South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Flag of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

countrySouth America

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a COUNTRY in South America.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are a remote, rugged paradise for intrepid travelers and wildlife enthusiasts. This British Overseas Territory is famed for its dramatic landscapes, towering glaciers, and abundant wildlife, including massive colonies of king penguins, seals, and albatrosses. The islands offer unparalleled opportunities for adventure, from hiking the storied paths of Shackleton's expeditions to kayaking among icebergs. The historic whaling stations, like Grytviken, provide a haunting glimpse into the past. With no permanent residents and limited visitor facilities, this destination is perfect for those seeking solitude and raw, untouched nature.

Best time to visit South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

November to March (austral summer), when temperatures are milder and wildlife is most active.

October

Now

Typical for October

Weather
Cold -5 to 2°C, increasing daylight

Travel notes

Crowds
Low
Prices
Shoulder

Early season, some ships begin

Know before you go

Getting there

USH

Ushuaia Malvinas Argentinas International Airport

International

1500 km away

MPN

RAF Mount Pleasant

Military/International

1400 km away

Getting around

"Travel is primarily by small boats or on foot. There are no roads or public transportation."

Stay connected

WiFi speed

0 Mbps

Mobile data

Poor

WiFi

None on land; limited satellite on ships

Local SIM

No local SIM available

Calling code

+500

Stay safe

Overall

7/10

Natural environment risks are high, but human threats are minimal. Safety depends on following expedition protocols.

Night safety

8/10

Natural environment risks are high, but human threats are minimal. Safety depends on following expedition protocols.

Transport

9/10

Scam risk

10/10

"The extreme environment requires careful preparation. Always travel with experienced guides and follow safety protocols."

Entry and health

Visa requirements

"Permission to visit must be obtained from the Commissioner's office, usually via a tour operator."

Health information

"No medical facilities exist on the islands. Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency evacuation is essential."

Culture

Local customs

"Respect for wildlife and the fragile environment is paramount. Visitors must follow strict biosecurity measures to prevent invasive species."
English

Costs and practicals

Currency

Pound Sterling (GBP) · £

Cost level

Luxury

Meals

Included in cruise package

Hotels

No hotels; cruise costs $8,000-$20,000+ per person

Local transport

Included in cruise

Cost notes

Travel is exclusively via expedition cruises, which are all-inclusive and very expensive.

Timezone

Atlantic/South_Georgia -02:00 (GMT-2)

More facts

Population

30

Area

3,903 km²

Government

British Overseas Territory administered by a Commissioner.

