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Summary

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Seychelles Outer Islands Expedition

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Duration

10 Days

Starts In

Mahe Island

Route

Mahe Island

Beyond the granite islands most travelers know lies another Seychelles entirely — a scattering of remote atolls where giant tortoises outnumber people by the thousands, and reefs remain unmapped by all but a handful of divers. This ten-day expedition aboard Aqua Lares reaches into the archipelago's furthest corners, from the conservation stronghold of D'Arros to the otherworldly depths of the Astove Wall, culminating in days spent among the 100,000-strong tortoise population of Aldabra Atoll. This is Seychelles travel at its most far-flung and unfiltered — a journey for those who've seen the postcard version and are ready for what lies beyond it.

CRUISE JOURNEY 10 Days / 9 Nights featuring Aldabra Atoll and the Coralline Islands in the Seychelles. Includes arrival & departure transfers, luxury cabin accommodations, all onboard meals, house wines and beer, non-alcoholic drinks, twice daily excursions with expert local guides, Kayaking and paddleboarding equipment, unlimited access to high-speed WIFI onboard.

Includes

Accommodations as per itinerary
Shore excursions as per itinerary
Special onboard entertainment per itinerary
On ship gourmet dining including buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snack
Select alcoholic drinks as per itinerary
Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance

Excludes

Items of a personal nature
All other items not mentioned as included
Travel insurance; please inquire with your Keytours travel consultant
Gratuities for drivers, guides, and escorts

Itinerary

Day
1

Day 1: Setting Sail — Mahé to the Outer Reaches

Board Aqua Lares at L'Escale Marina on Mahé and settle into your design suite as the ship's Cruise Director and Naturalist Guides welcome you aboard. As the vessel departs, panoramic views unfold across the Sainte Anne National Marine Park, granite peaks giving way to open water as the ship sets a course south toward some of the most remote islands on Earth. This is a voyage built for explorers rather than sunbathers — an introduction to a part of the Seychelles few travelers ever reach.

Day
2

Day 2: A Conservation Frontier — D'Arros Island

Arrive at D'Arros, a secluded coral cay in the Amirantes Group managed by the Save Our Seas Foundation, where decades of conservation work have created one of the richest marine environments in the Indian Ocean. Begin the morning with a dive or snorkel at St Joseph Channel, drifting among rays and reef sharks in gin-clear water. In the afternoon, continue to Turtle Town, where hawksbill and green turtles glide through the shallows. Dinner on board tonight comes with a view of the Amirantes fading astern as Aqua Lares turns toward Aldabra.

Day
3

Day 3: Into the Blue — A Day at Sea

With Aldabra still a full day's sail away, settle into the rhythm of life aboard. Unwind at the onboard spa or jacuzzi, or scan the horizon for red-footed boobies diving after flying fish. Naturalist-led presentations offer a deeper look at the geology, flora, and fauna that make this stretch of ocean so singular, from volcanic seamounts to nesting seabird colonies. As the sun sets, world-class dining gives way to stargazing from the Sun Deck, far from any light but the ship's own and the stars overhead.

Day
4

Day 4: The Underwater Grand Canyon — Astove Island

Astove's claim to fame lies just offshore: the Astove Wall, a four-mile drop-off draped in soft coral and patrolled by sharks, rays, and reef fish. Visibility here can stretch to 40 meters, revealing the wall's plunging contours in extraordinary clarity. Regarded as one of the finest dive sites in the Indian Ocean, Astove draws serious divers and curious snorkelers alike into a seascape that feels closer to open ocean wilderness than a typical reef dive.

Day
5

Day 5: A Living Fortress — Aldabra Atoll

Few places on the planet remain as untouched as Aldabra, home to more than 100,000 giant tortoises roaming freely across its four islands — the largest such population anywhere. Spend the afternoon visiting the Aldabra Research Station and the atoll's historic old settlement, before heading to the west side for a dive or snorkel through waters rich with tropical fish, reef sharks, and sea turtles. Manta rays occasionally glide past, an unplanned bonus in one of the world's most isolated marine ecosystems.

Day
6

Day 6: Seabirds and Solitude — Cosmoledo Atoll

Begin the day with a guided tender excursion through Cosmoledo's lagoon, tracking masked gannets and brown boobies found nowhere else in the Seychelles. Beneath the surface, the atoll's protected waters hold an equally rich world — dive or snorkel to explore reefs untouched by the crowds found elsewhere in the Indian Ocean. Cosmoledo's remoteness is its defining feature, a place where wildlife outnumbers visitors by an almost incomprehensible margin.

