Avian Adventures in the Seychelles
Tour Introduction
We are proud to present this exceptional birdwatching tour of the Seychelles replete with such gems as Aride, Cousin and Vallee de Mai, and the jewel in the Seychelles’ ornithological crown: Bird Island. Other attractions include privately guided birding on Mahe and Praslin and very comfortable accommodation at all locations. Enjoy the unique ornithology of the Seychelles without sacrificing your creature comforts on this wonderfully varied avian adventure.
Full Itinerary
Met on arrival in Mahe, and transfer to your seaside hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Staying at Northolme Resort & Spa. Includes Breakfast.
Morning pick up by your private birding guide for a full day excursion around Mahe, the main island of the Seychelles, including packed lunch. Search for crab plover, white-eye, scops owl, kestrel and other endemics, and the Seychelles bulbul, cave swiftlet, yellow bittern, and many shorebirds which inhabit the coastal flats. NB: The locations visited will depend on local conditions.
Staying at Northolme Resort & Spa. Includes Breakfast.
Pickup and transfer to the airport for your short flight to Praslin. Met and transfer to your beachfront hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Staying at Hotel L’Archipel. Includes Breakfast.
Transfer to your embarkation point for a full day’s shared 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 teeming reef fish, eagle rays and perhaps even baby black-tip reef sharks (which are harmless!).
Staying at Hotel L’Archipel. Includes Breakfast.
Early morning start for a half-day private tour of Aride Island with a local island warden as guide. Take a boat to the island (subject to weather) to see turtles and other reptiles, and birds such as the Seychelles warbler, great and lesser frigate birds, tropical and wedge-tailed shearwaters, white-tailed tropicbird and a few red-tailed tropicbirds – Aride is an example of what all of the Seychelles was like before man arrived. Return to Praslin for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a privately guided birdwatching excursion on the island.
Staying at Hotel L’Archipel. Includes Breakfast.
Enjoy a morning shared guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Vallee de Mai to see the unique coco-de-mer forest and endemic Seychelles black parrot. Afternoon at leisure.
Staying at Hotel L’Archipel. Includes Breakfast.
Pickup and transfer to Praslin airport to catch a flight to Mahe. Connect with charter flight to Bird Island. Rest of day at leisure.
Staying at Bird Island Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Enjoy a morning’s guided tour of the island. Afternoon at leisure to swim off the beach, snorkel or walk the island looking at the multitude of sooty terns (in late March to October) and other birds. Perhaps in the evening look for nesting turtles.
Staying at Bird Island Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Full day to explore the island at leisure. You can walk the trails through the interior to spot more of the bird species to be found there – you can usually see around 20 of the 112 species to be recorded on Bird: seven species have still never been recorded elsewhere in the Seychelles. Also you can enjoy swimming or snorkelling off the white sand beaches.
Staying at Bird Island Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Take a chartered light aircraft to Mahe. Met and assisted with check in to catch your international flight home.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa
Overview
Follow in Ian Fleming’s footsteps and enjoy the special treatment he received at the historic Hilton Northolme. There are a few changes since his day: now there are spacious well-appointed villas, a beautiful pool and fabulous spa. Although the beach is very small and partly rocky, a shuttle is available to take you to other Mahe beach locations on request.
Accommodation is in very spacious villas and suites, most with sea views. The rooms are equipped with ceiling fans, air-conditioning, LCD satellite TV, minibar, safety deposit box, tea and coffee facilities and direct dial telephone. Each room has an attached private bathroom with jetted bathtubs and separate shower. High speed WiFi is available in every room.
The hotel offers two excellent fine dining restaurants which feature delicious local seafood and there is also a well-stocked bar and lounge for guests to enjoy. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and a large spa with three treatment rooms.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool, spa, gym, business centre, air conditioning, ceiling fans, LCD satellite TV, DVD player, safety deposit box, direct dial telephone, shuttle service, room service, laundry service, luggage storage and currency exchange.
