If you would like to spend New Year’s Eve in an extraordinary environment on the world and being active in warm regions next to it then this exclusive trip is the right choice. The end of the trip is a day shorter than our summer trip due to the monsoon coming from the north east. Nevertheless none of the sights worth seeing are missed out.

Embarkation at 10am in Victoria on the island of Mahé. Following an afternoon at leisure a guided tour will lead you through the capital and then on to a viewpoint located at 700m altitude overlooking the city and our departure point. This is at 200 m altitude. On the nature trail you will see a type of carnivore plant unique to Seychelles, amongst other exotic species. During the evening you will experience the enchanting atmosphere of one of the tiniest capitals in the world. The overnight stay will be in the port of Victoria.

After a filling breakfast the cycle tour brings you to the sparsely populated southern part of Mahé and leads you back, along the east coast, to Victoria. On the way you will visit an artist’s city and the Royal Spice Garden of Anse Royale. After a picnic on the beach you will explore the famous coral reefs, for which the island is known, with snorkelling and diving gear. In the late afternoon you can optionally take your bike for another tour around the island leading you to the western part of the island.

This morning’s trip leads you along the coast in the south west to the Takamaka bay where you can have a drink in a lovely little beach bar before the tour continues to Petite Anse. At Petite Anse you visit the artist Antonio Filipinos who will prepare a barbecue for you and will surprise you with his range of innovative works of art. Please look around and explore the hidden facets of Antonio’s realm. At night you go on board at Anse la Mouche where you will savour a hearty dinner.

This cycling free day begins with an exploration of Cousin Nature Reserve after sailing for approximately two hours. This island is situated a short distance from Praslin. Thanks to the work of dedicated conservationists 300,000 seabirds of seven species and five land bird species unique to the Seychelles thrive on the island. After lunch, which is served on board, the captain will show you the most exciting snorkelling and diving sites of the region.

In the morning you go ashore at Praslin, the second largest island of the Seychelles, where you cycle to a viewpoint situated at 340 m altitude. From here you can see the adjacent islands and almost the entire island of Praslin. From there the tour continues another 5 km in the direction of the Anse Lazio bay which is considered one of the most beautiful bays of the world. During a picnic you enjoy the surge and the lovely water. In the afternoon you cycle to the Vallee De Mai National Park one of the most wonderful yet one of the smallest of National Parks in the centre of the island. Here you walk through the virgin forest where you are provided with fascinating explanations on both the rarest and largest nuts in the world, the so called ‘coco de mer’, as well as many other palm trees and tropical plants unique to the Seychelles. At midnight the new year of 2009 rings in while you enjoy the gentle air on deck.

On New Year’s Day you cycle in the south of Praslin once more where you will enjoy the panoramic coast roads of the island before you go on board at St. Anne and – depending on the weather conditions – you will be able to explore either by foot or by snorkelling and diving the “Sisters” as well as the island of Coco.

La Dique is this morning’s target of the crossing and you will be heading for an island, which is dominated by bicycles, the like of which exists only in a children’s picture book. You spend the day cycling and exploring entranced by peculiar rock formations and deserted sandy beaches. Enjoy your picnic on the rocky beach of Anse Source d’Argent and experience the waves lapping on the shore whilst savouring a refreshing coconut cocktail at the beach bar. Wherever you cycle you will always come across the locals who get around either by ox carts or on bikes. You are possibly envied for your bicycle because the good one you are using is a rarity on the island. In the evening you will go on board again in order to sail to one of the smaller neighbouring islands where you will stay at anchor overnight at Grand Anse.

Early in the morning the sails are raised and you will cross open ocean to reach the island of Curieuse by early afternoon. The island is known for its tortoise conservation project, its dense mangrove and for the ruins of a former leper colony. After a short introduction given by the ranger you will hike towards the Doctor’s House (now a visitor’s centre) enjoying the peace and the seclusion of this splendid island. Still enough time is available to discover the world below sea level by diving and snorkelling or simply to enjoy life on board the ship.

In the morning you sail back to the island of Mahé and you will spend the afternoon at one of the bays of Marine National Park St. Anne. Late afternoon you go ashore in Victoria and you will spin around in the northern part of Mahé on its coast roads heading for the Beau Vallon Beach which is the most important water sports centre of the Seychelles. Here you relax on the white beaches before you go back on board your yacht in order to stay the night.

Return or extended stay in one of the charmingly situated hotels on the island of Mahé.

Alterations
We reserve the right to make alterations to the planned route due to changing wind and weather conditions, and where required by organisational necessities.

Requirements (Level 1 - 2)
The longest day track on the islands is 45 km (28 mi) long. Most of the streets are relatively well asphalted and therefore well accessible. Road traffic on Mahé is not too busy and on Praslin and La Dique is sparse. Up to 70% of the tours are along the coast line on flat to light hilly roads. In between you will face steep, but short up hill climbs. When you are tempted you can always consider pushing your bike a little bit. Luckily the rental 7-speed trekking bicycles are equipped with a transmission that even slight hills can be carried out comfortably. In order to keep the bike simple and solid we provide 7-speed trekking bikes with clearly arranged gears that are switched in a hub nearly noiseless and easily. 

Bringing children
We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1.40 m (4.6 ft.)

Catering
The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The full board starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day. On one longer bike tour you will have lunch in a restaurant.

Guided tour
The tour will generally be guided in German language. One of the guides will translate into English for non-German-speaking participants. (Except for pure English-speaking groups.)

Participants

• Minimal 12 partipants
• Maximal 16 participants