Trip is Locked

Enter Password

More Photos
Loading...
New
New Coming Soon
Holidays

Sao Tome Explorer

Available Departures: Feb, Oct
Coming Soon

11 days from

US$3,235

without flights
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
MODERATE MODERATE

Island walking holiday on the underexplored trails of Sao Tome

Trip Code: STE
Holiday Grades
          

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Sao Tome Explorer

Highlights
  • Hike through fishing villages, jungles, massifs, and colonial-era roças.

  • Scale Sao Tome’s highest peak- 2,024 metres

  • Encounter local people during rural hikes and stays in authentic community-based accommodation

  • Enjoy numerous opportunities to swim on idyllic beaches.


At a Glance
  • Group Size 4 to 14
  • Max altitude- 2,024 metres
  • Join In Sao Tome

Accommodation & Meals
  • All meals included
  • 2 nights Hotel
Overview

Sao Tome and Príncipe is one of the world’s least-visited countries, yet it offers far more than its small size might suggest. The islands boast a remarkable natural environment, including pristine black and gold sand beaches, rivers, mountain peaks, and misty, ancient rainforests. As you explore the country, you will experience a laid-back, friendly island atmosphere. São Tomé’s remote location has helped protect its biodiversity, resulting in many endemic wildlife species. The country is occasionally referred to as the "African Galapagos" due to its rich biodiversity.

We will explore the streets of the relaxed capital, also named São Tomé, with its faded colonial architecture and lively markets. We will also climb Pico de São Tomé, the highest mountain in the country, and have the opportunity to swim at numerous idyllic tropical beaches. The Portuguese colonised São Tomé in the late 15th century, transforming the islands with extensive plantations (known as roças) that cultivated coffee and cocoa on a large scale. After independence, many of these roças became atmospheric ruins. Combined with the country’s rich forests and friendly villages, this has created an interesting and varied landscape, perfect for our walking exploration during this unique holiday.

Is this holiday for you?

This holiday is graded as moderate, with most walking days involving hikes of approximately 4 to 5 hours in duration and moderate amounts of ascent and descent. Due to the equatorial climate, São Tomé experiences significant rainfall, which can make the terrain muddy and slippery in certain areas. Many of the paths used are cobbled or made of stone. The two-day ascent of Pico de São Tomé is …

This holiday is graded as moderate, with most walking days involving hikes of approximately 4 to 5 hours in duration and moderate amounts of ascent and descent. Due to the equatorial climate, São Tomé experiences significant rainfall, which can make the terrain muddy and slippery in certain areas. Many of the paths used are cobbled or made of stone. The two-day ascent of Pico de São Tomé is more challenging; it involves a 1,000-metre ascent on the first day and a 200-metre ascent followed by a 1,200-metre descent on the second day.

We will stay in a variety of centrally located city hotels, lodges, eco-lodges, a roça, and one night of basic camping during this trip. This is an active holiday, combining walking with ample time for sightseeing and exploring the various natural sites and landscapes within this captivating small country.

Why KE?

Discover the untouched beauty of Sao Tome and Príncipe on this unique walking holiday to one of the world's least-visited countries, featuring misty rainforests, pristine beaches, and rich colonial history.

Share
    

Itinerary

Arrive at Sao Tome Airport. A single scheduled transfer is included. São Tomé, the capital city of Sao Tome and Príncipe, with a population of around 70,000, feels more like a town than a city. Founded by the Portuguese in 1485, Sao Tome retains much of its colonial architecture, including buildings from the 16th century, such as the Fort of Sao Sebastiao, now home to the National Museum, and the Cathedral of Sao Tome. Time permitting, you may wish to take a stroll to acclimatise and explore the surroundings. This evening, we will dine at a pleasant local restaurant, giving us our first taste of the local cuisine.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

D

This morning, after breakfast, we transfer to Obo National Park. Covering roughly 30% of the total area of São Tomé and Príncipe, Obo National Park is internationally renowned among conservationists for its biologically rich, dense virgin rainforests. The park is home to 700 plant species, many of which are endemic, as well as numerous endemic bird species. Starting from the botanical garden at Bom Sucesso (1,100m), we will embark on a steep climb to Lagoa Amelia (1,483m), a former crater lake now filled with lush vegetation. We will stop for a picnic lunch along the way. Explore the primary forest along the "fugitive trail," an area characterised by bamboo, moss, ancient trees, and wild orchids. After returning to Bom Sucesso, we will transfer back to our accommodation in the capital, São Tomé.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

Ascent

400 M

Descent

400 M

Time

4 hours 30 mins walking

This morning, we travel by 4x4 to Bombaim, a roça on the edge of the forest. We will walk along an old railway track through lush vegetation, passing the ghostly remains of ruined outbuildings, and learning about the area's historical agricultural significance. Our journey continues to Agua Ize, on the eastern coast, one of the original "big five" rocas in the country and the birthplace of Sao Tome and Príncipe's cocoa industry. From here, we will transfer to Sao Joao dos Angolares before settling into our accommodation at Roça Sao Joao, an elegant colonial house overlooking Angolares Bay.

