Cruising the Seychelles Islands (Pegasos)

Description

Imagine paradise and you’ll probably envision a place that looks a lot like the Seychelles.

Pristine white sands lapped with dazzling turquoise waters. Swaying palms and jungle-clad hills. This remote archipelago scattered off the coast of Africa truly is a tropical paradise. Better yet, it’s not on many people’s travel lists – yet. One this eight-day adventure cruise you’ll get to explore lush mangrove forests filled with unique and wonderful wildlife, like 125-year-old giant tortoises and Seychelle warblers. Visit the expansive Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve and learn about its unusual Coco de Mer palm trees. Go birdwatching with a guide on unspoiled Aride. Visit Anse Lazio and Anse Source d’Argent, two beaches consistently rated among the most beautiful in the world. And spend plenty of time swimming, snorkelling and soaking in the stunning views. All this from your comfy home on the sea, the Pegasus. It’s everything you could want from an exotic Seychelles escape.

Is this trip right for you?

This is a small ship adventure cruise, which means you’ll be sailing on a yacht with up to 41 other people. The boat is spacious and comfortable, but it focuses more on the destination than on-board activities. Instead of a pool, we have the sea itself. Instead of a casino, we’ve got board games and a good book. There’s also no formal dress code to worry about. Wifi is available for a small charge.

Our ship moves under engine power, rather than sailing, so all cabins will experience light engine noise when the ship is moving (and occasionally when we drop anchor). It’s probably worth packing earplugs if you’re a light sleeper.

Onshore activities and excursions will involve a bit of walking. You’ll be visiting a lot of National Parks, and you may have to cross uneven ground, sometimes in slippery conditions.

If you’re concerned about seasickness, there are seasickness tablets on-board. The ship will experience some roll and pitch in choppy conditions, however all of our ships come equipped with stabilisers to minimise movement. Most of our departures run in peak season, when the seas are calmer. Your crew do all they can to minimise any discomfort.

There are no lifts (elevators) on-board our ships, so you’ll have to navigate a few steep flights of stairs on-board. Handrails are always available.

Trip Name

Cruising the Seychelles Islands (Pegasos)

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Small Ship Length: 45 metres Passenger Capacity: 44 (in 21 cabins) Built / refurbished: 1992 / 1997 / 2016 Imagine a place far from home that feels just like home, where the borders are delineated by the golden shores of the sea; and home is wherever the anchors drop. Imagine 147 feet of comfort, beauty, and safety classified by the latest International “Safety of Life at Sea” (SOLAS) standards. Imagine your floating home on board the sleek, classic double hulled Mega Yacht that sails the seas under the name PEGASOS, waving her Greek flag through the wind. Discover the world by sea at 10 knots per hour, in her un-rushed pace, one island or seashore at a time. Pegasos loves to seduce her select 44 guests with her simple lines and comfortable lounges redefining what yachting was meant to be. A spacious lounge with ample space, dining areas decorated with warm colors, large windows offering pristine views of all destinations, shaded areas and outdoor bar and loungers are just some of the elements that define her essence. 360° views of unobstructed ocean are your eyes’ canvas painted with ocean blue and deep green mountains. Mingle with likeminded travelers in our public areas, enjoy a moment to yourself in our ample deck space, or retreat to one of our 21 ocean view cabin sanctuaries all offering windows or portholes connecting you with Mother Nature’s wonders. Pegasus’ experienced crew of 18 is trained with hospitality at heart to pamper her guests and guarantee the ultimate home away from home experience. Home at Sea Single seating dining Indoor & Outdoor Lounge - Bar, Indoor & Outodoor Restaurant, Audiovisual in Lounge, Mini library, Beach Towels, Snorkeling equipment, Kayak, Board Games, Swimming Platform, Wi-Fi Comfort Zone Windows: Sun, Upper & Main deck cabins, Triple Occupancy cabins: Category A, Flat-Screen TV, Mini Safe, Mini Fridge, Individually controlled A/C, En suite bathroom with shower, Hairdryers, Telephone for internal use, Central music.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1: Mahe

Board your comfortable home on the seas, the Pegasus, at 4 pm, then set sail for Silhouette Island. After a welcome and safety briefing, get to know your new travel companions better over dinner. Spend overnight at anchor near Silhouette Island.

