St Helena. Described in National Geographic as “an emerald fleck floating in the blue orbit of the South Atlantic Ocean, St Helena is one of the most isolated islands on Earth and serves up an unmatchable mix of raw nature and a laidback dose of old-style Britannia”.

Most excitingly, the British Territory offers that rare thing: a true connection with nature. A place where days can be spent tracing rugged walking trails, meeting the world’s oldest living land creature and snorkelling with leviathans. A stress-free escape where even the locals — the descendants of settlers, soldiers and slaves — are nicknamed ‘Saints.’ A place to unplug and reconnect with wildlife found nowhere else on the planet.

And in 2023, 2024 and 2025 FOUR of our boat partners will sail there and you can join as guest crew for the extraordinary experience!

Details below – but first, 5 surprising facts about St Helena

1. Saint Helena is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world, located in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, over 1,200 miles (1,950 kilometers) from the nearest mainland.
2. Saint Helena has a unique ecosystem, with many plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. These include the Saint Helena plover, known locally as the wirebird, and the Saint Helena ebony, a critically endangered tree.
3. St Helena is home to the oldest land animal on Earth. Jonathan the Tortoise. As of January 2022, he is also the oldest chelonian ever recorded. Born in the early 1800s, Jonathan has lived on St Helena since 1882.
4. Despite its isolation, Saint Helena has a rich cultural heritage, with a unique blend of British, African, and Portuguese influences. The island’s culture is reflected in its music, food, and art.
5. Surprisingly, given its remoteness, Saint Helena is known for its vibrant social scene, with a number of annual festivals and events. These include the Saint Helena Carnival, which takes place in February, and the Saint Helena Festival of Running, which attracts runners from around the world.

Getting to St Helena has been made a little easier since a new airport opened in 2017. But that’s no fun. How about doing it a more adventurous way, and sailing there?

We work with four sailing operators who have St Helena on their horizons in 2024 and 2025. 

In each case you can join the crew on the hands-on sail training voyages on a mix of expedition yachts, small and bigger tall ships.

Check them out below!