The joy of a trip to Guernsey is being able to experience multiple unique Islands in one holiday. With five different environments to explore within the Bailiwick of Guernsey, and options for short breaks further afield, you can create a bespoke Island Hopping tour.
Here are a few day trips to explore from Guernsey and how to get there.
Day Trips within the Islands of Guernsey
Alderney
The most northern of our Islands, Alderney is home to historical sites, golden beaches and rich wildlife.
As the second-largest of our Islands, there’s plenty to explore on a day trip, including 30 miles of winding lanes and trails, the award-winning museum, the Channel Island’s only railway and renowned birdwatching. The capital, St Anne, is filled with excellent restaurants, showcasing a huge range of homegrown produce.
Alderney can be reached by boat or on a short 15 minute flight. For a day trip:
- Catch an Aurigny flight at 7.25am or 8.55am, and then return on the 5.45pm or 7.15pm flight for a full day of exploring.
- Take the Alderney Ferry Service out at 7am and back at 6pm. This one-hour ferry will get you there in plenty of time to discover the Island.
Our top day trip tip:
- Book an electric bike to whizz around and see more of Alderney.
Sark
A peaceful car-free Island, Sark is often considered the crown jewel of the Channel Islands. Step back in time to an unspoilt landscape and explore by bike or horse-drawn carriage.
Stop by the Avenue to explore eateries and independent shops, visit La Seigneurie Gardens for a peaceful hour, and head to Caragh’s Chocolates for handmade Sark dairy chocolates.
Sark can be reached by boat from St Peter Port.
- The Isle of Sark Shipping Company operates a year-round ferry service between Guernsey and Sark. Several ferries run each day during the summer, with reduced daily trips offered out of season. Take the 8.30am to Sark and the 6pm boat back to get the most out of your day.
- The short journey offers memorable views past the neighbouring islands of Herm and Jethou, where puffins can often be spotted on the craggy outcrops and dolphins are visible enjoying the waves. The journey is as much a part of the adventure as the destination.
Our top day trip tips:
- Look out for the ‘toast-rack’ when you arrive from the ferry. This tractor-taxi will save you the journey up the steep hill, so you can spend more time exploring.
- Cycling on Sark is not only a charming pastime, it is the preferred day-to-day mode of transport for many locals, and proves a very easy way to get around for day-trippers. Hire a bike to get the most of your journey.
- Sark is the world’s first Dark Sky Island, with low light pollution and lack of street lights contributing to spectacular starry nights - if you can spare an overnight on your journey, it is well worth the stay.
Herm
Just a 20 minute boat ride from St Peter Port across perfectly blue water, Herm is a paradise island.
Long stretches of white sand, cliff paths with views to the French coast and its own microclimate make Herm an oasis in the Channel and perfect for a day trip. Hike along the coastline, take a kayaking trip to see puffins or relax on the pristine beaches. Make sure to stop at the Herm Shop for some beach gear and souvenirs.
The only way to reach Herm is via boat from St Peter Port operated by Travel Trident. The ferry docks in Herm either at the Harbour at high tide and Rosaire Steps at low tide, which is just a 10 minute stroll from Herm Harbour and main facilities:
- Take the 7.35am or 9.30am boat out, and the 5.35pm boat back for a day trip, or stay for dinner and return at 10.45pm.
Our top day trip tip:
- Explore Shell Beach and Belvoir Beach on the east coast. Both have beautiful views and beach cafes with everything you could need.
Lihou
The smallest of our Islands, Lihou takes you on an adventure across a cobbled causeway to discover ruins, tidal pools and nature reserves.
With RAMSAR wetlands and marine conservation, Lihou is a wildlife sanctuary ideal for birdwatching and rockpooling. Pack a picnic for your very own Famous Five trip and enjoy a day off-grid.
Lihou is accessed on foot from the south west of Guernsey, by L’Eree. The causeway is 760m long and will be wet in places - sturdy footwear is recommended.
Make sure to keep an eye on the tides as the causeway can only be accessed at certain times of the day. You can find the times at: https://seeker.gg/Tides/Lihou
Day Trips from the Islands of Guernsey
Jersey
If you fancy visiting all of the Channel Islands in one trip, why not take a day trip to Jersey from Guernsey? The one hour ferry from St Peter Port allows you four on-shore hours to explore Jersey, with options to travel as a foot passenger or with your car.
Dates for day trips are:
- July 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 26th, 29th, 30th, 31st
- August 1st, 5th, 12th, 16th, 17th, 26th
St Malo, France
When ferries are available it is possible to take a trip from Guernsey to St Malo on the coast of France.
This picturesque town has a range of boutique stores, markets and cafes along its cobbled streets, and is well worth a visit if you can book a ticket on Condor’s coveted monthly trips.
South Coast, UK
If you would like to take a quick trip to the UK, the best route is by air to Southampton where you can enjoy shopping, maritime history and theatre productions. Aurigny operate a regular service, with the first flight leaving Guernsey at 6.55am, and a return flight at 7.50pm from Southampton.
With current ferry schedules it isn’t possible to do a day trip from Guernsey to the south coast of England (although you can do one from the UK to Guernsey), but with an overnight you can explore the town of Poole with its historic quayside, old town and gardens, and take a visit to Brownsea Island.
