A Week in Anguilla

DAY 1 Fly to the Caribbean

The best way to reach Anguilla is via either Amsterdam or Paris and connecting on to a flight to Sint Maarten (Saint Martin), the Dutch/French island that's Anguilla's Leeward Islands neighbour. The connecting flights will take roughly 12 hours, leaving London in the early morning and arriving in the Caribbean in mid-afternoon. On arrival into Sint Maarten, you will be met and transferred to the ferry port for the 20-minute crossing to Anguilla.

You will be met off the ferry and transferred to your hotel in time for a well-earned dinner. As this is a famously culinary destination, our detailed Dossier of the best places to eat and drink will come in handy tonight and throughout your stay.

DAY 2 Anguilla

Time to get your bearings, which shouldn't take long as the island is only 15 miles long by three miles wide - hence the name 'Anguilla' (or eel in Spanish). Not a very flattering name, particularly given this over-sized sandbank is home to 33 of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Again, our detailed Dossier recommends the finest of these, including the two miles of picture perfect fine white sand and hip beach bars that is Shoal Bay; or the gentle curve and pelicans of Meads Bay. Then there's the wilder, woollier Junk's Hole on the (even) less busy east coast.

DAY 3 All Aboard

By now you'll have got a better understanding of this beautiful corner of the Caribbean, but today we've arranged for you to see Anguilla from the water on a sailing and snorkelling trip aboard a wonderful old school sloop. After a swim (and possible turtle sightings) in the deliciously warm waters of Little Bay, enjoy an equally delicious lobster roll and rum punch lunch before sailing back to Sandy Ground.

DAYS 4 & 5 R&R

You should be suitably relaxed by now, and with our detailed Dossier on hand to recommend the finest of the many fine places to eat on the island, you will hopefully have discovered why Anguilla is rated as the culinary capital of the Caribbean.

DAY 6 Paddle Board

All that wining and dining might not be doing the waistline much good, so it's time to work off some of the calories again on a morning guided paddle boarding tour. Your guide will show you one of the island's secret lagoons and beaches that can't be reached by car, and you can really earn that beach shack lobster lunch. Again.

DAY 7 Homeward Bound

Fortunately there's time for one last lazy morning and long lunch before you are transferred back to the ferry to Sint Maarten in time to check in for the overnight flight to Amsterdam or Paris (roughly eight-and-a-half-hours).

DAY 8 Arrive Home

Your overnight flight arrives back in Europe in the early morning and you then connect on to the short flight back to London (or other UK destinations).