Isles of Scilly holidays: small group inclusive tours
Our inclusive Isles of Scilly holidays include a packed itinerary of daily excursions. Enjoy guided walks with local experts and plenty of island-hopping. Our typical group size is 10 which allows us to use private charter boats for our trips.
Highlights
Stay at the archipelago’s renowned hotel, Star Castle Hotel on St Mary’s, with a la carte dinner every evening.
Explore Tresco’s Abbey Gardens with a private tour from the head gardener.
Visit St Agnes Island with an expert ecologist to see seals and seabirds such as gannets and puffins.
Enjoy day trips to St Martin’s and Bryher, mostly with exhilarating ‘Special’ Jet Boat trips.
Be part of a friendly small group of no more than 12 guests.
St Agnes Lighthouse
Overview
Uncover the secrets of this beautiful archipelago as you hop between four islands, meet the locals, and stay at Star Castle Hotel. Our guided Isles of Scilly holidays, where the important elements are pre-planned and pre-booked, mean you have maximum time for exploring, whether with the group or making your own discoveries.
The islands are an unexpected, tropical-like paradise off the southernmost tip of England. This is a place of white-sand beaches, turquoise seas and swaying palm trees. It’s also a place of shipwrecks, art and astonishing gardens.
Our exclusive small group tour shows you how the archipelago’s deep time history made possible the striking scenery and the incredible tales told by generations of Scillonians.
Stay at Star Castle Hotel
You’ll stay at the renowned Star Castle Hotel for the duration of your tour – something that few groups get to experience as the hotel is so popular. You’ll soon see why Star Castle is so loved. As well as having two excellent restaurants and charming staff, the hotel is steeped in history. It’s a complete example of an Elizabethan fort, built in 1593. In 1646, during the English Civil War, it was even a refuge for the future King Charles II.
As a GeoCultura guest, you’ll enjoy the full breakfast experience with flexibility on breakfast times and a la carte dinner every evening of your Scilly holiday. You’ll sleep in the hotel’s spacious, more-modern rooms with private entrances, in the castle’s beautiful gardens (with the opportunity to upgrade to a room inside the castle if you book early enough).
Your Isles of Scilly tour activities
During the days, you’ll explore everything the islands have to offer, from a vibrant garden hiding a monastery to discovering the sites where ancient ancestors laid their heroes to rest. History soaks the islands through, and you’ll learn how the tranquil Isles have weathered natural and manmade tempests over the years.
Your expert local guides and guest speakers will help you make the most of this island paradise, showing you the wildlife and the history behind some of the most striking landmarks. Learn about the islands’ rich maritime history and scattered shipwrecks, along with the rich tapestry of early settlers who called Scilly home.
Please note: Travel to or from the Isles of Scilly can be weather dependent and is prone to disruption. Please bear this in mind when booking on this tour. Ideally you will allow for a little flexibility, especially at the end of the tour. Please note there are no scheduled flights or ferries on Sundays.
- Start / finish: Your tour starts and finishes on St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, England.
- Activity Level: Leisurely, with 1 to 5km (.8 to 3 mile) walks; longer walks are optional (view our activity level definitions). Access to islands off St Mary’s will require climbing on and off passenger boats.
- Transport
- Getting there: The Isles of Scilly can be reached by plane from airports in Cornwall and Devon; by helicopter from Penzance Heliport, or by ship from Penzance Harbour. The choice is yours as we do not include travel to and from the mainland in the tour price. If this is your first trip to the Scillies, please call us, if you like advice on the pros and cons of each of the options.
- Getting around: Primarily on foot, with passenger boats between the islands.
- Weather: The Isles of Scilly benefit from a subtropical climate, meaning mild conditions and an average temperature ranging from 8 °C to 17 °C across the year. Rain is a possibility so we recommend bringing warm and waterproof clothing, but any poor weather often passes quickly on the islands.
- Accommodation: Five nights in the Star Castle Hotel on St Mary’s, a former artillery fort where the customers come first.
Where you will visit…
If you choose to arrive by sea, your luggage will be collected from the ship and taken to the Star Castle hotel. You would then walk the short distance up to the hotel with your hand luggage. If you arrive by plane or helicopter, the Star Castle minibus driver will meet you at the airport and take you and your luggage for the short drive to the hotel. Once checked -in, you’ll meet GeoCultura’s local guide and the rest of the group and enjoy a short, guided afternoon walk around St Mary’s.
Island life runs at a slower pace than on the mainland, and our itinerary reflects this. The weather also plays a part, so we will adapt the itineraries to suit the weather and tides, taking into account the special requests of the group. Whatever the conditions, there will always be plenty to catch your attention during your stay on Scilly. During this tour, some or all of the following will be included, depending on the time of year:
- Guided short walk of the Garrison Walls, the excellently preserved defensive measures located right outside the Star Castle Hotel on St Mary’s.
- Private tour with head gardener, Andrew Lawson, of Tresco Abbey Gardens, where tropical conditions support an abundance of exotic flora.
