- Tour code
KNACAR01
- Start
Frigate Bay
- End
Frigate Bay
- Min. age
18 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Comfort
- Trip pace
Moderate
- Language
English
St. Kitts Carnival, known locally as Sugar Mas, runs from mid-December into early January, which makes it the only major Caribbean carnival that takes place over Christmas and New Year. The island's African, European and indigenous influences come through in its music, dance and pageantry, from steel pan and calypso to the soca that drives every fete.
The season builds through a run of events: J'ouvert at dawn on Boxing Day, when revelers take to the streets covered in paint, mud and powder; the Calypso Monarch competition; the National Carnival Queen Pageant; and finally the Grand Parade, when masqueraders in feathers, beads and sequins dance through Basseterre.
This trip puts you in the middle of it. On the full twelve-day trip you'll board the AKTIVATE boat ride on Christmas Eve, jump at J'ouvert with Excess on Boxing Day, party in the VIP sections at Sundaze and the Sunset All-inclusive Fete, sail again on the Anchored boat ride, get covered at Soaked Paint x Powder and dress up for Opulence at Carambola Beach Club. You'll tour both Nevis and St. Kitts, ring in the New Year at Midnight at the Amazon, and play mas in full costume on 1 January before a second parade day on 2 January. Fete tickets, costume coordination and pickup, individual costume photography, group transport and airport transfers are handled for you.
Between events there's time for the beach, a Caribbean Christmas Day and a slower pace. For Kittitians, Sugar Mas is a time to celebrate identity and tradition, and visitors are welcomed into it.
Why This Journey
Sugar Mas lets you trade a cold December for a season of street parties, pan and soca, and it's one of the few carnivals where Christmas and New Year sit inside the festivities. Traveling with a small Soca Islands group means you arrive with tickets sorted, your costume collected and a crew to fete with from the first night.
It suits carnival regulars looking for a festive-season road march, first-timers who want the logistics handled, and anyone who'd like to spend the holidays somewhere warm with people who love the music as much as they do. Your Soca Islands Host is with the group throughout, so you can focus on the celebration.
Where You'll Stay
St. Kitts: Royal St. Kitts Hotel, in Frigate Bay, close to the beach and a short drive from Basseterre. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Hotel options can vary by departure and package; the hotel for your booking is shown in your trip details. Prices are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into and out of Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
J'ouvert with Excess on Boxing Day
Sugar Mas boat rides from Port Zante
Playing mas in the Carnival street parade on New Year's Day
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Fete (party) tickets
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Costume coordination and costume pickup
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Individual costume photography
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travelers arrange their own)
- Carnival costume and its costs (costume coordination and pickup are included)
- Travel insurance (you must show proof of purchase before travel)
- Tips
- Alcohol and personal spending (we suggest budgeting about USD $40 per day)
- Single room supplement (single rooms are subject to availability)
- Meals other than the food included at events in the itinerary
Group itinerary
Touch down at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), where your arrival transfer takes you to the hotel in Frigate Bay. Check in, meet your Soca Islands Host and get your bearings.
There are no group events today, so the rest of the day is free: a swim at Frigate Bay, an early dinner nearby, or simply rest before Sugar Mas begins tomorrow night.
The morning and afternoon are free. On Christmas Eve the group heads to Port Zante in Basseterre to board the Prince Devonté J for AKTIVATE, a drink-inclusive Sugar Mas boat ride with limited food included.
Transport leaves around 7:30 pm and returns around 1 am.
Christmas Day in the Caribbean. No group activities are planned today, so spend it as you like: on the beach, by the pool or over a long lunch at your own cost.
It's a good day to rest, because J'ouvert starts in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Boxing Day starts before dawn. Transport leaves around 3:30 am for the J'ouvert morning experience with Excess J'ouvert at Last Lap Bar and Lounge, with drinks and breakfast included. The band provides a T-shirt that must be worn, though you're free to cut and style it however you like. You'll be back at the hotel around 11 am.
