Day 1
We depart from London Gatwick on our flight to Bermuda. (Regional flight connections, flight upgrades and/or overnight accommodation in London before or after the tour available on request). On arrival we will transfer to our hotel the 4-star Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. The hotel is situated on the shores of a picturesque natural harbour and has 2 restaurants, a coffee shop, two outdoor swimming pools and a fitness centre with spa. All rooms have private facilities with air-conditioning, TV, hairdryer and coffee maker.
The evening is at leisure.
Day 2
Following breakfast, we will visit the beautifully manicured Palm Grove Gardens, a private estate open to the public on several days each week, courtesy of its owner, Sir David Gibbons. The sizeable garden is home to a variety of its namesake palms, including the endemic palmettos and invasive species such as European fan, and Fiji and Cuban royal palms. You will also find citrus groves, a lively aviary housing parrots and toucans, a charming wishing well and a romantic moongate (a circular archway said to bring good fortune to couples who pass through it). The highlight of the garden, however, is its unusual pond, featuring a natural map of Bermuda.
Leaving Palm Grove, we will continue the aquatic theme with a visit to the Spittal Pond Nature Reserve. This is the largest and most easily reached nature reserve in Bermuda covering 64 acres, it is owned by both the Bermuda National Trust and the Government. The reserve hugs the south shore and at its centre is the 8-acre Spittal Pond which is without a doubt the best bird watching location in Bermuda. Despite the size of the Spittal Pond it’s difficult to get lost here as a well-defined trail has been constructed to lead you through its delights.
After an opportunity for lunch (not included), we are delighted to be able to show you two of the island’s private gardens, opened for us by kind permission of the owners. Here you will be able to experience a taste of what it is really like to live in this sub-tropical haven, and admire the variety of flowers and plants that thrive in such a setting.
We return to the hotel, where the evening is free at leisure.
Day 3
Following breakfast we make our way to the Bermuda Botanical Gardens, where the 36 acres of trees, flowers and shrubs create a riot of colour and texture. The landscaped park contains a palm garden, subtropical fruit trees, hibiscus and frangipani gardens, banyan trees and a garden for the blind, where the heavenly fragrance of flowers and aromatic herbs is manna to the olfactory system. All the plants are clearly labelled, allowing you to identify the diverse flora you may have puzzled over during the previous two days. Beatles’ fans will be interested to know that, following his visit to the gardens in 1980, John Lennon named his subsequent album ‘Double Fantasy’ after a flower that captured his imagination there.
After an opportunity for lunch (not included), we will visit Waterville, the headquarters of Bermuda National Trust. The small but perfectly proportioned gardens here are the Bermuda Rose Society’s showcase for old garden roses (renowned as the place to see Bermuda roses), and the Mitchell Green Memorial Garden and Victorian-style gazebo. Just a hop, skip and jump from Waterville, we will find Paget Marsh Nature Reserve, administered jointly by the Bermuda National Trust and Bermuda Audubon Society. This 25-acre leafy reserve and peat marsh looks much the same today as it would have done to the first settlers, dominated by a forest of endemic palmetto and cedar trees. These days, however, it can be explored in comfort by way of a boardwalk that meanders past the pond, mangroves, grasslands and forest. Paget Marsh also provides a tranquil habitat for a multitude of native and migratory birds.
We will return to the hotel and the evening is at leisure.
Day 4
After breakfast, we visit the National Trust’s Verdmont House Museum, one of the island’s most noteworthy historical buildings. Built in about 1710, the museum is a fine example of early Georgian architecture and houses an extensive collection of antiques. Surrounding the house is a period-planted walled garden, featuring old roses and fruit trees. Take a few moments to admire the spectacular view of the sweeping South Shore.
We transfer to the breathtaking Crystal Caves at Bailey’s Bay. Our guided tour will take us down a series of steps to the Crystal Cave, where a floating pontoon pathway spans a 55-foot deep azure underground lake, so clear that it is possible to see the cave floor. The myriad stalagmites and stalactites are atmospherically illuminated, and many of the formations resemble familiar images such as the Manhattan Skyline and Bob Marley!
