STAGE 7.5
01.02 — 08.02
🇬🇼 Bijagos
feat. Julia Barminova
A special project with watercolor master Julia Barminova
This is the unique project, an immersive sailing experience to West African landscapes and local tribes life, where you learn painting the water right from a sailboat.
7 days
2100 €
Start/Finish Cities and Airports:
🇬🇼 Bissau [OXB]
🇬🇼 Bissau [OXB]
Approximate
step by step route:
Our journey will cover about 180 nautical miles, carefully navigating between islands, sandbars, and channels. The exact route will be determined by tides, local conditions, and the discoveries we make along the way.
difficulty of this stage
is 2 out of 5
While the sailing distances remain relatively short, we'll be venturing into even more remote areas with limited infrastructure. Navigation continues to be challenging due to strong tidal currents and ever-changing sandbanks.
COST
  1. Personal safety equipment (lifejackets, lifelines, PLBs)
  2. Bed in a twin/double cabin with blankets, pillows, clean linens and towels
  3. Formalities costs for the boat
  4. Meals onboard
  5. Transfers from the airport to the boat and back
  6. All fuels (diesel for the yacht, gasoline for the dinghy, gas for the stove)
  7. Marinas and ports fees
TRAVEL STYLE
Advanced island exploration with a focus on remote locations, wildlife, and cultural immersion
INCLUDED
  1. Airplane tickets
  2. Visas and any personal administrative costs
  3. Any additional costs outside (restaurants, museums, souvenirs, car rentals etc.)
  4. Personal insurance
NOT INCLUDED
Please note that the team altogether takes part in grocery shopping and in maintaining the boat clean during the voyage and after it.
ROUTE
HIGHLIGHTS
Bissau:
Starting point for our Bijagos adventure, a place where there is the only street in the country with smooth asphalt, and where we make groceries on local markets

Pristine beaches:
Visiting and walking on some of world’s most beautiful and untouched coastlines

Orango Island:
Exploring the Orango National Park and its unique hippo population
Bubaque:
Archipelago's main hub accumulating different types of local culture

Canhabaque (Roxa) Island:
Visiting authentic villages and experiencing traditional matrilineal culture of the Bijagos people in its purest form

Rubane Island:
Enjoying the contrast of pristine nature and fancy eco-lodges
Bolama:
Exploring the beauty of the old Portuguese colonial capital with its crumbling architecture

Unnamed sandbars and tiny islets:
Discovering places that might not even appear on our charts
Experience Details
Uncharted Territories:
We'll navigate through areas that are poorly charted, relying on our skills and obtained local knowledge (yes, it’s safe enough!)
Wildlife Encounters:
We'll have opportunities to observe hippos in their rare saltwater habitat, along with diverse bird life, manatees and possibly sea turtles
Cultural Deep Dive:
We'll engage more deeply with the Bijagos people, gaining insights into their matrilineal society and animist beliefs
Navigation Challenges:
We'll experience sailing in waters with 5-meter tides and currents up to 4 knots, honing our sailing skills
Untouched Landscapes
On this journey through the Bijagos we explore one of the most untouched and biodiverse regions in the world. We’ll sail through a labyrinth of islands, each with its own character and charm. From colonial ruins to traditional villages, from mangrove forests to wide sandy beaches — be ready to have an outstanding experience off the beaten path. Join us for this exceptional journey that showcases the best of West African coastal diversity!
We’ll explore some of the most remote and pristine areas of the archipelago, including mangrove forests and unspoiled beaches
Eco-lodges and Wilderness:
We'll experience the contrast between completely untouched nature and small, eco-friendly modern developments on some islands
Colonial Architecture:
Exploring Bolama, we'll step back in a short Portuguese colonial time
START YOUR EXPLORATION
To embark on a sea voy adventures with us, please fill out the application form.
Start your Xploration