Early-season in South Georgia offers a side of the island that few travellers ever experience. We'll arrive as winter changes to spring, when frost still clings to the landscape, fresh snow dusts the mountains, and elephant seal bulls are locked in dramatic battles for dominance on the beaches. We'll aim to spend seven full days exploring South Georgia in depth, giving us time to experience its extraordinary wildlife, history, and scenery without rushing. Travelling before the main expedition season also means quieter landing sites, uncrowded beaches, and a genuine sense of exclusivity that's increasingly rare.
This trip is a fully immersive photographic expedition, placing photography and wildlife at its very core. Paul’s dynamic, hands-on approach ensures you’re always learning, refining, and elevating your photography. Through onboard lectures, real-time guidance in the field, and honest, insightful critiques, you’ll come away with sharper skills and stronger images. Each day is built around maximising your time behind the lens. You can expect to disembark twice daily (often three times on Paul's trips!), giving you unparalleled access to the wildlife and landscapes without hurry and without fighting for space. Whether you’re capturing the vast king penguin colonies, albatross flying overhead, or the stark beauty of glacial ice, every outing is carefully planned to deliver the strongest photographic opportunities.
Back onboard, the experience continues. You'll share images, exchange ideas, and review the day’s work alongside like-minded photographers who share your passion and drive. It’s a collaborative, inspiring environment where every guest is as committed to getting the shot as you are.
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September has the highest snowfall figure of the year, powder that will dust the 7 million penguins on the captivating avian-choked beaches.
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Seven full days on South Georgia. More time ashore than any comparable operator, following the conditions rather than an overly regimented itinerary. a landing extended, a morning held, an approach re-timed for the light.
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Thirty-six guests, six senior polar guides, including Paul working the beach alongside you on this departure. That's a ratio of 1:6. Six of you to every one of them, on the ice, with time for the question that usually gets rushed past.
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Fin-stabilised crossing. Aureum's stabilisers and hybrid propulsion make the Scotia Sea crossing considerably calmer than the Southern Ocean's reputation suggests, and cut underwater noise in waters where marine mammal behaviour is the reason for being there.
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Shackleton's island. Grytviken, the whalers' cemetery, Fortuna Bay, Stromness — the history is everywhere, and the guides know it well enough to make it live rather than recite it.
Availability is always subject to confirmation. Please check with us before booking flights
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Aureum
Accommodating just 36 guests, Aureum embodies everything that defines the Secret Atlas experience: small-ship exploration, exceptional flexibility, and a level of immersion that larger expedition vessels simply can’t offer.
Purpose-built for polar exploration, Aureum features a high ice class, allowing her to navigate through sea ice with confidence, along with wing stabilisers for enhanced comfort in open water. One of the features we're most excited about is her hybrid propulsion system. When conditions allow, we can switch off the engines and glide silently through the polar wilderness, experiencing the extraordinary stillness of the ice while watching whales and wildlife undisturbed.
Onboard, you'll enjoy exceptional service alongside thoughtfully designed facilities, including a panoramic observation lounge and wellness centre with gym equipment, sauna, and outdoor hot tub. I particularly love the open bridge policy, so at any time you can watch the captain at work, ask questions, search for wildlife and feel in the heart of the expedition operations.
With just 36 passengers onboard, MV Aureum is particularly well suited to solo travellers. You embark as strangers but often disembark as friends. Because the group is so small, you’ll have the opportunity to meet everyone onboard, share the experience together and quickly become acquainted as one close-knit group.
Deck plans are for illustrative purposes only – The actual ship and cabin layout may differ.
Includes
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Lectures, workshops on board, and daily exploratory activities
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Wi-Fi powered by Starlink (fair use applies)
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Full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); beverages served during meals
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Rubber polar standard boots for shore landings
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One-piece insulation suits available on board
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IAATO fees, operational fees, and permits
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Onboard basic medical clinic and expedition doctor
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Transfer to/from Mount Pleasant Airport
Excludes
- International flights - we recommend booking early.
- Travel and cancellation insurance,
- Gratuities
- Additional purchases or services on board
- Hotels or transfers, unless specified as part of the voyage description
