South Georgia and the South Sandwich Isles are a sub-Antarctic UK overseas territory, inhabited only by birds, seals and a few hearty souls from the British Antarctic Survey. Argentina and Britain tussled briefly over possession of the islands, and the Brits won out.
If you set foot here you’ll be among an exclusive group of intrepid souls that includes Ernest Shackleton, who is buried here in Grytviken, a 19th century whaling station. The islands are largely covered with permanent ice and snow, and a mountainous landscape that is either bleak or beautiful depending on whom you talk to. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Isles are hard to access. There are no tourist facilities. Still, judging from their website, the folks who work on South Georgia Island seem a hearty and affable group and one gets the sense they’d be delighted to show a bit of sub-Antarctic hospitality to the respectful traveler who arrived to their remote outpost. The South Georgia Museum is housed in the former home of a Norwegian whaling station manager, and displays exhibits themed around whaling, blacksmithing, natural history and the British military. There is also a church and a whalers’ cemetery, which is Shackleton’s final resting place.
