
The Seychelles offers the visitor a tropical beauty that is difficult, if not impossible to match anywhere else in the world. Spread out over a vast area of the Indian Ocean, they offer everything from quiet sophistication and enchanting scenery to wild and uninhabited nature reserves, where the very remoteness of the islands has protected them from the worst excesses of mankind. We know the region well having operated vessels there for over thirty years and if ever there was a region perfect for expedition cruising it is here, a timeless world of wonders both below and above the water.
Obviously, such beauty and serenity are best enjoyed with a small number of travelling companions and the MS Island Sky is an ideal vessel. With a maximum of just over 100 passengers, an expert expedition team and our fleet of Zodiacs we can land on remote beaches, walk through verdant rainforest and national parks and get close to some unique flora and fauna. Those who have sailed with us through these extraordinary waters have experienced the magic of dropping anchor off a remote atoll at first light and watched the dawn illuminate the watery horizon. Then as the sun rises, have ventured ashore by Zodiac, landing on a deserted beach to discover the rich bird and marine life, the exotic flora and nature reserves as colonies of birds congregate overhead and in the seas a kaleidoscope of tropical fish swim amongst the coral.
Our journey will include all aspects of this extraordinary island nation from the developed Inner Seychelles with staggeringly beautiful islands such as Praslin to the lesser known and rarely visited Outer Seychelles. Here we will sail all the way to Aldabra, the world’s largest coral atoll and a World Heritage Site. Being one of the most difficult places in the world to access and having a lack of freshwater has saved Aldabra from any tourism development and only small vessels like the MS Island Sky are allowed to visit. It is therefore a great privilege to be able to land on the untouched beaches of Aldabra, the breeding ground for thousands of giant tortoises and home to some of the rarest birds in the Indian Ocean. To explore the abundant crystal clear waters of the vast lagoon and to set foot on atolls which have never been exploited by the hand of man is a rare experience and one we hope you can join us for.
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Itinerary
Day 1 London or Manchester to Mahe, Seychelles.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Day 2 Mahe.
Arrive and transfer to the MS Island Sky. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail the short distance to our overnight anchorage at Praslin.
Day 3 Praslin & Curieuse, Inner Seychelles.
Spend the morning on Praslin where we will explore the ‘Vallee de Mai’, the last remnant of the original high canopied Seychelles palm forest and home to the coco de mer. We will walk its paths looking out for the rare black parrot and enjoying its natural beauty. Sail over lunch to Curieuse, a rugged island that was once home to a leper colony and now houses an eco-museum and visitor centre. The island is an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles and boasts endemic vines and mangroves which we will explore during our island walk.
Day 4 Alphonse Islands.
There are three islands in the Alphonse group and as we approach them you will understand why they are regarded by many to be the most beautiful of the 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago. After a leisurely morning at sea we plan to spend the afternoon on the tiny and idyllic island of Bijoutier which, rarely visited, is a haven for a variety of seabirds. There will be the opportunity to swim and we hope to offer a snorkel platform in the crystal clear waters. Bijoutier sits between two larger atolls so the ocean current flows passing Bijoutier replenish the coral reefs and make them especially rich in biodiversity.
Days 5 & 6 Farquhar Islands.
Spend the morning at sea as we cruise to the Farquhar Group which consists of ten islands and atolls which cover an area of 370 square kilometres. We will spend two days here and will discover the Providence Atoll before we anchor off Farquhar where we will use our Zodiacs to explore the sparkling lagoon of this remote, atoll ringed island of coconut and casuarina trees. Hawksbill and green sea turtles come to the atoll to nest and several of the Farquhar Group’s islands are Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. We will visit the island’s settlement, enjoy walks looking for the birdlife or snorkel in the clear waters.
Days 7 & 8 Aldabra Islands.
