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Complete Polar Travel Guide 2026

South Georgia

Remote sub-Antarctic island with the world's most spectacular wildlife colonies and Shackleton's final resting place.

Destinations:1

Top Aurora Score:8/10

Peak Season:November, December, January…

Budget from:$460/day

Why Visit South Georgia for Polar Travel?

South Georgia is one of the world's premier polar travel destinations, offering 1 distinct destinations across the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic region. Whether you're chasing the Aurora Australis, seeking extreme wilderness, or exploring one of Earth's last great frontiers, South Georgia delivers experiences found nowhere else on the planet.

The country's polar credentials are exceptional: aurora scores across South Georgia's destinations average 8/10, with the best viewing locations reaching 8/10. Intense Southern Lights visible in the austral winter.

The best time to visit is November, December, January and February, when the Aurora Australis reaches peak activity and polar conditions are most dramatic. With 1 destinations ranging from South Georgia (aurora score 8/10) to South Georgia, there's a South Georgia polar experience for every type of traveller.

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Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) Highlight

Intense Southern Lights visible in the austral winter

Best Destinations in South Georgia

1 polar destinations ranked by aurora score, from world-class aurora hotspots to emerging hidden gems.

South Georgia

Wildlife photographers and expedition adventurers seeking the world's most intense wildlife encounters

✦8/10

South Georgia is a remote, mountainous island in the South Atlantic Ocean that wildlife photographers and polar explorers consider one of Earth's most extraordinary places. The island hosts the world's largest colonies of king penguins — over 100,000 pairs at St Andrews Bay alone — alongside hundreds of thousands of fur seals, elephant seals, and albatross. Ernest Shackleton is buried at Grytviken, the island's historic whaling station, making it a pilgrimage site for expedition travellers. The mountains rise dramatically to over 2,900m, draped in glaciers. South Georgia is typically visited as part of extended Antarctica expeditions from Ushuaia, often combined with the Falkland Islands. The wildlife density here is genuinely unmatched anywhere else on Earth.

NovDecJanFeb

~$800/daydifficultFull guide →

Best Time to Visit South Georgia

Month-by-month breakdown of aurora australis likelihood, temperatures, and travel conditions across all South Georgia destinations.

January❌ Off-season

4°C – 4°C🌑 5h darkness

February❌ Off-season

4°C – 4°C🌑 8h darkness

March❌ Off-season

3°C – 3°C🌑 11h darkness

April✅ Good

1°C – 1°C🌑 14h darkness

May✅ Good

-1°C – -1°C🌑 16h darkness

June🌌 Peak

-2°C – -2°C🌑 18h darkness

July🌌 Peak

-3°C – -3°C🌑 18h darkness

August✅ Good

-2°C – -2°C🌑 16h darkness

September✅ Good

0°C – 0°C🌑 12h darkness

October❌ Off-season

2°C – 2°C🌑 8h darkness

November❌ Off-season

3°C – 3°C🌑 5h darkness

December❌ Off-season

4°C – 4°C🌑 4h darkness

Quick Summary

Peak:June, July — best chances of seeing the aurora australis, darkest nights, and full winter activities.

Good:April, May, August, September — reasonable aurora odds, often fewer crowds and lower prices.

Shoulder:None — aurora possible during strong geomagnetic events, quieter and cheaper.

Getting There & Getting Around

Transport options for reaching South Georgia's top polar destinations.

✈️ Getting to South Georgia

Expedition ship from Ushuaia (2-3 days at sea). Often combined with Falkland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula on 3-week expeditions. No other access.

🗺️ Getting Around South Georgia

Usually visited as part of a combined Antarctica + South Georgia + Falkland Islands itinerary. Total voyages typically 18–21 days from Ushuaia. Grytviken (the historic whaling station and Shackleton's grave) is the principal landing site.

Budget Overview

Average daily costs in South Georgia across budget, mid-range, and luxury travel styles. Currency: USD ($).

Top Activities in South Georgia

9 activities available across South Georgia's polar destinations — from aurora hunting to wildlife encounters.

✨Southern Lights Tours 🐧Antarctica Cruise 🦊Arctic Wildlife Watching 🦅Wildlife Photography ⛵Zodiac Landings 📷Landscape Photography Tours 🚣Arctic Kayaking 🦭Seal Watching 🐧Penguin Colony Visits

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Southern Lights Tours

Guided Aurora Australis viewing from southern latitude destinations. Best from June to August in the Southern Hemisphere when long nights and high solar activity align. Viewing sites are often remote, so guided tours provide transport, real-time forecasting, and photography support for this rarer cousin of the northern lights.

Best in South Georgia: South Georgia

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Antarctica Cruise

Expedition cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula, Ross Sea, and sub-Antarctic islands on ice-strengthened vessels with expert naturalist guides and zodiac landing craft. Depart from Ushuaia or Hobart for an experience of raw wilderness found nowhere else on Earth — vast penguin colonies, calving icebergs, and the eerie silence of the world's most remote continent. Book 12–18 months in advance for the best ship and cabin selections.

Best in South Georgia: South Georgia

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Arctic Wildlife Watching

Guided wildlife viewing across Arctic and sub-Antarctic habitats — arctic foxes, musk oxen, walrus, caribou, and wolves in the north; penguins, seals, and orca in the south. The polar regions are among Earth's most wildlife-rich environments, concentrated by the extraordinary productivity of cold polar seas. Bring a 400mm+ telephoto lens and expect close encounters with animals that have little fear of humans.

Best in South Georgia: South Georgia

Practical Travel Tips for South Georgia

Everything you need to know before travelling to South Georgia — visas, currency, language, safety, and what to pack.

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Visas & Entry

A Visitor Management Levy (permit) is required — issued automatically by your expedition cruise operator. No national visa is required. South Georgia is a British Overseas Territory.

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Currency & Payments

No local economy to speak of. South Georgia Pound (SGP) is the official currency but you'll have no use for it — everything is covered by your all-inclusive cruise.

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Language

English (British Overseas Territory). English is widely spoken in tourist areas across South Georgia's polar destinations. Learning a few words of the local language is always appreciated.

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Safety

All visits managed by your expedition operator — IAATO protocols apply. Leopard seals, elephant seals, and fur seals are wild and must be treated with respect — maintain minimum 5-metre distance. The weather is typically severe.

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Emergency Services

Emergency number: Handled entirely by cruise operator emergency protocols.

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When to Book

Book accommodation and aurora tours 3–6 months in advance for peak season (November, December). Popular experiences like glass igloos, ice hotels, and limited expedition cruises sell out 6–12 months ahead.

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What to Pack for South Georgia

✓All weather gear must be decontaminated before arrival (biosecurity) — operators provide guidance
✓Gumboots (wellingtons) for wet Zodiac landings — often supplied by operator
✓Long telephoto lens for wildlife photography without disturbing animals
✓Binoculars — wildlife is extraordinary in volume, ranging across vast distances
✓Sunscreen with very high SPF — sub-Antarctic UV is strong

Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) in South Georgia

Aurora scores, best viewing spots, and expert tips for seeing the aurora australis in South Georgia.

Intense Southern Lights visible in the austral winter

Aurora Scores by Destination

South Georgia

Best: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb

✦8/10

🌌 Aurora Australis Viewing Tips for South Georgia

✦Best months: November, December, January, February offer the highest probability of aurora australis sightings — plan your peak dates around new moon phases for the darkest possible skies.
✦Book guided tours: Expert local guides drive you away from light pollution and clouds, dramatically increasing your success rate. They also know the best photogenic locations for aurora photography.
✦Monitor space weather: Use SpaceWeatherLive, Aurora Alerts apps, or local forecast services. KP index 3+ is typically sufficient for visible aurora at South Georgia's latitudes.
✦Stay multiple nights: Even in peak season, aurora is weather-dependent. A 3–5 night stay dramatically increases your odds versus a single night. Budget extra flexibility into your itinerary.
✦Top viewing spots: South Georgia offer South Georgia's highest aurora scores — start your search there.

Explore South Georgia Destinations

South Georgia✦8/10

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