ISO code

GS, SGS

Type

country

Frequently Asked Questions

Also known as: දකුණු ජෝර්ජියාව සහ දකුණු සැන්ඩ්ිච් දූපත්, Déli-Georgia és Déli-Sandwich-szigetek, Koonfur Joorjiya iyo Koonfurta Jasiiradaha Sanwij, Súd-Geörgje en de Súdlike Sandwicheilannen, ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ଜର୍ଜିଆ ଏବଂ ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ସାଣ୍ଡୱିଚ୍ ଦ୍ବୀପପୁଞ୍ଜ, Sydgeorgien och Sydsandwichöarna, Nàm Georgia lâu Nàm Sandwich Khiùn-tó, Etelä-Georgia ja Eteläiset Sandwichsaaret, Georgia de Sud și Insulele Sandwich de Sud, Өмнөд Жоржиа ба Өмнөд Сэндвичийн Арлууд, Zuid-Georgië en de Zuidelijke Sandwicheilanden, جنوٗبی جارجِیا تہٕ جنوٗبی سینٛڑوٕچ جٔزیٖرٕ, Jeorji Dheghow hag Enesow Sandwich Deghow, Quần đảo Nam Georgia và Nam Sandwich, Южна Джорджия и Южни Сандвичеви острови, Jorjia Sude e Isolas Sanduitx Sude, Georgiaya Başûr û giravên Sandwichê yên Başûr, Söd-Jeorjie un de södlijje Botteramms-Enselle, Sør-Georgia og Sør-Sandwichøyene, Jižní Georgie a Jižní Sandwichovy ostrovy, Паўднёвая Георгія і Паўднёвыя Сэндвічавыя выспы, Géorgie du Sud-et-les Îles Sandwich du Sud, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, サウスジョージア・サウスサンドウィッチ諸島, Inizi Georgia ar Su hag Inizi Sandwich ar Su, Νήσοι Νότια Γεωργία και Νότιες Σάντουιτς;Νησιά Νότια Γεωργία και Νότιες Σάντουιτς;Νησιά Νότια Γεωργία και Νότιοι Σάντουιτς, Južna Georgija i otočje Južni Sandwich, Georgia Południowa i Sandwich Południowy, Hegoaldeko Georgiak eta Hegoaldeko Sandwich uharteak, Južna Džordžija i Južna Sendvička Ostrva, i-South Georgia ne-South Sandwich Islands, 南喬治亞島與南桑威奇群島, Suðurgeorgia, တောင် ဂျော်ဂျီယာ နှင့် တောင် ဆင်းဒဝစ်ဂျ် ကျွန်းစုများ, Južna Georgia in Južni Sandwichevi otoki, Suðursandwichoyggjar og Suðurgeorgia, Pódpołdnjowa Georgiska a kupy Pódpołdnjowy Sandwich, Sud-Georgio kaj Sud-Sandviĉinsuloj, Maadâ-Georgia já Máddááh Sandwichsuolluuh, Паўднёвая Георгія і Паўднёвыя Сэндвічавы астравы, South Georgia og South Sandwich Islands, جورجيا الجنوبية وجزر ساندويتش الجنوبية, Georgia del Sud e isole Sandwich meridionali, Lõuna-Georgia ja Lõuna-Sandwichi saared, Illas Xeorxia do Sur e Sandwich do Sur, Jeoorji gu Bëj-saalum ak Duni Islaand yi Bëj-saalum, Соҕуруу Георгия уонна Соҕуруу Сэндуич арыылара, Islles Xeorxa del Sur y Sandwich del Sur, Anyiehe Georgia kple Anyiehe Sandwich ƒudomekpowo nutome, Sud Georgia e li Sud Sandwich Isles, தெற்கு யோர்சியா மற்றும் தெற்கு சண்ட்விச் தீவுகள், ג׳ורג׳יה הדרומית ואיי סנדוויץ׳ הדרומיים, སཱའུཐ་ཇཽར་ཇཱ་ དང་ སཱའུཐ་སེནཌ྄་ཝིཅ་གླིང་ཚོམ, An tSeoirsia Theas agus Oileáin Sandwich Theas, दक्षिण जोर्जिया और दक्षिण सैंडविच द्वीपसमूह, Südgeorgien und die Südlichen Sandwichinseln, Geòrgia do Sud e isoe Sandwich meridionæ, Georgia Selatan dan Kepulauan Sandwich Selatan, Georgia dal Sud e Isulis Sandwich dal Sud, Хуссар Джорджи æмæ Хуссар Сандвичы сакъадæхтæ, جنوبی جارجیا و جزائر جنوبی سینڈوچ, દક્ષિણ જ્યોર્જીયા અને દક્ષિણ સેન્ડવિચ આઇલેન્ડ, Islas Georgias del Sur y Sandwich del Sur, Паўднёвая Джорджыя і Паўднёвыя Сандвічавы астравы, Νήσοι Νότια Γεωργία και Νότιες Σάντουιτς, 南喬治亞和南桑威奇群島, Көньяк Георгия һәм Көньяк Сандвич утраулары, Јужна Џорџија и Јужни Сендвички Острови, Pietų Džordžijos ir Pietų Sandvičo Salos, ເກາະຈອດເຈຍໃຕ້ແລະຫມູ່ເກາະແຊນວິດຕອນໃຕ້, جنوبی جارجیا اور جنوبی سینڈوچ جزائر, De Georgia ac Ynysoedd Sandwich y De, Pietų Džordžija ir Pietų Sandvičo salos, Južna Georgija in Južni Sandwichevi otoki, Ilhas Geórgia do Sul e Sanduíche do Sul, Južna Georgija i Otočje Južni Sandwich, ደቡብ ጆርጂያ እና የደቡብ ሳንድዊች ደሴቶች, Lulli Georgia ja Lulli Sandwich-sullot, Georgia del Sud e Isole Sandwich Australi, साउथ जॉर्जिया व साउथ सँडविच द्वीपसमूह, Suður-Georgía og Suður-Sandvíkureyjar, جزایر جورجیای جنوبی و ساندویچ جنوبی, جزر جورجيا الجنوبية وساندويتش الجنوبية, দক্ষিণ জর্জিয়া ও দক্ষিণ স্যান্ডউইচ দ্বীপপুঞ, ደቡብ ጆርጂያ እና የደቡድ ሳንድዊች ደሴቶች, Tohossa Jorjjiyanne Tohossa Sanddiwiche Haruurota, Nam Georgia và Quần đảo Nam Sandwich, दक्षिण जॉर्जिया एवं दक्षिण सैंडविच द्वीप समूह, 南乔治亚和南桑威奇群岛, Jorjia ar Su hag Inizi Sandwich ar Su, Cənubi Georgiya və Cənubi Sandviç adaları, ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಜಾರ್ಜಿಯಾ ಮತ್ತು ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಸ್ಯಾಂಡ್ವಿಚ್ ದ್ವೀಪಗಳು, Zuid-Georgia en de Zuidelijke Sandwicheilanden, Suid-Georgië en die Suidelike Sandwich-eilande, Sydgeorgien og Sydsandwichøerne, 사우스조지아 사우스샌드위치 제도, ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᏣᏥᏱ ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎠᏍᏛᎭᏟ ᏚᎦᏚᏛ, Súd-Georgje en de Súdlike Sandwicheilannen, Sør-Georgia og Sør-Sandwichøyane, Јужна Џорџија и Јужна Сендвичка Острва, ദക്ഷിണ ജോർജ്ജിയയും ദക്ഷിണ സാൻഡ്‌വിച്ച് ദ്വീപുകളും, Illes Geòrgia del Sud i Sandwich del Sud, Georgia dal Sid e las Inslas Sandwich dal Sid, Georgia de Sud şi Insulele Sandwich de Sud, दक्षिण जर्जिया र दक्षिण स्यान्डवीच टापुहरू, దక్షిణ జార్జియా మరియు దక్షిణ సాండ్విచ్ దీవులు, Cənub Gürcüstan və Cənub Sandvilç Adaları, កោះ​ហ្សកហ្ស៊ី​ខាង​ត្បូង និង​សាន់វិច​ខាង​ត្បូង, Dienviddžordžija un Dienvidsendviču Salas, Južná Georgia a Južné Sandwichove ostrovy, Dienviddžordžija un Dienvidsendviču salas, Lâm Georgia kap Lâm Sandwich Kûn-tó, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Suid-Georgië en die Suidelike Sandwicheilande, Seòirsia-a-Deas is na h-Eileanan Shandwich-a-Deas, Jojia Kusini na Visiwa vya Sandwich Kusini, სამხრეთი ჯორჯია და სამხრეთ სენდვიჩის კუნძულები, Ilhas Geórgia do Sul e Sandwich do Sul, Південна Джорджія та Південні Сандвічеві острови, Νήσοι Νότιος Γεωργία και Νότιοι Σάντουιτς, เกาะเซาท์จอร์เจียและหมู่เกาะเซาท์แซนด์วิช, Южная Георгия и Южные Сандвичевы Острова, ʻOtumotu Siosia-tonga mo Saniuisi-tonga, Gjeorgjia Jugore dhe Ishujt Jugorë Sanduiç, Georgia Yiass as Ellanyn Sandwich Yiass, Güney Georgia ve Güney Sandwich Adaları

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