7 Day Easy Pace Channel Islands

Tour Description

Prepare yourself for the easy pace of island life, rural and bucolic, full of natural beauty and unrivalled quirkiness. Be sure to bring a copy of ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ with you, to get you in the mood. The travel equivalent of a cosy fireside read! Enjoy the gentle pace on this timeless outing as you wend your way across the islands, chatting with the locals and soaking up the charm. The Old Government House Hotel retains the grandeur and elegance of a bygone era, with traditional levels of service to match. Yet it has been lovingly restored to encompass the modern facilities that you would expect in a luxury hotel. Superbly located in the centre of St. Helier, overlooking Liberation Square and the yacht marina, the Pomme d’Or has been a centre for business and pleasure for more than 175 years. Today the hotel combines the highest levels of hospitality & care with a new contemporary design

Your Hotels

• St. Peter Port, Old Government House Hotel
• St. Helier, Pomme D’or

Highlights

• St. Peter Port: Admire the Regency style buildings, see the harbour and Castle Cornet.
  Guernsey: Venture into the countryside to see the WWII German fortifications and Martello towers from the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Visit the wonderfully eccentric Little Chapel decorated with shells and shards of broken pottery.
• Sark: An excursion by ferry to the traffic-free island. Enjoy a ride by horse and cart and visit the beautiful gardens of La Seigneurie, set within the grounds of a 17th century manor.
• St Helier: See the Elizabeth castle and charming Royal Square.

Tour Meals

• A Welcome Reception with light informal meal (WR)
• Enjoy a Celebration Dinner with wine at a local restaurant in Jersey (CD)
• 6 Full Breakfasts (FB), 1 three-course table d´hôte Dinner, plus tea or coffee (D)

Your Itinerary

Day 1: St Peter Port At Leisure
Welcome to the Channel Islands! On arrival at Guernsey Airport, private transfers have been arranged to take you through the patchwork of green fields to St. Peter Port, which cascades down on a series of terraces to the picturesque quayside below. Your historic 5 star hotel overlooks the harbour, castle and sea, barely five minute´s walk from the main shopping street. This evening, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Reception and light informal meal. (RW)

Day 2: Guernsey Sightseeing
This morning, a guided tour of St. Peter Port shows off the capital´s varied tapestry of architectural styles. From the bustling harbour, gaze across to Castle Cornet, dating back to the 13C, (which remained loyal to the King during the Civil War even though the rest of the island supported Cromwell.) Continue to the island´s south and west to see the fortifications from the Napoleonic wars and German occupation of WWII. Visit the ‘Little Chapel’ the curious work of Brother Deodat, decorated with shells and broken pottery. This afternoon is at leisure. There´s time to explore the boutiques of the capital´s `Arcade´ lanes or take a short air sightseeing excursion to the Isle of Alderney aboard local inter-island aircraft, the Trislander. (FB)

Day 3: Excursion To Sark
After breakfast there is an included excursion by ferry to the island of Sark, smallest of the four main Channel Islands and a walker´s paradise. On arrival, take a ride by horse and cart on this traffic-free idyll. Entrance is included to the beautiful gardens of La Seigneurie. Set within the grounds of a 17th century manor, the garden is considered one of the finest in the British Isles. Enjoy the scenery and unique, peaceful atmosphere before returning to St. Peter Port. Tonight you might like to dine in style at one of the restaurants down by the harbour or enjoy more traditional fayre and a pint with the locals in a cosy pub. (FB)

Day 4: St Peter Port – St Helier
A short crossing of just one hour brings you to the island of Jersey, the largest of the group and thick with flowers during the spring and summer. Check into your hotel nestled in the heart of the marina and only a short distance from St. Helier´s fine shops and cafés. (FB/D)

Day 5: Jersey Sightseeing
Sightseeing today includes the highlights of the capital, St. Helier and a tour of the island. Visit the Jersey War Tunnels housing a moving exhibit recalling every day life for the Channel Islanders during the five years of German occupation. Drive along quaint, leafy, country lanes, past beautiful golden beaches to see the Mont Orgeuil Castle at Gorey and the Corbiere Lighthouse, one of the island´s most photographed images. (FB)

Day 6: Jersey At Leisure – St. Malo Option
Today is completely at leisure to relax in the cafés and pubs of the shady Royal Square or enjoy the other delights of the island. Suggestions include the `Jersey Zoo´, devoted to the conservation of endangered species, the award-winning Jersey Museum, the Maritime Museum or Elizabeth Castle in St. Aubin´s Bay. Alternatively, why not take an optional 40 minute ferry trip to the Breton port of St. Malo, a medieval walled city with restaurantlined squares and narrow, cobbled streets? This evening, join your fellow guests for a last night Celebration Dinner with wine at a local restaurant. (FB/HD)

Day 7: St Helier
Sadly your tour comes to an end after breakfast. Take your private transfer to the airport for your home bound flight. If your holiday time allows, you might like to connect with a number of other exciting Insight Vacations in London or Paris. (FB)

Dates and Prices for 2012

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Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist