23 March - 07 April 2004

Itinerary
Our journey will to some degree be governed by the vagaries of the winds. Although the Khersones does have the benefit of two powerful engines, the captain will whenever possible rely on the sails. We have therefore designed an itinerary to include what we consider to be the most interesting and in some cases spectacular places. But, because the final journey will depend on the prevailing wind, the time in each place and the order visited will be left to the captain's discretion. Under normal sea-going conditions for this time of year we expect to visit the following:

Day 1 : Arrival Mahe
Morning arrival. Check into your first class hotel for a one-night stay.

Day 2 : Mahe
Embark after breakfast and sail in the mid-morning.

Days 3 - 15 : Cruising the inner and outer Seychelles
Alphonse
There are three islands in the Alphonse Group which are located directly south of the Amirantes. We will call into Alphonse regarded by many as one of the most beautiful of all the 115 islands in the Seychelles. Its circular lagoon offers perfect snorkelling and on an island walk we hope to spot the extremely rare magpie robin.

Astove
Famous for its most beautiful butterflies, this remote coral atoll has an almost completely land-locked lagoon.

Cosmoledo
Here a huge ring of twelve islands circle a lagoon. Many of the atolls are unsurveyed and we shall explore some of them by boat.

Aldabra
Go ashore to the islands referred to by Sir Julian Huxley as "One of nature's treasures and should belong to the whole world". Aldabra is unique and we are privileged visitors by kind permission of the Seychelles government. Every time we call at what is believed to be the world's largest atoll we find something new of interest. Sightings have been made of the extremely rare White-throated rail, and indeed whilst exploring by zodiac it is difficult to know in which direction to look. The clear blue seas abound with colourful life, the skies are alive with varied birdlife and ashore giant land tortoises forage as they have done for millions of years.

Desroches
Another remote and heavenly paradise island awaits. Swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters around the reef or join one of the leaders on a walk through the woodlands.

Praslin
The "Forgotten Eden", the second largest Seychelles island is a wonderful place. Best known for its Vallee de Mai, one of only two places in the world where the botanical rarity, the coco de mer grows wild. Here in the Valley we will divide into smaller groups and explore this exotic palm forest, described by Rosemary Wise in 1985; "When no wind was blowing there was a still, cathedral-like atmosphere of silence. When the wind started, the enormous leaves clashed like sheets of corrugated iron". Look out for the rare Black parrot.

La Digue
Surely one of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world. Explore La Digue on foot, bicycle and oxcart, the wonderful beaches and the tiny town with its houses built in the vaguely French colonial style. This is also the only known habitat of the rare Black Paradise Flycatcher, there are only approximately 50 pairs left.

Day 16 : Mahe
Arrive back in Victoria harbour and disembark after breakfast. Transfer to the local airport for your onward flights

Under Sail in the Indian Ocean (PDF)