Wild Isles of the South Atlantic

Some sites do not offer landing opportunities, but are locations where exploring on the water offers the best opportunities for sightseeing and photography. These Zodiac cruise sites are often known for their collection of larger icebergs, wildlife densities and even historical landmarks such as shipwrecks, where our fleet of Zodiacs offer the best vantage point. Zodiac cruises are great for observing icebergs, glaciers, whales and other marine wildlife. Your skilled driver will navigate around the area looking for wildlife and beautiful land- and seascapes. By the end of the voyage, Zodiac cruises tend to become a firm favourite among our guests because of the vast diversity of scenery and marine life it is possible to experience. 

The majority of our activities will comprise landings and Zodiac cruises, led by our experienced onboard Expedition Team. In inhabited locations, we will typically work with local partners who know their home the best. Weather permitting, we aim to offer kayaking where possible throughout the voyage - the perfect way to experience these stunning regions in perfect tranquility. Other activities onboard include our Albatros Polar Gym, where you can burn some calories on our fitness bicycles or treadmills; most of our ships even have other cardio machines and strength/lifting options - and no gym on Earth has a better view! Our new purpose-built ships include the Albatros Polar Spa, in which guests can enjoy massages, facials, and other relaxing treatments (additional cost applies). The Knud Rasmussen Library is a great place to unwind between outings, with expansive views and a wide selection of destination-related reading material. During your voyage you will also be able to enjoy our Afternoon Tea in the Nordic Lounge, or indulge in some retail therapy in our Albatros Ocean Boutique, which sells personal necessities as well as specially-selected Antarctic souvenirs. To deepen out guests understanding of the region, throughout the voyage our expert Expedition Team will offer skillfully-crafted lectures related to local wildlife, history, conservation and more! 

In October and November, the windswept shores of the Falkland Islands begin to come to life as seabirds come ashore for the Spring breeding season after spending the long winter months in the fury of the Southern Ocean. The shoreline crawls with rockhopper penguins emerging from the depths, while albatross circle overhead, hunting for the best spot to construct their cylindrical nests. During this time of year, female elephant seals come ashore to give birth to their wide-eyed pups, which remain ashore for two months or so before heading out to sea. The islands burst into activity on land as well, as geese and other terrestrial birds begin to nest. The Falkland Islanders themselves frequently take advantage of the warmer weather to begin shearing the islands’ sheep, collecting the wool for which the islands are famed.

December represents the start of summer in the Falklands; while the weather can be warm and sunny, frequent windstorms can bring squally weather at any time. By this time of year, the birds of the islands are almost all incubating their eggs, while some early arrivals may already have chicks. Meanwhile, South American sealions are vigorously defending their territories during the busy breeding season, attempting to attract females while fending off other males.

By January and February, most eggs have hatched, and you can expect to see a variety of hatchlings beginning to find their way in the world. Penguin chicks huddle together in creches against predation from skuas, giant petrels and caracaras, while large fluffy albatross chicks sit on top of their cylindrical nests. Bird colonies at this time of year are full of activity, with parents coming and going from the open ocean to feed their chicks, and Magellanic penguins and their chicks begin to emerge from their breeding burrows.

The Falklands’ brief summer comes to an end in March, and much of the island’s wildlife begins to prepare to head out to sea for Winter. Around this time of year, penguins and seals begin their molt, spending a few weeks on land while they grow a new coat of winter-ready feathers. One can also see albatross, cormorant and penguin chicks beginning to shed their downy baby feathers in favour of their adult plumage. Watch out for broad-winged albatross flapping into the wind on their nests as they exercise their flight muscles ready for adult life. Although the weather can be less predictable this time of year, fewer vessels in the region allows us to seek out the most sheltered landing spots.

Whilst the weather in the Southern Ocean is constantly changing, the summer months can be surprisingly mild. In South Georgia, which lies within cold Antarctic waters, temperatures typically range between 0°C (32°F) to 10°C (50°F); sub-zero summer temperatures are very rare. In the more temperate Falkland Islands (which lie outside the Antarctic convergence zone), the weather is milder, with summer days averaging between 11°C (52°F) to 16°C (61°F). 

While the Falkland Islands are temperate, guests should be aware that rain and drizzle are common, and the wind is almost constant. Guests should always ensure they have a warm/waterproof layer when exploring these islands - your Albatros Expeditions parka is ideal. 

On South Georgia, ocean swells can roll in from the sea without warning, which can make landing/disembarkation conditions extremely challenging.  In other words, we would remind our guests that it is crucial to be ready for any weather conditions! Waterproof layers are essential for any venture off the ship in this part of the world, and we advise guests to dress in several warm layers (including hats, gloves, scarfs, and sun protection) to adjust as the weather dictates. Even in calm warm weather, we advise bringing extra clothing in a backpack, as weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly.  

The extended daylight during the summer warms sheltered areas, and on calm windless days even this far south a t-shirt can be more comfortable than a parka! Bearing that in mind, the weather can harbor storms, snow fall, rain, or fog, which can occur at a moment’s notice. Bigger storms are rare but can lead to further rapid drops in temperature, and glacially generated katabatic winds can blow out of nowhere.

We also highly advise guests to consider sun protection - the lack of ozone over this region means direct and reflected sunlight can burn skin very quickly; sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm are essential! Albatros Expeditions provide sturdy landing-appropirate waterproof insulated rubber boots for all guests, as well as an expedition parka for Antarctic voyages.