Aldabra

2008

Aldabra, Seychelles – 14 days – Guided by Dr. Peter C.H. Pritchard – Cost Approx $3500 + $400 guide fee

Maximum 12 travelers.  Confirmed = 9*  Still open spaces = 3 (less space may actually be available, inquire)

We will spend about 7 days exploring different locations and the amazing animal and plant life of Aldabra.

Travel time will be about 3 to 4 days.  We will fly to Mahe, the capital of the Seychelles and then take a charter Propeller plane to Assumption Island (I will fly this leg ;) Just Kidding!)  The flight to Assumption takes about 3 hours.  Then, we will board a yacht which will sail to Aldabra, another 3 hours.  The flight schedule getting there looks as follows:

leave lax 10pm friday arrive paris 530pm saturday. leave paris 730pm saturday arrive Mahe 8am sunday

fly from Mahe to Assumption 10am arrive Assumption 1pm sail 2pm to arrive Aldabra 5pm Sunday (2 days travel)

Upon arrival, we will be greeted by the research station staff and scientists who will show us our accommodations.  We will sleep, and eat at the research station.  Daily, we will be taken to the major sites of the world’s largest Coral atoll which hosts the largest colony of giant tortoises in the world at 150,000!

We will be able to dive and snorkel as well.  At present, we are looking at spending about 1 week on the Atoll.  With travel time eating up 4 days and 7 days on the atoll, that will total 11 days.  We may add another 3 days at another fascinating site such as Kenya or Tanzania, or perhaps a few days in Europe.

We have yet to finalize the last few days on the itinerary.

Costs will amount to about $1500 for airfare LAX to Mahe.  Airfare Mahe to Assumption is being negotiated.

It will be between $1000 and $1500 which will include the boat ride over to Aldabra.  Daily rate per person

Staying at the research station full board will be about $150.  For 7 days, that is $1050.  I will always do my

Best to find the lowest fares for us all.  As you can see, based upon these figures, we are looking at from $3550

To $4050.  It is my hope to get the airfares to about $1000 each for LAX Mahe and $1000 each for Mahe to

Aldabra.  That would give a grand total of just over $3000 each!  Plus, we may have 3 extra days to spend some

Additional funds in Africa or Europe.  Should average around $3500 if all goes well.  This is EXTREMELY

Cheap for this type of trip.  I saw a similar trip offered by National Geographic recently for $9000 plus air!

Anyhow, this will be part 2 in the Giant Tortoise Tour as Part 1 will be the above-mentioned Galapagos

Trip.  These are the 2 gems on any turtle/tortoise lover’s list of places to see before you die!

*Confirmed = Peter, Michael, Diane, Lydia, Andrew, Marty, Bob T., Judy T., Sibille P.