St Helena Island Discovery
- Historical Town Walk of Jamestown
- Coffee plantation tour
- Guided tour of Plantation House
- High Knoll Fort, the Boer Cemetery, St Paul’s Cathedral, Prince’s Lodge & Deadwood Plain
- Guided hike to Blue Point
- Napoleon's residences, Briars Pavilion & Longwood House
Overview
An isolated volcanic outpost in the south Atlantic Ocean, St. Helena Island is part of the British Overseas Territory, also encompassing the islands of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The island is home to a small, friendly nation known as the Saints.
Famous as the place of Napoleon Bonaparte's exile and death, this 120-square-kilometre island is one of the most remote settled islands in the world and, until recently, also one of the most inaccessible. With the opening of St Helena’s airport, it is possible to fly into this far-flung destination to discover a unique land of fascinating contrasts.
With Jamestown as our base, we discover centuries-old military fortifications and intriguing historical legacies on this 8-day tour. St Helena Island is truly remarkable, with a rich history dating back approximately 500 years. It was an important port for the East India Company and was also used as a prison for key British convicts like Dinuzulu, who was captured in 1890 by the British and exiled to the island, as well as many prisoners captured during the Boer War.
Besides a rich history, the island is also home to some spectacular scenery. Every road here is a mountain pass, and around every corner there is a view more breathtaking than the last!
Join us 19 – 26 January 2027 on a guided small group tour of the island!
Itinerary
DAY 1: 19 JANUARY 2027: CAPE TOWN – ST HELENA ISLAND
Welcome to St Helena Island! Upon arrival, we will proceed through customs and immigration and collect our luggage. In the arrivals hall, we will be met and transported to our hotel situated in Jamestown, passing through some of the small villages en route. This transfer is approximately 30 minutes in duration.
On arrival at the hotel, guests will be given time to check in to their rooms, followed by a brief run-through of the week’s itinerary.
Later, we enjoy a leisurely historical walk through the island’s capital of Jamestown, discovering the stories that this historically rich Georgian-style town has to offer. We will learn more about the island, its people, and its rich history. This gentle stroll takes in the Castle, St. James Church, the oldest church in the Southern Hemisphere, views the famous Jacob’s Ladder, the Court House, and Castle Gardens. It is an opportunity to learn about this volcanic island and the lives of the people who live on this British Atlantic outpost.
This evening, we will enjoy a welcome dinner.
About the Mantis St Helena
The luxury Mantis St Helena is located at number 1 Main Street, just a few minutes away from the seafront, restaurants, shops, and other attractions. Nestled in the valley of Jamestown, the island’s capital, on the northern and leeward side of the island. Mantis St Helena Hotel is a combination of a restored historic building and a new contemporary wing that has been built to complement the cityscape of Jamestown. There are two sets of wheelchair-friendly rooms with adapted showers, as well as inter-leading rooms. The bar, restaurant and terrace are wheelchair-friendly, and the hotel is child-friendly. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Mantis St Helena is always ready to welcome you to some of the island’s best cuisine! Expect deliciously ‘Saint’ and classically inspired dishes, reflecting the island’s cultural influences.
O/N at the Mantis St Helena Hotel, including dinner.
DAY 2: 20 JANUARY 2027: ST HELENA ISLAND
After breakfast, we meet for a guided tour of the island. Sites today include Deadwood Plains, which was the camp site of Boer prisoners of war during the Anglo-Boer War of 1900-1902.
We also visit the Millennium Forest, as well as the Bellstone in Levelwood, which, when struck, makes the sound of a bell. Finally, we make our way to Sandy Bay beach for a picnic lunch with spectacular views. Return to Jamestown via the beautiful countryside.
After an exciting day, we enjoy dinner at Dan’s Eatery.
O/N at the Mantis St Helena Hotel including breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.
DAY 3: 21 JANUARY 2027: ST HELENA ISLAND
This morning, we will meet for a visit to Plantation House, built in 1792, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the residence of His Excellency the Governor. Our tour comprises the viewing of the residence, followed by a visit to the grounds to view Jonathon and friends up close. Jonathan is one of several tortoises that live on the grounds of Plantation House. Jonathan is famous because he is the oldest (approx. 190 years old) animal on the island and the oldest known living terrestrial animal in the world. Jonathan was brought to the island from the Seychelles in 1882, along with three other tortoises.
