Itinerary Highlights
- Guided exploration in Sao Tome: delightful culture, culinary experiences, rainforest trails and quiet beaches
- Discovering the beautiful tropical rainforests along walking trails on Principe
- Turtle watching in season; great birding and good snorkelling
- A range of activities included during your time on Principe as part of the Introducing Principe special offer, and applicable to all guests staying 7 or more nights in Principe
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
- Travel Guide
- Transfers
12 nights from £5,105 - £5,735 per person
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
This wonderful sample itinerary enables visitors to enjoy the far-flung tropical islands of Sao Tome and Principe, to the maximum.
Start off with a 2-night stay in Omali Lodge on Sao Tome, after which you fly to beautiful Principe for 7 nights. During this time, you will be based at the atmospheric Roca Sundy and secluded, uniquely stylish Sundy Praia.
A variety of interesting activities is included in the rates for the properties on Principe: you will be able to embark on rainforest walks; meet resident communities and learn about their history, culture and everyday lives, and of course, spend time relaxing on sunny beaches for which Principe is appreciated.
After your 7-night stay on Principe, fly back to Sao Tome for an overnight stay in Omali Lodge.
On Sao Tome island itself, we include a privately guided excursion to the island's remote southern beaches with a stop on Ilheu das Rolas offshore to see the equator marker, and a guided city tour, but there are various other excursion options available which you can read about on our April 2023 blog here.
Given the exceptional vision and exemplary operating practice of HBD which owns the properties in this itinerary, you can be confident that your visit is making a tangible contribution to resident communities and conservation initiatives in Principe.
Itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Sao Tome
Depart early this morning from London Heathrow or selected other UK airports (if you are flying from the UK) to Lisbon****, where you remain air side and connect with the daytime TAP flight to Sao Tome.****
On arrival this evening, you will be met and transferred to Omali Lodge for a 2-night stay in a Premier double room with breakfast.
*** If you prefer to overnight in Lisbon on the way to Sao Tome, we can easily arrange a hotel stay for you such as Lisboa Plaza or Melia Aeroporto Lisboa - please call us for details.
Day 2 Sao Tome - sightseeing excursion
The excursion that you choose for today, will depend on your personal interests. We revisited the islands in March 2023 so do check our blog for those most highly recommended.
If you're keen to see a wild part of the island, enjoy scenery quite reminiscent in places in the mainland equatorial Afro-tropics (apart from the crazily steep basalt plugs such as Pico Caio Grande) and swim off a lovely beach (Praia Inhame, pictured here) , then pick the Southern Beaches day trip.
Alternatively if you're a foodie, a visit to Roca Sao Joao dos Angolares for their gastronomic experience, is an absolute must. There's also a wonderful art gallery in the property, where local artistic talent is showcased.
Or, keen nature enthusiasts - birds and botanists in particular - can do the Sao Tome Biodiversity Trail in Obo Natural Park. This wonderful rainforest trail can be combined with lunch in Monte Cafe.
Whichever day trip you select, a delicious lunch is included.
For the purposes of this quotation, we include a privately guided Biodiversity Trail excursion with lunch at Monte Cafe.
Day 3 Sao Tome - Principe (flight)
This morning you will be transferred to Nuno Xavier airport (5 minute drive) to check in 1 hour before the departure of the 30 minute STP light aircraft flight*** to Principe island.
On arrival into Principe, you will be welcomed and transferred about 25 minutes by bumpy road to the very atmospheric Roca Sundy, for a 3-night stay in an Cacao House Panoramic room with dinner, breakfast and selected scheduled activities included.
*** STP flights are operated daily except Tuesdays.
Late afternoons are very special here: enjoy a sundowner at the cozy bar or by the terrace, while the afternoon birdsong chorus gets into full swing. Keep a lookout for African grey parrots, Sao Tome green pigeons and Principe starlings, all of which can be heard and seen as they fly to their roosting trees for the night. At dusk, huge Fruit bats replace the birds in the sky, as they plunge down to the forest canopy.
Day 4 Principe - Roca Sundy
Begin your exploration of Principe island. 1 daily activity from the '9 Signature Experiences' is included in rates at both Roca Sundy and at Sundy Praia. The choices are as follows; do note that these activities are shared with other guests and the plan is advised onsite, as it will also be weather dependent:
1. Cacao Route
2. Oquê Pipi Waterfall Trail
3. Ribeira Izé Lost City Trail
4. Rainforest to Beach trail
5. Discover Príncipe
6. Bay of Needles (boat trip, this is AMAZING!)
7. Southern Principe Explorer
8. Agro-forest trail
9. Historical Route of Principe island
All activities are shared; commence in the mornings and are subject to weather conditions. Activities can be made by any Guest with good health, even families with children (the most physical demanding is the Oque Pipi Waterfall trail).
You will therefore mostly have afternoons free to relax and/or head to the beach.
