Self-Launched St Lucia & The Grenadines Sailing Adventure
8 days · St Lucia & The Grenadines
G Adventures charges £2,100
No-markup version: ~£980 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched island-hopping sail through St Lucia and the Grenadines (Rodney Bay to Rodney Bay), recreating G Adventures' catamaran itinerary without the group tour markup. Instead of a crewed 47ft catamaran charter, you'll use a mix of passenger ferries, water taxis and shared day sails between Rodney Bay, Soufrière, Bequia, the Tobago Cays and St Vincent — booking snorkelling, kite-surf and catamaran day trips directly. You get the same crystal-water snorkelling, Pitons hikes, Creole food and hidden coves, but stitch the route together yourself, sleeping in budget guesthouses and hostels ashore. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and will vary by season — the Grenadines peak season (Dec–Apr) is pricier, and travel between islands requires some flexibility as schedules are weather-dependent.
Day-by-day
Arrive Rodney Bay, St Lucia
Rodney Bay, St Lucia
Fly into Hewanorra International (UVF) or George F.L. Charles (SLU) and make your way to Rodney Bay on the northwest coast — the same start point as the original sail. Settle into a budget guesthouse or hostel near Reduit Beach, then explore the marina and boardwalk. Book your onward inter-island transport in advance (ferries and water taxis fill up in peak season). Evening: rum punch and Creole dinner (green fig and saltfish, callaloo) at a local eatery, then a drink at one of the Rodney Bay bars to meet other travellers.
🚌Taxi or shared shuttle from UVF (~£20-30) or SLU (~£12)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel dorm near Reduit Beach (~£30-40)
- →Airport transfer to Rodney Bay
- →Reduit Beach sunset stroll
- →Creole dinner and rum punch
Rodney Bay to Soufrière & the Pitons
Soufrière, St Lucia
Take a shared minibus or local bus down the west coast to Soufrière, the island's old capital beneath the twin Pitons — the 'lush green hillsides and picturesque pitons' the original tour highlights. Check into a hillside guesthouse, then hike the Tet Paul Nature Trail for the best Piton panorama, or tackle Gros Piton if you want the full climb. Afternoon: swim at the Sulphur Springs mud baths and a black-sand beach. Book a snorkel trip for the next day.
🚌Local minibus Rodney Bay–Soufrière (~£3-5)
🛏Guesthouse in Soufrière town (~£30-45)
- →West-coast bus to Soufrière
- →Tet Paul Nature Trail or Gros Piton hike
- →Sulphur Springs mud bath
- →Snorkelling off Anse Chastanet
Soufrière to Bequia (Grenadines)
Bequia, St Vincent & the Grenadines
Cross into the Grenadines. Take a taxi to Vieux Fort or board an inter-island ferry/water taxi south to Bequia via St Vincent (check current schedules — services run a few times a week). Bequia's Admiralty Bay, mentioned in the original itinerary, is a classic yacht anchorage with a laid-back wharf scene. Check into a guesthouse, then walk to Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay for a swim, and eat fresh fish at a beach shack. Evening: drinks at a waterfront bar watching the boats.
🚌Taxi to port + inter-island ferry/water taxi (~£35-60)
🛏Guesthouse near Port Elizabeth, Bequia (~£35-50)
- →Inter-island ferry to Bequia
- →Admiralty Bay waterfront walk
- →Princess Margaret Beach swim
- →Beach-shack seafood dinner
Bequia to the Tobago Cays
Tobago Cays
Sail or take a shared boat trip to the Tobago Cays Marine Park — the snorkelling highlight of the whole route, with turtles, rays and coral in protected turquoise shallows. Most visitors join a day-sail or water-taxi trip from Bequia, Union Island or Mayreau, often booked through your guesthouse or a local skipper. Lunch on board or on Mayreau, then return for an evening ashore. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and cash for the marine park fee.
🚌Shared day-sail/water taxi to Tobago Cays (~£45-70)
🛏Guesthouse on Bequia or Union Island (~£35-55)
- →Day-sail to Tobago Cays Marine Park
- →Snorkelling with turtles and rays
- →Barbecue lunch on Mayreau
- →Marine park fee
St Vincent & the Grenadines island-hopping
Union Island / Mayreau
Keep hopping: move between Union Island and Mayreau, or detour to tiny, car-free Petit St Vincent and Palm Island. Book a shared water taxi to beach-hop between coves, snorkel, and hike to Mayreau's hilltop for sweeping views over the Cays. This is the 'flexible schedule' day the original build in — let local skippers and weather decide where's best. Eat at a small local kitchen; conch fritters and grilled snapper are the dishes to try.
🚌Shared water taxis between islands (~£25-45)
🛏Guesthouse on Union Island or Mayreau (~£35-55)
- →Water-taxi island hopping
- →Mayreau hilltop viewpoint hike
- →Snorkelling and beach time
- →Local Creole lunch
Return toward St Vincent & sail day
St Vincent / Bequia
Work your way back north toward St Vincent. Optional ascent of La Soufrière volcano on St Vincent for hikers, or spend the day on a shared catamaran day-sail recreating the original 'trade winds carry your vessel island to island' experience — book a half-day or full-day sail from Bequia or St Vincent with snorkel stops included. Evening: explore Kingstown market or Bequia's wharf for dinner.
🚌Inter-island ferry or shared boat (~£15-35)
🛏Guesthouse on Bequia or St Vincent (~£30-50)
- →Optional La Soufrière volcano hike
- →Shared catamaran day-sail with snorkel stops
- →Kingstown or Bequia market visit
Cross back to St Lucia — Marigot Bay & Pigeon Island
Rodney Bay, St Lucia
Ferry or fly back north to St Lucia (fast ferry to Castries, or a short LIAT/Caribbean Airlines hop if you want to save time — book early for the best fares). From Castries take a local bus to Rodney Bay. Afternoon: visit Pigeon Island National Landmark for panoramic views and the beach, or detour to photogenic Marigot Bay. Last-night dinner and cocktails at Rodney Bay to round off the trip.
🚌Inter-island ferry/flight + local bus (~£45-80)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel near Reduit Beach (~£30-40)
- →Return ferry/flight to St Lucia
- →Pigeon Island National Landmark
- →Marigot Bay stop
- →Farewell dinner in Rodney Bay
Depart Rodney Bay
Rodney Bay, St Lucia
Check out and head to the airport for your flight home. If you have a late departure, grab a final swim at Reduit Beach or a Castries market breakfast before your airport transfer. Allow buffer time — inter-island transport can run late.
🚌Taxi/shared shuttle to airport (~£20-30)
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Final beach morning
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£980 | £2,100 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,120 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£980
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched St Lucia & The Grenadines Sailing Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £980 per person for 8 days in St Lucia & The Grenadines. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £980 — a saving of roughly £1,120 (53%) per person.
How long is the St Lucia & The Grenadines trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through St Lucia & The Grenadines.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a backpacker, beaches, adventure trip through St Lucia & The Grenadines, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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