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Antarctica & South Georgia -
The 7th Continent
South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula:
Penguin Safari — November 2028
If Antarctica (and seeing hundreds of thousands of penguins) are on your bucket list, this is the trip for you!
Discount: exclusive group rate from £ 12,632.40 pp — save over 33% off Quark's published price 🎉
Best Adventure on Earth
I went to Antarctica for the first time in February 2024. I went to tick it off my bucket list — to visit the seventh continent and see penguins, whales and glaciers.
But it's so much more than that.
I can't adequately explain how it feels to be standing on the deck of a ship, surrounded by calm, quiet and incredibly clean air, watching a whale glide past right next to you. Or how it feels to watch an albatross swooping low over the waves, or a baby penguin learning to swim for the first time, or an iceberg larger than a house slowly turning over…
Antarctica is like nothing you've ever experienced before. It's one of those places you need to feel, not just tick off a list. It got under my skin and I’m so excited to be going back again.
This particular trip goes one step further than my previous voyages — it adds South Georgia into the itinerary.
I haven't visited there myself yet (it's very much on MY bucket list too!), but everyone who's been tells me it might just steal the show from Antarctica itself: hundreds of thousands of king penguins, elephant seals, and the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, all before you even reach the 7th continent.
And timing-wise, we couldn't have a better month. November is when South Georgia truly wakes up. The king penguins are courting and pairing off on the beaches — it's chaotic, noisy, and utterly captivating to watch.
Elephant seal pups born earlier in the spring are growing fast, while the last of the big bull seals are still slugging it out over territory. Fur seals are arriving by the thousand to stake their claim on the same beaches, and wandering albatross are settling in to nest on the cliffs above. Out at sea, whales are arriving in large groups to feed in these nutrient-rich waters.
It's one of the best windows in the whole year to visit South Georgia and Antarctica — and I was lucky enough to secure some truly INCREDIBLE discounts for you.
The Trip
We'll meet in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, right at the tip of Argentina. Our small group will get together the evening before departure, but if you can, arrive a day or two early — Ushuaia is in a beautiful location and has lovely hikes and cafés. It's a great way to settle in before we head off.
On day two, we'll board our home for the next 18 days: Ocean Explorer, a modern, comfortable expedition ship carrying just 138 passengers. All your bags will be taken to your cabin for you, so you can uppack and then head up on deck to watch us sail down the historic Beagle Channel and out into the Drake Passage.
(If tales of the Drake Passage make you nervous, I understand. I was TERRIFIED before my first trip. I’ve now sailed it 4 times and, as someone who gets sea-sick on a cross channel ferry, I’ve never once been ill, even on the rough crossing. These ships are purpose built and have incredible stabilisers. Trust me- I don’t want to feel ill either and I’ll be on board right alongside you.)
From here we head east towards South Georgia. It takes a few days to get there, and those sea days are far from boring — expect presentations from the expedition team, seabird-spotting from the deck, and there’s a high chance of seeing whales as we go too.
Once we reach South Georgia, we'll spend around three days exploring some of the richest wildlife beaches on Earth — genuinely thousands of penguins, including kin penguins which you don’t often see in Antarctica, elephant seals, and albatross soaring overhead. Although the expedition itinerary is set each day based on weather and safety, we'll hopefully also visit Grytviken, the old whaling station where Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried — a genuinely moving stop for anyone who knows his story.
Then it's back to sea for a couple of days before we reach the Antarctic Peninsula itself. We'll spend four days on Zodiac excursions exploring glaciers, stunning bays, sedcluded channels and interesting landing sites — looking out for gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, Weddell, fur and leopard seals, and whales.
We'll cross the Drake Passage on the way home, before disembarking back in Ushuaia.
Why you should choose THIS trip:
Two incredible destinations in one trip. Very few itineraries combine South Georgia AND the Antarctic Peninsula — so you get double the wildlife and double the history in a single voyage.
South Georgia is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet. Over 150,000 breeding pairs of king penguins nest at St Andrew's Bay alone, alongside huge colonies of elephant and fur seals- and we’ll be there at the perfect time to see them.
Travelling on Ocean Explorer, a modern, purpose-built polar ship carrying just 138 passengers — small enough that you'll get genuine time ashore on excursions (on bigger cruise ships, you might not get off the ship at all)
Continuous access to professional guides and wildlife experts, who are constantly searching for sightings and events to share with you - I can personally vouch for the quality of the guides with Quark — they have been exceptional on my own trips.
Follow in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton — we hope to visit his grave and there will be time on board to learn about his story and the history of the area.
Responsible travel: Quark is a founding member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), which means they adhere to strict guidelines for touring and exploring this fragile environment. They are VERY conscious of our impact on this beautiful but fragile environment, and do everything they can to minimise our impact.
Built-in companions — we'll travel as a small group within the wider Quark group, so you'll be among friends from day one, even if you're travelling solo.
Help and support from me. I'll help with gear choices, luggage restrictions and answering the thousands of questions like the ones I had before my own trip — trust me, you'll want someone in your corner for the packing alone!
🚢 The Ship: Ocean Explorer
This adventure takes place aboard Ocean Explorer — a modern, purpose-built polar exploration ship carrying just 138 passengers.
Here's what makes her special:
- Friendly and professional crew — genuinely some of the warmest, most helpful people you'll meet.
