Secrets of the Seychelles

Fly from London to Mahé, via Doha. The largest and liveliest island in the archipelago, Mahé is the place that 90% of Seychellois call home.

Morning free to explore Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles. Embark on the MY Pegasus for a 7-night cruise, sailing first to Ste. Anne Marine National Park. Just 5km from Mahe, this is a world apart, its islands steeped in history; its clear waters covering multi-coloured coral gardens and seagrass meadows grazed by green turtles, with bottle nose dolphins visiting the bays. Established in 1973, the pristine Marine Protected Area was the first such project in the Indian Ocean. Enjoy a walk and/or a swim.
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Cruise to Curieuse, a bio-reserve of flora and fauna, known for its several species of mangrove trees, one of just two places on earth where the Coco de Mer palm grows naturally (Praslin Island being the other), and housing a tortoise nursery to nurture the youngsters until they are ready to join their giant family in the wild. Walk across the little island for lunch, and enjoy free time to relax on the beach or explore independently.
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Call at Cousin Island, with broad beaches hemming its indigenous forest, for a walking tour of this Special Reserve. A sanctuary for seabirds and endemic land birds, and a breeding site for Hawksbill turtles, it is predator-free and so undisturbed that birds nest safely on the ground; and was formed to protect the last tiny group of Seychelles Warbler songbirds. Sail to Praslin to swim or snorkel from the gorgeous sweep of Anse Lazio sands, rated among the best beaches of the archipelago.
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Cruise to Aride Island, the northernmost of the archipelago, and uninhabited except by the conservation staff, to see what the islands were like centuries before human settlement, and to view the huge population of several species of seabirds, for which the island is famed. A swimming / snorkelling stop at the islet of St. Pierre lets you share the clear waters with colourful tropical fish. Continue to the port of Baie St. Anne on Praslin, the Seychelles’ second-largest island.
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Explore the town, enjoy a coastal walk, or join an optional tour to Valée de Mai Reserve (bookable locally), A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is home to the ‘national bird’ of the Seychelles, the Black Parrot; and in its natural forest, six species of palm include the Coco de Mer. Sail to Felicité, where man-made luxuries complement natural beauty, to swim from the sparkling sands; and onward to La Digue, the paradise island with jade green waters, pristine beaches and lush jungle.
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Explore La Digue on foot or by bicycle, or join an optional tour of the island (bookable locally), to visit the Veuve Nature Reserve, its 21 acres of wooded habitats forming a breeding and feeding environment for endangered species, including the blue/black Paradise Flycatcher; the vanilla and coconut estate of L’Union, its Plantation House a national monument; and Anse Source d’Argent beach, with weirdly shaped, weather-smoothed rocks rising on its sparkling white sands. Cruise to Moyenne Island.
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Wade through the shallows for a walk around (jetty-less) Moyenne, ‘the world’s smallest national park’. The tiny low-lying islet is undeveloped thanks to Brendan Grimshaw, an Englishman and one-time solo inhabitant, who bought the island in 1962. He spent the rest of his life transforming the tangled wilderness into a forest of 16,000 trees, a mix of mango and mahogany, palm and pawpaw, roamed by unhurried Aldabra tortoises, while hawksbill turtles nest at Pirates Beach. Enjoy a barbecue at the Jolly Roger Bar, and time to soak-up the island’s other-worldly tranquillity, before sailing to Mahé.
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Disembark the MY Pegasus and enjoy a sightseeing morning in Mahé, home to the country’s capital, Victoria, with Creole architecture and colourful market stalls; to the rainforest hills of Morne Seychellois National Park; and the unique habitat of the Jellyfish Tree. Transfer to the airport in the afternoon for your return flight.
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Arrival in London.