Outer Seychelles Discovery

The Seychelles Destinations

Relaxing Holidays

Tailor Made Tours

Honeymoons in The Seychelles

When To Go

Travel Essentials

Overview
In Brief
Astove Atoll
Cosmoledo Eco Camp
Alphonse Island

Outer Seychelles

Discover this unique and remote destination on an island hopping journey through the Outer Seychelles.

Discover the Alphonse group of islands as well as the atolls of Cosmoledo and Astove.

One to three hours’ flight from Mahé, you will find island destinations like no other in the Indian Ocean.

These well-rounded retreats offer plenty of activities, along with picture-perfect beaches and a complement of staff who will not hesitate to go the extra mile, allowing you to relax and enjoy the remote beauty of these islands.

If you just want to do your own thing, go snorkelling, walk the beaches, enjoy some watersports then you'll have ample opportunity. If you want to go diving, fishing or undertake some more specialist activities, then just let us know, as we're able to assist with specialist guides and excursions.

We can put you in the hands of a team of expert rangers, marine biologists, divemasters, fly fishing guides, conservationists and ecologists so you can encounter experiences like no other!

As with all of our holidays to the Seychelles, this one can be tailored to suit you, so just let us know your preferences.

Inclusions

International flights from the UK
Airline Taxes
Check in Baggage Allowance
Domestic Flights
Boat Transfers
All Meals
ATOL Protection
Travel Trust Protection

Accommodation

4 nights Astove Atoll
4 nights Cosmoledo Atoll
3 nights Alphonse

Day 1: UK - Seychelles

Fly UK to Mahe where you will be met on arrival and assisted with arrangements for your flight to the Outer Seychelles.

Fly to the remote Astove Atoll, 3 hours by air from Mahe.

Overnight Astove Atoll.

Day 2: Astove Atoll

Enjoy the day at leisure.

The Marine environment here has magnificent drop offs, made famous by Jacques Cousteau's 'Silent World', which was filmed here.

If you're a diver, this is the home of the famous Astove Wall, an underwater 'Grand Canyon'.

Overnight Astove Atoll.

Day 3: Astove Atoll

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Astove is fringed by stunning white sand beaches and is home to a population of nesting turtles.

Overnight Astove Atoll.

Day 4: Astove Atoll

Enjoy the day at leisure.

You can spend the day out kayaking, on a snorkelling excursion or discovering more about the Atoll Eco System.

Overnight Astove Atoll.

Day 5: Cosmoledo Atoll

Today you'll transfer by boat (about 1 hour) to Cosmoledo Atoll, often referred to as the 'Galapagos' of the Indian Ocean.

This is about as wild and remote as you can get. There are over 20 beautiful islands, islets and cays here as well as a spectacular lagoon.

Overnight Cosmoledo Atoll.

Day 6: Cosmoledo Atoll

Enjoy the day at leisure.

The Atoll is home to incredible populations of exotic birds. Whether you're an avid birder or not, it's a great sight.

Overnight Cosmoledo Atoll.

Day 7: Cosmoledo Atoll

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Cosmoledo Atoll.

Day 8: Cosmoledo Atoll

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Cosmoledo Atoll.

Day 9: Cosmoledo Atoll

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Cosmoledo Atoll.

Day 10: Alphonse Island

Today you'll head to Alphonse Island where you'll find more facilities and plenty of activities to enjoy.

Overnight Alphonse Atoll.

Day 11: Alphonse Island

Enjoy the day at leisure.

You can spend the days exploring, taking a bike around the island, snorkelling on the superb house reef or enjoying a spa treatment.

Overnight Alphonse Atoll.

Day 12: Alphonse Island

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Alphonse Atoll.

Day 13: Alphonse Island – UK

Fly back to Mahe to connect with your overnight flight back to the UK.

Day 14: Arrive UK

Arrive back in the UK.

Astove Atoll

One of the most remote inhabited islands in the Seychelles, Astove Atoll features a rugged and dramatic landscape with limestone rock and sand dunes rising against the horizon.

It’s an environment which has had very little human impact placed on it in recent decades.

Accommodation is at Astove Coral House where only a very few guests have the privilege to stay each season.

Surrounding a central courtyard, the 6 Double Rooms are charming, comfortable and well-appointed. With en-suite bathrooms and full air conditioning, the recently refurbished rooms offers you rustic accommodation in one of the most remote locations in the world!

Please note that accommodation is comfortable but not luxury - the luxury is in the location.

Astove Coral House offers superb dining in either the indoor or outdoor dining area, and breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your package.

The menu usually comprises of an English breakfast in the morning, a buffet lunch or packed picnic lunch to enjoy elsewhere, and a buffet dinner served in the dining room.

Cuisine is locally inspired by the Seychellois Creole-style with freshly caught fish being a key ingredient.

Sundowners are enjoyed most evenings at a beautiful spot on the beach, allowing everyone to gather and discuss the events of the day.

Activity Centre

With the prolific marine life around these atolls, the fly fishing and diving one can experience around Astove Atoll is some of the best in the world!

Birding enthusiasts should not despair though, as Astove also offers a variety of interesting bird life around the atoll.

Astove has seen very few divers in the past decade. The marine life that is encountered is therefore quite inquisitive and likely to approach divers, as they haven’t learned to be wary.

Astove is most famous for the “Astove Wall” - a very steep wall that drops vertically from 1-2 metres to more than 50 metres in a short distance - and those few people that have dived here regard it as one of the best dive sites in the world.

Sightings range across the board from reef to pelagic fish, big predators and tiny macro life, and the wall is covered with a forest of gorgonian fans and colourful soft corals that extends down to great depths.

The large marine turtle population means that you will see countless turtles, both Green and Hawksbill; they are absolutely guaranteed during your trip!

