The Natural Romance of the Seychelles
Tour Introduction
A sensuous introduction to the surprising variety of the Inner Islands, this romantic Seychelles holiday combines a national marine park, ancient coco de mer forest and fascinating nature reserves, both marine and terrestrial. Enjoy sightings of rare fauna and a plethora of pretty reef fish while staying at three gorgeous hotels on three idyllic islands, so close to each other yet so charmingly different. True holiday heaven on Earth.
Full Itinerary
Fly overnight from London to Mahe.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Arrive Mahe and transfer to a dock at Victoria. Take the short boat ride to Cerf Island, at the entrance of Ste Anne Marine National Park.
Staying at Cerf Island Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure on this lovely island. You may swim and snorkel in the sea, walk on the beach or just relax by the pool.
Staying at Cerf Island Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure spent around the resort, or perhaps book an optional boat trip to snorkel or dive in the Marine National Park, hire a kayak or pedallo, take a shuttle to the capital Victoria, visit the spa or enjoy a sunset cruise.
Staying at Cerf Island Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Boat ride back to Victoria dock. Transfer from dock to Mahe airport to connect with your flight to Praslin. Met and transfer to your hotel, magically set on a wide, private bay.
Staying at Le Domaine de La Reserve. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Enjoy a morning shared, guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Vallee de Mai to see the unique coco-de-mer forest with its curiously shaped fruit and endemic wildlife. Afternoon at leisure perhaps to snorkel, explore the island by hire car or just relax.
Staying at Le Domaine de La Reserve. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Transfer to your embarkation point for a full-day wildlife and snorkelling boat trip to Cousin, Curieuse & Ste Pierre Islands (operating Tue & Thu only). See rare birds and giant tortoises, enjoy a beachside BBQ lunch, and snorkel among reef fish, rays and perhaps even baby black-tip reef sharks (harmless!).
Staying at Le Domaine de La Reserve. Includes Breakfast.
Hotel pickup and transfer to dock. Take the short ferry ride to La Digue. On arrival, met and transfer to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.
Staying at Domaine de l’Orangeraie. Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure to explore the small laid-back island independently. Perhaps hire bicycles and visit lovely Anse Source d’Argent beach and the Black Paradise Flycatcher Reserve, which protects one of the world’s rarest birds.
Staying at Domaine de l’Orangeraie. Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure to swim off the hotel’s beach or perhaps book a boat trip to snorkel Sister Island, take a sunset cruise or go walking in the hills.
Staying at Domaine de l’Orangeraie. Includes Breakfast.
Pickup and transfer to the small dock. Take the ferry to Praslin. On arrival, transfer to Praslin airport to catch a flight to Mahe. Met and assisted with international flight check in. Fly overnight to London.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Cerf Island Resort
Overview
Cerf Island Resort is located just 10 minutes’ boat ride offshore from the capital, Victoria, in the St Anne Marine Park. The resort offers a range of luxurious well-appointed villas and suites, all nestled within the tropical gardens within a short walk of the beach.
The spacious timber and stone constructed villas and suites have predominantly oiled satin hardwood and rattan furniture. The premier villas have 58 square metres of space plus 22 square metre balconies. Each villa is air-conditioned and has a satellite TV and DVD player, ceiling fan, safety deposit box, minibar and a modern en suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries. Outside each villa has its own private terrace, perfect for watching the sun set.
Facilities at the resort include a restaurant, infinity pool with bar and romantic beachside dining area, relaxing lounge, mini spa and its own small, secluded beach.
Snorkel, dive, kayak, relax in the spa, join a sunset cruise or enjoy a private beach barbecue. Despite there being other resorts on Cerf, the resort conveys a private-island feel, yet it has easy access to Mahe and onwards.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, private bathrooms, infinity pool, pool bar and beachside dining area, secluded full service beach, relaxing lounge, mini spa and laundry service.
Local Wildlife
The St Anne Marine Park is home to diverse marine life including many corals, green and hawksbill turtles, colourful reef fish and black-tipped reef sharks plus resident pods of bottle-nosed dolphins. Bird life in the area includes a mixture of Madagascan and Asian species and Mahe is home to seven of the 12 endemic land birds in the archipelago. It is one of the only places where one can see the elusive, rare Seychelles scops owl and Seychelles kestrel and white-eye. The coast between Cerf Island and Mahe is very good for passage waders in spring and autumn, including curlew, sandpiper and crab and greater sand plovers.
