Discover the World has just announced the launch of its first tailor made holidays to sub-tropical St Helena, a British Overseas Territory and one of the world's most remote inhabited islands.

For travel now through to March 2016, the tailor made travel specialist is offering the last chance to travel on the RMS Ship St Helena before she is retired when the island's first airport opens next year.  This can be combined with various experiences on the island including a hosted farm stay for a unique two centre holiday.  This is the prelude for what is to come when Discover the World will be one of the first UK tour operators to offer a travel programme to the island once flights begin operation.

With limited availability on the ship, this is a unique opportunity to take advantage of the travel specialist's allocation of cabins.  In addition, travel to St Helena in 2015 has a dual historical significance marking also the 200th anniversary of the imprisonment of French Emperor Napoleon on the island.  To view the full programme, visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk/sthelena

Discover St Helena – a suggested 20 day independent tour

After experiencing life at sea on board one of the world's last working Royal Mail Ships this two-centre exploration of St Helena offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy the island's wildlife, spectacular scenery and historic sites by car.  Also included is a 4WD guided tour of the island's less accessible areas and a wildlife cruise.

The 20 night holiday on set departure dates is available from now through to March 2016 from £3,619pp (two sharing) including 10 nights on the RMS St Helena (full board), 2 nights in Cape Town, 8 nights' hotel accommodation on St Helena with breakfast, 6 days car rental, half-day wildlife cruise and a 4WD excursion.*  http://www.discover-the-world.co.uk/destinations/st-helena-holidays/discover-st-helena

Commenting on Discover the World's introduction of St Helena, Clive Stacey, managing director said:

“There are so few places left on the planet that enjoy the veneers of modern civilization but yet are so unaffected by the stresses these can produce.”

 “Although this is fascinating to observe, it is not in itself a reason to undertake the long sea journey, but combine this with the spectacular vistas and unique and friendly society, soon to be thrust into the modern world with the airport opening, then a trip to St Helena should be at the top of any bucket list,” added Stacey.

About Royal Mail Ship St Helena

St Helena is currently only accessible by boat, and a highlight of this holiday is the truly unique experience of voyaging across the open sea on board a Royal Mail Ship from Cape Town.  The 155-berth passenger liner and cargo carrier the RMS St Helena is one of the last ocean-going vessels still to carry the venerable title of Royal Mail Ship.  Regular ports of call include St Helena, Ascension Island and Cape Town.  The return sailing from Cape Town (a journey of 1,200 miles) takes five nights each way, with the voyage being as much a part of the St Helena experience as exploration of the island. As it is likely that some St Helenians will be on board, tourists will have the chance to learn about island life and to forge friendships before arriving.

RMS St Helena will be retired in 2016 (departures confirmed until March 2016) when the island's first airport is opened. The airport is already under construction and is due to be operational in early 2016.

Who is St Helena for?

St Helena is suited to intrepid travellers seeking out remote and unspoilt wilderness. Lovers of nature and wildlife, walkers and history buffs will find plenty to appeal to them. 

What to see & do on St Helena

Despite the Island's locality within the tropics, its climate is kept mild by the South East trade winds and for much of the year, temperatures remain between 20-27°C.  English is the main language whilst the Island's cuisine is wonderfully varied with Malay, British and Chinese influences.

For information and bookings, call tailor made travel specialist Discover the World on 01737 214291 or visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk 

For further information on St Helena, please visit www.sthelenatourism.com 

* Holidays begin and end in Cape Town, from where the RMS St Helena sets sail.  Prices exclude international flights from the UK. 

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For media enquiries:

Lizzie Bourke - PR Manager

Tel: 01737 214 249

Email: lizzie@discover-the-world.co.uk 

Notes to Editors

St Helena facts & figures

• The island is of volcanic origin and measures 47 square miles: 10.5 by 6.5 miles.

• St Helena currency is used on the Island and the St Helena pound is fixed with the GBP.

• St Helena uses Greenwich Mean Time all year round.

• The 4,000 inhabitants are largely descended from British settlers, East India Company employees and workers from South and South East Asia, Madagascar and China.

• The island receives around 2,800 tourists a year.  This is expected to increase to around 10,700 visitors by 2020.

Wildlife & nature: St Helena offers one of the world's most spectacular natural settings with two distinct micro-climates fostering contrasting landscapes with lush 'cloud' forest interiors and arid exteriors.  The Island is home to over 1,000 species of which 400 are endemic to St Helena and occur nowhere else on Earth including the Wirebird, giant tree ferns and desert-dwelling nocturnal spiders.  At least 40 species of plant exist here unknown anywhere else in the world as well as many other beautiful and exotic plants such as the Arum Lilly (St Helena's National flower).  St Helena is also a birdwatchers paradise with major seabird breeding areas and plenty of marine wildlife including whale sharks, devil rays, humpback whales and hundreds of resident dolphins.

Astronomy: St Helena's location near the equator means that virtually every constellation in the sky is visible at one time or another from the island.  Added to this, a lack of artificial light makes for unrivalled star gazing.

Jamestown: The Island's capital and main settlement feels more like a village. Sitting in a valley between two cliffs on the northwest of the island, its brightly-painted houses run down to the harbour with many historical buildings harking back to days when over 1,000 ships called each year.

Walking & hiking: Climb the 699 steps of Jacob's Ladder, explore Diana's Peak National Park, find the heart-shaped waterfall, choose from 21 'Post Box Walks' (so-called because each has a post box at the end, containing an ink-stamp and a visitors' book) and take in superb views at every step.

Historical Legacy: Events are planned to mark the bicentenary of Napoleon's arrival on St Helena in 1815 (including the official opening of the General's Quarters at Longwood House), following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. Longwood House, Briars Pavilion and Napoleon's Tomb each offer a fascinating insight into the end of the French Emperor's life: six years of exile here ended with his death on the island in 1821.

The Island also became home to Prince Dinizulu in the Zulu war, and to 6,000 Boer prisoners during the 1899-1902 Anglo-Boer war in South Africa (visitors can now see their cemetery and POW camp).  Recently, excavations have uncovered the Island's role in the era of slavery, particularly during abolition when slave ships were intercepted and the slaves brought to St Helena and freed.

About Discover the World

Discover the World has been creating inspirational, tailor made holidays for thirty years.  The company is one of the UK's leading tailor made destination specialists and the world's largest tour operator into Iceland.  Its portfolio of destinations includes Iceland, Scandinavia, the Polar Regions (Greenland, Spitsbergen, The North Pole, Canadian Arctic & Antarctic), Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Pacific and Alaska.  Discover the World is the world's principal tour operator to ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland designing exclusive breaks in conjunction with their direct flight to Icehotel – the only one from the UK.  They are an authority on Northern Lights holidays and deliver the most comprehensive range of tailor made itineraries to some of the best aurora locations in the northern hemisphere.  As well as offering a full tailor made service, Discover the World specialises in independent touring holidays, self-drives, small group tours and expedition cruises.  Their specialist holidays range from volcano hiking, whale watching and horse riding to honeymoons, family holidays and wine tours.