SUSTAINABILITY, CONSERVATION AND EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL COMBINE TO CREATE A SENSATIONAL JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
Explore the Inner and Outer Islands of the Seychelles with Blue Safari Seychelles, Alphonse Island and Beyond The Reef
The Danish master of the literary fairy-tale, Hans Christian Andersen once said, “to travel is to live” and the pioneers of effortlessly combining sustainable travel with luxury accommodation in the Inner and Outer Islands of the Seychelles have taken this literally and Blue Safari Seychelles along with its newest addition, Blue Safari Travel and Beyond The Reef boat charters, expertly curates bespoke itineraries so guests can experience untold adventures of a lifetime whilst protecting and preserving the pristine ecosystems of the Seychelles islands and atolls.
Traversing the 115 islands of the Seychelles could not be easier, as an addition of the Blue Safari Seychelles portfolio now includes Blue Safari Travel. This locally owned and operated company can compile itineraries for those who wish to explore the capital of Victoria on the mainland of Mahé, the inner islands of Praslin and La Digue, take in a tour of the Takamaka Rum distillery or bask under the warm sun on Anse Source D’Argent, the Seychelles beach made famous by the Bacardi Rum and Bounty Bar commercials of the 1980s and 1990s. Blue Safari Travel is an all-encompassing enterprise that can arrange a range of accommodation, transfers, cultural and local experiences and activities within the Inner and Outer Islands of the Seychelles.
Blue Safari Seychelles have revolutionised experiential travel by offering experiences to the remote corners of the unspoiled regions and archipelagos. Their all-encompassing portfolio promotes environmental initiatives, and the company is consistently making great strides to further conservation practices within the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. Four pristine and pure atolls are included in Blue Safari Seychelles’ portfolio; Alphonse Island, Astove Atoll, Cosmoledo Atoll, and Poivre Atoll, all of which are rich in flora and fauna with an eclectic array of aquatic mammals, amphibians, and fish. With 238 bird species, 1,000 coastal fish species, and almost 320 estimated coral species, Blue Safari Seychelles’ conservation practices are at the very core of their philosophy. Blue Safari Seychelles is committed to preserving the glorious natural environment with the strong belief that the best way to protect and understand the Outer Islands is by exploring them. Their conservation efforts have been celebrated at the 2021 World Luxury Travel Awards where they were awarded the coveted titles of ‘The Best Sustainable Tourism Destination in the Indian Ocean’ and ‘Global Winner – Best Island Destination’.
The experiences that can be encountered are the true luxury of Blue Safari Seychelles. Snorkelling with manta rays, swimming with sailfish or following in the fins of acclaimed marine biologist Jacque Cousteau and experiencing ‘The Wall’ which featured in his renowned film, ‘The Silent World’ which was shot on Astove atoll in 1956. Blue Safari Seychelles has devised itineraries that will entice thalassophiles and land lovers alike. Encountering vibrantly coloured fish and Green and Hawksbill turtles up-close are just some of the daily aquatic adventures Blue Safari Seychelles offers its guests and ensures that every adventure is exceptional and nothing short of spectacular.
Located 400 km from the mainland of Mahé and 7° South of the equator, Alphonse Island has a completely tranquil atmosphere making it the perfect escape for couples, families, and friends hoping to reconnect with each other in breath-taking natural surroundings. Alphonse Island is devoted to ensuring its’ guests get to experience the true Seychelles’ lifestyle and has an assortment of activities including, kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding, surfing, snorkelling, and tennis. Exploring the island by bicycle with a packed lunch is a perfect way to discover the island. Climb aboard a catamaran and sail to the dazzlingly white sand flats to feast on freshly caught fish, grilled meats, delicious salads for a truly memorable lunch. The vibrant blue sky meets the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and as you dine with your toes in the warm waters you can marvel at the stunningly beautiful destination. Each of the activities enables guests to connect with nature in unmissable ways whether it is riding the Indian Ocean waves on a surfboard, making friends with a giant tortoise, or marvelling at the marine life.
Considered one of the most pristine and untouched Outer Islands in the Seychelles, Alphonse Island has a PADI five-star dive centre with 24 dive sites, all reached in under 30-minutes by custom-built dive boats. Surrounded by tropical waters that house 1000s of exotic and colourful fish, their PADI five-star dive centre offers a range of PADI courses from Bubble Maker to Discover Scuba Diving to Divemaster for guests to explore unchartered waters around St. François Island, experience 10 deep drop-offs with shallow plateaus, and swim with manta rays, napoleon wrasse, and Green and Hawksbill turtles. Their exceptional five-star dive centre has been recognised for their excellence as they were awarded ‘Dive Destination – Global Winner’ at the 2021 World Luxury Travel Awards.
Alphonse Island’s impressive collection of activities are all in line with their commitment to sustainability and conserving the ecology. Each of the experiences has been designed to have little to no impact on the environment with several conservation practices available for guests to participate in from tree-planting to beach clean-ups, to educational talks given by dedicated Blue Safari Seychelles environmentalists and marine biologists. The conservationists at Alphonse Island delight at the opportunity to educate guests about their tropical paradise and have arranged wonderful nature walks where guests can explore the endless white-sand beaches, learn about the protected coral reefs, and may even get a chance to see baby turtles making their very first journey to the ocean.
The accommodation consists of 22 Beach Bungalows, five Beach Suites, and two four-bedroomed Beach Villas, which are ideal for multi-generational families and groups of friends, all with panoramic views stretching across the glistening waters of the Indian Ocean.