Meals

B L D

Ascent

200 M

Descent

600 M

Time

2 hours walking

Today, we spend the day exploring the Bay of Angolares. We begin by walking on cobbled roads, then continue along unpaved paths, passing farmers who will introduce us to the micoco leaf and safou, two key ingredients in "calulu," the national dish of Sao Tome and Principe. We will pass through the villages of Soledade and Fraternidade, meeting farmers and locals along the way. You will have the chance to taste equatorial raspberries, sapsap, or jackfruit, the largest tree fruit in the world. Finally, we visit Vale do Carmo, one of the best birdwatching spots on the island, before returning to Sao Joao dos Angolares. We will typically have the opportunity to visit the lively local market and explore the town, with its wooden fishermen’s houses on stilts and fish drying sheds. There is a sandy beach lined with pirogues, where you can take a swim if you wish.

Meals

B L D

Ascent

400 M

Descent

400 M

Time

5 hours walking

This morning, after breakfast, we set off on a beautiful coastal hike with fantastic views down to the ocean. We will take periodic breaks to swim in sandy coves along the route. We will pass a large waterfall that cascades down to the foot of coconut palms on the seafront. Our route will take us through areas of ferns and sugar cane on the way to the vast Roca Ribeira Peixe, where cocoa, copra, coconut, and palm oil were once produced. We will have time to visit the fascinating Roca Hospital, which features a Greek-inspired pediment! The coastline becomes steeper, and the path leads us into the forest above the sea. The roots and buttresses of unusual trees intertwine, while creepers and ficus climb the basalt rocks, and matabala and coconut palms grow on the hills. From the ridges, stunning views open up over the coast and the islets of Sete Pedras. At Praia Grande, we head up the Rio Caue, where the emblematic sugar loaf of Cau Grande (663 m) rises in the middle of a vast oil palm plantation. We then transfer to Praia Inhame, "the beach at the end of the world," and check into our bungalow accommodation.

Meals

B L D

Ascent

300 M

Descent

300 M

Time

5 hours walking

This morning, we set out to explore the Malanza River by dugout canoe, home to one of the island's richest ecosystems: the mangrove swamp. This excursion lasts between 1 to 2 hours, depending on the conditions. The canoe allows you to glide gently through the mangroves. A nature reserve protects this unique ecosystem, where many fish and birds come to breed or feed. You may spot egrets, kingfishers, cormorants, nilans, and small Mona monkeys. In the afternoon, a short hike from Porto Alegre will take you through ylang-ylang forests and to the beaches of the island's southern coast.

Meals

B L D

Spend a relaxing morning on the stunning beach of Praia Inhame, one of the island's main nesting sites for five species of marine turtles. In the late morning, take a boat trip (weather permitting) to explore the wild and uninhabited southwest coast of the island. The first stop is Ilhéu das Rolas, Turtle Dove Island, where a short climb through breadfruit trees and ylang-ylang will lead you to a panoramic and symbolic monument on the Equator line. As you cruise along the coast, you will be treated to views of cliffs overgrown with equatorial vegetation, waterfalls, rocky peaks, and volcanic dikes, offering a spectacle of untouched, wild nature. A stop in São Miguel Cove is a must; with its scattered islets, it is reminiscent of Vietnam's Ha Long Bay. The sailing continues to the fishing village of Neves, where pirogues welcome us. We then settle into our bungalows overlooking Mucumbli Beach, surrounded by lush vegetation. Note: If weather conditions do not permit a return by boat, a road transfer will be arranged.

Meals

B L D

After visiting the cocoa processing and drying facilities, we will follow a paved path through the plantation to explore the "shade forest" that shelters cocoa trees, breadfruit trees, jackfruit trees, and "prata" bananas. We will visit Roça Generosa, Ponta Figo, and Monteforte, which feature village-style plantations with rumba-sounding gargotes, a sugar cane mill, the remains of a hospital, and a church. We then descend to the fishing village of Neves, passing a beach where you can swim and skirting the coast through banana and coconut plantations. Crossing the Neves River provides a great opportunity to meet locals, as this is where they come to wash their clothes and chat.

Meals

B L D

Ascent

400 M

Descent

400 M

Time

4 hours walking

Today, we ascend Pico de Sao Tome, a dormant volcano that, at 2,024 metres, is the highest point in Sao Tome and Principe. You will be transferred to Obo National Park, where the ascent takes you through different levels of equatorial vegetation at various altitudes. After passing through the jungle, the intermediate level features a more open forest with tall trunks reaching for the light. Closer to the summit, mosses and epiphytic plants cover the trunks and branches, creating a fantastical atmosphere. You will reach the campsite on the meseta, a small plateau below the summit of Pico de Sao Tome.

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1000 M

Time

5 hours walking

Begin the early morning climb to the summit of Pico. As the mist parts, it reveals the lush, forest-covered slopes of the volcano, an ancient landscape that dates back millions of years. After enjoying breakfast back at the campsite, we tackle the descent, which can be quite difficult in places due to potentially slippery sections. Our hike takes us along historic paths once traversed by slaves attempting to escape the plantations and by hunters pursuing wild pigs. Along the way, we are immersed in the rich natural and cultural history of the region. A return transfer brings us back to civilisation for dinner and a well-deserved rest at our seafront eco-lodge, where we will have a little time to relax after today's activities.