- Explore the English Civil War history still visible on Tresco, and hear about the struggle to wrest control of the islands.
- Head to St Agnes in the company of ecologist Dr Vickie Heaney to see close-up seals and seabirds such as gannets and lesser backed gulls. Spend time in Britain’s most south-westerly pub. St Agnes has the only dairy farm on Scilly, selling delicious ice creams for passers-by to sample.
- Private boat trip beyond the main islands to see the puffin colonies*, bobbing seals, and playful dolphins and then land on St Martin’s for a short visit.
- Pre-dinner talk and dinner with a local historian, artist or wildlife expert.
- Visit to Bryher to learn about a key Bronze Age burial discovery, stop in at the Hell Bay Hotel or enjoy the Pender family’s mouth-watering fresh fish and seafood at their café. Bryher also boasts a small but impressive gallery, full of art, photography and ceramics from local creators.
*April and July tours only. By September the puffins have moved on.
Our tours are designed to suit you, so there will also be plenty of free time to pop into galleries, head out on an adventure of your own or simply sit and enjoy the amazing views.
Savour the final breakfast of your Scilly Isles holiday at the Star Castle Hotel, then head to the airport, harbour or heliport to catch your ride home.
Note: This provisional itinerary is subject to change.
The Isles of Scilly can be reached by Skybus from airports at Land’s End (20 minutes), Newquay (30 minutes) or Exeter (1 hour); by helicopter from Penzance Heliport (15 minutes), or by the Scillonian ship from Penzance Harbour (2 hours 45 minutes).
For more information, please call or email us. We will be pleased to assist with all your questions about getting to St Mary’s, on the Isles of Scilly, with hints and tips, based on our experience.
Double room for single occupancy is £175.
Your tour starts and finishes on St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, England.
The activity level is rated as LEISURELY (view our activity level definitions) and is suitable for occasional walkers, with walks ranging from 1 to 5km (.8 to 3 miles) on paved roads, coastal paths and sandy beaches. This tour does involve climbing into and out of passenger boats to reach other islands, along with descending and ascending stone steps on quays. Additionally, the very short approach road to walk up to the Star Castle Hotel is steep, but it only takes about five minutes if coming up from the harbour or the town. You will never need to do this walk with your luggage on your Scilly holiday, as the hotel team take care of that!
Sturdy, waterproof footwear is essential.
If walking is an issue, alternative arrangements can be made during the scheduled longer walks, so please let GeoCultura know in advance. To enjoy the full experience, a good level of fitness is required.
Transport will be by licensed passenger boats between the islands, and primarily on foot the rest of the time.
The climate on the Scillies is mild, with average temperatures ranging from 8°C to 17°C (46°F to 63°F) over the course of the year.
Rain is always possible, and participants should be prepared with warm and waterproof clothing.
The tour includes:
- Local experts, one of whom will accompany the group on each daily excursion
- Mostly private boat trips when travelling between islands
- Entry to Tresco Abbey Gardens plus private guided tour
- All accommodation costs for the five nights
- All breakfasts and five a la carte dinners
- All service charges and most gratuities
The tour excludes:
- Travel insurance. Guests should carry their own health and travel insurance.
- Extra or optional activities not described in the tour
- Lunches not included
- Personal expenditures, any alcoholic drinks with meals, and extras at the hotel such as laundry bills
- Transportation to the start venue or from the end venue of the tour. Participants will need to make their own arrangements for travel to and from St Mary’s. Please email or call us and we will provide detailed advice to explain the transport options
- Passport and visa fees
Nights 1-5: Star Castle Hotel, St Mary’s
Photo by Mark Bolton
Star Castle is St Mary’s only four-star hotel, which originally served as an Elizabethan artillery fort, the ‘location, setting and history are exceptional’. The Star Castle’s food is a real treat ‘and so well balanced that the dinner is never outfaced’. With a daily changing menu, including excellent fresh fish from Cornwall, and produce from the kitchen garden, enjoy some of the best food that the area has to offer.
GeoCultura guests are most likely to be allocated rooms in the Garden Rooms. Subject to availability, there is an option to request and pay for an upgrade for a sea view room or a room in the castle. Book early if this is important to you. Details on request.
Star Castle award winning restaurant
Deposit: A deposit of 10% of the tour price is due upon registration for a tour.
Final payment: Full payment is due 60 days before a tour begins, or upon registration if within the 60-day window.
Cancellation by participant: A participant may cancel a registration after securing a confirmed place on a tour for any reason. The following refund terms will apply:
- Greater than 60 days before tour begins: Any monies paid plus half of the deposit will be refunded
- 30 to 59 days before tour begins: 35% of tour price will be refunded
- 15 to 29 days before tour begins: 25% of tour price will be refunded
- Within 14 days of tour or during the tour: No monies will be refunded
Cancellation by GeoCultura: GeoCultura reserves the right to cancel any tour due to low enrolment, inability to run the tour or concerns about the safety, health or welfare of participants. If a tour is cancelled before it begins, all monies paid will be refunded (including any deposit).
