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Start Island HoppingDescription
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Aldabra during this exclusive two-week cruise, and see the world's latest raised coral atoll, the finest surviving tropical ecosystem on earth. A cruise onboard of MV Maya's Dugong offers to a handful of visitors the chance to experience Aldabra and its fascinating sights and treasures as part of an in-depth ecotourism and diving expedition.
Facts:
5 × Explorer Cabin (up to 3 people)
Activities and specials:
- Discover multiple Seychelles islands in one trip.
- The crew takes care of you with delicious full board catering, so you won't need to worry about anything.
- The captain, two stewards, a mechanic, a dive master, a cook, and two deckhands will take care of your safety on board.
Description:
The MV Maya's Dugong is a versatile vessel that boasts large deck space areas and modern equipment to handle a wide range of tasks at open sea. Allow the peaceful harmony of the Seychelles to enchant you over this two-week cruise, without compromising on comfort and service!
Day 1: Mahé
The cruise begins at 10.00am at the Inter Island Quay on Mahé. After a short briefing and a first meet-and-greet with the other travellers, the crew sets sail at 12.00pm towards the Amirantes -Desroches Island.
Day 2: Desroches
The Amirantes is a linear chain of coral islands and atolls west of the granitics with Desroches being the largest and nearest to Mahé, measuring 6 km long and 1.5 km wide and is concealed beneath the shade of coconut palms and endemic island vegetation. 14km of immaculate white sandy beaches wrap around the island entirely, with crystal blue water lapping at the shore.
Day 3: Alphonse
The Alphonse Group consists of two neighboring atolls, Alphonse Atoll and St Francois Atoll, the latter comprising two islands St Francois and Bijoutier. These are some of the most beautiful islands of Seychelles. Alphonse is shaped like an arrowhead, with trails of white foam flying out behind it as though it was skimming through the water. It was once a productive plantation, generating 100,000 coconuts a month but today this is an abandoned island. The diving around these islands is excellent, though it is not for beginners as currents can be strong. Features include forests of tall Gorgonian fan corals, shoals of barracuda and other predators together with the occasional Hawksbill Turtles that drift by.
Day 4: Crossing towards the Aldabra Group
Days 5 & 6: Cosmoledo
Cosmoledo even surpasses Aldabra in its extreme atmosphere of remoteness. The island is uninhabited and very rarely visited by the outside world. The diving is excellent, and the marine life is very rich. The corals have survived here more intact than elsewhere in the western Indian Ocean. Cosmoledo has also gained a reputation as one of the world's best fly-fishing sites, yet it has remained off limits to all but a few determined enthusiasts because of the difficulties of reaching this lonely outpost. Expected arrival in the afternoon and dive at the West Island of Cosmoledo (Menai) where turtles abound.
Days 7, 8 & 9: Aldabra
Often called the Crown Jewel of Seychelles, Aldabra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a tropical island wilderness, seen by only a few privileged visitors each year. We visit the Aldabra Research station and the old settlement, cruise through the West and Main Channel and dive/snorkel at Passe Dubois, Polymnie, Anse Var, settlement reef, Anse Mais and Main Channel, experiencing the exhilaration of being swept along by the shoals of various fish, observing both pelagic and reef fish in the shallow waters of the lagoon. Drift diving is exceptional in the channels that fill and empty the lagoon with the tides.
Day 10: Assumption
Assumption was laid waste by Guano Mining around the turn of the 20th century. However, the vegetation is now slowly recovering and there are plans for the rehabilitation of the island. There is a small human population, connected by air to Mahé, though flights are few and far between. There is a long, beautiful arc of coral sand on one side of the island, beyond which the marine life is very rich, and diving is excellent.
Day 11: Astove
Astove is surrounded by deep waters. The fringing reef averages about 250 meters from the shoreline and beyond this, the floor plummets steeply. This wall of corals is probably the best dive site in the
Indian Ocean and has indeed been rated by diving experts as one of the finest dive sites in the world. Hundreds of species of fish, Green Turtles and even the anchors of wrecked ships are to be seen. Snorkeling is also excellent on the edge of the drop off. Visit the old manager’s house including the incongruous Veevers-Carter house and an old chapel, then crossing of the island to the lagoon. Dive at the West walls.
