South Shetland Islands

Plum the mysteries of these mist-covered islands

The archipelago consists of 11 major islands and numerous smaller ones. They are mainly mountainous and more than 80% glaciated. The islands are of volcanic origin. Although the islands might have been sighted before, the first recorded sighting is that of William Smith, a British sailor whose ship was blown off course while rounding Cape Horn in 1819. Soon after, seal hunters frequented the islands in search of Fur Seals.

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Cruises to the South Shetland Islands

Antarctica - Polar Circle - Whale watching
Up to $4000 OFF

Antarctica - Polar Circle - Whale watching

Crossing the Polar Circle

PLA32-24 This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Anchoring in various spots around the region, the expedition offers the chance to dive in the iceberg-heavy waters.

m/v Plancius

m/v Plancius

Cruise date:

21 Mar - 1 Apr, 2024

Berths start from:

5650 USD

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

Searching for the Elusive Emperor Penguins

OTL22-24 A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos.

m/v Ortelius

m/v Ortelius

Cruise date:

10 Nov - 20 Nov, 2024

Berths start from:

12100 USD

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

Searching for the Elusive Emperor Penguins

OTL23-24 A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos.

m/v Ortelius

m/v Ortelius

Cruise date:

20 Nov - 30 Nov, 2024

Berths start from:

12100 USD

Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage + navigational workshop

Classic Antarctica including Deception Island

OTL24-24 This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins.

m/v Ortelius

m/v Ortelius

Cruise date:

30 Nov - 10 Dec, 2024

Berths start from:

7900 USD

Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage

Classic Antarctica including Deception Island

PLA26-25 This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins.

m/v Plancius

m/v Plancius

Cruise date:

6 Jan - 16 Jan, 2025

Berths start from:

8650 USD

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Latest blog and customer story

Blog

Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List

It’s a common pursuit among serious travelers to visit all seven continents. And indeed, the term “bucket list,” which became popular (if not overused) since the 2007 movie, fits naturally with this goal.

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Customer story

Antarctica and My Old Friend, Ortelius: Passenger Story by Ann Lane

I was on the recent Antarctic trip on Ortelius, 16 Feb - 7 March. This has been my third expedition with Oceanwide, and I continue to be very impressed by the experiences.

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South Shetland Islands cruise reviews

by Lucinda Roenicke
The 23 day trip on the Hondius was better than I ever could have imagined. Every day was filled with views, wildlife and wonderful presentations. The team (guides, crew, service, etc) were all friendly, knowledgeable and professional. The ship was extremely comfortable, the food delicious and plentiful and the excursions were fun and informative. The lead guide, Pippa, checked weather daily and made educated decisions with the captain on where we should head. Everyday we were not at sea we had an excursion! The guides were all well educated and gave presentation on history, animals, geology and more. It was great learning about what we were seeing. I highly recommend this trip, Oceanwide and The Hondius !
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by Thomas Roenicke
This trip was beyond out expectations - from crew to guides to activities and itinerary Read full review
by Edwin Ketting
De reis met de Hondius van Oceanwide is een echte aanrader. Het personeel en de staff doen er alles aan om het naar je zin te maken. Het was een onvergetelijke reis. Als je van plan bent om deze reis te maken is Oceanwide wel een van de beste. Read full review
by Steve Rickman
This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Everything was so well run. The crew and staff worked so hard to make this experience so special. I will never forget it.
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by Belinda-Jane Orwin
Highly recommend this 13 day Basecamp trip. We saw such a variety of wildlife, got to do every available activity (camping, kayaking, mountaineering, showshoeing, landings, zodiacs, onboard lectures regarding wildlife, Antarctic safety, photography lectures, history of antarctica and more
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by Steph Foraker
This was a dream trip for me and the wildlife, scenery, and remote stark beauty did not disappoint. The Expedition leader and guides were incredible! They shared so freely their great gifts of knowledge and respect for the earth and beings of it. Eduardo, you are the bomb. Thank you, Regis, Koen, Ilke, Helene, Koen, Michael, Tom! I most enjoyed that I felt so fully immersed in the magical, pristine, awe-inspiring places of Antarctica and the remote southern ocean islands we visited. The wildlife was fantastic, the penguin breeding colony numbers staggering, the seabirds so cool. The other birders I met on the trip were so nice and what fun seeing what new would show up each day. We were also lucky to have very good weather! This was a hugely expensive venture for me but it was a once in a lifetime trip, not to be missed. If you do this trip, go with few expectations, an open mind and heart, and just be in it. I like getting lost in a good book, but this was the real deal for 3 weeks. I am changed, upgraded, in the best ways.
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South Shetland Islands FAQ

