Spectacular South Georgia

South Georgia is rich in history, from the old whaling station at Gritviken to the burial site of Sir Ernest Shackleton and stories of early explorers such as Captain James Cook who stepped ashore here as far back as 1775. But today, it's the diversity and concentration of wildlife, combined with its dramatic landscapes that are the real attraction. The island has steep mountains, huge glaciers and low-lying grasslands, bays filled with ice floes and wide sweeping bays covered in penguins. There are thousand-strong breeding colonies of king penguins, which are an incredible sight to behold, as well as macaroni and chinstrap penguins aplenty. Zodiac excursions will hopefully get you up close to elephant seals and southern fur seals. It's also one of the best places to see a variety of albatross species, including the impressive wandering albatross, as well as black-browed, grey-headed and light-mantled sooty species.