Bird Island Lodge
Overview
The most northerly of the Inner Islands, the 170-acre Bird Island is unique for its millions of breeding sooty terns, providing an unforgettable sight and sound (March to October). Many other sea and land birds, including fairy terns, tropicbirds and noddies, inhabit the island – 112 bird species are recorded, including migrants – as well as Esmeralda, the world’s second oldest giant tortoise (about 170 years old and a male). Situated mid-Indian Ocean right on a 2000-foot oceanic drop-off, the entire island is surrounded by white sand beaches. Snorkelling is possible at various points, sometimes revealing turtles, rays and reef species such as humphead parrotfish.
Bird Island has its own resident pod of dolphins and, during October and November, migrating southern right whales, humpbacks and short-finned pilot whales pass close by. From October to February, endangered hawksbill turtles come ashore to lay their eggs: Bird Island actually boasts the highest number of turtles in the Inner Islands. Green turtles nest throughout the year, but mainly June to September.
The open air main lodge at Bird Island consists of a bar, sitting room,and restaurant serving tasty meals buffet-style using fresh vegetables and fish from the island. The 24 simple yet spacious and comfortable detached cabins have comfortable double beds, fans (no air-conditioning), a safety deposit box and a seating area as well as a private verandah.
Apart from the avifauna, the emphasis when staying on Bird Island is on relaxation, secure in the knowledge that the private island holds no dangers and there is no need for keys to your room – the only uninvited visitor may be a curious noddy or hunting gecko.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, private bathrooms, laundry service, gift shop, safety deposit box, library, pool table and ceiling fan.
Local Wildlife
Almost a million sooty terns arrive to breed on the island from March, and are joined by beautiful fairy terns, white-tailed tropicbirds, magnificent and lesser frigatebirds and migrating waders. On land the vivid Madagascan fody and endemic blue pigeon and Seychelles sunbird can be seen. The island is also the home of Esmerelda, the world’s largest giant tortoise. The island also supports an important population of endangered hawksbill turtles, which come ashore between October and February to lay their eggs.
Optional Activities
Snorkelling, whale watching (in season), swimming and sea kayaking.
Hotel l’Archipel
Overview
Hotel l’Archipel is located on the north east coast of Praslin Island, at the end of the famous Côte d’Or beach in a colourful tropical garden. The luxurious bungalows are nestled in the lush forested hillside overlooking the stunning private Anse Gouvernement beach.
All rooms are spacious with sea views, air-conditioning, king size bed, direct line telephone, minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, safety deposit box, hair dryer, and satellite television. The bathrooms have large showers and his and hers washbasins. All rooms also have a wide patio 12 sq metres in size. WiFi is available at the hotel but charges may apply.
There are two highly recommended restaurants for dining offering delicious seafood, Creole and more international cuisine. There is also a sea-facing infinity pool with sun deck, cocktail bar and games room. Live entertainment such as a traditional dance or musical performance is given twice a week in the evenings.
Despite being the second largest of the Seychelles islands, Praslin is relatively small at roughly 35 sq kms and benefits from far fewer people and a more relaxed atmosphere than its much larger neighbour, Mahe. Activities on offer include snorkelling, diving, water sports, island hopping boat trips and guided island excursions to see local attractions such as the unique Vallee de Mai.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool, gift shop, air-conditioning, direct line telephone, minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, safe, hair dryer, satellite television, room service, laundry service, luggage storage, currency exchange and WiFi (charges may apply).
Local Wildlife
Praslin is home to one of the Seychelles’ two World Heritage Sites, the wonderfully different forest of Vallee de Mai, containing the world’s only Coco de mer forest (the world’s largest nut), the endemic black parrot, the Seychelles chameleon and a very rare skink.
Optional Activities
Tours of Praslin Island and Vallee de Mai. Bicycle rental, swimming, windsurfing and kayaking. Massage and spa treatment is also available on site.
Route Map
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Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
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
Plan your dates to ensure either of Days 5, 6 or 7 are a Tuesday or Thursday so you can do the full-day cruise to Cousin, Curieuse and Ste Pierre – it really is worth it.
When on Bird Island, look out for Esmeralda the (male) giant tortoise and long term resident.
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.
