Tour members from across Canada gather in Toronto for the overnight flight to London Gatwick.

Landing in Gatwick, we connect to Jersey. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel located in the inner suburbs of St. Helier, just a 15 minute walk from the town centre and the harbour. A warm welcome awaits us and the surroundings invite us to relax, unpack and enjoy the amenities of our hotel and this beautiful island. Royal Hotel (6 nights).

Discover the Royal Bay of Grouville, where oyster farms benefit from some of the biggest tides in Europe. Visit the La Hougue Bie (burial mound) Museum to learn about life in Jersey’s Neolithic community, from 6,000 years ago. The harbour village of Gorey is overlooked by the magnificent Mont Orgueil Castle, which protected the island from French invaders for six centuries. To round out our day we’ll enjoy a traditional Jersey Cream Tea at Château  la Chaire Hotel in Rozel. Enjoy homemade fruit scones served with jam and world-renowned Jersey clotted cream plus your choice of tea or coffee.

To learn more about Jersey’s colourful history and in particular the port of St. Helier, our guide will lead us on a leisurely walking tour of the harbour and town, to discover some of the important buildings and monuments that decorate it throughout. Highlights will include Liberation Square, Church Street as well as the local markets (flowers, vegetables, meat and fish). This afternoon and evening are at leisure, with the option to enjoy a ride on Le Petit Train Lillie that operates tours along the Bay. Be sure to stop for a scoop of real Jersey ice cream. You will have an opportunity to try one of the many restaurants in town or on the waterfront this evening.

Our first visit today is St. Matthew’s Glass Church with its inspiring interior of Lalique glass. Next we visit the German Underground Hospital, the Jersey War Tunnels, a most evocative museum. The unique sound and light visual presentation tells the story of the German Occupation of Jersey during World War II. Drive along the south coast to the picturesque harbour village of St. Aubin and breathtaking St. Brelade’s Bay. Time permitting, we will stop at the 12^th century Fisherman’s Chapel to see the medieval wall frescoes. At Grosnez we stop for a chance to stroll through the castle ruins.

Today we get acquainted with the north shore of Jersey with its majestic cliffs and small secluded bays. First we visit the idyllic bays of Bonne Nuit and Rozel with their picturesque harbours. Next we go to the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, an award winning centre that allows us to appreciate a unique beautiful collection of exotic flowers up close. We shall enjoy a delicious luncheon before making our way to Gerald Durrell’s unique sanctuary and conservation zoo Founded in 1958. This 31 acre park is home to more than 1,400 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and is dedicated to saving animals from extinction. Conservationists are on hand throughout the parkland and water garden to answer questions about the work and mission of the sanctuary.

The choice is yours on this free day! You can enjoy a walk along the 4 miles of sandy beach of the Royal Bay of Grouville or stroll into St. Helier and enjoy the shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes. As an option, you can venture out to Elizabeth Castle, once home to Sir Walter Raleigh or to the spectacular Gardens of Samarès Manor over in St. Clement’s Parish.

We enjoy a short ferry crossing, via the high speed “Condor”, with beautiful coastal views of the Channel Islands as we make our way to the Island of Guernsey. We drive to the picturesque town of St. Peter Port and our hotel, a former country estate, located a short walk from the marinas and seafront. Les Rocquettes Hotel (4 nights). 

Our full day circle island tour will take us past ancient forts and beautiful beaches to the “Little Chapel”. Built in 1914, it is a model of the famous basilica at Lourdes in France. At Bruce Russell & Son, we’ll learn about the art of crafting gold, silver, and platinum jewellery from the fourth generation of craftsmen with a worldwide reputation. Time permitting, we will stop at the Dehus Dolmen, a prehistoric grave, and at the Guernsey Freesia Centre dedicated to this colourful flower.

Weather permitting, we will stroll down to the port and take the ferry to the Island of Herm. Visiting this isle is like stepping back in time, lacking any of the bustle of modern lifestyle. This is a walking island as only locals can use transport and is just 2km long and 1km wide. We can stroll freely as there are no cars, where wild flowers and birds are in abundance and the scenic beauty is spectacular. We can spend as much time as we wish on the island as the ferry returns to Guernsey frequently throughout the day.

Today offers a day of relaxation or exploration with plenty to do and see. The wonderful remnants of the past has made Guernsey what it is today, such as the magnificent 12th Century Fort, Castle Cornet at the mouth of the harbour, or Fort Grey and the Shipwreck Museum on the island’s West Coast. Explore Guernsey Museum or the Art Gallery in Candie Gardens. Another highlight could be Hauteville House, the exile home of Victor Hugo. Local bus routes crisscross the island providing inexpensive transportation to many of the “must see” attractions. For those wishing to explore on foot, winding trails and scenic cliff paths abound.