Desroches & Outer Islands
Discover the legendary underwater kaleidoscope of the western Indian Ocean coral gardens.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
April to Dec
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Discover the legendary underwater kaleidoscope of the western Indian Ocean coral gardens.
April to Dec
Scroll for more
The islands that make up the Seychelles are widely flung across the Indian Ocean. In fact some are closer to Madagascar than to Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles! The mostly coral ‘Outer Islands’ include Desroches Island, Amirantes, Alphonse, Farquhar and Aldabra islands.
From the air, all you see are the blue shadows of the pristine coral reefs. And the big attraction of the Outer Islands is the diving with phenomenal marine life including turtles, mantas and hammerhead sharks, as well as columns and caves to explore.
The best known of these is Desroches Island, covered with coconut palms and tall hardwood trees. It's the classic Robinson Crusoe desert island! Also Desroches is the closest to Mahe, a mere 230km to the south-west!
This tiny island, with its luxurious beach lodge, Four Seasons Desroches, has 14km of virgin white sandy beaches. Plus crystal clear azure blue waters. The rich coral reef protects a large shallow lagoon. So, as expected, it is a mecca for scuba divers.
Alphonse Island also has a huge lagoon, dotted with coral reefs. This island attracts keen sports-fishers, especially for bone-fishing. But it is truly remote.
Farquhar and Aldabra are far more remote still, appealing primarily to experienced travellers, divers and conservation-focused visitors seeking something genuinely off the map.
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