Loading search...
The islands are wonderful. Sark was a revelation. The two tour leaders made this trip memorable. Their personalities and sense of humour made this trip extra special. Over and above the normal range, we enjoyed moth traps, star gazing and bat observing.
K.P, Cambridgeshire, May '23
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
British Channel Islands - Wildlife & History
Tour Code: GBR313A peaceful 10-day holiday encompassing the very best of the British Channel Islands of Sark, Guernsey and Herm.
10 days
from
£3,295 (Inc flights)
£3,295 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£3,095
£3,095
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
Summary
The British Channel Islands have been little-explored by naturalists. This pioneering 10-day holiday explores three of the archipelago's islands, led by an expert naturalist. Our stay begins on the beautiful island of Sark, which lies 9 miles to the south-east of Guernsey and is described by the Daily Telegraph as one of the 20 most tranquil and most "desirable great escapes on the planet”. Sark is also one of the sunniest places in the British Isles and hosts a wonderful selection of wildlife which we shall seek on serene excursions.
After a most enjoyable 6-day exploration of Sark’s flora and fauna, we’ll take a 50-minute ferry crossing back to Guernsey where we will be based for our next four nights. The picturesque island of Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands and is packed with award-winning beaches, picture-postcard towns, and world-class cuisine. Guernsey hosts an interesting fauna and flora including such specialities as Glanville Fritillary, Loose-flowered Orchid and Short-toed Treecreeper. On one of the days based on Guernsey we shall make a day trip to our third Channel Island of the holiday, Herm, which is just a 15-minute ferry crossing from Guernsey's St Peter Port Harbour. Herm is one of the smallest of the inhabited Channel Islands and with a population of just over 60 is beautifully unspoilt and with no cars, incredibly peaceful.
We'll return from our holiday having had a most restful yet fascinating insight into the British Isle's most southerly islands.
For detailed information, please download the itinerary document above. Please note that the second departure in each year is usually operated in the reverse direction i.e. starting in Guernsey and ending in Sark.
- Explore three British Channel Islands on one holiday!
- See wonderful species rarely, or not, found on the British Isles mainland including Glanville Fritillary, Loose-flowered Orchid and Short-toed Treecreeper
- Plenty of historical interest
- Bird-ringing and moth-trapping demonstrations undertaken
- Visit beautiful habitats such as the Ramsar sites of L’Eree Shingle Bank, Gouliot Headland and Lihou Island
- Ferry option available for those who wish to make this a flight-free holiday from the UK
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Guernsey, sail Sark
Day 2/5
Daily excursions in search of the wildlife of the island of Sark
Day 6
Depart Sark, arrive Guernsey
Day 7/9
Daily excursions in search of Guernsey’s wildlife including boat trip and day trip to Herm
Day 10
Depart Guernsey, sail UK
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We’ll stay in one of Sark’s traditional farmhouses, set in extensive, beautiful, sheltered gardens with an indoor swimming pool. On Guernsey we'll stay in an elegant 4-star hotel in a beautiful secluded valley where upgraded Gold Balcony rooms are used as standard for our tour. All rooms en suite.
- Food:
Bed and breakfast only is included in the cost of this holiday. The cost of lunches and dinners are not included to allow a choice of dining at one of the islands' many acclaimed restaurants and to allow the choice between a hearty lunch, or something much lighter for those who prefer.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Wed 21st May – Fri 30th May
4
£3,295
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,095
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£895
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
John Horton
Tour Leader: John Horton
John Horton is the warden of the British Isles' newest bird observatory on Alderney, and he featured on BBC Countryfile in this role in the spring of 2016. Whilst birdwatching is John's forte, since moving to Alderney he has become a proficient all rounder with regards to the fauna and flora and has discovered species of birds, insects, flowers and mammals never before recorded on the island. Prior to his current role, he was a wildlife crime investigator for the Metropolitan police for 15yrs before discovering Alderney and making it his home. He recently represented the British bird observatories delivering a presentation at the 2019 International bird observatories council AGM in Eilat, Israel. He is sponsored by Zeiss optics and features as the Channel Islands representative on the Zeiss website nature blog. He is the Alderney Bird Recorder, a member of the Bailiwick Islands rare birds panel and in 2021 became the chairman of the Channel Islands bird ringing scheme. John's most memorable wildlife moments are sitting amongst a family of Mountain Gorillas in the African Congo and the ringing of a Spoon-billed Sandpiper in South West India on Valentines Day in 1989. John loves leading our tours on Alderney and its neighbouring islands and derives great pleasure from playing his part in bringing attention to this wonderful wildlife haven.
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Wed 20th May – Fri 29th May
SPACES
£3,295
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,095
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£895
Array
(
[192] => stdClass Object
(
[id] => 192
[parent_id] => 165
[level] => 2
[path] => tour-focus/general-natural-history
[title] => General natural history
[alias] => general-natural-history
[description] =>
[params] => stdClass Object
(
[category_layout] =>
[image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/4nqk52HDKwI4/w:1500/h:824/q:70.jpg
[image_alt] =>
)
[metakey] => General natural history
[note] => 26
[parent] => stdClass Object
(
[id] => 165
[parent_id] => 1
[level] => 1
[path] => tour-focus
[title] => Tour Focus
[alias] => tour-focus
[description] =>
[params] => stdClass Object
(
[category_layout] =>
[image_az] =>
[image_alt] =>
)
[metakey] =>
[note] =>
)
)
[197] => stdClass Object
(
[id] => 197
[parent_id] => 165
[level] => 2
[path] => tour-focus/no-fly-tours
[title] => No Flight
[alias] => no-fly-tours
[description] => Flight-free Wildlife Holidays
At Naturetrek we make full use of the Eurostar rail service through the channel tunnel, and of the ferry routes between England’s south coast and France and Spain, to offer a range of ‘flightless’ wildlife holidays in Belgium, Holland, France and Spain. In addition, we also offer the widest selection of wildlife holidays within the UK, none of which require a flight to participate in. Therefore, if you prefer not to fly, for whatever reason, we have a range of varied and exciting wildlife holidays for you to choose from, and we are committed to regularly adding more.
It is also the case that many of our other holidays within Europe are also accessible by rail. Generally, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and we’d be pleased to offer advice to anybody who wishes to join any of our tours within Europe by a means other than flying!
Our specialist recommends...
"Our Picos & Plains tour offers an environmentally-friendly route down to Spain for some excellent birding and cetacean-watching. More broadly, we’re very keen for Naturetrek to offer the most dynamic, market-leading carbon-reduced holidays available, and we hope you enjoy browsing our list of no-flight wildlife holidays!”
Kerrie Porteous - Operations Manager
[params] => stdClass Object
(
[category_layout] =>
[image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/4nqk52HDKwI4/w:1500/h:824/q:70.jpg
[image_alt] =>
)
[metakey] => No Fly Tours
[note] => 31
[parent] => stdClass Object
(
[id] => 165
[parent_id] => 1
[level] => 1
[path] => tour-focus
[title] => Tour Focus
[alias] => tour-focus
[description] =>
[params] => stdClass Object
(
[category_layout] =>
[image_az] =>
[image_alt] =>
)
[metakey] =>
[note] =>
)
)
)
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Tour Reports
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
Related articles
In this article, we bring you some of our favourite tours to discover the delights of spring...
30% Discount for Naturetrek Readers: this new field guide is a celebration of the rich flora of our coastline and will be a handy guide to anyone visiting the coasts of Britain and Ireland.
