breeding season. The males, known as "beachmasters," can weigh over 4,000 kilograms and are fiercely territorial, often engaging in dramatic and thunderous battles for dominance. The sheer size, sound, and spectacle of these animals isn't quickly forgotten!
Today, South Georgia's wildlife is protected, offering a pristine glimpse into the wild Southern Ocean ecosystem. For those who make the journey, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's not just a window into Shackleton's heroic age, but also into a world where nature still reigns supreme.
Discover the wonders of South Georgia with Oceanwide Expeditions
For modern-day explorers, few trips to South Georgia are as immersive or as awe-inspiring as our South Georgia Explorer itinerary.
Spanning 14 nights, this once-in-a-lifetime voyage takes you deep into the heart of South Georgia, visiting iconic yet often-overlooked locations directly tied to Shackleton's epic story. From King Haakon Bay, where the James Caird made landfall, and the wild, rarely-sighted southern coastline, to more accessible Stromness and Grytviken, each stop unveils a new chapter in the saga of survival.
Paired with world-class wildlife encounters, this expedition is the ultimate blend of history, immersion, and adventure.
Our South Georgia Explorer itinerary departs on 13 November 2025 and ends on 27 November 2025. Berths remain available for last-minute departures with discounted rates of up to 35%.
