Explore Jersey, Sark, St Malo and Guernsey and More
Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Jersey, via London.
We arrive on the island of Jersey and transfer to our hotel. Tonight is our Welcome Dinner.
We enjoy a guided walk through town, visiting Royal Square, wonderful Victorian Markets and Liberation Square. We end at the Jersey Museum and Art Gallery with a viewing of the Story of Jersey film. The afternoon is free to explore the town or stroll in the lovely park near our hotel.
We journey to St Aubin for a guided walking tour. A journey through St Aubin’s past: merchants, smugglers and the surprising role this harbour played in shaping Jersey and its extensive historic links
Today we ferry to Guernsey, the 2nd largest of the Channel Islands. Our island tour will follow the coastline, taking in the picturesque beaches and serene landscape. We will have time in St. Peter Port, where we can wander on the cobbled streets and narrow lanes lined with old shops and impressive houses. Weather permitting.
We tour this underground complex, Jersey’s most evocative museum of the five years of enemy occupation during World War II. The video presentation and collection of memorabilia bring the island’s wartime experience to life: a poignant and unforgettable presentation. After our visit we will enjoy a traditional pub lunch.
Sark, the smallest of the Channel Islands, is known for its “olde worlde” ambiance, tranquil atmosphere and endearing quirkiness. As there are no motor vehicles on the island except for tractors, we will explore by horse and carriage. There are quaint shops and cafés in the island’s main village, and the memorable scenery includes an abundance of wildflowers and sea birds, picturesque inlets, stunning coastlines, dramatic cliffs, and secluded bays. Weather permitting.
We begin at Mont Orgueil, which has cast its imposing shadow over the beautiful fishing port of Gorey for over 800 years, and is one of the world’s most well-preserved medieval fortresses. Then we visit La Hougue Bie Museum—one of Europe’s finest prehistoric monuments. The site features a medieval church, under which lies a 6,000-yearold Neolithic passage grave. We will visit a command bunker built during the German Occupation of Jersey, and a memorial dedicated to the slave workers brought here by invading Nazi forces. Later we will enjoy Cream Tea at Château La Chaire, a country house set on cliffs overlooking the sea.
Due to Jersey’s compact size (just 14 km by 8 km), it’s easy to fit plenty into a day at leisure. Delve into the island’s colourful past, recharge and relax at the pool side of the hotel, take a short bus into the shops in quaint St. Helier or you may want to take in the fresh sea air with a walk on the beach in Jersey. The day is yours to explore.
The Channel Islands are known for their beautiful orchids, and this morning we’ll visit the world-famous Eric Young Orchid Foundation. Later we’ll visit the wonderful home and extensive botanical gardens at Samarès Manor.
We board a ferry to Saint-Malo for the 90-minute crossing. As we walk through the cobbled streets of Saint-Malo’s spectacular old town, we’ll feel as though we’ve stepped back in time. The quaint cobbled and bustling streets are lined with cafés, buskers and shops selling various traditional Malouin and Breton fare and goods. Weather permitting.
Our winery tour will take in the production area for wine, and also for chocolate (with products such as traditional Jersey Black Butter, fudges and biscuits). We’ll also enjoy a tasting, while overlooking the award-winning gardens. Later we’ll visit Faulkner Fisheries—an old German bunker transformed into a working fishery and restaurant, where we’ll sample their award-winning oysters.
We visit the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Founded by the celebrity naturalist Gerald Durrell (author of My Family and Other Animals), this wildlife zoo is dedicated to saving threatened wildlife species from extinction. We will have an orientation of the zoo, and free time to explore on our own. This evening we bid adieu to this unique corner of the world at our Farewell Dinner.
We fly back to Canada, via London.
Please note: Excursions that involve a ferry trip are subject to weather conditions. If a sailing is cancelled by the boat/ferry company, a suitable alternative will be provided.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (120 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
