PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
For more information visit sunvil.co.ukor call 020 8568 4499
Dreamstime; Shutterstock; Sunvil
ABOUTTHEEXPERTS
Sunvilisafamily-run
companywith 50 years’
experienceofhelping
visitorsdiscover
adestination’s‘realside’,
sotheyknowathingortwo
aboutauthentictravel.
Theirspecialistshand-pick
accommodationthat
ensuresyouneverstray
fromthelocalvibe,have
unrivalledoff-the-beaten-
trackknowledgeandatrue
passionfortakingtravellers
beyondacountry’s
mainstreamscenes.Getundertheskin
(Clockwisefromthis)
HikeinCostaRica’s
ArenalNationalPark;
stayintheGreek
townofMyrina;
meetSãoTomé’s
andPrincipe’slocals
andvisitthebeaches.2
SÃO TOMÉ
AND PRÍNCIPE
Size doesn’t matter
Floating off the western coast of
Africa, São Tomé and Príncipe
are a remote pair of islands
making up the continent’s
second-smallest nation. But the
size is irrelevant, with the duo
packing in history, chocolate
heritage and wild delights.
Sunvil’s Culture and Tradition
on São Tomé and Príncipe
trip offers a deep dive into the
islands. Start in São Tomé’s
namesake capital where the
Portuguese’s 500-year rule is
evident in the architecture and
art. Nossa Senhora da Graca
is one of Africa’s oldest
cathedrals, while Europe alsoinfl uenced many of the local
dances – take a workshop to try
out Kizomba, Socopé and more.
Beyond the capital, you’ll explore
and learn about the pristine
rainforest, which even to this
day is still used like a natural
pharmacy by the locals.
Hop over to São Tomé’s
little sister, Príncipe – once the
world’s largest producer of
cocoa – to see some of the
plantations. Unravel the
bean-to-bar process at
a working factory and stay in
a once-abandoned plantation
house, now restored to its
former colonial grandeur.
Further island exploration
will have you stumbling upon
champagne-coloured beaches
and a day cruise to the Bay of
Needles will leave you gasping
at its cloud-baiting volcanic
phonolite towers – a scene
unchanged for millennia.3
GREECE
Lift the lid on Lemnos
Far-fl ung in the northern Aegean
Sea and away from Greece’s
hotspots, Lemnos harbours
a local culture and rocky scenery
largely free from visitors. Sunvil’s
Activity and experience holiday
on Lemnosunpicks the island’s
charming heart, beginning in its
capital, Myrina, which is
overlooked by craggy volcanic
rocks and a Venetian castle. Its
two waterfronts (named ‘Roman’
and ‘Turkish’) tell the story of
a once-divided town, while
Lemnos’ rugged landscape is
a walker’s dream. A half-day hike
will have you traversing a mosaic
of otherworldly vistas and ending
among the windmills of Kontias.
Plati beach offers a long stretch
of golden sand – a fi ne place to
relax after a long day’s walk.
A wider island tour reveals
Lemnos’ litter of ancient ruins,
tiny mountain villages and
sun-soaked vineyards, which you
can explore leisurely. Stop to
sample the local food and don’t
miss a visit to a family-owned
ouzery to taste the national
drink. You’ll be staying close to
plenty of tavernas which honour
the island’s cooking heritage, butif you’d like to get more hands-on,
join a culinary class with local
cook Rena and whip up some
traditional dishes, accompanied
by salads and cheeses straight
from Rena’s farm, offering
a fulfi lling ending to the trip.