Enjoy lunch before setting off to explore the Boer War cemetery, St Pauls Cathedral and High
Knoll fort in the St Pauls area.
Dinner tonight is on the seafront at The Deck.
O/N at the Mantis St Helena Hotel including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 4: 22 JANUARY 2027: ST HELENA ISLAND
This morning, we are met and transferred to the wharf to meet our skipper. We enjoy a half-day boat cruise off the St Helena coastline. If we are lucky, we will see the huge schools of Pan-Tropical, Bottlenose and Rough-Toothed dolphins, as well as turtles, Devil Rays and Whale Sharks (in season January – March) that call these waters home. We also view a few of the old fortifications and outposts along the coast.
Enjoy lunch at the St Helena Coffee shop on the wharf. Later, we will enjoy a unique crafting session with a local crafts person, who will teach and assist us in producing our own souvenirs using the New Zealand Flax which grows in abundance on the island. Optional activities may be arranged this afternoon. Please discuss with your tour guide.
Transfer to The Crown Café in Ladder Hill for dinner.
O/N at the Mantis St Helena Hotel including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
DAY 5: 23 JANUARY 2027: ST HELENA ISLAND
This morning is at your leisure to explore at your own pace.
You may choose to enjoy another boat trip (optional, at an additional cost). Alternatively, why not go for a swim in the public swimming pool that sits near the harbour and is a great place to meet local islanders.
Lunch is under one's own arrangements today.
This afternoon, we will meet our guide at the hotel for a leisurely drive back to the Sandy Bay area for a tour of one of the St Helena Coffee Plantations. Here you will follow the process of the 200-year-old Arabica bean, one of the world’s most sought-after coffees.
We return to town and enjoy dinner at Anne’s Place in the Castle Gardens tonight.
O/N at the Mantis St Helena Hotel, including breakfast and dinner.
DAY 6: 24 JANUARY 2027: ST HELENA ISLAND
This morning, we enjoy a hike to Blue Point.
A great walk around the “Gates of Chaos”, Blue Point walks you through heavy erosion, revealing different colours of soil, just beyond Thompson’s Wood. Walkers will enjoy views of Southwest Point, Sandy Bay, Speery Island and Castle Rocks; this is a very popular walk.
You can enjoy stunning landscape views and the rehabilitation areas for island endemics. You may even be lucky and spot a whale. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the countryside.
Enjoy views onto the second Boer War site at Broad Bottom and a leisurely drive back into Jamestown. Dinner tonight is at Richard’s Travel Lodge.
O/N at the Mantis St Helena Hotel including breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.
DAY 7: 25 JANUARY 2027: ST HELENA ISLAND
This morning, we depart on our Napoleonic Tour. Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to St Helena in 1815 and died on the island 6 years later. This morning, we visit Briars Pavilion, Napoleon's first residence on the island. From here, we head to Longwood House, owned by the French government. This is where he lived and died. It is one of the best Napoleonic museums in the world, with original furniture and over 900 artefacts.
We enjoy lunch at Bertrands Cottage before heading to the Millennium Forest, where we will each plant an endemic tree in the forest- a restoration project that has been flourishing for 21 years.
We end the day with a visit to the site of Napoleon’s Tomb, a 15-minute stroll down into a lush valley.
This afternoon we enjoy a sundowner toasting our time on St Helena before enjoying a farewell dinner at Dan’s Eatery.
O/N at the Mantis St Helena Hotel including breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.
DAY 8: 26 JANUARY 2027: ST HELENA ISLAND – CAPE TOWN
After breakfast enjoy some time at leisure for a last stroll around Jamestown or maybe a dare! Take the opportunity to climb the 699 steps of Jacob’s Ladder. Do you have the courage to take on this challenge before leaving the island?
Sadly, our tour has come to an end. We will be transferred back to the airport to be in time for our flight to Cape Town. This transfer is approximately 30 minutes in duration.
Meals included: Breakfast.
END OF TOUR SERVICES
Dates
TOUR DATES
19 – 26 January 2027 (ex Cape Town)
Rates
LAND PACKAGE COST
- Per person sharing: GBP 2 560 (± ZAR 58 880)
- Single Supplement: GBP 420 (± ZAR 9 660)
Average rate of exchange used GBP 1.00/ ZAR 23.00 for the Rand price indicated. Please use as a guideline only – final cost subject to rate of exchange at the time of confirmation and payment. Flights are excluded.
