(Seychelles News Agency) - The Islands Development Company (IDC) of Seychelles celebrated its 38th anniversary in April. The company, which was created in April 1980, works toward ensuring that development activities for the outer islands are done in a sustainable manner.

IDC supports environmental conservation and the protection of ecosystems and species within the outer islands and Silhouette. It also offers services for people wishing to visit the outer islands which include the provision of air and sea links.

IDC has several guesthouses to welcome Seychellois to those islands while foreign visitors are encouraged to use hotel accommodation. 

SNA looks at the accommodation on six islands IDC provides for Seychellois. Note: guesthouses on the islands are reserved for Seychellois but the company provides chartered flights for guests to the islands.

Farquhar

The Farquhar Atoll lies 770 kilometres south-southwest of the Seychelles’ capital, Victoria. It is the largest true atoll of the island nation, covering an area of about 17,800 hectares and has an airstrip.

The island has a three-bedroom house for Seychellois visitors consisting of two single beds per room sharing two bathrooms. It can take up to six people.

Accommodation cost is SCR 250 per person with meals which include breakfast, lunch and dinner, at SCR 500. Cost of the flight is SCR 7,500 per person.

(Island Development Company) Photo License: CC-BY

Desroches

The island is the largest in the Amirantes with 394 hectares and the closest to the granitic islands, 230 kilometres southwest of Victoria.

Tourism is the main economic activity, but agricultural activities are still undertaken, mainly to supply the Four Seasons Desroches hotel opened in March 2018.

Two houses consisting of two rooms and one shared bathroom each are available for Seychellois visitors. Each room has two single beds. Each house can cater for up to four persons.

Accommodation cost is SCR 250 per person with meals which include breakfast, lunch and dinner, at SCR 500. Cost of the flight on standby is SCR 3,000 per person and a confirmed flight is SCR 10,000.

(Island Development Company) Photo License: CC-BY

Silhouette

The island is the only IDC islands of the granitic group, lying 20 kilometres north of Mahe. With 1,995 hectares, Silhouette is the third largest island of the granitic group. The island supports an exceptional biodiversity, including endemic birds, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, bats and plants.

For Seychellois visitors, a four-bedroom house consisting of three single beds per room sharing one bathroom area with two toilets, two showers and two wash hand basins is available. It can cater for a maximum of twelve people.

Accommodation cost is SCR 100 per person with meals which include breakfast, lunch and dinner, at SCR 500. Boat fares are SCR 200 per person.

The island also hosts a five-star facility at La Passe -- the Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa runs. There is also a small Guest House called La Belle Tortue Lodge.

(Island Development Company) Photo License: CC-BY

Remire

The island lies 245 kilometres southwest of Victoria. It is a small oval-shaped island of just 27 hectares near the eastern edge of the Amirantes Ridge.

The island has large numbers of seabirds, notably Lesser Noddy, Fairy Tern and Wedge-tailed Shearwater breed.

One four-bedroom house consisting of two single beds per room, with attached bathrooms. Can cater for a maximum of eight people.

Accommodation cost is SCR 250 per person with meals which include breakfast, lunch and dinner, at SCR 500. Cost of the flight is SCR 3,000 person.

(Island Development Company) Photo License: CC-BY

Astove

The island is part of the Aldabra group and located 1,045 kilometres southwest of Victoria. Astove has a landmass of 661 hectares which circles a shallow lagoon of approximately 5 square kilometres.

The reefs of Astove are said to be the most spectacular in Seychelles. Renowned underwater photographer Stan Waterman pronounced it to be the most spectacular coral reef he had ever seen. The island is also renowned for its butterflies. And is a breeding ground for Green turtles.

The accommodation for Seychellois is a house consisting of one bedroom with two single beds and attached bathroom which can cater for two persons.

Accommodation cost is SCR 250 per person with meals which include breakfast, lunch and dinner, at SCR 500. Cost of the flight is SCR 10,000 per person.

(Island Development Company) Photo License: CC-BY

Platte

Like its name indicates, the island which lies 140 kilometres south of Victoria has a very low topography. It is a small island of just 54 hectares.

Platte is a breeding ground for Brown Noddy and White-tailed Tropicbird while hundreds of Lesser Noddy and Bridled Tern roost at night. A year-long turtle study conducted in 1998 showed that the island has significant populations of some 40 female hawksbills nesting annually.

As for accommodation for Seychellois, a four-bedroom house consisting of two single beds per room with attached bathrooms is available and can cater for a maximum of eight people.

Accommodation cost is SCR 250 per person with meals which include breakfast, lunch and dinner, at SCR 500. Cost of the flight is SCR 3,000 per person. 

(Island Development Company) Photo License: CC-BY