Visit 4 of the most diverse Islands in the Seychelles Archipelago from the main Island of Mahé, to the mystery of Praslin, the beaches of La Digue and the isolation of Bird Island, a taste of all that Seychelles has to offer.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Mahé Island: Coral Strand Hotel
Arrive on Mahé, the largest of the Seychelles Islands, to be met by an AfricaTours representative and escorted to the hotel. Nestled in the Beau Vallon Bay the most famous beach of Mahé; the Coral Strand Hotel is situated 15 kms from the international airport of Mahé and 5 kms from Victoria, the exotic capital of the Seychelles. The dreamlike sight just at the beautiful sandy beach extending 3 kms will leave lasting impressions. Accommodations in 103 newly furnished double rooms with bath or shower and WC, direct telephone, radio & air conditioning. Most of the rooms have a balcony with sea view; the rest have a wonderful view of the mountains. The Island Trader restaurant with a beautiful ocean view welcomes you for breakfast & dinner. The Bistro just at the beach with a view of the beach offers meals “a la cárte”. An open-air barbecue takes place around the pool every Sunday. The Piano bar is open from 0600 pm to midnight with the piano player taking requests. Every Wednesday is Disco-Time with hot music and cool air at the air-conditioned Piano Bar. There are various local bands and piano players, which invite you nearly every day for dancing. Real Creole music with folklore show takes place once a week. At the Silhouette Lounge on the first floor with a wonderful ocean view, you are invited to a free tea & coffee between 4 & 5 pm, on Monday evenings you are invited to a management cocktail where you will have the opportunity to met the people of the island and learn about the excursions and sightseeing that they offer.
Day 2 Praslin Island: Acajou Hotel (BD)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Praslin to be met by an AfricaTours representative and escorted to the hotel. A natural paradise, The Seychelles is one of the most spectacular destinations in the world. With endless white beaches, lush vegetation, azure and crystal waters, magnificent coral reefs and rare species of flora & fauna found nowhere else on earth. Twenty-eight tastefully decorated rooms spread out amidst casuarina and takamaka trees by the waters edge. This hotel which is built with beautiful mahogany (acajou) wood specially cultivated for environmentally friendly construction. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, cocktail lounge and swimming pool. All rooms have air-conditioning, private balcony or terrace, en-suite bathroom, direct dial telephone, radio and mini bar on request.
Day 3 Praslin Island: Acajou Hotel (BD)
Spend the day at leisure to enjoy all that La Reserve has to offer. Laze on the beach or take an optional excursion. Visit the world famous Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve and see the home of the Coco de Mer Palm (double coconut) found nowhere else in the world; take a guided coach tour of the island or a boat trip to several of the islands surrounding Praslin, including La Digue.
Day 4 La Digue: La Digue Island Lodge – Beach Chalet (BD)
After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel and driven to the dock for your ferry ride to La Digue. Arrive into La Digue, where you will be met by an AfricaTours representative and transferred to the lodge by Oxcart. The Lodge, which borders with the Anse Reunion beach, is situated in a peaceful and exotic tropical garden of coconut, palms, takamaka trees and a variety of flowering plants, providing a cool and breezy atmosphere. It provides a luxurious haven for those who just want to get away from it all! La Digue Island Lodge is the main hotel on La Digue, and offers 60 rooms in 4 different categories. All the rooms are twin-bedded and are equipped with air-conditioning, mini bars, satellite televisions, IDD telephones, hairdryers and tea and coffee making facilities. 25 A-Frame palm-leafed chalets offer spacious accommodation inside on two levels, there are 11 beachfront facing and 14 with garden view chalets. The Rondavels offer all the comfort in rustic style, there are 3 beachfront and 6 with garden view. Petit Village consists of 7-room apartments, all tucked away in the middle of a fragrant garden, each with a private veranda. The colonial style Plantation House has 9 superior rooms built in a Creole house facing the beach, and looking out at a panoramic view of Praslin Island. 4 Rooms are equipped with an extra children’s room and 5 have single bedrooms. The "Yellow House" is a famous colonial house from the 1900's, and now a Seychelles National Heritage monument, has 6 garden view rooms with spiral staircases leading to the luxurious bathrooms. Watersports are offered at the Diving Centre, including snorkeling, diving courses, fishing and excursions to other islands. There's a games room with billiards, a reading room with TV and video, boutiques and evening entertainment. Have an aperitif in the cozy hotel bar adjoining the reception. Dance to the rhythm of Sega music at the weekly barbecue. Play billiards in the games room or have a quiet moment in the reading room or lounge by the swimming pool.