If fly fishing is your thing, you will also have the most experienced fly fishing guides in the Seychelles at your service, assisting you with everything from advice on your casting and the right flies, to ensuring that your experience is tailored to your specific requirements, strengths and weaknesses.

Astove is famous as the home of the largest flat-caught Giant Trevallies in the world, and you are likely to tangle with a few of these monsters! The fly shop stocks a wide range of custom-tied flies, fly lines, AFC merchandise and other fly fishing paraphernalia.

Cosmoledo Eco Camp

Committed to the conservation, preservation and protection of the natural resources of Cosmoledo Atoll, the single eco-camp situated on Wizard Island is where nature meets sustainable hospitality, the likes of which you won’t find elsewhere.

For a long time Cosmoledo Atoll was the ultimate domain of fly fishermen, however, with the erection of the Cosmoledo Eco Camp this has now changed and a whole new world is opening up to those adventurous souls wishing to explore something new and different.

The 8 recrafted Eco Pods draw in a sense of serenity and adventure from the unspoiled beauty of its surroundings, whilst at the same time exuding a unity with its location.

Cosmoledo Eco Camp has an exceptional dining and entertainment area, consisting of a large tent with bare beach floors which features a dining area, a congenial lounge and a wide selection of drinks on offer.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your package. Breakfast consists of a continental buffet as well as a hot option, whilst lunch can either be enjoyed in the dining area or as a packed picnic option to be enjoyed anywhere on the island.

Dinner is a time for nature enthusiasts, divers, anglers, single travellers and couples alike to come together and share stories about their day’s adventures.

There is a strong emphasis on the Seychellois Creole heritage of the island and menus often feature fresh fish, complemented by produce from the vegetable garden on Alphonse Island.

Activities

This is a truly remote location and you'll feel like you're on the edge of the world.

There's plenty to enjoy here, including snorkelling, diving, stand up paddleboarding, nature walks and much more.

Complimentary activities include guided kayaking around the atolls, guided stand up paddleboarding, a guided tour across Wizard Island for guests to familiarise themselves with the coastal trails and most secret spots on the island, and lastly the reef flats expedition where one travels the inside reef flats of Cosmoledo with a knowledgeable guide.

Each week guests are offered a few luxury experiences to choose from such as sundowners on the beach, a flats lunch and on Wednesdays, de-tackling drinks and snacks.

Very little SCUBA diving has been done around Cosmoledo to date, making for a thrilling and unique diving experience, with new dive sites constantly being discovered.

Cosmoledo is an important bird area and holds Seychelles’ largest colonies of all three species of booby that breed in Seychelles, including the last viable population of Brown Booby. Enjoy bird watching excursions with an expert guide.

Of course, the bluewater and fly fishing is world-class, and guests have access to some of the top fly fishing guides in the world.

Alphonse Island Lodge

An hour’s flight from Mahé, one will land on a discreet haven covered in coconut palms and tropical flora. With miles of unblemished shorelines, lagoons, and sea flats, Alphonse Island truly is paradise in the Outer Islands.

Alphonse Island offers the best of both worlds: remote enough to soothe your soul, but with a variety of luxury facilities to make your stay comfortable and extremely enjoyable. With everything you need on one island and more, you can do as much (or as little!) as you like.

Overlooking picture-postcard-perfect beaches, fringed by palm trees and with not another soul in sight, each of Alphonse Island Lodges' accommodation options is wonderfully unique and completely immersed in the natural surroundings of the Outer Islands.

Located directly on the beach, the Le Lys bar and the Bijoutier restaurant is the heart and soul of Alphonse Island Lodge.

With a congenial atmosphere, you will spend long, balmy evenings enjoying diverse cuisine inspired by the sensuous island atmosphere and complemented by a comprehensive wine list.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your package. Breakfast consists of both a hot option of your choice and a continental buffet, served in the Bijoutier restaurant.

Lunch can be enjoyed in the restaurant, or why not make arrangements for a packed lunch and go have a picnic at your favourite spot on the island?

Most dinners are enjoyed under the stars on Le Lys beach or, by prior arrangement, on the terrace of your bungalow or suite.

The Azure Spa is a refuge where your mind can relax and your body can unwind after long, hot days spent diving, exploring the island or just relaxing beside the pool.

The qualified therapists work magic on tired bodies in need of special attention or those simply wanting to indulge.

Island Conservation Centre

Conservation is at the heart of everything at Alphonse Island and there is a commitment to protecting the unique fauna and flora of the area with ongoing research, rehabilitation and monitoring programs.

There is a particular focus on nesting sea turtles, giant tortoises, sensitive marine habitats and forest rehabilitation. This dedication to conservation has at all times been at the centre of the mission to create an island that is intimately connected to the natural environment.

Established in 2007, the Island Conservation Centre has ensured the key aspects of the ecosystem are well maintained and cared for.

The Island Conservation Society (ICS) team offers activities on the island such as turtle patrol, beach clean ups, giant tortoise viewing and feeding and bird-watching which guests are encouraged to join. Without their sound knowledge, the ecosystem on the atolls would not be what it is today.

Dive Centre

The diving centre offers a range of PADI accredited dive courses as well as recreational dives and snorkelling excursions.

E-learning is encouraged for those wishing to complete PADI dive courses with the dive centre, as this will maximize your diving time on the island.

At Alphonse Island, one can often be surprised at the sheer abundance and massive size of fish in comparison to the Inner Islands.

This is due to the isolation and subsequent lower fishing pressure. The coral reefs have also shown a greater resilience to climate variations than in the granitic Inner Islands and therefore the coralline plateaus are densely covered in hard coral and thick forests of gorgonian sea fans.

Stunning black coral and sea whips are commonplace on the walls.