Henrik Jeppesen is not your average traveler. The 37-year-old Dane has visited all 193 countries recognized by the United Nations and crossed off more than 2,000 locations on his personal travel bucket list. Among those destinations were hundreds of islands spanning every corner of the globe, from the Maldives and New Zealand to the Seychelles. That kind of track record makes him one of the most credible voices when it comes to rating island destinations anywhere on Earth.
Despite all the breathtaking places he has seen, one island stood head and shoulders above the rest. South Georgia, a remote British Overseas Territory tucked deep in the South Atlantic Ocean, earned the top spot on his list as the single greatest island in the world. According to Jeppesen, the island left a lasting impression unlike anything else he encountered during his travels. Speaking to Express, he described it as “one of the last truly wild places on Earth.”
“This British island sits deep in the South Atlantic Ocean, in the subantarctic region, and feels like one of the last truly wild places on Earth,” Jeppesen explained. “South Georgia is raw, dramatic, and staggeringly vast — nature there plays by its own rules.” The island is dominated by snow-capped peaks, enormous glaciers, and deep fjords that look as though they were pulled directly from a nature documentary. It has earned the unofficial nickname “the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean,” and for good reason. You can watch YouTube video here.
The wildlife alone is enough to leave any visitor in awe. South Georgia is home to more than seven million penguins, over 65,000 seals, and approximately 30 million nesting birds. Jeppesen was especially moved by the sight of the island’s massive penguin colonies gathering on black sand beaches against a backdrop of mountains and ice. “It is an experience that humbles you and stays with you long after you return,” he said.
Getting there, however, is no easy feat. South Georgia has no airport, which means the only realistic way to visit is through an expedition cruise, most commonly departing from South America. Jeppesen himself made the journey on a three-week expedition sailing through some of the most remote waters on the planet. He was quick to warn that even paying the high cost of such a cruise does not guarantee a landing, as weather conditions can make it impossible to disembark. On that same trip, the group had planned to stop at Tristan da Cunha, another famously isolated island, but rough conditions prevented them from setting foot on shore. Despite all the uncertainty and difficulty, Jeppesen said South Georgia was “more than worth the entire journey.”
While South Georgia claimed the top spot, Jeppesen also reflected on several other islands that left a mark on him. He highlighted the South Island of New Zealand for its combination of epic scenery, safety, and what he called “warmth.” He also singled out Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands as a symbol of tranquility and authenticity, Greenland for its “culture, scale, and personality,” and Easter Island as a place where isolation, history, and beauty come together in something truly unforgettable. For him, the best islands are not necessarily the most luxurious or the most famous. “It is not about luxury or popularity,” he said, “but about impact — about how deeply a place gets under your skin and how long it stays with you after the journey ends.”
South Georgia spans roughly 1,450 square miles and reaches a maximum elevation of about 9,626 feet at its highest peak, Mount Paget. It was first sighted in 1675 by the English merchant Anthony de la Roche and later surveyed in detail by Captain James Cook in 1775. The island became famous as the final resting place of the legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton, who died there in 1922 during his last Antarctic expedition. Today it falls under the jurisdiction of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and is managed as a protected conservation area, with tourism strictly regulated through permits to preserve its extraordinary natural environment.
If you had the chance to visit one of the world’s most remote islands, which one would you choose, and why — share your thoughts in the comments.