Meals

B L D

Ascent

200 M

Descent

1200 M

Time

5 hours walking

A final day in Sao Tome. It is likely that your flight will be departing this evening. Enjoy a relaxing morning at the lodge and on the beach before we return to the capital, Sao Tome City. We will continue the exploration we began on the first day of our trip. Places to explore include the colourful market, the fortress of Sao Sebastiao and its small museum, the Cacao Art Centre, and the chocolate factory. A single timed transfer will be arranged in the late afternoon.

Meals

B
Download Trip Notes
The Route
Point Point
Transfer
Walk/Trek
Boat

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • A professional and qualified tour leader

  • Single-timed group airport transfers

  • All accommodation as described

  • Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan

  • All land transport

  • Travel Insurance

  • Visas

  • Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan

  • Tips for local staff

  • Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

This holiday will begin at the hotel in Sao Tome City.

A single-timed transfer is provided on arrival on day 1 of the land-only itinerary. Anyone can join this transfer by prior arrangement. This transfer will be timed to meet the TAP Portugal flight arrival.

On the final day of the land-only itinerary, a single-timed transfer will be provided in the afternoon, timed to meet the TAP Portugal flight that day.

All meals are included on this tour, from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the final day.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. You should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water. We do not encourage the purchasing of single-use plastic bottles.

São Tomé has a rich culinary heritage influenced by Portuguese, African, and Creole traditions. Travellers can sample local dishes such as calulu, a hearty fish stew cooked with greens and palm oil, and blaff, a spicy fish broth. Street markets and local eateries offer sweet treats like banana pão (breadfruit fritters) and rich São Tomé chocolate, considered among the best in the world. At the roça (plantation), you can see how cocoa is cultivated and processed, and enjoy a tasting of fresh cocoa beans or chocolate products.

For drinks, São Tomé offers a mix of tropical flavours. You can sample local fruit juices made from exotic produce like passion fruit, pineapple, and papaya, or enjoy matabala beer, made from the island's cassava. Palm wine, known locally as vinho de palma, is another popular beverage, often served alongside meals.

In Sao Tome City we stay in a centrally located, standard city hotel. In the countryside, we stay in a mixture of lodges, eco-lodges, and a characterful "roca". On the 2 day accent of Pico we have one night of basic camping, this is in 2 person tents with limited facilities.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

British passport holders can visit São Tomé and Príncipe for tourism purposes for a period of up to 15 days without a visa.

If you intend to stay longer than 15 days then you will need to meet the entry requirements and apply for an E-Visa. Details can be found here: http://www.smf.st/evisa/index.php#EN-lang

Please note: You will be required to pay a 20-euro entry fee when you arrive in the country. You can also pay in US dollars or local currency (not sterling.)

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

VACCINATIONS

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis are required. There is risk of yellow fever and you must carry a current vaccination certificate. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

The Sao Tomean Dobra is the unit currency of Sao Tome and Príncipe.

Getting some additional exercise before coming on an active holiday makes a lot of sense. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. You should be aerobically fit and comfortable with walking 2 to 6 hours for consecutive days. Hill walking, with a good amount of ascent and descent, is the best training. Running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

  • Sao Tome & Principe (Bradt Travel Guides)- Kathleen Becker

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.

You should bring the following items:

  • Hiking boots

  • Sandals / Trainers

  • Socks & Underwear

  • Trekking trousers / shorts

  • T-shirts / tops / casual shirts

  • Fleece jacket or warm jumper

  • Lightweight waterproof jacket and overtrousers

  • Sunhat

  • Sunglasses

  • Daypack 25-30 litres

  • Sun protection (including for lips)

  • Water purification tablets

  • Washbag and toiletries

  • Antibacterial handwash

  • Basic First Aid Kit. Including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).

The following items are optional:

  • Umbrella

  • Trekking poles (recommended)

  • Swimwear

  • Small swim/trek towel

  • Camera

  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Cotswold Outdoor Red PantonMany of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
>> Find out more

DATES & PRICES

Private Departure?

Gather a few friends, family or club and take over your own departure.

2025

Dates

Adults from

Deposit

Status

More Information

  • Sao Tome Explorer
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: STE /01/25/
  • This trip begins on Sat 15 Feb and ends on Tue 25 Feb
  • This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$475
  • Single Supplement Price: US$585
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Sao Tome Explorer
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: STE /02/25/
  • This trip begins on Sat 11 Oct and ends on Tue 21 Oct
  • This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$475
  • Single Supplement Price: US$585
  • Download Trip Notes

ZEN_HOLIDAY_DATES_PRICES_LAND_ONLY_USD_NOTICE

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)


VISAmastercard
Download Trip Notes
Field Required
Field Required
Field Required
Footer logos
Your Wishlist
No Wishlist Items

Start your next adventure.

Click the heart icon on the search or holiday pages to save a holiday to your wishlist.

Holiday Search