After our 2009 journey to Antarctica, with brief stops at the Falkland and South Georgia Islands, we always carried the idea of returning one day to spend more time on these remarkable islands of the South Atlantic. Fifteen years later, that long-held plan finally became reality. We began with a week exploring several islands of the Falkland Islands archipelago, enjoying abundant wildlife and the warm hospitality of farmers in the local settlements. From there, we boarded our small expedition vessel, the Polar Pioneer, and set sail for a two-week voyage to South Georgia Island. Despite technical problems with one of the ship’s engines and operational restrictions caused by the peak of the avian influenza outbreak on South Georgia, the expedition became a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. An extended period of exceptionally good weather—with calm seas and little wind—allowed us to visit all but one of our planned landing sites, often under clear blue skies. Where landings were not possible due to HPAI restrictions, extended zodiac cruises along the coastline provided outstanding opportunities to observe wildlife in its natural marine environment. One of the highlights of the journey was the discovery of a previously unknown penguin colony in Sea Leopard Fjord, which we were able to visit and study in detail before beginning our journey home.

Enjoy the pictures and the panoramas/videos follow our trip on this map: