Saint Helena: 8 Days Napoleon’s Exile Island & South Atlantic Adventure

Tour Overview

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Fly to Saint Helena — The Most Useful Airport?

Board the weekly flight from Johannesburg to Saint Helena — until 2017, the only way to reach this remote island was a 5-day ship journey from Cape Town. The airport itself is legendary: severe wind shear made approaches so challenging that it was dubbed “the world’s most useless airport” until pilots mastered it. Touch down on one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth (1,200 miles from Africa, 1,800 from South America). Transfer to Jamestown, the capital, nestled in a deep volcanic valley. Check into Mantis St Helena Hotel, a beautifully restored 18th-century building. Evening: walk the Georgian streets of Jamestown — the entire town is a living museum, with its distinctive architecture preserved almost exactly as it was in Napoleon’s time. Overnight in Jamestown.

Day 2: Napoleon’s Saint Helena — Longwood & The Emperor’s Tomb

Full day tracing Napoleon Bonaparte’s final years (1815-1821). Drive to Longwood House, where Napoleon spent his last six years in exile under British guard. The house has been meticulously preserved by the French government — enter his bedroom where he died on May 5, 1821, stand in his study with the original campaign furniture, and see the sunken garden he designed. Continue to the Briars Pavilion, Napoleon’s first residence while Longwood was being prepared. Afternoon: visit the Valley of the Tomb, where Napoleon was originally buried beneath a weeping willow (his remains were returned to France in 1840, but the tomb is still a moving site). End at Sandy Bay, where Napoleon once bathed, guarded by soldiers preventing escape. Overnight in Jamestown.

Day 3: Jamestown Ascending — Jacob’s Ladder & Georgian Architecture

Morning challenge: climb Jacob’s Ladder, 699 steps (originally 700 — one was lost to a landslide) rising 600 feet from Jamestown to Ladder Hill at a 40-degree incline. Built in 1829 as an inclined plane for hauling goods, it’s now the island’s most iconic fitness challenge. At the top: panoramic views of Jamestown, James Bay, and the endless Atlantic. Afternoon: explore Jamestown in depth. Visit the Castle, the seat of government since 1659. Tour St James’ Church (1774), the oldest Anglican church in the Southern Hemisphere. Visit the Museum of Saint Helena, housed in an 18th-century warehouse. Evening: dinner at the Consulate Hotel, a beautifully restored colonial building. Overnight in Jamestown.

Day 4: Plantation House & Jonathan the Tortoise

Morning visit to Plantation House, the Governor’s official residence since 1792, set in lush grounds on the central ridge. But the real star lives on the lawn: Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, the world’s oldest known living terrestrial animal — hatched around 1832, he’s nearly 200 years old. Jonathan has met royalty, outlived 31 governors, and still enjoys his daily routine. Afternoon: drive through the island’s “coffee country,” visiting a working coffee plantation. Saint Helena coffee is one of the world’s rarest and most expensive — Napoleon himself praised it. Walk through the Millennium Forest, a community project to restore the island’s native gumwood trees, once thought extinct. Overnight in Jamestown.

Day 5: Coastal Cruise — Dolphins, Whale Sharks & Sea Stacks

Full-day boat excursion along Saint Helena’s dramatic coastline. The island rises from the deep ocean as a 1,200-meter volcanic peak — at the sea surface, sheer cliffs plunge into indigo water. Spot pantropical spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins that often ride the bow wave. During whale shark season (November-March), snorkel alongside the world’s largest fish in the clear Atlantic waters. Visit Lot’s Wife’s Ponds, natural rock pools at Sandy Bay where waves crash over the volcanic rock formations. Lunch on board as you cruise past Speery Island, a guano-covered sea stack teeming with seabirds. Overnight in Jamestown.

Day 6: Postbox Walks & the Heart-Shaped Waterfall

Experience the island’s unique “Postbox Walks” — hiking trails pioneered by the island’s tourism office. Each route features a “postbox” at the end where you stamp your walking passport. Take the Blue Point Trail, winding through native flax and scrub to a viewpoint over the Atlantic. Visit the Heart-Shaped Waterfall, a natural cascade that forms a perfect heart — one of the island’s most Instagram-worthy spots. Afternoon: drive to Diana’s Peak, the highest point on Saint Helena at 823 meters. The trail to the summit passes through cloud forest with endemic tree ferns, and the view from the top reveals the entire island on a clear day. Overnight in Jamestown.

Day 7: The Last Day of Napoleon & Island Farewell

Morning: visit the historic sites related to Napoleon’s death. See the rooms at Longwood where his companions documented his final days — Montholon, Bertrand, and Marchand. Visit the French Properties, maintained by the French Consul, that preserve Napoleon’s Saint Helena legacy — including the Valley of the Tomb and the Generals’ Quarters. Afternoon: free time in Jamestown for last-minute souvenir shopping (Saint Helena postage stamps and coins are highly collectible). Farewell dinner featuring local specialties: fishcakes, plo (a one-pot rice dish), and coconut fingers. Overnight in Jamestown.

Day 8: Departure

Transfer to Saint Helena Airport. As your plane banks over the endless Atlantic, you’ll understand why this tiny dot in the ocean has captivated every visitor who makes the journey.

Inclusions

• 7 nights Mantis St Helena Hotel (Jamestown, 4-star)
• Daily breakfast + 3 dinners
• Napoleon’s sites: Longwood House, Briars Pavilion, Tomb Valley (all entries + guided)
• Plantation House visit + Jonathan the tortoise
• Full-day coastal boat cruise (dolphins + seasonal whale sharks)
• Guided Postbox Walk (Blue Point Trail)
• Diana’s Peak guided hike
• St Helena Museum & St James Church
• Airport transfers
• Expert local guide throughout