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St Helena becomes the ultimate playground for adrenaline seekers in February 2026

St Helena, one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, is inviting sports enthusiasts and adventure travellers to challenge themselves during Adventure Week 2026. The programme pushes participants to their limits of stamina, skill, and determination against the island’s dramatic landscapes and open seas.


The spirit of endurance was showcased on 17 January 2026 when British adventurer, Jasmine Harrison swam 30 miles around St Helena in 19 hours in an attempt to swim around the whole island*. Jasmine is currently ¾ of the way sailing around the world on a 19-foot-long boat in the Mini Globe Race and stopped off at St Helena on a 7-day pitstop and spontaneously took on the challenge.


The highlight of Adventure Week is the World’s Most Remote Marathon, taking place on 22 February 2026. Starting from the gardens of Plantation House, home to the island’s Governor and Jonathan the tortoise, the world’s oldest living land animal, participants can choose from a full marathon (42.2 km), half marathon (21.1 km), or 10 km race. 


The course takes runners around the island passing lush green landscapes, historic locations such as Napoleon’s House and finishing at the seaside in the island’s capital, Jamestown, offering a rare opportunity to combine physical challenge with exploring the island’s unrivalled natural beauty.



Adventure Week also features a series of additional endurance events. On Thursday, 19 February, people can tackle the Jacob’s Ladder climb, the iconic staircase connecting Jamestown to Ladder Hill Fort. With 699 steps and a 183m vertical ascent, the climb is a true test of strength and stamina. 


Athletes can time their climb against the clock - the current record stands at 4 minutes 40.75 seconds - or register to attempt a formal record through St Helena Tourism. Jacob’s Ladder, a Grade I listed structure, is a historic remnant of an early 1800s cable railway and a highlight of the island’s heritage.


Adventure Week also hosts a series of guided hikes that take walkers across the island’s dramatic land and seascapes. Hikers will traverse coastal trails, explore rock pools and pastureland, and encounter St Helena’s unique flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. Forts, cannons, and batteries add cultural and historical interest, while the tranquillity of the paths, often with few or no other hikers, offers a truly immersive experience of the island’s untouched beauty.


“Adventure Week is for those ready to challenge themselves physically and mentally while exploring one of the world’s most remarkable locations,” says Jonathan Passaportis, Head of Tourism for St Helena Government. “From running the marathon to climbing Jacob’s Ladder, it’s an adrenaline-fuelled week that combines high-performance sport with the chance to discover St Helena’s rugged landscapes, unique wildlife, rich history and culture.”


Travel to St Helena is supported by Airlink, with weekly flights from Johannesburg (Saturdays) and Marathon specific mid-week flights on Tuesday the 17th and 24th). Accommodation ranges from boutique hotel, The Mantis Hotel, charming guest houses, B&Bs to self-catering cottages.


Adventure Week will become an annual event, promising a once-in-a-lifetime combination of endurance, exploration, and discovery, the ultimate test for serious athletes and adventure travellers alike. Worth adding to the bucket list for 2027!


For more information on all the events visit: www.sthelenatourism.com/adventure-week.


* Jasmine finished just 1.2 miles short of completely circumnavigating the island.


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