Seychelles
Island-hopping in Paradise

Friday 4 - Sunday 13 November 2011 (10 days)
Independent Bird Island extension to Thursday 17 November 2011 (4 days)

Friday 2 - Sunday 11 November 2012 (10 days)
Independent Bird Island extension to Thursday 15 November 2012 (4 days)



A breeze sways the trees behind the white sandy beach where warm turquoise waters lap the shoreline. Tropicbirds float gently in the sky, while beautiful and absurdly tame white Fairy Terns return to their nests finely balanced on thin branches. Meanwhile, Brown and Lesser Noddy terns return to their scruffy nests as the Seychelles Magpie Robin looks for insects in the leaf litter. A Hawksbill Turtle climbs up the beach to lay perhaps 150 eggs; she may make this journey six times during the coming weeks. All of this could be happening on Cousin, one of the amazing islands that make up the ocean jewels known as the Seychelles.



The Seychelles are quite unique. Like no other oceanic islands, they are formed from the granite of two splitting continents, a geology that gives them some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Their long isolation in the Indian Ocean has given them a number of plants and animals that have evolved from their original African ancestors into quite separate endemic species that are found nowhere else. And the fact that these are the only islands for a thousand miles has made them a magnet for literally millions of breeding seabirds.

Independent Bird Island Extension
 A three-night stay on this remarkable speck in the Indian Ocean should provide some wonderful wildlife experiences. Bird Island is a flat coral cay of less than a square mile. White sand beaches backed with tall swaying palm trees - everyone's idea of a desert island in fact! You stay in palm-thatched chalets. The lodge is renowned for its friendly welcome and informal creole-style cooking.

Accommodation will be as outlined below with all rooms en suite.

Leaders: Barrie Cooper & local guides
Please note that the extension is not guided.

Numbers: Max. 14 clients

Special Note
While we shall do our utmost to keep to the itinerary on this page, local weather conditions may make it impossible to land on Aride or Cousin.



Prices:     Main tour 2011 £ 3,495
2012 £ 3,795

Extension 2011 £ 1,095
2012 £ 1,195

Single supps.:   Main tour 2011 £ 695
2012 £ 745

Extension 2011 £ 445
2012 £ 495

Deposit: £ 500 per person

The price includes scheduled return flights London/Mahé, internal flights as detailed above, ground and boat transportation, accommodation, all meals, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leader.

The price excludes holiday insurance, the services of the leader on the extension, optional tips to local guides, drinks and other items of a personal nature.

the Seychelles map
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Depart London in the evening to arrive Mahé the next day
Day 2 Arrive on Mahé, and take a domestic flight straight to Praslin, where we stay at a wonderfully-situated hotel. Overnight Praslin
Day 3Morning boat trip to island of Cousin. Return for lunch and a relaxing afternoon. Overnight Praslin
Day 4 During one of the next two days we plan to visit Aride. Overnight Praslin
Day 5 Boat trip to La Digue. Overnight Praslin
Day 6 We visit the atmospheric Vallée de Mai on Praslin. Overnight Praslin
Day 7 Fly back to Mahéâ and transfer to our hotel for a relaxing afternoon. Overnight Mahé
Day 8 Today we explore Mahé itself. In the evening we'll make a special trip up Morne Blanc to try and find the endemic Seychelles Scops Owl. Overnight Mahé
Day 9 Catch a return evening flight, arriving London on Day 10.
Independent Extension
Day 9 Overnight Mahé
Days 10-12 You make an early start to catch the inter-island flight to Bird Island. A three-night stay on this remarkable speck in the Indian Ocean should provide some wonderful wildlife experiences. Three nights Bird Island Lodge
Day 13Return flight to Mahé, where you have the whole day for relaxation and perhaps some final shopping. Overnight Mahé
Day 14 Morning return flight to London arriving later the same day.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary