Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
OUTER ISLANDS
The majority of the Seychelles islands are scattered over hundreds of kilometres to the
southwest of the main Mahé group. Sadly, most of these islands are accessible only to
yachtsmen and those who can afford to stay at the extremely exclusive resorts.
The
Amirantes Group
lies about 250km southwest of Mahé. Its main island is
Desroches
, the
only island that offers tourist infrastructure. Another 200km further south, the
Alphonse Group
is another cluster of coral islands that provides some of the best saltwater fly-fishing in the
world. The largest of the group is the 1.2km-wide
Alphonse Island
.
The
Aldabra Group
is the most remote and most interesting of the outer-island groups. It in-
cludes
Aldabra Atoll
, the world's largest raised coral atoll, which is a Unesco World Heritage
Site and nature reserve and lies more than 1000km from Mahé. Aldabra Atoll is home to
about 150,000 giant tortoises, and flocks of migratory birds fly in and out in their thou-
sands. Aldabra is managed by the Seychelles Island Foundation (
Click here
) in Victoria.
Until now the islands have only really been accessible to scientists, volunteers and a very
small number of tourists.
Unfortunately, the Aldabra Group was off-limits to foreigners at the time of writing, due
to the presence of Somali pirates in the area. Check with the Seychelles Island Foundation
for the latest information.
Sleeping & Eating
Desroches Island Resort
( 4376750;
www.desroches-island.com
;
d with full board from €1200; )
This is a great private
island resort with a heavy focus on sportfishing enthusiasts and divers (there's an onsite
dive centre), but families and honeymooners will also feel welcome here. Digs are in 20
sumptuous seafacing beach chalets as well as stadium-sized luxurious villas complete with
their own private pools. The spa is a killer, and world-class guided fly-fishing trips are
available. The island itself is lovely, with dazzling white beaches almost all the way around
it, as well as a turtle hatchery, a copra plantation, a tiny chapel, an old lighthouse and a
small village of around 70 people. Desroches is only 6km long and barely 1km across - the
stuff of castaway dreams.
The flight from Mahé takes about 45 minutes and is arranged directly through the resort.
RESORT
€€€