After our climb back out of the caves, and once your eyes have re-adjusted to the daylight, we will have an opportunity for lunch (not included) before an afternoon of free time in the World Heritage site of St George’s Town. This perennial tribute to colonial times was the first settlement in Bermuda and one-time capital, whose focal point is King’s Square, complete with stocks, pillory and whipping post, and where the Town Crier is still to be seen on occasion, resplendent in traditional costume. You may wish to follow the winding, cobbled streets at your own pace, letting them lead you to the many hidden nooks and crannies of the town. A number of the small gardens in St George’s are maintained by the National Trust, and can be glimpsed from the roadside. The small garden beside the Globe Hotel, site of the Bermuda National Trust Museum, will afford welcome shade after your perambulations.
We will return to the hotel and the evening is at leisure.
Day 5
Our port of call after breakfast this morning is King’s Wharf, the Royal Naval Dockyard area in Sandys Parish. Following the Britain’s defeat in the American War of Independence, the British were no longer able to use the ports of their former colonies and so, in 1809, work began on the Royal Naval Dockyard, dubbed the ‘Gibraltar of the West’. Around 9000 slaves and convicts were shipped from England to carry out the work, of whom 2000 died during construction, many of yellow fever. The British left the Dockyard in 1951 (although cruise ships still berth here), and after many years of neglect it was transformed into what is now one of the island’s most popular tourist areas.
The focal point is the Bermuda Maritime Museum, situated in the former Keep, the largest of the island’s many forts. Here you will find the magnificent Commissioner’s House, together with a plethora of exhibitions on Bermuda’s general and maritime history. Within the grounds of the Museum is Dolphin Quest, devoted to the public education and conservation of marine wildlife. The organisation offers a variety of encounter programmes, and while interactive experiences are not included, visitors are free to watch the dolphins.
There will be plenty of time for lunch, perhaps at the Frog and Onion opposite the Museum. If you are looking for one or two souvenirs of your holiday, the Bermuda Arts Centre and Craft Market can be found in the Cooperage area of the fort – all the items are made by local artists, including pottery, jewellery and stained glass. Further shopping opportunities are afforded by Clocktower Mall, where there is an array of shops and boutiques.
This afternoon we shall enjoy some free time alternative we will be offering you the opportunity to experience a glass-bottomed boat cruise where your Captain will give you a fascinating commentary on Bermuda’s history, people and island life, while you sit back and admire the receding shoreline. The cruise takes us to the Sea Gardens and the shipwreck of the ‘Vixen’, where miles of coral reef play host to a wide variety of fish. You may even be lucky enough to spot a turtle or two at the nearby sea grass beds. On the return leg of the cruise, you will be invited to sip a complimentary rum swizzle to the strains of Bermudian music.
We will return to the hotel, where the evening is at leisure.
Day 6
After breakfast this morning, we will have the opportunity to visit a further two private gardens, and once again we are grateful to the owners for sharing with us the part they have to play in the rich tapestry of Bermuda’s garden heritage.
We will then be whisked off to the capital city of Hamilton, where the afternoon is at leisure. Sites of interest to consider visiting include Bermuda National Gallery, Hamilton City Hall and Par-la-Ville Park, where you can sit in the shade and rest your weary feet. Alternatively, you may like to take in the sights from a horse-drawn carriage, or spend the afternoon shopping in Front Street, the city’s main shopping area.
Later in the afternoon, we will return to the hotel and the evening will be at leisure.
Day 7
Today we must check out of our hotel after breakfast, but don’t despair – there is ample time to enjoy your final day in paradise where you are free to relax in the hotels surroundings or do some last minute shopping.
Later we will transfer to Bermuda International Airport in time for our evening flight back to London Gatwick.
Day 8
On arrival in London the group shall disperse or make onward connections.