What is the Island Season?
From May through to late September, the southeast trades dominate the Seychelles’ outer islands. On Alphonse, this means slightly windier conditions, the air is a little cooler, and a shift in the ocean’s character. The lagoon is still warm and sheltered but the open ocean is livelier. This means some of the ocean activities like outer reef diving, the manta experience and snorkelling with sailfish are not quite so reliably on offer. It’s not a limitation of the Island Season though, it’s just different, with different elements to offer a particular kind of traveller.
The Island Conservation Society (ICS) team lives and works on Alphonse year-round. During the Island Season, there is more space for informal conversations: a guided walk through the food garden or a nesting zone, or accompanying one of the marine conservationists on a turtle patrol or beach cleanup. (I’ve done several beach clean ups here and it’s an incredibly rewarding exercise).
Green turtles nest year-round on Alphonse. Between May and October, hatchlings may emerge from their nests. Birdlife intensifies. Frigatebirds arrive in numbers in May and June, and from August, red-footed boobies become a more regular presence on the island. Brown noddies nest throughout this period, adding to the activity in the trees. Watching the daily movement within this ecosystem is one of the quieter rewards of being on Alphonse at this time of year.
The ocean in Island Season
Water activity is very much part of the Island Season. The lagoon is sheltered, warm, and fully accessible year-round. Snorkelling, kayaking, casting lessons, stand-up paddle boarding, guided reef walks at low tide, and morning turtle patrols are all reliable Island Season activities.
Divers will find that cooler water temperatures often bring pelagic fish closer inshore and underwater life in the lagoon remains excellent throughout this period. On calmer days, the ocean opens up, with outer reef snorkelling, manta encounters, and glass-bottom boat cruises all possible.
From around late July through to early October, humpback whales move between the outer islands. The whales’ presence is not guaranteed but when they are here, and the weather enables boat-based viewing, it’s a spectacular activity.
What to do on Alphonse Island
There are plenty of activities to enjoy on the island itself. There’s early morning yoga on the beach, the farm opens for harvest sessions and honey collection from the island’s hives. There are cooking classes, followed by lunch in the garden. Afternoons drift towards cocktail classes at the beach bar. Towards evening, sundowners are often set up at the boathouse or in a private spot on the beach, and after dark, the star gazing is superb. Conservation talks, a relaxed dinner, and movie nights round out the day.
Who is the Island Season for?
If you want to ease into island life, explore on land and in the lagoon, follow the rhythms of a working conservation island, and do it all in cooler, breezier conditions with the island largely to yourselves – the Island Season is yours.
If you are interested in visiting Alphonse Island during Island Season, or at any time of the year, and would like more information on this stunning location please contact Charlotte Chilcott or Peter McLeod or call us on +44 1980 847389.