Alphonse Island’s commitment to sustainability extends to its’ kitchens and energy use. As the world is changing and becoming more carbon-neutral, destinations and resorts are scrambling to become more “green” but Alphonse Island has made great strides ahead of its competitors. Alphonse Island promotes self-sufficient farming and has a thriving and abundant vegetable and fruit farm with home-grown herbs. All fruit, vegetables and herbs that are grown on the farm are used in their kitchen at Alphonse Island as well as at Astove Atoll, and Cosmoledo Atoll. Each month, Alphonse Island produces 2.5 tonnes of fresh produce which prevents around 30 metric tonnes of CO2 from being released each year by air miles. In 2018, Alphonse Island created the Seychelles’ largest solar farm with 2,200 solar panels making it the first hospitality group and accommodation in the Outer Island to be solely reliant on solar power. Guests can revel in their incredible experiences and delicious dishes knowing that not only are they having a trip of a lifetime, it is also contributing positively to the environment – the “greenest” trip one could hope for.
Cosmoledo Atoll is located 1,030 km south-west of Mahé and is steeped in Seychelles history with a story stating the atoll was named Cosmoledo in honour of a Portuguese navigator who was part of Juan de Nova’s crew. One of the stunning islands is Wizard Island, said to be named after one of the ships on the Moresby Expedition exploring the atoll in 1822 and where Blue Safari Seychelles’ Cosmoledo Eco Camp is located. Comprising of just eight eco-pods made from restored shipping containers, each one blends in seamlessly with the natural surroundings and adheres to the sustainability ethos at the heart of Blue Safari Seychelles. This exceptionally creative accommodation minimises environmental impact with completely natural interiors designed using local woods, old trunks, and fishing nets. Committed to preserving Cosmoledo’s pristine and undisturbed ecosystem, Cosmoledo eco-camp has successfully combined nature and sustainable hospitality. Their immense effort and hard work have been recognised as they were recipients of the prestigious titles of ‘Global Winner – Eco/Green Destination’ and ‘Nature Destination, Continent Winner, Indian Ocean’ at the acclaimed 2021 World Luxury Travel Awards.
Astove Atoll is an untouched, immaculate paradise that is wildlife lover’s dream come true. The atoll was originally explored between 1000 and 1500 AD, the first people to settle on Astove Atoll was after 1760 following a Portuguese ship that ran aground on the island. After over 250 years of inhabitation, Astove Atoll was officially declared a nature reserve in 2014 after it was abandoned. With unbleached coral reefs, a healthy population of Aldabra tortoises, and over 250 bird species, Astove Atoll has flourished but is still protected by the Blue Safari Seychelles and Island Conservation Society (ICS) teams. The glistening waters around the island are teeming with exotic fish species and when combined with the presence of the “underwater Grand Canyon” Astove Wall, Astove Atoll is the ideal fishing, snorkelling, and scuba diving destination. Guests can stay at Blue Safari Seychelles’ Astove Coral House – a once-in-a-lifetime experience due to the remoteness of the island.
For those who prefer to explore the dazzling waters of the Indian Ocean by boat, a private charter company, Beyond the Reef truly believes the definition of freedom is the Seychelles islands itself. Beyond the Reef is a luxury boat charter company based in Mahé, with four vessels in their fleet ranging from 33ft to 74ft. The tropical waters that surround the 115 Seychelles’ islands and can be explored using Beyond the Reef’s specialised charter fleet; Pelican, PS, The Slow Turtle, and Basic Instinct. Each of the vessels is fully crewed by professionals ensuring excellent service and outstanding itineraries which has led to Beyond the Reef being awarded the prestigious title of ‘Best Private Boat Charter Company in the Indian Ocean’ at the 2021 World Luxury Travel Awards. For adventure seekers and ocean explorers, the Pelican is a 63-foot catamaran with four luxurious ensuite cabins that offer a variety of itineraries, including a cruise excursion to the Amirantes Islands, a day cruise around the North coast of Mahé, and fishing excursions to the Inner Islands and Aldabra. The impressive catamaran has a captain, deckhand, and private chef so that guests can spend all their time reconnecting with their family in the open-plan saloon, or the vast aft deck with BBQ and lounge area. PS is a 51-foot yacht that prides itself on versatility to ensure the desires of every guest are met. With four luxury ensuite cabins, PS is the perfect vessel for day and overnight cruises and fishing expeditions, all with equipment included. Their incredible day trips onboard the PS to Praslin is an unmissable experience with guests having the opportunity to see the most photographed beach in the world – Anse Source D’Argent, visiting the Valle de Mai where the largest Coco De Mer grows, and snorkelling off the breath-taking Felicite and Sisters Islands.
Beyond the Reef’s 33-foot Seafox Commander, The Slow Turtle is the perfect way to experience off-shore fishing and see a Seychelles sunset in utmost comfort and style. After an exploration through the Ste Anne Marine Park, the skipper guides guests to Mahé where they watch the sun slowly set behind the island with a glass of Prosecco in one hand and an Antipasto board in the other. For guests that are eager to experience the Seychelles on the day and half-day trips, Beyond the Reef’s 74-foot Manhattan vessel, Basic Instinct, is a luxurious match. With full-day trips to Mahé and Praslin, and a half-day cruise within the Marine Park available for island explorers, Basic Instinct provides guests with an experience they would never forget. Beyond the Reef’s impressive collection of vessels are committed to ensuring guests’ Seychelles adventure is as special and memorable as can be.
The impressive Blue Safari Seychelles portfolio comprising Blue Safari Travel and Beyond The Reef is dedicated to ensuring their guests have a spectacular holiday full of memory-making experiences that are impossible to forget. Perfect for adventure-seeking families, newly-weds, wildlife-lovers, and couples looking to reconnect with each other and nature, Blue Safari Seychelles, and its sister companies, each provides the ultimate escape.
