ALPHONSE ISLAND

It’s not just the resort, the diving opportunities, the thrilling activities, and the weather that makes Alphonse Island so spectacular. Add in the terrain, the techniques, the season, and the species diversity and you have an incredible mix, custom-made for fly fishing. On the terrain front, fly fishing in the Alphonse Atoll sets itself apart due to the largely land-based approach it offers. While blue-water, boat-based fishing is available to anglers, the main draw these atolls holds is for the angler to be able to target challenging species on foot. In line with its environmental ethos and practices, a strict catch and release system is in operation. Saltwater fly-fishing destinations in many parts of the world are boat-based, the Alphonse Atoll stands apart because of the opportunities it gives anglers: to wading in shallow, warm water on hard white sand and turtle grass, on coral flats to discover a plethora of exciting new species. It’s the opportunity to cast at behemoth giant trevally or shoals of bonefish in the same knee-deep water you are standing in, is not something many fly anglers who are accustomed to boat-based fishing, will ever forget.

The Island Conservation Society (ICS) team offers activities enabling guests to connect with the natural environment and surroundings whilst respecting it. By assisting the ICS, guests gain a wider understanding of the ecology and ecosystems that exist on Alphonse, St François, and Bijoutier, and the importance of their work and how it greatly affects the islands. As part of the guided walks and the Native Vegetation Restoration project, guests can choose to plant an endemic tree. Swimming with – and photographing – Manta Rays, is a particularly magical ocean experience, which helps capture important data about individual specimens and their movements. These islands provide important nesting grounds for our endemic Hawksbill and Green turtles; the turtle patrol and tracking project provides important insights into the population numbers and their movement, which helps the team protect them. With days filled with adventures on land, in or above the shimmering waters of the Indian Ocean, relax at the central dining and bar area, as the sun slowly dips into the ocean and melts away, signalling the end of another day in paradise. Menus are created from freshly caught fish, and grilled meats and 65% of the fruits and vegetables served are grown on the island’s farm. Combining the influences of local Seychellois Creole and French cuisine, dishes are inspired from all corners of the Indian Ocean.