Seychelles Nature & Wildlife: Tortoises, Birds & Coco de Mer

Today you explore the nature of beautiful Mahe. You meet giant Aldabra tortoises in Victoria's botanical gardens, and explore the lush Morne Seychellois National Park, hiking amid endemic forest, rare plants and birds, and taking in beautiful viewpoints, or visit a nature reserve or spice garden. You take in Mahe's beautiful beaches and nature. The tortoises, mountains and nature are wonderful. As the day ends, you return to your hotel. This evening, savour Creole cuisine and a beautiful sunset. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to Praslin and its ancient coco de mer forest.

Today you journey to Praslin and explore its extraordinary nature. You take a scenic ferry or flight to Praslin, and visit the Vallee de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage palm forest home to the legendary coco de mer and the rare Seychelles black parrot, wandering the ancient forest amid towering palms. You take a boat to the sanctuary island of Cousin, walking amid nesting seabirds and rare endemic species with naturalist guides, and, perhaps, the giant tortoises of Curieuse. The forest and birdlife are fascinating. As the day ends, you settle into your Praslin hotel. This evening, savour Creole cuisine. Rest well on beautiful Praslin, ready to explore more nature tomorrow.

Today you explore more of Praslin's nature and beautiful beaches. You might take a boat excursion to Curieuse Island, home to hundreds of free-roaming giant tortoises and mangroves, and snorkel over the vibrant coral of St Pierre, teeming with colourful fish and turtles, or explore Praslin's nature reserves and endemic wildlife. You relax on the stunning Anse Lazio, swimming and snorkelling. The tortoises, reefs and beaches are wonderful. As the day ends, you return to your Praslin hotel. This evening, savour Creole cuisine and a beautiful sunset. Rest well on beautiful Praslin, ready to fly to extraordinary Bird Island tomorrow.

Today you fly to extraordinary Bird Island, a pristine island of spectacular wildlife. You take a scenic flight to Bird Island, a tiny, pristine coral island on the edge of the granitic Seychelles, and settle into the simple, charming island lodge. You explore this extraordinary island, home, in season, to a vast colony of over a million nesting sooty terns, one of the world's great wildlife spectacles, and to Esmeralda, one of the world's oldest and heaviest giant tortoises, amid pristine beaches, nesting turtles and abundant birdlife. The wildlife and pristine beauty are magical. As the sun sets over the ocean, you savour the glorious colours amid the birdlife. This evening, dine on fresh island fare, savouring the wildness of Bird Island. Rest well on pristine Bird Island, immersed in its extraordinary nature.

Today you savour the extraordinary wildlife of Bird Island. You spend the day amid one of the world's great wildlife spectacles, walking amid the vast sooty tern colony (in season), watching the myriad seabirds, meeting the giant tortoise Esmeralda and others roaming free, and, in season, seeing nesting sea turtles on the pristine beaches or hatchlings scrambling to the sea. You relax on the pristine, unspoiled beaches, snorkel the reefs, and soak up the wildness and beauty of this extraordinary island. The wildlife and pristine beauty are magical. As the sun sets over the ocean amid the birdlife, you savour the glorious colours. This evening, dine on fresh island fare, reflecting on the extraordinary nature you have experienced. Rest well on pristine Bird Island, the wildlife spectacle vivid in your memory, ahead of your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning amid the extraordinary wildlife of Bird Island, perhaps a last walk amid the seabirds and tortoises, you fly back towards Mahe and are transferred to the airport for your onward international departure. You leave having experienced the extraordinary nature of the enchanting Seychelles, giant tortoises roaming free, the ancient coco de mer forest and rare black parrot, the spectacular seabird colonies of Cousin and Bird Island, nesting sea turtles, and vibrant reefs, all amid pristine islands and the world's most beautiful beaches. The images stay vivid long after you land, the giant tortoises, the ancient palm forest, the vast sooty tern colony, the nesting turtles, and the pristine islands. The Seychelles offers extraordinary nature and wildlife in abundance, and you depart deeply moved, already dreaming of a return to the enchanting nature of these islands.