Included
INCLUDED IN LAND PACKAGE
- Meet and greet upon arrival and return airport transfers
- Live the Journey tour leader accompanying the group from South Africa
- Services of a professional English-speaking St Helenian Driver-Guide
- 7 Nights hotel accommodation at the Mantis St Helena Hotel
- All meals as indicated (7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners)
- Day tours and sightseeing as specified:
- Guided historical walk of Jamestown
- Half-day sightseeing boat cruise
- Full-day guided historical island tour
- Crafting session with a local crafts person
- Plantation House tour
- Guided Coffee Plantation tour
- Tree-planting at Millennium Forest
- Guided hike to Blue Point
- Napoleonic Tour with guided visit to the Briars Pavilion, Longwood House and Napoleon’s grave.
Excluded
EXCLUDED FROM LAND PACKAGE
- International flights (booked and confirmed separately)
- A landing tax of GBP 20 payable upon arrival
- Domestic flights and pre-/post- tour accommodation within South Africa
- All drinks and items of a personal nature, such as telephone calls, laundry, etc.
- Driver-guide gratuity (recommended GBP 40 – 50 per person for the week)
- Optional excursions such as diving with whale sharks, scuba diving and additional hikes or biking
- Visa Fees, if applicable
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance
NOTES
- This tour requires a minimum of 8 guests to offer it at the quoted price.
- South African Passport Holders do not, at present, require a tourist visa to enter St. Helena for a stay of up to 90 days. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of return and have sufficient blank visa pages.
- Written Proof of Medical Insurance covering aeromedical evacuation up to £175,000 is required by St Helena authorities when entering St Helena.
- Prices for sightseeing, park and entrance fees may be changed without prior notice. This is beyond our control, and any increase levied will be for the traveller’s account.
- Restaurants mentioned in the programme are subject to change.
FLYING TO ST HELENA ISLAND
Flights between South Africa and St Helena Island are operated subject to suitable weather conditions, more so than to other destinations, due to the location of the airport on the island.
On rare occasions, the aircraft may be unable to safely land on the island in inclement weather. Usually, in such a case, the airline will decide on the flight either in South Africa before departure or during the fuel stop in Walvis Bay en route to the island. This therefor,e may have an impact on not only your holiday but onward arrangements. If the decision is made not to proceed with the flight, passengers will be provided with accommodation and meals by the airline in either Johannesburg or Cape Town, as applicable, until the flight can be operated. The hotel on the island will also hold accommodation accordingly. Note that your return flight will still operate on the date booked, essentially meaning that your stay on the island will be shortened in such a case.
Taking these provisions into account, the airline and hotel policies state that no refund will be payable for missed days. Live the Journey will do our utmost to reschedule activities on the island so that guests can still enjoy the program as much as possible, but in cases like this, the suppliers do not make any refunds. We highly recommend comprehensive travel insurance.
Reviews
Rodney & Clare Manicom - 20 – 27 January 2026
"We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to St Helena and were delighted that we got to and from the island without any hitches. The itinerary offered was varied and helped us to become familiar with the small island in just one week - our guide, Aaron, was knowledgeable, helpful and kind. We loved the residents whom we encountered and the sights we saw. It was a really excellent experience in a unique destination, well planned and fascinating... thanks to everyone involved."
Margot Wood - 21 - 28 January 2023
"Just want to thank you again for an absolutely fabulous trip! Every single day was a pure delight!
Thanks for the perfect travel arrangements and the wonderful stay on the island. Aaron was a wonderful guide - so knowledgeable and patient! I loved the variety in the daily schedule - the trips and explorations interspersed with visits to cottage industries, historic sites and crafting - fabulous! The boat trip was amazing, the hike to the peak stunning-gosh, I can go on and on. It was such a well-designed programme. I loved the hotel and every single one of our local eating expeditions - no exceptions!! Thanks for one of the most memorable trips ever - a huge highlight!"
Willemina de Jager - 11 - 18 February 2025
"This private tour for the two people was absolute the best and recommend it above a tour group. The people are so friendly in St Helena at the end it feels I was one of the locals. The tour organisers, Aaron and Julie was just the best and went far beyond their duties to assist us. Special mention to Tom our guide on the hike, cannot asked for better guide. Please promote St Helena for the benefit of the Saints."
Reservations
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