The South Shetland Islands follow Greenwich Mean Time +12 (GMT +12). This means that if it is 9:00 GMT +12 (9 a.m.) during your trip to the South Shetland Islands, it would be the previous day at 17:00 (5 p.m.) in New York City, USA and 22:00 (10 p.m.) in London, U.K.. The South Shetland Islands officially have the same time as the Antarctic South Pole. During an expedition cruise to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, the ship will be using Argentinean time (GMT -3).  

The climate in this area is typically very cool and corresponds well with the rest of the northern Antarctic Peninsula.The average summer temperature only reaches 1.5 degrees Celsius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit), and the typical winter temperature hovers around -5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit).

Even in the summertime, the South Shetland Islands retain an ice and snow coverage of 80 percent. It is humid and often cloudy, and the sunniest days are typically accompanied by colder temperatures. Due to this, anyone who is taking a expedition cruise to the South Shetland Islands needs to bring the proper type of clothing with them. 

A visit to the South Shetland Islands will reveal a surprising amount of life for such a harsh environment. South Shetlands wildlife such as, seals, penguins and seabirds utilize the surrounding water as a feeding spot, and they can often be spotted from the cruise ship. On land, there are many examples of vegetation, including algae, lichens and mosses. This helps highlight the fact that life can find a way in even the most inhospitable places.  

The number of people living in the South Shetland Islands is extremely hard to say. Research stations may only have a skeleton crew - if any at all - during the winter. During the summer months it's booming with scientists and support crew. 

The South Shetland Islands are not under the control of any nation. Instead, the Antarctic Treaty enables all signatories to utilize the region for any non-military related purposes. This has led to 13 countries establishing research stations and field camps. Before the Antarctic Treaty was signed, the islands were claimed by the U.K., Argentina and Chile. 

The South Shetland Islands are volcanic, primarily mountainous and approximately 80 percent glaciated. A voyage to the South Shetland Islands will often provide visitors with the opportunity to see penguins and seals. Deception Island is always a highlight, and it is uninhabited aside from Spanish and Argentinean research bases. The glaciers and steep peak on the eastern side of the island provide a challenging environment for hiking. Kayaking is also an exciting way to explore Port Foster - the flooded caldera of Deception island.

About

South Shetland Islands Weather

Be prepared for some chilly weather on your South Shetland Islands cruise. The summer months’ average temperature only ever gets up to around 1 or 2°C, and that’s without factoring in the wind which can carry away your body heat.

Scroll one third of the way down this linked page to get all sorts of info about what clothes you should bring.

Facts about the South Shetland Islands

  • If the Antarctic region has any sort of bustling cosmopolitan centre, it’s the South Shetland Islands. There are 10 bases on the Islands populated the year round and another 8 that see activity in the summer months.
  • The South Shetland Islands are made up of many tiny islands and rocks and 11 main islands – Clarence, Deception, Elephant, Greenwich, King George, Livingston, Low, Nelson, Robert, Smith, and Snow.
  • Deception Island is considered an active and ongoing “significant volcanic risk.”
  • Only about 3% of the Islands are ice-free, along the coasts. That’s where your South Shetland Islands holiday will find all of the Islands’ life – including the humans.
  • Famous explorer Shackleton and his crew survived more than four harsh months on Elephant Island.
  • 12 different countries have bases on King George Island – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Germany, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Uruguay, and the U.S.
  • The Islands were initially discovered on February 19, 1819 when the British ship Williams was blown of course while trying to make its way around Cape Horn.

Travel to the South Shetland Islands

A cruise including South Shetland Islands takes you to the gateway of the Antarctic. The South Shetland Islands, just a half a day’s cruise away from the Antarctic Peninsula, is home to stunning scenery and astounding amounts of wildlife.

Get ready to bird watch as the islands are the home breeding grounds of terns, skuas, shags, gulls, and thousands of penguins of different kinds.

Your South Shetland Islands trip gives you the chance to explore the Islands through a wide range of activities including snowshoeing & hiking, kayaking and diving.

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