After a rest, the night belongs to SmALL Island at The Docks on Timothy Beach. Transport leaves around 10 pm and returns around 3 am; drinks are available to buy at the venue.
Transport leaves around 9 am for Sundaze at National Heroes Park, where the group is in the VIP section with premium drinks and finger food included. You'll be back around 2 pm.
Later the same day it's back to Port Zante and the Prince Devonté J for the Anchored All-Inclusive Boat Ride, with drinks and limited food included. Transport leaves around 4:30 pm and returns around midnight.
A change of pace today with a tour of Nevis, St. Kitts' smaller sister island, leaving around 9 am. After the tour the group stops for food and drinks at a popular beach bar and relaxes on the beach.
Wear comfortable clothing and bring swimwear if you'd like to use the beach or the bathhouse. Back on St. Kitts, there's free time and your carnival costume is collected for you.
The day is free until the evening. Transport leaves around 9:45 pm for the Sunset All-inclusive Fete at Conaree Lawn, where the group is in the VIP section with premium drinks and finger food included.
You'll be back at the hotel around 3 am.
An early one: transport leaves around 3 am for Soaked Paint x Powder at The Venue, Lime Kiln Commercial, with paint, powder and water from the small hours into sunrise. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty or throwing away afterwards; drinks and food are available to buy. You'll be back around 9 am.
The afternoon is free, and there's another costume collection today. In the evening, head to Opulence at Carambola Beach Club, where the group has cocktail tables with bottles of liquor and wine provided; after that, drinks and food are available to buy. Transport leaves around 9 pm and returns around 2 am.
On New Year's Eve the group tours St. Kitts, leaving around 9 am. Wear comfortable clothing.
Then ring in the New Year at Midnight at the Amazon in Palms Court Gardens, a premium drinks-inclusive event. Transport leaves around 9 pm and returns around 1:30 am.
New Year's Day is parade day. Transport leaves around 10 am for Dr. William Connor Primary School, where you meet the band at the starting point and a light breakfast is provided.
The judges walk through the band to inspect the costumes, and then the parade begins, with the band in position number one. Wear your full costume with feathered backpack. Your individual costume photography is part of the package, so you'll have something to remember it by.
Transport leaves around 11:30 am for Sugar Apple in Fortlands, a brunch and bacchanal event with food and drinks included, before the band hits the road at 2:30 pm for day two of the street parade.
Ladies wear the Day 2 wear provided by the band; men wear their pants from the day before or something similar.
Depending on your flight time, there may be a few hours for souvenir shopping or a last swim. You'll be picked up two hours before your scheduled departure time for your transfer to Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB).
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Royal St. Kitts Hotel
A large, self-catering-style hotel on Zenway Boulevard in Frigate Bay, the strip of land between St. Kitts' Atlantic and Caribbean coasts. The beach and the bars and restaurants of the Frigate Bay area are close by, and Basseterre and the airport are a short drive away.
With more than 200 studios and suites, most with a kitchen or kitchenette, it has the room inventory to keep a carnival group together. On site there are restaurants, a pool bar, two pools, a fitness centre, a salon and spa, and a casino, with a supermarket next door.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Royal St Kitts Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$860 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Dec 23, 2026 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB)
Proposed accommodation is Royal St. Kitts Hotel in Frigate Bay (or a similar hotel), subject to confirmation. Hotel options can vary by departure and package; the hotel for your booking is shown in your trip details.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included when you fly into and out of Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB). Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Breakfast is included at J'ouvert with Excess (Day 4), a light breakfast is provided at the parade starting point on Day 10, and brunch is included at Sugar Apple on Day 11. Several events also include drinks with finger food or limited food, such as AKTIVATE, Sundaze (VIP), the Anchored boat ride and the Sunset All-inclusive Fete. Other meals are at your own cost, and your Soca Islands Host can recommend places to eat.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our St. Kitts Carnival trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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