Day 12: Crossing towards Bijoutier
Day 13: Bijoutier (Alphonse Group)
Uninhabited dream island, a circle of white sand capped with bright green vegetation, fringed by purple reefs and turquoise sea.
Day 14: St Joseph (Amirantes)
Day 15: Disembarkation at Mahe, at approx 03.00pm
Price includes: Accommodation, cruise as per planned itinerary, full board meals, professional crew onboard, diving with a PADI instructor part of crew (tanks, belts, weights), snorkeling equipment.
Price does NOT include: Beverages, rental of diving equipment, 10 or 15 l tank if requested, satellite communication, international flights, land transfers on Mahé, sustainability levy for tourism.
Please note that the itinerary is subject to change, depending on wind and weather conditions. All decisions are made at the captain’s discretion.
Cabin categories
Commander Cabin 12 m² Price/night
Size: 12 m²
Facilities: Cabin with double bed or twin beds, reading light, en suite bathroom.
Maximum Occupancy: 2 adults/children (12 - 99 years old) (3 adults/children on request only)
Minimum stay: 14 nights
Explorer Cabin 9 m² Price/night
Size: 9 m²
Facilities: Cabin with double bed or twin beds, reading light, en suite bathroom.
Maximum Occupancy: 2 adults/children (12 - 99 years old) (3 adults/children on request only)
Minimum stay: 14 nights
Additional Price Information
Full board: incl.
Drinks are not included in the full board price, but can be bought on-board for a reasonable price.
Credit/debit cards are not accepted on board. Payment is only possible in cash with Euro, US$ or Seychelles Rupees.
Children from 12 years old are welcome and they pay full adult rate.
Please send a copy of your passport to SeyVillas until 4 weeks prior to arrival the latest, as this is required by the port authorities.
An additional landing fee is to be paid, which includes landing and entrance fees for island visits and nature reserves as well as various national marine parks, according to the cruise itinerary.
The landing fee as per below is to be paid 30 days prior to departure: €905/adult. From 2025 the fee will be €922/adult.
Silhouette Cruises guarantees departure with a minimum 10 passengers. The cruise may depart with less passengers, depending on circumstances.
Passengers must hold a valid travel and medical insurance that will include diving (in case of divers) and evacuation by air from the Seychelles Outer Islands and Seychelles in case of necessity or medical emergency.
Optional diving offers:
Available at extra charge on-board:
Full diving equipment rental: around €10 per piece / around €30 for a full set (rates per day)
Communication: (E-mail and Voice) according to consumption
Incoming and Outgoing e-mail - around €40/1 MB (2018 rates)
Voice: Outgoing calls - around €5/min or part of and incoming calls - around €4/min or part of (2018 rates)
A full charter is possible in other periods. Please contact our SeyVillas Team for further details and information on rates.
- This travel offer is not suitable for people with reduced mobility (please contact the SeyVillas team for more information or if you have any questions on this topic).
- Travel services will be carried out in English. In certain cases, German, French or Italian may be spoken.
- Information about passport, visa and healthcare requirements can be found here.
- The images of the accommodation serve as a reference and may differ slightly.
- Since 01.08.2023, the sustainability levy for tourism has come into force. Holidaymakers have to pay between 25-100 Seychelles Rupees per person/night on arrival, depending on the size of the accommodation booked. This contribution is used for various conservation projects in the Seychelles. You can find more information about this in our FAQs
- The following specific cancellation policy applies to this cruise:
181 days or more before arrival = cancellation fee of 5% of the total cost
91 - 180 days before arrival = cancellation fee of 25% of the total cost
61 - 90 days before arrival = cancellation fee of 50% of the total cost
31 - 60 days before arrival = cancellation fee of 75% of the total cost
0 - 30 days before arrival (as well as in case of no-show) = cancellation fee of 95% of the total cost, island landing fees will be returned less bank charges. - Terms and Conditions of SeyVillas (SeyVillas GmbH)
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