Alphonse Islands Seychelles Alphonse-Bijoutier-St Francois
1
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Emerald Waterways (1 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
About four hundred kilometres southwest of Mahe, in the Amirantes chain. Alphonse and its neighbours Bijoutier and Saint Francois are among the most confidential calls in the Indian Ocean.
By the ship's own boats: only a few expedition vessels and passing sailing yachts anchor in these waters. There is no cruise pier, and nature holds all the leading roles.
About an hour on foot or by bike, between deserted beaches, casuarina trees and busy hermit crabs. The island is a triangle of coconut palms set on a base of pale coral, disarmingly simple.
Like most of the outer Seychelles, it long lived off copra: the regular rows of coconut palms, the old central avenue and a few low buildings still carry the trace. The plantation closed, replaced by a discreet hamlet and conservation programs.
Yes, in season. Hawksbill and green females still come to nest on the beaches, sometimes in broad daylight for the former. Guides let you watch from a respectful distance, with no lights and no approach.
A vast lagoon across a channel, where the tides make white sand flats breathe. At low tide whole banks emerge, worked over by waders; on the rising tide rays, juvenile reef sharks and bonefish move up to hunt in a few centimetres of water.
Because the Saint Francois flats rank among the world's premier grounds for the discipline. Fishing here is strictly catch and release: nothing is taken.
Excellent. The drop-off around the island falls away into the blue through consistently clear water: hawksbill turtles grazing the coral, schools of trevally, parrotfish and, in season, manta rays patrolling the reef.
A handful of coconut palms ringed with sand, tiny, completing the trio with Alphonse and Saint Francois. Visits depend on conditions of the day and permits in force.
Mask and snorkel if the ship does not lend them, water shoes for the coral flats, mineral sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. There are no shops: everything leaves the ship with you.
