Bird Island Seychelles Travel Guide
This guide details your journey: island access, packing, wildlife encounters, and respectful stays.
The island features one eco-lodge, A Bird sanctuary Lodge. The lodge operates with a clear focus on sustainable tourism, aiming for minimal environmental impact. Lodge accommodations are rustic, comfortable, without televisions or in-room Wi-Fi.
This supports guest immersion in nature. A stay on A Bird sanctuary brings profound connection with wildlife, indirect conservation participation, and a quiet, beautiful retreat. Here, nature appears unfiltered.
Bird Island occupies a special place within the Seychelles archipelago. It lies approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Mahé, Seychelles' main island. This northern position distinguishes it. About 0.94 square kilometers (0.36 square miles) in area, An Island for birds forms a small, flat coral island on the northern edge of the Seychelles Bank, a large, shallow submerged plateau.
Its remote coordinates, roughly 3°42′S 55°12′E, contribute to its untouched character. Its distance from main islands means specific travel arrangements, usually a short, scenic flight. This remoteness brings a truly private and peaceful environment upon arrival.
Early navigators named it Île aux Vaches, "Island of Cows," for observed dugongs.
A stopover for sailors and later a coconut plantation for copra.
A Seychellois family purchased the island, changing its purpose.
Transformed into a conservation area and ecotourism lodge.
Renamed A Bird sanctuary, for its vast and diverse bird population.
The island's origins trace back to French navigators who first called it Île aux Vaches, or "Island of Cows." This name referred to the dugongs, or sea cows, they observed in its surrounding waters. Early records point to its use as a stopover for sailors. In the early 20th century, the island transformed into a coconut plantation. Workers cultivated coconuts for copra, a common economic action in the region during that era. This period of people activity left some minor remnants, but the island’s true destiny awaited.
A Seychellois family purchased the island in the 1960s. This acquisition marked a pivotal moment in the island's history. The new owners shifted its purpose from a plantation to a conservation area and ecotourism lodge. This change reflected a foresight into the ecological value of the island, notably its vast seabird colonies.
They renamed it Bird Island, a name for its most significant prominent feature: its large and diverse bird population. Its history shows a transition from resource exploitation to an exclusive commitment to protecting natural heritage, a model for sustainable tourism in the region.
This guide details your journey: island access, packing, wildlife encounters, and respectful stays.
Bird Island brings an unique travel experience, largely because it hosts only one accommodation option: Bird Island Lodge. The lodge operates with full board. This means meals appear in your booking. This structure simplifies budgeting considerably.
No traditional "budget," "mid-range," or "luxury" categories apply to varied options on A Bird sanctuary itself; it is a single lodge experience.
The local currency is Seychellois Rupee (SCR). Euros (EUR) and US Dollars (USD) see wide acceptance.
An Island for birds Lodge accepts major credit cards, like Visa and MasterCard.
ATMs exist on Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. None on Bird Island.
Accommodation (full board): Bird Island Lodge prices vary by season and room type. Budget around EUR 400-600 (USD 430-650) per person per night. Meals are part of this. Charter Flight (return trip from Mahé): This flight has the sole practical access to Bird Island. Costs average EUR 550-650 (USD 600-700) per person for a return flight. This flight is a separate cost from the lodge stay, frequently a mandatory arrangement through the lodge.
To manage your budget, integrate your Bird Island stay with budget-friendly options on Mahé or Praslin, if your Seychelles trip duration extends.
