Your guide to King Haakon Bay, South Georgia, best known as the landing site of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary rescue expedition.
Tucked away on the wild southwest coast of South Georgia, King Haakon Bay doesn’t often make it onto standard travel itineraries, and that’s what makes this place extra special.
With sheer cliffs and glaciers tumbling straight into the Southern Ocean, this spectacular fjord is a sight to behold!
But what really puts King Haakon Bay South Georgia Island, on the map, though, is its connection to one of the greatest survival stories of all time.
King Haakon Bay is where Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew landed in 1916 after an 800-mile open-boat journey from Elephant Island, in their desperate bid for rescue during the ill-fated Endurance expedition.
While here, you can almost feel the courage and determination that drove Shackleton’s team onward.
Nowadays, visitors come to admire the bay’s raw beauty up close while retracing the footsteps of history in one of the world’s most remote corners.
Read next: The Best Time To Visit South Georgia Island
Where is King Haakon Bay?
King Haakon Bay is a long, imposing fjord carved into the rugged southern coast of South Georgia.
It is encircled by towering mountains and glaciers that plunge directly into the sea.
King Haakon Bay, also known as King Haakon Sound, exudes an untamed beauty that captures the true spirit of South Georgia Island.
Unlike South Georgia’s more popular wildlife sites, King Haakon Bay is quieter and more remote, its isolation creating a wild, unspoiled character that stands in stark contrast to the areas near the island’s old whaling stations.
South Georgia is full of remote, untouched scenery!
History of King Haakon Bay
The fjord was named after Haakon VII, then the King of Norway, by early explorers of the region.
What makes King Haakon Bay famous is its role in history. In May 1916, Sir Ernest Shackleton and five of his crew landed here after their harrowing 800-mile journey in the tiny James Caird lifeboat from Elephant Island.
Exhausted but determined, Shackleton’s party first landed at Cave Cove in King Haakon Bay.
From there, they trekked across the island, passing through the treacherous Murray Snowfield and skirting the Fortuna Glacier, before finally arriving at Stromness whaling station to seek rescue for the rest of their stranded crew.
Visiting the bay today, it’s easy to imagine the immense relief the team must have felt upon setting foot on land after being at sea for weeks.
Read our guide to the Shackleton Walk, South Georgia!
Visiting King Haakon Bay, South Georgia
If you are eager to step into the very bay where Shackleton’s legendary journey for rescue began, then here’s your guide to King Haakon Bay.
How To Get There
Reaching King Haakon Bay, South Georgia Island, is an adventure in itself. Visitors arrive by expedition ship, often after exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and then making the long crossing of the Scotia Sea to reach South Georgia.
The bay lies on the island’s remote southern coast, and landings here depend heavily on weather and sea conditions, which can be notoriously unpredictable, with heavy surf often making approaches difficult.
For those interested in retracing Shackleton’s footsteps, specialist operators sometimes organize guided treks across South Georgia.
With the help of experienced climbing guides, you can attempt parts of Shackleton’s legendary route from King Haakon Bay to Stromness, crossing mountainous terrain, snowfields, and glaciers, which are vividly described in Ernest Shackleton’s book.
Important Note! Before you book any international trip, we honestly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know when things will go wrong, and medical bills can add up quickly if you get sick or injure yourself overseas.
Our personal recommendation based on our own experience is World Nomads.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit King Haakon Bay is during the Antarctic summer, from November to March, when the seas are calmer and you have the best chance of good weather for landings.
However, it’s worth noting that conditions can change rapidly, and the bay’s remote location means that stepping ashore is always dependent on the elements.
During the Antarctic summer, the shores transform into lively gathering places for wildlife.
Elephant seals sprawl across the sand, often sharing the space with fur seals and a variety of seabirds.
History lovers will appreciate being able to stand at Cave Cove or near Cape Rosa, imagining Shackleton’s exhausted crew landing here in the James Caird lifeboat after their perilous voyage across the Southern Ocean.
Summer is also the best time for a trekking experience in King Haakon Bay.
This period offers the safest conditions, with calmer seas, reduced ice on the shore, and more daylight hours to navigate South Georgia’s rocky landscape.
Some operators can arrange for adventurous travelers to trek along parts of Shackleton’s legendary route across South Georgia, where you can follow in his footsteps across snowfields and mountain passes.
Seabirds often fly around this part of South Georgia Island.
What to Expect During Your Visit
Expedition ships usually anchor near Cave Cove, the narrow inlet where Shackleton’s team first came ashore in 1916 after their epic voyage in the James Caird lifeboat. At this historic spot, the crew even lived for a time beneath the upturned James Caird boat before beginning their overland trek.
Not far from Cave Cove lies Peggotty Bluff, a rocky headland with a remarkable story tied to Shackleton’s Endurance expedition. After landing in May 1916, the crew set up camp there for better shelter as they prepared for their arduous trek across South Georgia.
Wildlife is another highlight to look forward to on your visit. The beaches are often dotted with elephant seals and fur seals.
Bird enthusiasts may be lucky enough to spot the South Georgia pipit, the world’s most southerly songbird, once nearly wiped out by invasive rats but now thriving again thanks to the eradication efforts led by the British Antarctic Survey.
A life-size replica of the James Caird, the boat Shackleton and his men sailed for 16 days across the Southern Ocean.
Is King Haakon Bay Worth Visiting?
If you’re a true adventurer and a big fan of Sir Ernest Shackleton, visiting King Haakon Bay should be at the top of your travel bucket list. Luckily, there are now several tour companies that specialize in expedition trips to remote islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
And while you’re at it, you might also consider visiting other nearby places, such as the wildlife-rich Salisbury Plain, the rugged peaks of Drygalski Fjord, or even the historic town of Grytviken, South Georgia.
The awe-inspiring landscapes, historical landmarks such as Cave Cove, Cape Rosa, and Peggotty Bluff, and the abundant wildlife, from elephant seals to playful penguins, make a trip to King Haakon Bay an adventure worth the splurge.
If you’re feeling even more adventurous, you can also take on a trekking adventure, tracing the steps of Shackleton’s legendary journey across South Georgia’s dramatic terrain.
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