Day 5 La Digue: La Digue Island Lodge – Beach Chalet (BD)
La Digue is the fourth largest island in the Seychelles and is part of the granite group. La Digue has still got all the fascination of an untouched world, it has no natural harbor and is protected by the coral reef which circles it together with masses of colossal pink granite rocks which seen to have exploded round the coastline. Nid d’Aigle or Eagle’s Nest “mountain” rises to about 300 meters and covers almost the whole of the inland. The only lowland is on the west where La Réunion, La Passe and Union are situated. There is an extremely long beach with Pointe Cap Barbi to the northwest and Pointe Source d’Argent, backed by huge granite rock. The East Coast is far wilder: the remote beaches at Grande Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos are quite beautiful and sometimes there are dangerous currents. Only six vehicles are allowed to circulate on the island and they are involved in the transportation of goods and materials. The inhabitants and tourists use ox-drawn carts for transport. You can access the entire island either on foot or bicycle; any part of the island can be accessed in less than an hour.
Day 6 La Digue: La Digue Island Lodge – Beach Chalet (BD)
You will have a full day to explore the Island.
Day 7 Bird Island: Bird Island Lodge (BLD)
After breakfast, you will be escorted to the dock for the ferry to Praslin. Arrive into Praslin, where you will be met by an AfricaTours representative and driven to the airport. Fly to Bird Island via Mahé. Arrive into Bird Island where you will be met by a lodge representative and escorted to the lodge. A real ocean gem this flat sandy coral island which the English named Bird Island, because from May to September millions of sooty terns arrive in there millions to stay to breed and nest, together with other species of birds. The French named it Ile aux Vaches, referring to the presence of “devil-fish” or sea cows, which became extinct many years ago. Bird Island is approximately 1 mile long and half a mile wide and lies about 60 miles north of Mahé. Some way off the Island the sea bed drops down vertically into the 1 mile deep depths of the Indian ocean proper, and the area is thus ideal for an out of the world holiday, with the possibility of deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and swimming, surrounded as it is by coral reef and unforgettable beach. Inland the coconut palm and wild papyrus make a perfect hiding place for Bird Island Lodge, the only hotel which can put up fifty guests. The lodge has twenty-five wooden bungalows thatched with palm leaves and verandah looking out to sea, the lodge is extremely comfortable and is equipped for tennis and windsurfing. The cooking is excellent, the ingredients are local and could not be fresher, and the specialties are both Creole and European with a lot of fresh island fish, fruit and vegetables.
Day 8 Bird Island: Bird Island Lodge (BLD)
You will have a day at leisure to explore the Island.
Day 9 Mahé Island: Coral Strand Hotel (B)
After lunch, you will be escorted to the airstrip for your flight to Mahé. On arrival in Mahé you will be met by an AfricaTours representative and escorted to the hotel. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Day 10 Departure (B)
After breakfast, and a day at leisure you will be met at the hotel and driven to the airport.
Rates for the Island Hopper - Semi Customized
Land, per person double occupancy
| 02 Jul '09 - 01 Sep '09 | $4.330 |
|---|---|
| 02 Sep '09 - 31 Oct '09 | $4,410 |
| 11 Jan - '10 - 27 Mar '10 | $4,495 |
| 28 M ar '10 - 10 Apr '10 | $4,630 |
| 11 Apr '10 - 11 Jul '10 | $4,495 |
| 12 Jul '10 - 29 Aug '10 | $4,525 |
| 30 Aug '10 - 31 Oct '10 | $4,600 |
| Single Supplement | On Request |
Price Includes:
- Meals as indicated
- Transfers
- Accommodation for 8 nights
- Roundtrip ferry between Praslin & La Digue
- FLIGHTS: Mahé – Praslin – Bird - Mahé
- Travel Protection Plan ($20,000 Emergency Assistance, $20,000 Accidental death & dismemberment; $500 Medical Expenses; $1,000 Baggage & travel documents; $400 Baggage delay; $500 Travel delay - $100 per day maximum; TRAVEL GUARD Assistance)
Price Excludes:
- Excursions
- Watersports activities
- Beverages
- Gratuities
- Laundry
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance
- Seychelles departure tax of $40, per person to be paid locally in US$