South Georgia: Spring Wildlife

29-Day Trip

with Martin Gregus

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The Story
The Highlights
About the Storyteller
Itinerary / Day by Day
Experience Details
Trip Images / Gallery

Guided trip

The Story

South Georgia is one of the wildest places a traveller can reach by sea. A remote sweep of mountains, glaciers and weather in the South Atlantic, it is not a polished safari and not a standard Antarctic cruise. It is louder, rougher, stranger and more alive than that.

In September 2027, join award-winning wildlife photographer and cinematographer Martin Gregus Jr. aboard Hans Hansson for a 28-night spring expedition from Stanley in the Falkland Islands to South Georgia. With only 12 guests on board, this is a true small-vessel expedition shaped by wildlife, weather, sea and light.

Spring is when South Georgia begins to wake after winter. Elephant seal bulls haul onto the beaches and fight for territory. King penguin colonies gather in staggering numbers, with birds courting, incubating and moving through the last traces of snow. Wandering albatrosses return to nesting sites, fur seals begin arriving, and the skies fill with seabirds riding the Southern Ocean wind.

The route is deliberately flexible. Grytviken, St Andrews Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour, Fortuna Bay, Cooper Bay and Elsehul are all possibilities, but the real plan is to follow conditions. If the light is extraordinary, the ship can wait. If wildlife is gathering somewhere unexpected, the course can change.

With Martin beside you, South Georgia becomes more than a rare wildlife destination. It becomes a field classroom in patience, observation and storytelling, with daily opportunities to refine how you see, shoot and understand one of the great wildlife theatres on Earth.

Twenty-eight nights. One expedition vessel. Twelve guests. Spring wildlife at full force.

The Highlights

• 28-night South Georgia expedition from Stanley, Falkland Islands
• Travel aboard Hans Hansson, a 12-guest expedition vessel
• King penguin colonies, elephant seal breeding behaviour, albatrosses and spring wildlife
• Daily Zodiac excursions, shore landings and wildlife scouting
• Rare small-group format with the freedom to adapt around weather, wildlife and light
• Guided by wildlife photographer Martin Gregus

More Than a Trip

South Georgia rewards people who can wait for the wild to unfold. You don’t come here for comfort or a fixed cruise script. You come for king penguins, seal beaches, Southern Ocean weather and the rare feeling of being somewhere the natural world still runs the show.

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29 Days, 28 Nights

South Georgia: Spring Wildlife

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Price

$26,800 USD

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“I have had the almost unparalleled privilege to experience iconic wildlife in a way few people have ever had."

- Martin Gregus

Meet Your Guide

Why Travel With Martin?

Martin Gregus grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia, in a household full of artists. He learned photography from his father and was exploring local wildlife with a camera before most kids had decided what they wanted to do with their lives. The hundreds of National Geographic magazines stacked around his home did the rest.

Nineteen years later, his work has taken him across all seven continents and some of the most remote ecosystems on the planet. He has earned two wins and two nominations at Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and his 2022 polar bear project, 33 Days Among the Bears, became an international story after National Geographic coverage. His cinematography has since contributed to productions for Disney, BBC, and Netflix.

Now based in Canada, Martin is recognised internationally for his work in polar regions and remote wilderness, and for his ability to create extraordinary images in some of the most extreme environments on earth.

What Sets Martin Apart

Nearly two decades of expedition work across the planet's most extreme environments: Arctic, Antarctic, Patagonia, and the Himalayas
A network of expert local guides and trackers in each destination, built over years of repeat fieldwork, giving guests access that cannot be replicated
Technical mastery developed in the harshest conditions on earth: polar ice, high altitude, dense wilderness, and open ocean
A teaching approach grounded in patience and preparation, with a belief that the best wildlife images are earned, not stumbled upon

20+

Years Experiences

200+

Global Expeditions

730k+

Followers

What Fuels Martin

"When you're standing on polar ice at sunrise, you don't need convincing that this planet is worth protecting."

It started in a living room in Slovakia, surrounded by his father's photographs and stacks of National Geographic. That childhood wonder never faded. It grew into a drive to reach the most remote corners of the planet and bring back images that make people care. For Martin, every expedition carries a purpose: show people what's out there, so they want to protect it.

Day By Day

Your Itinerary

Day

Embark In Stanley

Arrive in Stanley, Falkland Islands, and board Hans Hansson. Settle into your cabin, meet Martin and the expedition team, then depart into the South Atlantic after briefings, dinner and an introduction to the journey ahead.

Day

2-4

Crossing To South Georgia

Spend the crossing preparing for the island. Watch for seabirds from deck, join photography and fieldcraft sessions with Martin, organise gear, and begin learning how to work in polar light, wind and fast-changing conditions.