Day 2 - Day 2: Silhouette Island

Once home to pirates and plantations, today Silhouette Island is better known for its rain forest-covered hills, pristine white sand beaches and barrier reefs. Spend the morning snorkelling in this picture-perfect setting, before enjoying a delicious barbecue lunch on the ship. In the afternoon, explore the island’s wildlife-filled jungle interior on a guided walk. Keep an eye out for 125-year old giant tortoises, as well as a number of other plants and animal species unique to the island. Sail overnight to Aride.

Day 3 - Day 3: Aride and Anse Lazio

More than one million seabirds breed annually on Aride, making it an important island for conservation. The entire island is managed as a nature reserve so birds like Seychelles warblers, magpie robins and sunbirds, as well as a variety of other species (green turtles, hawksbill turtles and several species of geckos, to name a few) can thrive. Today you’ll go bird-spotting as you explore Aride’s unspoiled nature on a ranger-led guided walk. If you’re feeling especially active, you can go on an optional excursion to the island’s highest point for incredible views. Afterwards, depart the Seychelle’s most northerly island and head south to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Anse Lazio (located on the island of Praslin) for an afternoon of swimming, snorkelling or just relaxing on the beach. Enjoy another barbecue meal on the ship and spend overnight atanchor.Special InformationLanding on Aride island will be via a zodiac operated by a National Park ranger. This is a surf landing and you will get wet.If surf conditions prevent us from landing on Aride, we will visit Cousin Island which has a huge number of breeding birds. Cousin Island has a lot of mosquitos and it is recommended to have a long sleeve shirt and light pants as well as strong insect repellent for this landing.

Day 4 - Day 4: Curieuse to Baie St Anne

In the morning, set sail for Curieuse, a red-tinged island (due to its red-coloured soil) brimming with unique and oversized biodiversity. Take an optional hike with local rangers from Laraie Bay to Anse St Jose beach for a chance to see gorgeous mangrove forests, giant tortoises, a rare species of palm tree called Coco de Mer (known for their large, unusually shaped nuts) and the ruins of a former leper colony. Enjoy a barbecue on the beach, then set sail for Baie St Anne. The afternoon is yours to enjoy. Perhaps take advantage of onboard kayaks and snorkelling equipment, or you may choose to sunbath on the palm-fringed beach. Spend overnight in port.

Day 5 - Day 5: Praslin

Enjoy a morning excursion to the Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve where you’ll learn more about the unusual Coco de Mer palm and see other unique flora and fauna on a guided jungle walk. Travel to Cote d’Or beach for a swim and lunch, then sail to Felicite or Grande Soeur Island for their underwater views. Spend time swimming in clear waters where sea turtles roam and coral reefs teeming with colourful fish can be found. Stay overnight at anchor.Special InformationThe walk at Fond Ferdinand is about 2 1/2 hours and will involve some steep steps.

Day 6 - Day 6: La Digue

Sail to La Digue, then travel to the magnificent Anse Source D’Argent, another contender for most beautiful beach in the world. And it’s no wonder, given its powdery white sand lapped by emerald waters, glorious palm trees and unique granite boulders. You have a choice of transport here, either ride a bike, the transport of choice on the island, or travel on one of the island's open back trucks. Journey to the laid-back tropical port, La Passe, for free time to explore and perhaps try some local Creole food, then return to the beach for an afternoon swim. Spend the night at anchor.

Day 7 - Day 7: St Anne Island

In the morning, set sail for St Anne Island. Make the most of your final day swimming and snorkelling in this beautiful postcard-worthy location. Sit down to a captain’s dinner featuring local Creole flavours. Stay overnight at anchor.

Day 8 - Day 8: Mahe

The adventure ends after breakfast. Disembark in Mahe.

Day 9 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

It’s no exaggeration to say the beaches here are some of the most beautiful in the world. Our small ship allows us to drop anchor beside uninhabited islands and swim in bays the big cruise liners can’t reach.
We’ll make a stop at the stunning Anse Source D’Argent on La Dique – it’s consistently rated as one of the best beaches in the world.
While bigger cruise liners have to moor out at sea and commute into shore via tender, we’ll drop anchor in the middle of port towns like Mahe, and La Digue. You can hop on or off the boat as you please.
The Seychelles are mainly known for their resorts, but this trip visits far-flung islands like Aride. Short distances between the islands also mean less time cruising, usually for no more than 3-4 hours at a stretch.
Your boat comes fully equipped with kayaks and snorkelling equipment to take advantage of the crystal clear waters.