An epic multi-leg sailing adventure across the equator from South Africa to the UK via St Helena, Ascension Island & Azores. Pick a leg or go the distance ...!
In September 2023 the DARWIN200 will begin, following Charles Darwin’s world voyage on the HMS Beagle. Built in 1918, this uniquely restored, three masted schooner is one of the most beautiful historic vessels afloat. This global journey is made up of 32 voyage legs, and involves sailing to some of the most beautiful corners of the world.
Leg 29: Cape Town (South Africa) to Saint Helena Island (UK)
Saint Helena has been described as a ‘living museum’ for its rich history. Home to hundreds of unique animals and plants, as well as Longwood House, where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled. Regular flights depart Saint Helena for onward travel. A land based guided tour of the fascinating historic sites and wildlife hotspots of Saint Helena is planned for 11/05/2025 – 17/05/2025. Stay on Ascension after this voyage leg to join this tour. Email info@darwin200.com for details.
Departure date: 28/04/2025
Estimated arrival date: 10/05/2025
Price: €1,950
Leg 30: Saint Helena (UK) to Ascension Island (UK)
Ascension is one of the most interesting volcanic islands in the world, home to vast nesting turtle populations, migrating land crabs, large seabird colonies, colonial forts and an artificial rainforest instigated by Darwin. Flights service Saint Helena and Ascension allowing easy travel before/after this leg. Stay on Ascension Island after arrival for a guided tour to explore the wildlife and history of the island.
Departure date: 18/05/2025
Estimated arrival date: 25/05/2025
Price: €1,680
Leg 31: Ascension Island (UK) to Horta (Azores)
Cross the equator and explore this emerald archipelago, filled with extinct volcanic peaks and craters now covered with lush subtropical jungle and diverse wildlife! Explore remote fishing villages and historic towns, savour local cuisine and spot dolphins and whales in the blue Atlantic waters. Ascension Island is serviced by regular flights, allowing participants to travel by air to Ascension to join this voyage leg. Regular flights connect the Azores to Europe for easy onward travel.
Departure date: 02/06/2025
Estimated arrival date: 30/06/2025
Price: €4,350
Leg 32: Homecoming – Horta (Azores) to Falmouth (UK)
Join the final leg of Charles Darwin’s journey, and sail to Falmouth, England. Step ashore on the very docks where Darwin’s voyage on HMS Beagle ended. During our journey spot sunfish, dolphins, whales, blue sharks and (if you are lucky), giant basking sharks! Discover the quaint streets of historic Falmouth. Participants of all voyage legs are invited to a party on the evening of 20/07/2025 to mark the successful conclusion of the DARWIN200 Global Voyage!
Departure date: 08/07/2025
Estimated arrival date: 20/07/2025
Price: €3,250
Sailing aboard is a very special experience. The crew will be happy to explain the function of all the ropes, halyards and sheets to you. You will be assigned watches with the crew to sail, steer and navigate the ship. While the boat is anchored, a sloop and a dinghy are available for making trips ashore to explore. One of the crew members will take you to shore and pick you up again safely.
Beyond being a truly great adventure, the DARWIN200, is a planetary conservation initiative that will empower the next generation’s elite environmental leaders and engage millions of students worldwide in conservation projects.
Berths on each voyage leg are limited. Secure your place and be part of the adventure on this unique global voyage.
No experience needed. Passion for adventure is a must!
Why you'll love this adventure
- An epic voyage where you are the crew sail, steer and navigate the ship
- Explore remote Atlantic islands between epic blue water crossings
- Perfect for solo travellers, friends and families - no experience needed
Dates
Itinerary
The Darwin200 voyage consists of 32 legs that span the globe, taking place from 2023 to 2025. Each voyage leg has a different duration, allowing you to join the part of the journey that fits your schedule and interests. On all voyage legs, visits ashore will be made (where possible) along the itinerary, to allow you to explore in Charles Darwin’s wake. Complete and enquiry form for full details.
What's included
- The voyage fee and all sail training on board
- 3 meals a day
- Coffee and tea
- A full color, 300-page, hardback book as a momento of your adventure on board.
- A short video which will be filmed during each voyage leg.
- An invitation to the Start of Voyage Party in Plymouth on 13/08/2023.
- An invitation to the End of Voyage Party in Falmouth on 20/07/2025.
- An invitation to the DARWIN200 Concluding Award Ceremony in London in summer, 2025. Meet environmental celebrities, the young conservationists (‘DARWIN LEADERS’) and take part in a prize-giving ceremony.
- Acknowledgement and thanks by name on all DARWIN200 output films throughout the global voyage (although anonymity will be respected, if requested).
- Free DARWIN200 Global Voyage branded T-shirt!
