Saint Helena travel guide
One of the world's remotest islands, South Atlantic St Helena offers whales, wildlife and an intrepid sea voyage to get there
The volcanic island of Saint Helena has been called the remotest speck of the British Empire, afloat in the middle of the South Atlantic, some 2,000km west of the nearest mainland - the Angolan coast. Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled here in 1815 and his island residence of Longwood House has since, under French governmental ownership, become the finest Napoleonic museum in the world.
There is far more to this small island than being the home-in-exile place of the martial Frenchman. The islanders, called Saints, are very proud of their small world and their British heritage. Their lifeline remains the RMS St Helena, the last remaining Royal Mail Ship, which delivers cargo, tourists and returning Saints to the island no more than twenty times a year. Until plans to build an airport are re-addressed by the British government, Saint Helena will remain truly off the beaten track.
Wanderlust recommends
1. Climb the 699 steps of Jacob's Ladder, the 180m stairway to the fort above Jamestown. You can buy a certificate marking your feat at the Museum of St Helena at the foot of the stairway.
2. Walk to Drummond's Point to see the Heartshaped Waterfall - a cascade gushing down a - yes, heart-shaped - rock face.
3. Take a guided tour around Longwood House before visiting Napoleon's Tomb (now empty) in Sane Valley.
4. See if you can find Jonathan, the ancient tame tortoise, at Plantation House.
5. Circumnavigate the island in a motorboat guided by a Saint, stopping off at Lemon Valley for a picnic and a swim. Keep an eye out for dolphins following the boat.
6. Hike up Diana's Peak - at 823m, the highest point of the island and the perfect place to get a 360º view.
Wanderlust tips
Befriend some of the locals and listen to their tales of island life. If you can, join them on a fishing trip - some of the areas around the island provide the perfect place to land big fish, even with homemade fishing rods!
Be aware that Jamestown's shops have very relaxed opening and closing times. They are likely to close at 4pm most days, with a half-day on Wednesday; few open weekends.
Travel insurance is essential: you'll need to show a certificate of insurance on arrival in port.
If you plan to dock at Ascension Island during your voyage to Saint Helena, or fly to Ascension before joining the ship, you’ll need to obtain an Entry Permit before landing.