Discover two very different sides of the Seychelles on a journey that brings your family closer to the natural world. On the remote coral island of Alphonse, join marine biologists and conservationists to explore lagoons, follow turtle tracks and learn about the lives of manta rays. Continue to granitic Fregate, where forest trails reveal giant tortoises and rare endemic wildlife, and decades of restoration have helped threatened species recover. With five nights on each island, there is time for shared discoveries, conversations with the people behind the projects and unhurried days beside the Indian Ocean.
The best times to visit depend on the wildlife you hope to encounter and the balance of land and water activities you enjoy. Turtle nesting, seabird activity and sea conditions shape the conservation programme, so we will help you choose your travel window around your interests and the islands’ operating schedules.
Price depends on the experiences and accommodation included, and your time of travel. It is based on two adults travelling for 11 nights and does not include international flights.
1 night Mahé, 5 nights Alphonse Island, 5 nights Fregate Island
What makes this journey special?
- Explore a remote coral island and a forested granite island, discovering how their different habitats shape life above and below the water.
- Join marine biologists on a manta ray excursion and learn how photographs help researchers identify individual animals.
- Accompany conservationists on turtle patrols and explore the wildlife and fragile habitats of neighbouring St François.
- Discover Fregate’s giant tortoises, Seychelles magpie robins and rare endemic species with the people working to protect them.
- Introduce younger travellers to conservation through nature walks, island adventures and opportunities to take part in habitat restoration.
- Balance purposeful exploration with exceptional island accommodation, private pools and time together on beautiful beaches.
Your Seychelles impact holiday itinerary
An island welcome
Day 1: Mahé
Your journey begins on Mahé, where you will be met at Seychelles International Airport and transferred to Eden Bleu Hotel. Overlooking the marina on Eden Island, it offers a comfortable pause between your international flight and the journey to the Outer Islands. Settle into the slower rhythm of the Seychelles with a swim and a relaxed evening beside the water, ready to set off for Alphonse the following day.
Into the blue
Days 2-6: Alphonse Island
As your flight descends towards Alphonse Island, pale sands and coconut palms give way to a lagoon of shifting blues, revealing glimpses of the life beneath. Over five nights, explore this remote coral island with the conservation team, gaining an understanding of the habitats that sustain its turtles, seabirds and extraordinary marine life. A beach patrol might begin with little more than a trail in the sand, before your guide reveals how turtle tracks and nests contribute to a much larger picture of the population’s health.
Alphonse Island activities
Experiences that give back to the wild
One of the most memorable experiences is the opportunity to swim or snorkel alongside manta rays in the company of marine biologists. Learn how the distinctive markings on each animal help researchers recognise individuals and follow their movements over time. An expedition to neighbouring St François brings another perspective, exploring its island and lagoon habitats with a conservation guide. Back on Alphonse, birdwatching, encounters with giant tortoises and conversations with the team reveal the connections between native vegetation, wildlife and the surrounding ocean.
Activities follow the season, weather and the conservationists’ current work, leaving space for a discovery that could never have been scheduled. Between excursions, cycle beneath the palms, linger over fresh island produce and watch the stars emerge above an ocean unbroken by city lights.
A wilder kind of treasure
Days 7-11: Fregate Island
After five nights on Alphonse, return to Mahé and continue to Fregate by helicopter, with connections arranged around the inter-island flight schedule. This forested granite island provides a striking contrast to Alphonse’s low coral landscape. Giant tortoises wander beneath the trees, fruit bats cross the evening sky and secluded beaches lie between rounded granite boulders. Your five-night stay combines the privacy of a villa with time alongside a conservation team whose work reaches into almost every part of island life.
Fregate Island activities
Join the island's recovery efforts
Walk the forest trails in search of the Seychelles magpie robin, learning how habitat restoration and careful protection helped rescue this remarkable bird from the brink of extinction. Look more closely and you may discover the Fregate giant tenebrionid beetle, a species found in the wild only on this island. Join a turtle patrol when the programme allows, learn about the island’s Aldabra giant tortoises and, when planting is scheduled, help establish indigenous trees.
