Ascension Island

Volcanic Wilderness in the South Atlantic

Ascension Island rises from the mid-Atlantic ridge as a dramatic volcanic outpost, its rust-coloured lava fields contrasting with the lush greenery of Green Mountain. Sitting roughly halfway between Africa and South America, this remote British territory offers a landscape unlike anywhere else on earth, where cinder cones meet tropical cloud forest.

Turtles, Frigatebirds and Marine Wonders

Every year between January and May, endangered green turtles haul themselves onto Ascension's beaches to nest, continuing a cycle that has drawn naturalists for centuries. The island's vast marine protected area, one of the largest on the planet, shelters marlin, tuna, dolphins and the endemic Ascension frigatebird that wheels above Boatswainbird Island.

Georgetown and Island Life

The tiny capital of Georgetown hugs the western coast, its pastel buildings and historic fort a reminder of the island's long maritime past. Life on Ascension is refreshingly unhurried, with a handful of settlements, a single road network, and a community built around shared purpose. Visitors can hike to the summit of Green Mountain, explore lava tunnels, or simply watch the sun set over the Atlantic.