We have two days to enjoy the Aldabra group of islands and hope to include landings at Cosmoledo where a huge ring of twelve islands circles a lagoon. Many of the atolls are still to be surveyed and we will explore some of them by Zodiac. This is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area with all three species of booby found in the Seychelles including the last breeding site for the brown booby. We also hope to spot sooty terns and great frigate birds on land and have the opportunity to see turtles as we swim and snorkel in the lagoon. Close by is Aldabra, the island referred to by Sir Julian Huxley as “One of nature’s treasures and should belong to the whole world” which is unique and 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 the atoll is also home to the world’s second largest colony of frigate birds and to the largest crab, the coconut crab. Whilst exploring by Zodiac it is difficult to know in which direction to look. The clear blue seas abound with life, the skies are alive with varied birdlife and ashore giant land tortoises forage as they have done for millions of years. We hope to explore Picard Island with a short walk to see some of the thousands of tortoises and numerous robber crabs or swim in the lagoon, a vast 17 mile stretch of shallow clear water. From our Zodiacs we can watch the ever-changing undersea world and snorkel in colourful coral waters.
Day 9 At Sea.
Spend a leisurely day on board as we continue our journey through the Seychelles. Maybe join a lecture and watch for wildlife on deck.
Day 10 Amirante Islands.
Over lunch we arrive at the 28 islands in the Amirante Group which were discovered by Vasco de Gama in 1501 and are considered to be some of the most pristine and untouched islands in the world. If conditions permit we will visit Poivre Atoll which is made up of three islands. In the past the islands were used for vanilla, nuts, maize, cattle and pig farming but in recent years, the atolls’ landscapes have become a popular nesting ground for bird species like Chinese and blue heron, whimbrels, fodies, noddies and greater frigate birds. The sandy shores are also important nesting grounds for hawksbill and green turtles.
Day 11 Aride & Cousin, Inner Seychelles.
Early this morning we return to the Inner Seychelles and hope to anchor off Aride, one of the finest and most important seabird islands in the Indian Ocean. Over one million seabirds breed on the island including tropical shearwater, lesser noddy, frigatebirds and roseate tern and also five species unique to the Seychelles such as the Seychelles warbler and Seychelles magpie robin. The island is largely covered in native woodland including the endemic Wright’s gardenia, a shrub with beautifully scented flowers found nowhere else in the world. We will spend our final afternoon on the island of Cousin, a lovely island and nature reserve which is surrounded on two sides by spectacular beaches. There will be the option to take a final swim from the beach or keen bird watchers may like to join a nature walk to look for some of the endemic land birds including the Seychelles sunbird and Seychelles fody.
Day 12 Mahe to London or Manchester.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London or Manchester. Arrive this afternoon.
Dates and Prices
| 14 to 25 October 2027 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
| Magellan Deck Standard Suites | £8995 | £8495 |
| Columbus Deck Superior Suites | £9295 | £8795 |
| Marco Polo Deck Premium Suites | £9495 | £8995 |
| Marco Polo Deck Corner Suites | £9995 | £9495 |
| Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suites | £10995 | £10495 |
| Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £11395 | £10895 |
| Explorer Deck Island Suite | £11895 | £11395 |
| Magellan Deck Standard for sole occupancy | £8995 | £8495 |
| Columbus Deck Superior for sole occupancy | £9295 | £8795 |
Tour Reference Code: SCISK141027
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • 10 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Airport taxes • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, Seychelles Travel Authorisation.
During this expedition you will be visiting out of the way destinations and will be accompanied by an expedition team. Landings and excursions will be made by Zodiac landing craft. The use of Zodiacs will be key to the operation of the itinerary as shown. If you have any queries pertaining to the use of Zodiacs or the level of fitness required for this voyage, please do not hesitate to ask one of our experienced travel consultants.
Please be aware that our website does not display real-time availability. As a result, the categories and prices listed above are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please call us at 020 7752 0000 and speak with one of our experienced Travel Consultants.
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Deckplan
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Videos
Also of Interest
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A voyage from Mauritius exploring Madagascar, Aldabra & Tanzania aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mauritius / Reunion Island / Masoala National Park / Nosy Mangabe / Domaine de Bobangira / Diego Suarez / Nosy Hara / Aldabra Islands / Kilwa Kisiwani / Latham Island / Zanzibar / Dar es Salaam
Passage to the Seychelles
Island Hopping through Tanzania & the beautiful Seychelles aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Dar es Salaam / Zanzibar / Latham Island / Kilwa Kisiwani / Aldabra Islands / Farquahar group / Alphonse Islands / Amirante Islands / Inner Seychelles / Mahe
Sri Lanka to the Seychelles
A voyage from Colombo to Mahe including the Maldives aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Colombo / Hambantota / Galle / Maldives/ Seychelles
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000