For younger travellers, conservation becomes an adventure through wildlife discoveries, treasure hunts and activities adapted to their age and curiosity. There is ample time, too, for snorkelling, a quiet beach afternoon or a swim in your own pool. As darkness falls, a guided nature walk or an evening beneath the southern hemisphere’s stars reveals another side of the island. On day 12, return to Mahé for your onward flight.
Where you'll stay
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Eden Bleu Hotel
Set beside the marina on Eden Island, Eden Bleu offers a contemporary and comfortable introduction to the Seychelles. Spacious rooms look towards the marina or Mahé’s green hills, while a swimming pool and relaxed places to eat and drink make it easy to unwind after your flight. Restaurants and shops are close at hand, and the convenient location near the airport allows a gentle start before you venture farther into the islands.
Alphonse Island Lodge
Powder-soft sand, whispering palms and a clear lagoon surround an island lodge where barefoot comfort makes you feel entirely at home. Beach Bungalows and Beach Villas sit close to the shore, while spacious Beach Retreats offer greater privacy for families travelling together. The atmosphere is relaxed, with days shaped by the water and meals drawing on fresh seafood and produce from the island’s vegetable garden. At night, with little light to interrupt the view, the stars seem to fill the entire sky.
Fregate Island
Fregate brings a remarkable sense of privacy to one of the Seychelles’ most characterful landscapes. Villas set among tropical greenery open towards the ocean, with private pools and generous indoor and outdoor living spaces. Your own buggy makes it easy to explore, while attentive personal service allows each day to unfold at your own pace. Perhaps the greatest thrill is the life all around you: a tortoise passing quietly along a path, birds calling from the canopy and the ongoing work to protect this fragile landscape.
Learn about the impact of your luxury Seychelles conservation journey
Our impact journeys are designed expressly for conservation- and community-minded clients who want to make a positive difference. In the Seychelles, the emphasis is on learning from the people protecting fragile island ecosystems and gaining a closer understanding of their work. Alphonse offers a strong marine focus, while Fregate reveals the connections between habitat restoration, rare species and the long-term recovery of an island landscape.
Alphonse Island: Time with marine biologists brings the science behind the scenery into focus. On a manta ray excursion, learn how researchers use photographs to identify individuals and build knowledge of their behaviour and movements. Turtle patrols introduce the patient work of finding tracks, identifying nesting activity and monitoring nests, while bird observations help reveal how populations use the islands through the seasons. A guided St François expedition broadens the picture, exploring an environment where island vegetation, lagoon habitats and marine wildlife are closely connected. Conversations with the conservation team explain the wider work of habitat restoration, invasive species management and monitoring reefs and seagrass. Encounters with Aldabra giant tortoises reveal their role in dispersing seeds and shaping vegetation. Your participation is guided by the team’s current priorities, allowing you to learn from work that continues long after your visit.
Fregate Island: Fregate’s conservation story is written into the landscape. Native planting and species protection have helped create a refuge for rare wildlife, including the Seychelles magpie robin. Walks with the team reveal the practical work behind this recovery and introduce less conspicuous residents such as the island’s giant tenebrionid beetle. When restoration activities are scheduled, planting an indigenous tree offers a tangible connection to the island’s future. Beach patrols focus on signs of nesting turtles, with opportunities to observe emerging hatchlings when timing and conditions allow. Tagging and other specialist procedures remain under the direction of trained conservationists, with any guest involvement determined by the team. Among the free-ranging Aldabra giant tortoises, learn how these animals contribute to the island’s ecology and why protecting their habitat matters. Younger travellers can explore the same ideas through activities adapted to their age, turning close observation and curiosity into an understanding of how an ecosystem works.
Taking part with purpose: Each experience is arranged around wildlife, seasonal conditions and the needs of the conservation teams. We will explain which activities and conservation contributions form part of your individual programme. If a particular project resonates with you, we can also help you explore opportunities for further support, guided by the people closest to the work.
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and accommodation options available. Get in touch with our Seychelles specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Indian Ocean team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
