Discover Sao Tome & Principe | Holidays

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 £5,175 - £5,995 per person

Craig Kaufman

Travel Specialist

0203 993 8767

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

Enquire

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 40- 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 Belo Monte, for a 3-night stay in a Garden View room with dinner, breakfast and selected scheduled activities included. *** STP flights are operated daily except Tuesdays.

Staying at

Exterior, Roça Belo Monte, São Tomé & Príncipe

Views, Roça Belo Monte, São Tomé & Príncipe

Interior, Roça Belo Monte, São Tomé & Príncipe

Day 4 Principe - Roca Belo Monte

Begin your exploration of Principe island. 1 daily activity from the '9 Signature Experiences' is included in rates at both Roca Belo Monte 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 (45 euro supplement pp applies) - this boat trip 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 Belo Monte

Enjoy another day with Roca Belo Monte*** as your very comfortable base.

*** If you would prefer to stay at Bom Bom instead, let us know and we'll be pleased to quote.

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 jewellery at Roca Paciencia.

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 half basis with selected shared activities included.

Staying at

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, 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 40- 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).

Staying at

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.

Craig Kaufman

Travel Specialist

0203 993 8767

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

Enquire

Pricing Information & Dates

12 nights from £5,175 - £5,995 per person

Itinerary Dates

Pricing

8th Jan 2027 -
28th Feb 2027

£5,575

1st Mar 2027 -
19th Mar 2027

£5,175

20th Mar 2027 -
5th Apr 2027

£5,765

6th Apr 2027 -
30th Jun 2027

£5,175

1st Jul 2027 -
30th Sep 2027

£5,975

1st Oct 2027 -
30th Nov 2027

£5,375

1st Dec 2027 -
7th Jan 2028

£5,995

Craig Kaufman

Travel Specialist

0203 993 8767

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

Enquire

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 entrance 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 Belo Monte 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