The South Shetland Islands Holidays & Tailor-made Tours

A group on uninhabited Antarctic islands in the Drake Passage with incredible wildlife, birdlife and natural beauty.

The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands in the Drake Passage about 120 kms north of the Antarctic Peninsula. They were discovered in the early 19th century and supported temporary bases for whaling and sealing, and nowadays are home to research and exploration bases in the summer months.

A visit here on your Antartica cruise offers wild landscapes and incredible landscapes.

The largest island is King George Island. Although largely covered by ice, the Fildes Peninsula is ice-free in the summer months, where there is a small settlement of researchers and conservationists.

The 2nd largest island is Livingstone Island. Due to its location, it is largely free of ice and hence home to several research bases. Deception Island is south of Livingston island and is an active volcano. Cruises to Antarctica visit here and the island is also home to two research bases.

Ardely Island has summer bases run by Chilean and Argentine governments. Penguin Island is a volcanic island just off the south coast of King George. It last erupted in 1905 and has no bases. Nelson Island is separated from King George by a short channel and is home to a research base founded in 1988 by a Czech explorer.

Robert Island is west of King George with Fort William Point and Edwards Point lighthouses and the Chilean run Luis Risopatrón research base in the summer months.

Greenwich Island has a Chilean and Ecuadorean research base in the summer. The Aitcho Islands are a scattering of islets and rocks just north of Greenwich, often visited by cruises for their birdlife. Half Moon Island has an Argentinean base in summer and is also a popular stop for Antarctica Cruises. The uninhabited Snow Island is completely covered in ice and home to the most northerly breeding colony of Emperor penguins.

Islands east of King George Island include: Bridgeman Island has an extinct volcano; Elephant Island is where Ernest Shackleton's crew took refuge after their ship was crushed by ice; Gibbs Island has large colonies of macaroni penguins, chinstraps, and southern fulmars; Seal Islands have a large colony of Antarctic Fur Seals.