Compare Seychelles Island Explorer by Saga Travel vs United Arab Emirates & Maldives in 8 days - Emirate City & All-Inclusive Paradise - LUXURY by Exoticca

Day 1: UK-Dubai-Seychelles

After taking Saga's included UK door-to-door travel service, depart for your overnight flight to the Seychelles via Dubai.

Day 2: Mahé

Meals: Dinner

Arrive on the island of Mahé and transfer to the Crown Beach Hotel (4Q), which enjoys an unspoilt location beside beautiful Pointe Au Sel beach. Stay the next two nights.

Day 3: Mahé

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Spend the day relaxing on the secluded beach, swimming in the outdoor pool, or trying some of the hotel's water activities. Alternatively, you may like to join an optional excursion… B, D

Day 4 Mahe to St Anne Island

Join an included morning sightseeing tour to the island's capital, Victoria. Travel to the quay where M/Y Pegasus (4anchor) awaits. There will be a welcome cocktail on board after you cruise to nearby St Anne Island, where you'll moor overnight and enjoy a welcome dinner.

Day 5: St Anne Island to Curieuse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Early this morning, cruise to the island of Curieuse. Once a leper colony, this small island is now a strictly protected part of the Marine Park, and home to a wild population of approximately 250 Giant Tortoises. Explore the old turtle farm and mangrove forests as you wind your way along the nature trails with a park guide. After a barbecue under the trees, spend a leisurely afternoon on the beach. Your ship will remain moored here overnight.

Day 6: Curieuse to Cousin Island to Anse Lazio, Praslin

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You'll sail to Cousin Island, where an included excursion explores the bird sanctuary. This afternoon, head to Anse Lazio on the island of Praslin where M/Y Pegasus will drop anchor for the night. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world – perfect for relaxing before the sun sets.

Day 7: Anse Lazio, Praslin to Aride to St Pierre to Baie St Anne, Praslin

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning you'll cruise to Aride – a dedicated nature reserve which has one of the most important sea bird populations in the Indian Ocean. Home to 18 native bird species – five of which can only be found on the Seychelles – there is also indigenous flora, including the Wright's gardenia. Perhaps join a walk to the top of the island for amazing views. This afternoon, leave Aride, pausing at St Pierre before continuing to Baie St Anne on the island of Praslin. Tonight enjoy a Creole night on board.

Day 8: Baie St Anne, Praslin to Felicite to La Digue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Spend the morning at leisure. Perhaps join an optional excursion to the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve – home to an abundance of Coco de Mer trees. If you are very lucky, you may spot one of the rarest birds in the world too, the Black Parrot. After a guided tour you'll continue to beautiful Cote d'Or beach for a swim before you head back to your ship. This afternoon M/Y Pegasus makes her way to the uninhabited island of Felicite, where you can snorkel and perhaps dive. This evening you'll sail to La Digue, where you'll moor for the night.

Day 9: La Digue to Moyenne Island

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Morning at leisure. Perhaps discover La Digue's traditional community, with ox carts and bicycles used as the main mode of transport. Alternatively you might like to join an optional excursion travelling by ox-cart to L'Union Estate where you'll see how coconut meat is dried and how coconut oil is milled. You then continue to Anse Source d'Argent – a magnificent beach which features unique rock formations – and finish your trip hunting for souvenirs in the village of La Passe. Return to your ship which heads for Moyenne Island this afternoon, and remains moored here overnight.

Day 10: Moyenne Island to Mahé

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today there will be a short guided tour around the island, and some free time for swimming. Enjoy a barbecue lunch on the beach before you board M/Y Pegasus for the final time, and sail back to Mahé's Victoria port. This evening there's live music on board during the Captain's farewell dinner.

Day 11: Mahé-Dubai-UK

Meals: Breakfast

Disembark your ship and travel to the airport for your return flight via Dubai. Arrive in the UK for your included UK door-to-door travel service home.

Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrive at your US departure airport ready to check-in for a flight* to the luxurious city of Dubai. Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Dubai

Arrive in Dubai and transfer to the hotel.* The remainder of the day is free to discover this modern Emirati metropolis at your leisure. We recommend visiting the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world and a symbol of the city of 828 meters and 160 floors. Since its inauguration in 2010, it offers the best views of the desert and the city. Underneath is the largest shopping center in the world, the Dubai Mall where 1200 stores of all kinds are located. A shopping paradise! Overnight stay in Dubai. * You will have the option to add early check-in on arrival in Dubai (before 3:00 p.m.) in the next step of the booking process.

Day 3: Dubai

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the morning at your leisure, exploring the old town or sunning yourself on Dubai's idyllic beaches. We recommend an optional excursion to explore the older parts of the city.* At dusk, take an exciting 4x4 excursion to the desert. Pass through camel farms and spectacular desert landscapes, as the sand dunes are illuminated at sunset until arriving at a traditional camp. Here, enjoy a delicious barbeque dinner under the stars with traditional entertainment including Belly Dancing,* waterpipes and camel rides. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Dubai. * Optional Half-Day Classic Dubai Tour: Visit the Bastakia neighbourhood, home to old merchant houses and cafes, and learn about Dubai's history with included entrance to the Dubai Museum. Take a traditional river taxi, known as an 'Abra' across Dubai Creek to the aromatic souks of Old Dubai, filled with stalls selling exotic spices and golden wares. Please note: this optional excursion operates on Friday afternoons and Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday mornings only.

Day 4: Dubai

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying a shopping spree in Dubai's fabulous malls or relaxing at your leisure on the beach. We recommend an optional tour of the city's modern attractions.* Overnight stay in Dubai. * Optional Half-Day Modern Dubai Tour: Visit the most emblematic sights in the city including the Jumeirah Mosque and the Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel. Travel to the man-made palm-shaped island of Palm Jumeirah to see the amazing Atlantis Hotel before heading back to the city on the monorail. Afterwards, explore glittering Dubai Marina, the Mall of Emirates, to see the impressive Ski Dubai, and the jaw-dropping Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Please note: this optional excursion operates on Mondays and Fridays only.

Day 5: Dubai - Maldives

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the day exploring the city at your leisure. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Touch down in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. From here, take an exciting speedboat transfer to your resort, situated on an island in the pristine Indian Ocean. Arrive, get settled in and begin your All-inclusive stay. Overnight stay in the Maldives. * You will have the option to add late check-out in Dubai in the next step of the booking process.

Day 6: Maldives

All-inclusive. Enjoy a day at your leisure in the Maldives, soaking up the breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean from the comforts of a white-sand beach or exploring the abundant sea life on a snorkeling excursion. The facilities at the resort are there to make your stay as blissful as possible, so make the most of them as you begin to unwind from the stresses of daily life. Overnight stay in the Maldives.

Day 7: Maldives

All-inclusive. Enjoy the day at your leisure. We recommend a diving excursion, whether you're a first-timer or already accustomed to the underwater world. The Maldives is considered one of the world's best diving destinations as the waters surrounding its atolls are inhabited by thousands of species of whales, dolphins, turtles and fish, so don't miss out on the opportunity to explore for yourself. Overnight stay in the Maldives.

Day 8: Maldives

All-inclusive. Enjoy your final day in the Maldives at your leisure. Make the most of your last moments in paradise by exploring the island and finding the most perfect stretch of beach in which to contemplate the picture-perfect ocean views. Arrange a romantic meal or enjoy the resort entertainment to bring a memorable close to your idyllic escape. Overnight stay in the Maldives.

Day 9: Maldives - Night on board

Breakfast* at the hotel. Sadly, it's time to bid farewell to the paradise shores of the Maldives. At the indicated time, take a speedboat transfer to Malé to catch a flight back to the US. Night on board. * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

Day 10: US

Arrive in the US and end your trip.