Optional Activities
Snorkelling, diving, kayaking, sunset cruises and spa treatment.
Le Domaine de La Reserve
Overview
Rebuilt to a high standard following tsunami damage, the four-star Domaine de la Reserve hotel is enviably set in its own private cove with good beach, offshore snorkelling and the largest pool we have seen anywhere. Perfect for privacy and comfort at a reasonable price, with the benefit of good dining.
There are 32 spacious Beachfront Deluxe Villas in blocks of four, tastefully and individually decorated with light neutral colours and fitted with modern en suite bathrooms and a private terrace for relaxation. Each air conditioned room has a comfortable four poster double bed with elegant mosquito net drapes, ceiling fan, mini-bar, tea and coffee facilities, safety deposit box, satellite TV and a direct dial telephone. There are also four Colonial Superior Villas set on a hillside (the lowest category) and four Beach Front Family Suites, part of the original hotel but recently refurbished to provide great family rooms and the closest rooms to the beach.
There are two restaurants and two bars on the property; L’Obrizan restaurant is on a jetty out on the water and serves breakfasts and tasty creole cuisine for dinners. The poolside restaurant, William Bar & Pool Grill, offers more international dishes including a selection of grills – only at lunch – and has a wet bar.
Other facilities at the hotel include a gym, very large pool with swim up bar and separate children’s pool. There is good snorkelling just out in the bay from the hotel’s private beach. Bicycles are also available for hire and are a great way to explore the island.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, two restaurants, lounge, three bars, huge swimming pool, gym, business centre, boutique shop, safety deposit box, minibar, room service, WiFi (charges apply), air-conditioning, ceiling fan, currency exchange and laundry service.
Optional Activities
Snorkelling, kayaking, nature and island tours and cultural events such as local musical and dance performances are occasionally arranged. There is a hotel shuttle to Cousin Island National Park, which is clearly visible from the hotel across the water.
Domaine de l’Orangeraie
Overview
Nestled within private tropical gardens and close to the beautiful Anse Severe beach, Domaine de l’Orangeraie, is a hidden gem on peaceful La Digue Island.
There are 55 villas split between three categories, each offering slightly different settings and levels of luxury. There are 20 Garden Villas, 31 larger Villas de Charme, 3 extra-large Villas de Charme Elegance and a Presidential Suite, able to accommodate six.
The colourfully decorated Garden Villas are scattered throughout the beautiful grounds at roughly sea level, and come with an outdoor bathroom, satellite TV, free WiFi, telephone, minibar, air-conditioning, ceiling fan and private patio. The Villas de Charme are greater in size, set on a hillside and elegantly decorated. Each contains a large air-conditioned bedroom with queen size bed and en suite bathrooms, spacious lounge, separate dressing room, private terrace, mini bar, tea and coffee facilities, satellite plasma TV, portable telephone and free WiFi. Being surrounded by natural vegetaion, not much light reaches the Villas de Charme and thus they can be a little dark. The Villas de Charme Elegance include a larger terrace with private whirlpool and a pillow menu.
Other facilities at the lodge include a spa, gym and swimming pool. There are two restaurants by the sea, giving you the choice of international and local creole cuisine, as well as two bars for evening cocktails (one being a wet bar in the pool).
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, lounge, bar, swimming pool, spa, gym, gift shop, private outdoor bathroom, satellite TV, WiFi (charges apply), telephone, minibar, air-conditioning, fan and private terrace, laundry service, luggage storage, concierge service and bicycle hire.
Optional Activities
Snorkelling, diving, water sports, island exploration and cycling.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
Yes
Flight Info:
Fly BA's new twice-weekly direct, non-stop service from Heathrow to Mahe. You can also choose Emirates from Heathrow or certain regional airports via Dubai to Mahe. Air France via Paris and Etihad via Abu Dhabi are also possible.
Best Visited:
January to January
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
Alan Godwin
Area Specialist
While at Cerf, take advantage of their boat shuttle to Victoria and visit the lush botanical gardens before taking lunch at one of the town’s good Creole restaurants.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Having now returned from our Seychelles holiday, I thought that I would write to tell you how much we enjoyed it – it really was first class – thank you for the arrangements…all in all, it was a great holiday, with just the right balance of activity and relaxation.