Day
7

Day 7: Uncharted Reefs — Providence Atoll

Providence unfolds in shades of azure, its lagoon and surrounding reefs still largely unmapped by recreational diving. Snorkelers and divers here have the rare privilege of exploring coral formations few outsiders have ever seen, while overhead, red-footed boobies and other seabirds wheel above the atoll's low-lying cays. This is Seychelles at its most elemental — raw, remote, and largely unrecorded.

Day
8

Day 8: Mangroves and Migrations — Saint-François Atoll

A scenic tender ride brings you to the Alphonse group, where a lush coconut forest gives way to hard coral gardens just offshore. Morning excursions include diving or snorkeling along a shoreline thick with marine life. In the afternoon, explore Saint-François Atoll itself, where mangrove channels shelter juvenile sharks, scuttling crabs, and wading crab plovers. Kayaking and paddleboarding round out the day, tracing the atoll's barrier reef and its immense coral formations from the surface.

Day
9

Day 9: The Final Depths — Desroches Island

Desroches offers a dramatic underwater finale — tunnels, sinkholes, and the celebrated Desroches Drop reveal themselves to divers and snorkelers exploring its fringing reef. Hawksbill and green turtles move unhurried through the shallows alongside sharks and vibrant reef fish. On land, the island's white sand beaches and the presence of the Four Seasons Desroches lend a touch of polish to the day's final wilderness encounter. Kayak or paddleboard for a quieter, surface-level view of the reef below.

Day
10

Day 10: Homeward Waters — Return to Mahé

A final breakfast on board offers time to reflect on the extraordinary distances covered — from D'Arros' protected shallows to Aldabra's tortoise-covered shores. Aqua Lares returns to L'Escale Marina on Mahé, closing out a rare expedition into some of the most remote and pristine waters the Indian Ocean has to offer.

Dates & Prices

14 of Nov, 2026

Saturday

23 of Jan, 2027

Saturday

3 of Apr, 2027

Saturday

17 of Apr, 2027

Saturday

27 of Nov, 2027

Saturday

11 of Dec, 2027

Saturday

11 of Mar, 2028

Saturday

15 of Apr, 2028

Saturday

9 of Dec, 2028

Saturday

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the Seychelles Outer Islands Expedition package?

The Seychelles Outer Islands Expedition includes a range of luxurious amenities and experiences: - Accommodations aboard Aqua Lares as per the itinerary - Shore excursions led by expert local guides - Gourmet dining with buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight snacks - Select alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic beverages - Kayaking and paddleboarding equipment - Unlimited access to high-speed WIFI onboard - Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance.

Are there options to customize the itinerary or accommodations in this package?

Yes, this package can be customized to suit your preferences. Keytours Vacations can assist you in selecting different accommodations, optional excursions, or extending your stay with additional destinations or nights. If you have specific interests or requirements, discussing them with a Keytours travel consultant will help tailor the experience to your liking.

How do travelers move between destinations during the Seychelles Outer Islands Expedition?

Travelers will move between destinations aboard the Aqua Lares, which serves as both accommodation and transportation throughout the 10-day journey. The ship will set sail from Mahé Island and navigate to various remote islands, including D'Arros, Aldabra Atoll, and more, offering a unique cruising experience while exploring the stunning Seychelles archipelago.

What types of excursions are included in this itinerary?

This itinerary features twice-daily excursions that include activities such as snorkeling, diving, and guided tours of the islands. Highlights include exploring D'Arros' marine life, diving at Astove Island, visiting the Aldabra Research Station, and kayaking in the mangroves of Saint-François Atoll. Each excursion is designed to immerse travelers in the natural beauty and wildlife of the Seychelles.

Are there any additional costs not covered in the Seychelles Outer Islands Expedition package?

Yes, there are several costs not included in this package: - Items of a personal nature - Travel insurance (which can be arranged through Keytours) - Gratuities for drivers, guides, and escorts - Any other items not specifically mentioned as included. Travelers should budget accordingly for these additional expenses.

Is this itinerary suitable for families or first-time visitors?

This itinerary is best suited for adventurous travelers who are comfortable with active excursions and exploring remote locations. While families may enjoy the unique wildlife experiences, it is important to consider the physical activity level involved, such as snorkeling and diving. First-time visitors to the Seychelles should be prepared for a more rugged and exploratory experience compared to traditional beach vacations.

What should travelers know about the best time to book the Seychelles Outer Islands Expedition?

The best time to book this itinerary depends on your travel preferences and the weather in the Seychelles. Generally, the dry season from May to October offers pleasant conditions for diving and outdoor activities. It's advisable to book well in advance, especially during peak travel seasons, to secure your preferred departure date and accommodations.

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Include Flights?

Yes

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