Tour Overview
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Ascension Island — South Atlantic Ocean |
| Price From | $2,995 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Volcanic Island Expedition |
| Best Season | November — May (turtle nesting) |
| Data Source | Verified expedition pricing 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Ascension — A Volcanic Outpost
Fly from the UK via RAF Brize Norton on the twice-weekly AirTanker flight (the only way to reach Ascension Island without a ship). Ascension is a volcanic island of 88 km², 1,600km from Africa and 2,250km from South America. Its landscape is otherworldly: 44 dormant volcanic cones, vast lava fields, and the incongruous Green Mountain rising 859m in the center. The island is a British Overseas Territory with a population of about 800 — military personnel, contractors, and their families. Check into your guesthouse in Georgetown, the tiny capital. Evening: walk Long Beach, a 2km stretch of sand where green turtles nest — from January to May, females haul themselves ashore at night to lay eggs. Overnight in Georgetown.
Day 2: Green Mountain — The Accidental Cloud Forest
Green Mountain is one of the world’s most remarkable ecological experiments. When the Royal Navy garrisoned Ascension in 1815 (to guard Napoleon on nearby St. Helena), the island was barren. Charles Darwin visited in 1836 and noted its desolation. The Navy, wanting to make the island self-sufficient, began planting trees — by the 1860s, Joseph Hooker (Director of Kew Gardens) had overseen the planting of thousands of trees from around the world: Norfolk pines, eucalyptus from Australia, bamboo from Asia, bananas from the Caribbean. The result is a fully functioning cloud forest that captures moisture from trade winds, creating its own rainfall. Hike from the arid coast through the changing vegetation zones to the summit: bamboo groves give way to Norfolk pines, moss covers everything, and endemic ferns (thought extinct until rediscovered in 2009) cling to cliff faces. The Dew Pond at the summit is a relic of the original irrigation system. On clear days, the view extends across the entire island — a green jewel in an ocean of blue. Overnight in Georgetown.
Day 3: Turtle Beach & Letterbox Peninsula
During turtle season (November-May), dawn beach patrol to witness green turtles nesting or hatchlings emerging. Ascension is the second most important green turtle rookery in the Atlantic (after Costa Rica’s Tortuguero). During the day, snorkel in English Bay — the volcanic rock formations underwater create channels and caves where parrotfish, triggerfish, and the occasional manta ray cruise by. Afternoon: hike to Letterbox Peninsula, where passing ships left mail in a box for the next ship heading in the right direction — the “Post Office” tradition that linked Ascension to the world before radio. Overnight in Georgetown.
Day 4: Comfortless Cove & Space History
Morning at Comfortless Cove, a beautiful beach with a grim history — it was where ships quarantined fever patients in the 19th century. Excellent snorkeling in the cove’s clear waters. Afternoon: visit the BBC Atlantic Relay Station, which since 1966 has broadcast BBC World Service to Africa and South America via massive antenna arrays. Continue to the NASA/ESA tracking station — Ascension’s equatorial location made it critical for the Apollo program, tracking spacecraft from launch through orbital insertion. The station continues to track satellites and Ariane rockets today. Overnight in Georgetown.
Day 5: Boatswain Bird Island & Devil’s Ashpit
Morning boat trip to Boatswain Bird Island, a guano-covered sea stack just off the coast — home to thousands of breeding seabirds: masked boobies, brown noddies, and Ascension frigatebirds (an endemic species with only 12,500 individuals in the world). Afternoon: explore the Devil’s Ashpit, a volcanic crater with multicolored lava flows and the Sisters, two prominent red scoria cones. The volcanic geology here is textbook — aa and pahoehoe lava flows, cinder cones, and lava tubes all visible in a compact area. Overnight in Georgetown.
Day 6: Deep Sea Fishing & Panoramic Hikes
Ascension is legendary among sport fishermen — the drop-off is close to shore, and waters hold yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and marlin. Half-day fishing charter (optional). For hikers, the Cross Hill trail to the Sisters offers spectacular volcanic panoramas with Green Mountain looming above. Evening: Georgetown’s only bar for farewell drinks with the island’s diverse community. Overnight in Georgetown.
Day 7: Ascension Morning & Depart
Morning at leisure — last chance to swim at Long Beach or buy Ascension Island stamps and souvenirs. Transfer to Wideawake Airfield (RAF Ascension) for the flight back to the UK.
Inclusions
- 6 nights Georgetown guesthouse
- Daily breakfast + packed lunches
- Green Mountain guided hike (full day)
- Boatswain Bird Island boat trip
- BBC + NASA station visits (subject to security clearance)
- Snorkeling equipment
- 4WD vehicle + driver throughout
- Airport transfers (RAF flight not included)
Important
Access to Ascension Island requires an entry permit and is via the RAF AirTanker service from Brize Norton, UK (approx. $1,200 round trip). Flights are twice weekly. Military and contractor presence means some areas are restricted. This is the price for hotel + activities only.
