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.
The Channel Islands were the only UK territories to be occupied by the German Forces in WW2, and May 9th is Liberation Day, marking the end of the war for Jersey and its inhabitants. This is considered Jersey's national day and is celebrated with bands, parades, services, and colourful re-enactments.
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.
We tour this underground complex, Jersey's most evocative museum of the five years of enemy occupation during World War 2. The video presentation and collection of memorabilia bring the island’s wartime experience to life: a poignant and unforgettable experience. After our visit we will enjoy a traditional pub lunch.
Sark, the smallest of the Channel Islands, is known for its “olde worlde” ambience, 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 cafes 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.
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-year-old 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 a Cream Tea at Chateau La Chaire, a country house set on cliffs overlooking the sea.
Due to Jersey’s compact size (just 9 miles by 5), it’s easy to fit plenty into a day at leisure. Delve into the island’s colourful past, recharge and relax with the hotel’s extensive facilities, or poke through the shops in quaint St. Helier.
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 St. Malo for the 90-minute crossing. As we walk through the cobbled streets of St. 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 cafes, buskers and shops selling various traditional Malouin and Breton fare and goods
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 fisheries 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 home via London.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 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).
