Travel Questions
Travelling to Sark for the uninitiated does sometimes appear a little daunting. This section is intended to allay any fears and answer most people's questions. If you are still not sure about any aspect of travelling to Sark, please do not hesitate to contact us.Q. I live outside of the UK/Northern Europe, what is the best route to Sark?
A. Direct flights to Guernsey are only available from the airports listed in this section. The best connecting flight, however, will depend on your particular circumstances. Nevertheless, if you are flying into London Heathrow you may wish to fly to Jersey and then stay overnight and take the direct ferry service to Sark, rather than transferring across London to Gatwick. If travelling in from the United States, for example, it might be possible to take a flight which routes to London Gatwick, negating the need for an airport transfer. You can easily take a connecting flight to Guernsey with either FlyBe or Aurigny, and catch the ferry to Sark.
Q. Does Sark have any disabled facilities
A. Sark Tourism has prepared a Disabled Facilities information sheet in Adobe PDF format. Click here to download.
Q. Can we bring our dog to Sark?
A. Before travelling with your dog(s) to the Channel Islands please read the following information carefully:
a) Dogs can be carried on the following airlines, but will have to travel in pet carriers in the luggage hold. FlyBe (www.flybe.com) will take pets in carriers, but only on the Southampton-Guernsey route. Aurigny (www.aurigny.com) will also take pets in carriers on their Southampton-Guernsey route, but have to go via Alderney.
b) Dogs can be carried on Condor Ferries from Britain (www.condorferries.co.uk) but have to be either in a pet carrier on the vehicle deck, or in a car on the vehicle deck. During the crossing to Guernsey, which takes over two hours, there is no access to the vehicle deck (unless escorted by a member of staff).
c) Dogs can travel between Guernsey and Sark on Isle of Sark Shipping ferries (01481 724059) but you may be asked to sit outside if the weather is good. Please contact Sark Shipping prior to your trip if travelling during July and August, the main holiday season.
d) Manche Iles Express (www.manche-iles-express.com), which operate between Jersey and Sark, do NOT allow the transportation of any animals on board their vessels.
e) The above information applies to dogs travelling from the UK.
f) Dogs from the Continent are permitted provided they have (i) a valid pet passport, (ii) are microchipped and (iii) enter via an approved route (i.e. from St Malo to Jersey or Guernsey with a ferry company such as Condor). Please contact your vet for further details of the pet passport scheme. Also go to www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/ for information on blood testing for rabies (which must be done six months before travel) and micro-chipping.
It is not permitted to bring dogs (or other domestic pets) into the Channel Islands from the Continent on board private vessels.
If you have any queries on the above please contact: Commerce & Employment Dept (States of Guernsey) on 01481 234567.
NB: Only male dogs and spayed bitches are allowed to be resident on Sark. Full bitches are permitted on the island for holidays only.
Q. How do we get from Guernsey Airport to the harbour at St. Peter Port?
A. A taxi rank is located opposite the main entrance to Guernsey Airport. It costs around £10 for a taxi to St. Peter Port. Ask your driver to take you to the quay for the Sark boat. There is also a local bus service.
Q. What do we do with our luggage for the Sark boat?
A. Luggage for Sark can be left in the Left Luggage store on the Inter-Island Quay at Guernsey, should you have free time before catching your ferry. Luggage is left at owners risk. Items left in the Left Luggage store are not automatically loaded onto the ferry. Please take your luggage onto the ferry with you. Should you require any assistance then please ask a member of the quay staff who will assist.
Q. What happens to our luggage when we arrive at Sark?
A. On arrival at Sark, your luggage will automatically be unloaded and provided it is labelled, will be delivered to the Sark destination on your luggage label by the appropriate Sark carter. Please therefore get off the ferry and proceed through the tunnel to the waiting area for the hill transport and catch the tractor bus up to the village. Please do not be alarmed if your luggage takes a while to arrive. This is Sark and rest assured it will arrive!
Q. What do we do with our luggage when we leave Sark?
A. On departure from Sark, please make sure that your host contacts the Sark carter to collect your luggage. Your luggage will be loaded aboard your return ferry. Please label the luggage with your destination and ferry time. On arrival back in Guernsey, please carry your luggage ashore with you. Should help be required, please ask one of the quay staff. Should you wish to leave your luggage for a while, it can again be left in the Left Luggage store at owner's risk.