Day 5 Principe - Roca Sundy
Enjoy another day with Roca Sundy as your very comfortable base. Our 2023 vote for best food on Principe goes to this establishment - the meals are superb,
Active visitors can opt for the Waterfall walk to Oque Pipi (which, loosely translated, means the Vagina falls, no less) where, weather permitting, a dip in the rock pool is fun.
Or, visit Santo Antonio, the world's smallest city (apparently), and see how glass bottles are recycled and made into beautiful jewelry at Roca Paciencia.
If you are back at the Roca by lunch time, you can either arrange a transfer to the beach by Sundy Praia, or take a 25 minute stroll downhill.
Here are the updated rates for some of the payable activities (August 2024):
Northeastern Beaches (min. 3 people) : 170 € pp
Turtle watching: 75 € pp
Whale watching (min. 3 people) 200 € pp
Day 6 Principe - road transfer to Sundy Praia
This morning, you will be transferred to the incredible Sundy Praia, where you stay for 4 nights in a luxury tented villa on a full board basis with selected beverages included.
Day 7 Principe - Sundy Praia
Another day in this remote and secluded slice of paradise... select from one of the included activities - or arrange another excursion with reception. Or enjoy luxuriating at the private beach, or by the pool.
Day 8 Principe - Sundy Praia
Enjoy rest & relaxation time at the delightful Sundy Praia on beautiful Principe island.
If you would like to arrange any activities that are not included in the rates (for example turtle-watching; whale watching, birding or seeing the North-eastern beaches), Manager Neuza and her team are always on hand to assist. Privately arranged excursions are normally 75 euros per person and can be paid for at the hotels, which accept Visa cards.
Day 9 Principe - Sundy Praia
Savour your last day based at wonderful Sundy Praia, which has certainly opened the island to discerning travellers in search of refreshingly new destinations where there is the right level of luxury but where guests don't need to feel as though they are pioneering adventurers.
Regardless of whether you partake in any activities in Principe (or get involved with local initiatives), your stay in the HBD properties makes a tangible and positive impact and here's how: in alignment with HBD’s exemplary vision, guest rates for the HBD properties in Príncipe include a Conservation & Communities Contribution of €25 per person per night (13+ years), 100% of which funds local initiatives. So guests can confidently share that they are directly supporting Príncipe by staying in Sundy Praia, Roca Sundy and Bom Bom.
The Conservation & Communities contributions are split 3-ways:
1: Fundação Príncipe (50%) Fundação Príncipe or Principe Foundation is the local conservation NGO partner of HBD and is responsible for implementing terrestrial and marine conservation projects across the island, in partnership with regional authorities and local communities.
2: Educational Support (25%) Individuals, organizations and schools in Príncipe receive support for a wide range of educational activities.
3: Environmental and Social Support (25%) Individuals, organizations and communities in Príncipe receive support for environmental and social initiatives and events.
Day 10 Principe - Sao Tome (flight)
You will be transferred to Principe Airport for the 15 minute flight*** back to Sao Tome, where you will be welcomed on arrival and transferred to Omali Lodge to stay for 1 night with late checkout the next day, in a Premier room, with breakfast included.
*** Inter-island flights are operated daily (except on Tuesdays).
Day 11 Sao Tome excursion and departure
Today your private guide and driver will take you on a tour of the capital city, where the most interesting highlight, the National Museum at the old Fort, is well worth seeing.
This will be followed with lunch at a carefully selected restaurant such as Monte Cafe. If you haven't seen the Botanical Garden yet, you can stop by here, too.
In the late afternoon/early evening you will be transferred to the airport for the overnight flight with TAP back to Lisbon***.
*** Many TAP flights on the Sao Tome - Lisbon route stop for an hour at Accra Airport.
Day 12 Arrival home
On arrival into Lisbon Airport this morning, connect with the TAP Air Portugal flight back to London Heathrow (or selected other UK airports) if you are travelling back to the UK.
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
12 nights from £5,105 - £5,735 per person
Itinerary Dates
Pricing
1st Jan 2025 -
28th Feb 2025
28th Feb 2025
£5,735
1st Mar 2025 -
30th Jun 2025
30th Jun 2025
£5,105
1st Jul 2025 -
30th Sep 2025
30th Sep 2025
£5,735
1st Oct 2025 -
30th Nov 2025
30th Nov 2025
£5,105
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
* Return international TAP flights from London Heathrow or selected other UK airports to Sao Tome via Lisbon (economy class seating), with airport taxes
* Inter-island domestic flights and airport taxes
* All transfers
* Accommodation as per the itinerary, with meals as indicated.
* Scheduled activities/ excursions as outlined for Roca Sundy and Sundy Praia in Principe
* Private excursions on Sao Tome while based in Omali Lodge
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
* Visa fee
* Any meals and activities not listed
* Personal items (drinks, tips, phone calls, laundry, travel insurance)
Pricing Notes
This sample itinerary can be tailored to suit individual requirements and preferred spend.
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
