The Falkland Islands

Tour Code: FLK01

An 18-day holiday enjoying the birds and marine mammals of the Falkland Islands.

18 days from
£11,795
Land only price from
£
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

Lying about 450 kilometres from the coast of South America, the Falkland Islands are inhabited by huge numbers of seabirds including albatrosses, penguins, prions and cormorants during the breeding season (Oct to Mar). Combining starkly beautiful scenery reminiscent of Scotland, a blend of British and South American characteristics and a wildlife which shares many affinities with Antarctica, the Falkland Islands exert a unique charm over visitors. On this tour we’ll explore a wide range of habitats, including many of the smaller islands, in search of passerines including Falkland Thrushes, waterfowl, seabirds such as Southern Giant Petrels and Magellanic Oystercatcher, sea lions, penguin colonies (including Southern Rockhopper, King, Gentoo and Magellanic) cetaceans such as Orca and Commerson's Dolphin, and a profusion of wild flowers.

  • Southern Elephant Seals & Southern Sea Lions loiter on magnificent sandy beaches
  • Excursions to smaller islands including Pebble, Bleaker & Sea Lion Islands
  • Flocks of Upland Geese, Falkland Steamer Ducks & Dolphin Gulls 
  • Visit the King Penguin colony at Volunteer Point
  • 5 species of penguin on Sea Lion Island, including Gentoo & Southern Rockhopper
  • Explore the capital, Port Stanley – the size of an English village
  • Endemic passerines including Cobbs Wren & Tussock-bird
  • Blackish Oystercatcher, Two-banded Plover & Striated Caracara
  • Led by expert local naturalist guide

The Falkland Islands provide one of the most unusual and enjoyable destinations in the Naturetrek programme. Lying some 450 kilometres from the coast of South America, amid the rich fishing grounds of the South Atlantic, the islands are inhabited by huge numbers of seabirds during the breeding season which extends from October to March. The spectacle of these great assemblies of penguins, albatrosses, cormorants and terns is reason enough to visit the Falklands but the islands are so much more than just a haven for seabirds. The scenery is often reminiscent of the Scottish islands, but there are many unique aspects to life in the Falklands and visitors are constantly charmed by this blend of familiar and unfamiliar. In many ways the islands are essentially British in character but the South Atlantic exerts its own influences and the sight of huge Southern Elephant Seals hauled out on sandy beaches, or Northern Giant Petrels gliding along the Stanley shoreline, remind us that Europe is thousands of kilometres away and that the wildlife has more affinities with Antarctica!

Formerly the remoteness of the islands made them extremely difficult to visit but the construction of Mount Pleasant airfield, combined with the provision of comfortable tourist accommodation on a number of islands, has made the Falklands accessible to an ever-increasing number of travellers wishing to enjoy the remarkable natural history and fascinating way of life in this very special archipelago.

As we drive to Port Stanley from Mount Pleasant after the long flight from England, flocks of Upland Geese grazing by the roadside and Long-tailed Meadowlarks foraging in the heather indicate emphatically that we have entered a very different world. A walk along the Stanley waterfront from our comfortable hotel will underline this as Rock Shags fly to their nests on an old shipwreck in the harbour, Falkland Steamer Ducks dabble in the shallows, and Northern Giant Petrels squabble with Dolphin Gulls over titbits discarded from fishing boats. A day excursion from Stanley to Volunteer Point is sure to rank among the tour highlights as we visit the King Penguin colony at the point. The immensely appealing young birds that parade in front of us wearing their comical ‘fur’ coats of thick down will be just the first of many indelible memories to take home from these extraordinary South Atlantic islands.

Although the islands occupy an area roughly the size of Wales, the population is tiny, and even the capital, Stanley, is barely the size of a large English village. Isolated sheep farms and remote settlements are surrounded by great expanses of wild peat moorland, through which numerous streams carve their way to the sea, providing refuge for impressively large trout. Magnificent sandy beaches, the equal of any in the tropics, are invariably deserted except for loitering Southern Elephant Seals or South American Sea Lions, and in some places are utilised as landing strips by the light aircraft which serve as a lifeline between these widely scattered islands. Trees are scarce, but ubiquitous thickets of gorse add a vivid splash of colour to each settlement and offer a safe nesting place for Falkland Thrushes.

Sea Lion Island is where we stay in the comfortable tourist lodge where Southern Elephant Seal pups dozing in the garden, and inquisitive Striated Caracaras attempting to unpack our luggage, give a taste of what is in store on this superb island. Five penguin species can be found here, but the most numerous are the solemn Gentoos clustered together in their colonies, and the highly entertaining little Rockhoppers which hurl themselves ashore from the pounding waves with the alacrity of circus acrobats. For the period of our stay the island is our private domain, a birding paradise inhabited by Imperial Shag, Ruddy-headed and Kelp Geese, Falkland Skuas, Magellanic and Blackish Oystercatchers, Two-banded Plovers, Tussock Birds and many other exciting species. Southern Elephant Seals litter the beaches and, if we are lucky, we could witness Killer Whales cruising offshore.

Carcass Island (or Saunders Island) and Bleaker Island are other main centres for the middle section of our tour and we will be spending two to three days at each locality, travelling between islands on the FIGAS Islander aircraft which gives superb views of the scenery en route, and will cheerfully divert from its flight path if the pilot spots a pod of Killer Whales or anything else of interest to his passengers!

Flying to Pebble Island, we find a different terrain, with marshes and pools to the east of the island and moorland and hills to the west. There are several significant seabird colonies on Pebble and it has been possible in some years to see six penguin species on the island. Impressive scenery, a fine sense of solitude, a profusion of wild flowers and amazing sandy beaches make Pebble an unforgettable place. We stay next on beautiful Carcass Island for three nights and, if conditions permit, we will take a boat excursion to nearby West Point where an impressive Black-browed Albatross colony will be our principal objective, although there will be plenty of other wildlife to admire, including dolphins on the crossing.

A final two days in Stanley give us an opportunity to look around this small town which, for a short while, was the focus of the world’s media as the events of the Falklands conflict took place, as well as take a day trip to Cape Bougainville for our final fix of Rockhopper and Macaroni Penguins. 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart Brize Norton
Day 2
Arrive Mount Pleasant & transfer Port Stanley
Day 3
Volunteer Point
Day 4/6
Bleaker Island
Day 7/9
Sea Lion Island
Day 10/11
Carcass Island or Saunders Island
Day 12/14
Pebble Island
Day 15
Port Stanley
Day 16
Port Stanley & Cape Bougainville
Day 17
Depart Mount Pleasant
Day 18
Arrive Brize Norton
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    We stay in a comfortable hotel in Port Stanley and tourist lodges elsewhere. All rooms with private facilities, except on Saunders Island where bathrooms are shared.

  • Food:

    All meals are included in the price.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Wed 28th Oct – Sat 14th Nov 6 £11,795
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,295
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
David Spivack
David Spivack.jpg

Tour Leader: David Spivack

Born in north London, David has been involved professionally in the conservation sector since 1990, whilst during the 80's he actively volunteered locally with the RSPB, the local Wildlife Trust and BTCV in the Lea Valley & Epping Forest areas.

Over the past 30 years, David's professional conservation career has included working for the RSPB in the North of England and at the RSPB HQ at the Lodge, the RSPB in the East of England along with The Wildlife Trusts UK Office and as the UK Director for Falklands Conservation, the Birdlife International partner based in the islands.  During this time the roles David has undertaken has ranged from working with young people, volunteers, generating income & profile to support conservation, reserve management and working with UK & International partners and agencies to support conservation work in the Falkland Islands.

Now living in the North Yorkshire Wolds and close to Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head, David currently works for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Tour Dates or Itinerary Don't Suit?

Allow our experts to create a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices to suit you.

Enquire

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

stdClass Object ( [Trip Code] => FLK01 [data] => stdClass Object ( ) )