Not included
- Flights to and from the vessel
- Transfers from the airport to the vessel
- Insurance
- Visas
Trip notes
Price
Min age
Accommodation
The tall ship can carry 24 voyage crew (members of the public joining as sailors) plus professional crew. She has a bar, a piano and a wood-fired stove. You will be accommodated in comfortable, single-sex cabins that consist of 2 or 4 bunks.
The ship is furnished comfortably and supplied with all modern conveniences. All cabins are fitted with a washbasin with hot and cold running water. A few cabins have their own shower. The other showers and the toilets are communal.
In the spacious and stylish saloon there are reading tables, seating areas and a piano. All cabins have forced ventilation and have the option to open a window or a hatch. The always-present wind provides a pleasant temperature on the lower deck.
There are quiet corners where you can write a letter, read a book or to select and edit the photos you took along the way.
Meals
The experienced cook will prepare three well-balanced meals a day. In between meals snacks will be served. Coffee, tea and milk are included in the price. Other drinks (including alcoholic beverages from the bar) will be totted up during and charged at the end of each voyage leg.
Who is this trip for?
Adventurers, sailors and anyone who wants to experience a sailing adventure with good health and a reasonable level of fitness. There are no upper age limits although a doctor’s note may be requested. The DARWIN200 2023-25 Global Voyage is intended to be a life changing adventure for those who take part. That said, global voyages are intense experiences so make an enquiry to chat to Larissa as to whether this is the voyage for you!
Additional notes
The Global Voyage consists of 32 Voyage Legs which follow Charles Darwin’s route on HMS Beagle. The ship will make landfall at key locations where Darwin stepped ashore.
During each of these landfall stops, the ship will host groups of DARWIN LEADERS to undertake research projects in exactly the same locations visited by Charles Darwin two centuries ago. For logistical reasons, the route of HMS Beagle has been simplified.
For example, HMS Beagle back-tracked north and south several times along the east coast of South America. We will sail this route only once.
The crew have also added a few locations that Charles Darwin did not visit. These enhance the global voyage and enable sailing during periods of optimal weather. These additional stops also allow essential repair and maintenance, refueling, reprovisioning and planned publicity events. Crucially, unlike HMS Beagle (which sailed across the Indian Ocean), we are returning from Australia via Cape Horn to enable visits to South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha!
With the exception of Cocos (Keeling) and Mauritius, the crew will make landfall at every major location Charles Darwin visited during his voyage aboard HMS Beagle!
The crew members are highly experienced ocean going sailors, which often sail with the Oosterschelde. The crew holds all the required certificates and diplomas and is qualified to sail worldwide. The atmosphere on board is informal and friendly.
Tour operator
For over 25 years, this operator has been creating incredible tall ship voyages, enjoyed by new and experienced sailors alike.
The aim of their voyages is to have a hands-on, active experience, immersing yourself into life at sea, the rhythm of sailing and the culture of the regions you travel between.
Based out of the Netherlands they have two ships and work with a third providing sailing experiences around the world.
Three-masted topsail schooner
The last remaining representative of the large fleet of schooners that sailed under the Dutch flag at the beginning of the 20th century.
The ship is furnished comfortably and supplied with all modern conveniences. All the cabins are fitted with a washbasin with hot and cold running water and there are separate sets of showers. In the spacious and stylishly appointed salon there are reading tables, seating areas and a piano. Life on board is made even better by delicious meals prepared by a professional chef to fuel you up for a day’s sailing.
Two-mast clipper-brig
Built in 1919 and thoroughly stripped and rebuilt to modern standards in 1983. The tall-boat brig style was developed by the Americas during the war of independence to evade the much heavier English Man o' War. As such, the ship combines traditional design with fast speed. Since 2008, she has operated as a sail training vessel, undertaking her regular Atlantic circuit through the Canaries, Cape Verde and the Caribbean.
Below deck there is a spacious saloon which is the heart of the ship and each cabin has a basin with hot and cold running water. Showers and toilets are separate – outside the cabin.
Enquire today
Sail Cape Town to UK via St Helena, Ascension Island & Azores
Please complete the enquiry form above with as much detail as you can and we will send you all the trip information and connect you with the operator so you can make a booking directly.
If you have queries and questions about the trip include those in your form and we’ll personally reply to you within 24 hours.
Why Book with Another World Adventures?
Book direct with the tour operator. No mark-ups, no fees.
Save time by browsing our handpicked collection of the best adventure travel experiences.
Claim free travel gifts when you use our site to find your next trip.
A most helpful, friendly and knowledgeable travel company!
Very helpful and provided lots of research material and excellent personal perspectives on the tall ship sailing trip I was interested in taking.— Martin
Excellent thoughtful service.
They were prompt and friendly, and so thorough and helpful in connecting me with my adventure.— Tina
One of a Kind Service!
From the very beginning of reaching out to AWA, they were super helpful, enthusiastic and informative.— Matt