- SMALL numbers. Polar exploration is strictly regulated — bigger ships may be cheaper, but they're not allowed to do a lot of the things smaller ships (under 200 passengers) can, like Zodiac cruising, getting close to wildlife, and shore landings in approved areas. Quark specialise in getting you up close and into the scenes around you, rather than just watching from the deck.
- Stylish, modern interiors, including a two-storey library, an observation lounge, and high outdoor decks designed for wildlife-watching.
- Different cabin types, including veranda cabins (all with balconies), solo cabins and triple cabins. Even if you’re a solo traveller, you can book a non-solo cabin and you’ll be paired with someone of the same sex.
- HOT TUB and sauna — yes, you can relax with a view of icebergs. A gym, main dining room, private dining room, bar, and 24/7 reception.
If you'd like a full deck-by-deck walkthrough of the ship, here's the link — be sure to check out the South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari page as well, so you can compare pricing and see what a good deal you're getting with WTT!
🍽 Meals on board
One thing I can promise: you won't go hungry!
Meal times might shift depending on landings and wildlife sightings, but you'll enjoy:
• Three delicious meals a day, with breakfasts and lunches usually buffet style, and dinners either buffet or plated.
• Snacks and treats are available all day, including an almost continuous tea/coffee station with biscuits and cakes.
• Soft drinks, wines, beer, and non-premium spirits included during meals and bar hours. (And no, these aren't the cheap and disgusting ones-the free drinks and wines are really good!)
• Premium spirits, wines and champagne available for an additional charge, billed to your onboard account (no cash needed)
Most dietary needs can be accommodated if you let Quark know in advance. (The only exception is kosher meals, which can't be provided.)
Recommended Cabin
Veranda Stateroom
Bright, comfortable and perfect for watching the scenery as we sail — complete with private bathroom, daily housekeeping and a walkout balcony to make the most of the views. Sit out with a cup of tea and watch the landscape (and the wildlife!) slip by. See all the different cabin options here
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Absolutely! You can either:
Share a cabin and be paired with someone of the same gender and similar age, or
Book your own cabin with a single supplement.
Either way, you'll be part of our Wandering Travel Tribe group, so you'll have friends from day one.
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Moderate fitness is plenty. You need to be able to get in and out of the Zodiacs if you want to go ashore.
Some people simply choose to stay onboard and enjoy the scenery – there's no pressure to join every landing.
And don't worry about getting in/ out of the zodiacs. There are 3 people helping each time. If you can walk up/ down stairs, you can do that. There was a lady in her 80s on our last trip and she managed just fine.
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Nope. You can choose to skip any of the activities in order to relax (and perhaps enjoy the spa onboard!)
Sometimes, it’s nice to have the ship to yourself :)
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In a word, changeable.
Obviously, every year is different but on my previous trips we’ve had little rain, a bit of snow, some cloud and also some stunning calm and sunny days.
The coldest it got was about -2c, so not as cold as you might think!
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Me too, my lovely!
I was nervous before my first trip to Antarctica, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared.
I used Seabands and took tablets (given out on board). There's always a qualified expedition doctor onboard.
Once out of the sea crossings, the crew are brilliant at finding calm areas to explore, and the ship is designed with fantastic stabilisers to make the crossings as smooth and stable as possible.
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Not at all. I only had my iPhone and a GoPro on my first trip and still came home with amazing photos.
You’ll also receive a link to the trip photos after the trip, many taken by the professional photographer onboard.
But if you do have a "proper" camera, you'll find endless opportunities to practise and improve.
Prices
I've been able to secure some incredible exclusive group rates — but spaces are strictly limited, so act fast!
Based on shared/double occupancy. Prices from £ 12,632.40 pp. When the discounted spots are gone, they’re gone!
Asterisk = Premium cabin type. Single supplement is 1.7x on standard berths, 2x on premium (starred) berths.
Don't miss out! This preferred rate is only guaranteed until 19 November 2026.
Published rate (£GBP) pp
Cabin Category
YOU PAY (£GBP) pp
£12,632.40
Triple Suite
£19,095
Deluxe Veranda Forward w. Balcony
£21,295
£14,216.40
Veranda Stateroom w. Balcony
£22,395
£15,008.40
Veranda Suite w. Balcony
£23,795
£16,016.40
Studio Single
£30,795
£21,056.40
Penthouse Suite*
£32,495
£22,280.40
Studio Veranda Single*
£33,195
£22,784.40
Owner's Suite*
£34,695
£23,864.40
☎ How to Book
Step 1: Email me on kat@wanderingtraveltribe.com, sharing the number of people in your group and preferred cabin type.
I'll get a confirmed quote from Quark for you, and then you pay your deposit (usually 25%) directly to Quark, using their secure payment link or by phoning. Quark deal with all payments and they are ABTA regulated, so your money is secure.
Step 2: Once you've paid your deposit, I will:
✅ Confirm you're allocated to our Wandering Travel Tribe group
✅ Add you to our pre-trip emails, WhatsApp group and Zoom calls
✅ Help you with kit advice, tips and support in the run-up to departure
✅ Be on-board with you to answer any questions and help everyone have an incredible time.
❤ Questions? Just drop me a line at kat@wanderingtraveltribe.com— I'm here to help
Don't miss out! These prices are truly unbeatable, and once my allocation is gone, it's gone.
Save your spot- contact us now