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions page for additional details.
Your tour leaders
Vickie Heaney
Dr Vickie Heaney’s background is in zoology with a PHD specialisation in seabirds. During the winter months, her ornithology expertise takes her to the far south, helping to engage expedition cruise ships passengers about wildlife in places like the Falklands Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica.
The Isles of Scilly provide plenty of birdlife for her to study and conserve. As a part-time seabird ecologist with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Vickie’s work includes monitoring the Isles’ avian visitors, and improving conditions through initiatives like the Seabird Recovery Project. Among other outcomes, this has been credited with bringing successful breeding populations of Manx Shearwaters and Storm Petrels back to Scilly.
Vickie’s other passion is printmaking, and from her studio on St Mary’s she creates limited runs of linocut prints inspired by seabirds, nautical themes and island life, together with hand decorated ceramics with striking designs.
With Jess Vian, Vickie runs Isles of Scilly tours and our GeoCultura tours have benefitted from their input, working closley with the local boatmen, artists and producers to design unique tours to delight GeoCultura guests.
Jess Vian
Like many, Jess caught the Isles of Scilly bug from a young age after visiting the islands on holiday. After moving to the islands to work the 2001 summer season, Jess has never looked back. Throwing herself into island life, she has held an impressive number of roles over the years, working in the agricultural, tourism and transport industries.
Jess has a particular interest in the history of Scilly, with a specialisation in the lighthouses that dot the coastline and surrounding islands. Additionally, she has previously chaired the Isles of Scilly Museum Association and continues to support the organisation, as both a Trustee and the current Vice Chair.
Alongside Dr Vickie Heaney, Jess runs Isles of Scilly Tours, helping to guide visitors across and around the islands. Outside of guiding, Jess manages her smallholding of goats, chickens and ducks, and runs a small business making soap from goats’ milk.
Richard Larn OBE
Richard has had a storied history in the Royal Navy, having served for 27 years in a variety of significant roles. After teaching himself to dive in 1947 in the River Thames, his passion for exploring shipwrecks took off, and since then Richard has dived all over the world and on hundreds of wreck sites.
Richard’s career highlights include discovering and investigating the wreck of HMS Association off the coast of the Isles of Scilly, and using his ingenuity to help raise the Mary Rose in 1982, a feat which earned him a personal letter of thanks from the then-Prince Charles.
Other notable moments include Richard being awarded an OBE for his work in cataloguing UK shipwrecks through the National Maritime Record, and discovering the wreck of the Admiral Gardner which yielded millions of copper coins.
Richard has written over 60 books on the subject of shipwrecks, including nine about the Isles of Scilly, and will be talking about his adventures, British naval history and a number of key Scilly shipwrecks.
Puffin, Isles of Scilly.
Tresco Abbey gardens, Isles of Scilly
The lighthouse on St Agnes Island, Isles of Scilly holidays.
Meal at Star Castle, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.
Tresco jet boat, Isle of Scilly.
Testimonials
The whole experience was great as a taster for the Isles of Scilly – I enjoyed the small boat trips more, the larger ones less so. I really liked St Agnes.
I enjoyed exploring St Mary’s and finding gems like the community garden, Penninis Head, and the amazing crab sandwich and view from Juliet’s garden.
I appreciated the small group size and the tour gave me an excellent overview of the beautiful Scillies and was a good balance of activities and free time. And thanks to Julie in the office who coordinated everything so well.
Isles of Scilly Holidays | Alison J, April 2024
The visit to Tresco was my highlight and the purpose of going to the Scillies. Having the head gardener to guide us was a great bonus. And a dry day! (Enjoyed) staying in a good hotel, in a very comfortable small castle room with views out to sea. Also, seeing the way of life of islanders, flower growing, and talking to locals including Jess and the couple, retired divers, who had dinner with us.
Isles of Scilly Holidays | Francoise F, April 2024
Best bits were visiting St. Agnes, being taken round the Abbey Gardens, Tresco, the talks and guided walks. Organisation was excellent, as were meals at the hotel. A very good introduction to the Scillies, particularly when the sun shone!
Isles of Scilly Holidays | Judy C, April 2024
There were no disappointments. Best things were the hotel, hotel food, and visiting Abbey Gardens in Tresco, and they speak for themselves. I particularly commend the leader Pam who we all felt was marvellous, also the additional (local) person who guided some trips, Jess, who was interesting and helpful.
Isles of Scilly Holidays | Rosemary Y, April 2024
Just got back from the Scilly Isles tour it was FANTASTIC. Your organisation and communications were faultless, your guides on the Islands are a credit to your company. The hotel and staff were excellent, and the food was outstanding we look forward to travelling with you again.
Isles of Scilly Holidays – Small group guided tours | Bryan B, September 2024
UPCOMING TOURS
Prices from GBP £1,750 pp
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