Tristan de Cunha: Profile

Tristan de Cunha: no airplanes, no five star hotels, no busy streets.

Tristan is a tiny speck on the globe.  It was discovered in 1506 and inhabited in 1816.  It  has a remarkable story and is now home to approximately 264 people.  The island is 37 square miles in size and is the largest of a group of islands; Inaccessible Island lies 20 miles to the west, Nightingale Island 25 miles to the south west and Gough Island 220 miles to the south. Inaccessible and Gough islands are a “World Heritage Site”, and a bird watchers paradise.

How do you get to the most remote island in the world? It’s not easy but neither is it impossible.  The only way is by boat. Some expedition style cruises call at the Port (Lindblad Expeditions, Swan Hellenic, Princess Cruises and Oceanwide Expeditions).  But just getting on a cruise headed to Tristan de Cunha does not guarantee that you will walk the shores – weather rules, and often ships must turn away.   Besides cruise vessels,  the South African fishing vessel MV Edinburgh visits several times throughout the year on her fishing excursions and the SA Agulhas a scientific research ship visits once a year in September for approximately three weeks.  Travelers visiting on these ships will first need the approval of the Island Council and then once that’s agreed, we will assist in getting you a booking and organizing accommodation.

If you are keen on staying on the island, there are three options: self-catering or full board in a guesthouse or full board with an island family.

What do to here? Hike, dive, fish, explore the volcanoes, stay on a farm – or visit and camp out on smaller, uninhabited islands.  For more info, contact Dawn at tourismtdc@googlemail.com