One of the most mesmerizing places on earth

One of the remotest and wildest places on earth, hidden away in the tumultuous waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean, South Georgia is an utterly spectacular destination. A journey for intrepid travellers only, its desolate shores are absolutely brimming with seals and sea lions, as well as literally thousands of penguins.

Shackleton’s Journey

In August 1914, the legendary explorer set out from England aboard the Endurance, planning to cross Antarctica. But by January 1915, Shackleton’s ship struck tragedy. It became trapped in ice, drifting for ten months before finally being crushed by the tremendous pressure of pack ice, sending the Endurance to the bottom of the sea.

Adrift in lifeboats salvaged from the sinking Endurance, they drifted on ice floes for a further five months before finally reaching Elephant Island, a bleak place offering little hope of rescue. Shackleton then left with five of his strongest men, heading for the larger island of South Georgia, where whaling stations could offer some assistance.

Against the Odds

Together, the six men braved the dangerous stretch of ocean for 16 days before reaching their destination, unfortunately landing on the wrong side of the island. Shackleton and his remaining two crew, Tom Crean and Frank Worsley (three members of the party were too sick and exhausted to continue), then embarked on the final 32-mile journey across wild and mountainous terrain to reach the Stromness whaling station. Against unfathomable odds, Shackleton succeeded in returning to Elephant Island to rescue his remaining crew members. And remarkably, not one of them died.

Following in Shackleton’s Footsteps

If you’re looking for that ultimate bucket-list adventure, retracing the steps of famed explorer Ernest Shackleton on a traverse of South Georgia must be one of the most unforgettable experiences you could have. A true feat of endurance, the challenging hike starts on the island’s western shores and ends at the long-since abandoned Stromness Whaling Station in Stromness Bay, now home to a colony of Gentoo penguins.

The crossing distance varies from 35 to 50 kilometres depending on which route is taken and involves hiking across a spectacular but extreme mountain environment, with glaciers and alpine passes. In good weather, it should only take two days. Shackleton made the crossing well into the Antarctic winter in May. Nowadays, expeditions are planned between late December and mid-March, at the height of the austral summer.

5km hike to Stromness

If the thought of tackling the entire route is far too daunting a prospect, there’s another popular option that cuts out the glacier and crevasse part of the expedition on a 5km hike, retracing just the very last footsteps Shackleton took to reach Stromness over 100 years ago. Still a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you can often include this hike into your itinerary on your cruise to South Georgia.