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Voykit pocket guide · Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha
Plan a 7‑14‑day ship expedition, arrive by vessel from Cape Town; no land overnight, sleep aboard or in approved homestays.
Tristan da Cunha is the world’s most remote inhabited island; access only by ship (5‑10 days from Cape Town). Visitors must stay on board or in pre‑approved accommodation, making a week‑plus stay essential.
- Country
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (storm season)
- Stay
- 7–14 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Saint Helena and Ascension use the Saint Helena pound (SHP), at par with pound sterling (GBP); sterling notes are accepted, but Saint Helena notes are not accepted outside the territory. Tristan da Cunha uses pound sterling.
- Daily spend
- Budget £30–£65 excl. transport · Mid £80–£120 excl. transport (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Sure runs the mobile network on Saint Helena and Ascension; SIMs are sold in Jamestown.
- Emergency
- Police / medical 999
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin sockets.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Around 10% if service is good.; Tour driver: £5–10.
- Water
- Tap water is treated on Saint Helena (check locally); bottled water is available.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in Jamestown and at main sites; none on the trails.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus to Potato Patches (return) | £5 |
| Guide to Queen Mary's Peak base | £60 |
| Guide to summit | £200 |
| Golf round (remote course) | £20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- none · No airport – access by ship only
- Tristan da Cunha has no airfield; all visitors arrive by vessel from Cape Town.
Typical fares
- Cape Town → Tristan da Cunha (SA Agulhas II)
- about £500 return, 5–10 days travel (check)
- Bus Edinburgh → Potato Patches
- £5 return
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk is primary; a local bus (free for pensioners, £5 return) runs to the Potato Patches. No hire cars.
See and do
Known for
- Queen Mary's Peak volcano
- remote wildlife (rockhopper penguins, Tristan thrush)
- isolated community of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Mary's Peak | Guided hike from settlement; 2‑hour walk to base, longer for summit (weather‑dependent) | ≈3 h round trip |
| Potato Patches | Local bus or shared car, 3 mi (≈5 km (3.1 mi)) eastLocal bus or shared car, 3 mi (≈3.1 mi (5 km)) east | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Self‑catering accommodation
- £30 per night, board your own gear.
- Homestay (meals & laundry)
- £65 per night, discounts for locals/children.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorrysorry |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?how much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?can i pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet?where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Wave to drivers and say hello to walkers; avoid: Ignoring people on the road
- Driving: Give way to uphill traffic; pull into passing places; avoid: Speeding on hairpins
- Community: Support local shops and guides; avoid: Assuming city services
Scams and watch-outs
- Ship slots are limited; higher‑priority vessels (medical, officials) may displace tourists.
- Weather can cancel departures; plan flexible dates.
- Overnight stays on land are prohibited without prior approval.
Very low crime; main risks are weather‑related delays and limited medical facilities; carry evacuation insurance.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tristan da Cunha yet. Suggested stay: 7–14 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Queen Mary's Peak volcano
- remote wildlife (rockhopper penguins, Tristan thrush)
- isolated community of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tristan da Cunha official site: www.tristandc.com/
- Wikidata – Tristan da Cunha: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Tristan da Cunha, revision 5324238 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5324238
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tristan da Cunha
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / medical999
UK consulate in Saint Helena (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tristan-da-cunha). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.