Day

5-8

First South Georgia Landings

Conditions permitting, begin exploring South Georgia's coastline by Zodiac and on foot. Early landings may include wildlife beaches, glacier-backed bays and historic sites such as Grytviken, where Shackleton's story is woven into the island's human history.

Day

9-14

King Penguin Colonies And Seal Beaches

Explore possible sites such as St Andrews Bay, Salisbury Plain and Gold Harbour. These are the South Georgia scenes people dream about: vast king penguin colonies, elephant seals on the beaches, seabirds overhead and mountains rising straight from the sea.

Day

15-20

The Wild Coastline

Continue along the coast, looking for opportunities around Fortuna Bay, Cooper Bay, Elsehul and other weather-dependent anchorages. Some days may bring long shore sessions. Others may be Zodiac cruises along cliffs, ice, kelp beds and bird-rich coastline.

Day

21-25

Follow The Best Conditions

The final South Georgia days are kept deliberately flexible. The captain and expedition team can return to a productive site, wait for better light, or shift the plan if wildlife activity builds elsewhere. Evenings bring image reviews, editing sessions and story-sharing with Martin.

Day

26-28

Return Crossing To Stanley

Begin the voyage back across the South Atlantic. Use the sea days for final workshops, image editing, rest and reflection as the Falklands come back into view.

Day

Disembark In Stanley

Arrive back in Stanley after breakfast, carrying home memory cards full of wild weather, king penguins, seal beaches and one of the most remote wildlife worlds on Earth.

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Guest Review

South Georgia

"To be in the presence of a unique visionary like Martin Gregus and be welcomed into his home away from home in the middle of nowhere is truly a once in a lifetime event right up there with getting married or having a child."

- Anne Prather, United States

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FAQ

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What's included

• 28 nights aboard Hans Hansson
• All meals and beverages onboard
• Daily Zodiac excursions and shore landings, conditions permitting
• Professional expedition guides
• Photography workshops, presentations and image reviews with Martin Gregus
• All planned excursions and activities
• Airport and vessel transfers where applicable
• Dedicated Airguides expedition leader

Final itineraries are determined by guides based on daily weather, sea conditions and other factors.

What's not included

• International and domestic flights
• Hotels before or after the expedition
• Travel insurance, including medical evacuation cover
• Visa or transit fees where applicable
• Personal camera equipment and personal expenses
• Crew gratuities
• Costs caused by weather or travel delays

Where does the expedition start and finish?

The expedition starts and finishes in Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Is the itinerary or wildlife guaranteed?

No. South Georgia is remote and weather-driven, so the route is shaped by sea conditions, wildlife activity, light and landing permissions.

Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, but this expedition is built around expert polar knowledge, flexible routing and time in South Georgia’s most wildlife-rich spring locations, giving you the strongest chance to experience king penguins, elephant seals, albatrosses and the raw drama of the Southern Ocean.

Can I do this trip if I’m not a photographer?

Yes. Photographers will get a lot from Martin’s guidance, but this trip is also for wildlife lovers and adventurous travellers who want to experience South Georgia deeply.

What fitness level is required?

Guests should be comfortable stepping in and out of Zodiacs, walking on uneven beaches and spending time outside in cold, wet and windy conditions.

Can I speak to someone about this trip or get help with flights?

Yes. Our team can help with flight options and travel routing. Call, text or WhatsApp us at +61 402 552 918. You'll speak directly with an Airguides team member who knows this trip inside out. We're here for any questions, big or small, from planning your adventure to arriving back home.

First Name

Questions

Reviews

What They Say About Us?

Airguides were exceptional hosts for our Raja Ampat liveaboard dive trip. Seamless, professional and incredibly well organised from start to finish. A special mention to Brooke and Prashanti Pyke for their warmth, expertise and attention to detail. They truly made the experience unforgettable.

Highly recommend Airguides.

Adam McKnight, Raja 2025

A truly unique experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

This experience is not for the faint of heart or someone who is looking for Instagram moments for clout. You are being given a unique opportunity to go to a place that will only be accessible to a handful of mere mortals.

To be in the presence of a unique visionary like Martin Gregus is truly a once in a lifetime.

Anne Prather, Fireweeds 2025

The Airguides trip to Tonga to swim with humpback whales was the experience of a lifetime. I have traveled all over the world, and nothing compares to being in the wild, rustic, deep blue waters of the South Pacific while interacting with whales and their calves. A wonderful and caring team made our adventures stress free.

+1 864 668 7478

South Georgia: Spring Wildlife

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Guided trip