Cosmoledo Eco-Lodge

Accommodations Details
We are very excited to announce the opening of the new Cosmoledo Eco-Lodge – a one-of-a-kind Seychelles lodge operation set up in the middle of the greatest giant trevally fishing found anywhere. Committed to the conservation, preservation, and protection of the natural resources of uninhabited Cosmoledo Atoll, this single eco-camp situated on Cosmo’s Wizard Island is where nature meets sustainable hospitality: the ideal base of operations for anglers looking to experience all that this fishery has to offer.

For a long time, Cosmoledo Atoll was the ultimate domain of fly fishermen – a remote and distant fishery that was only accessible with the support of a live-aboard “mothership.” This new lodge has replaced the catamaran and changed the way that the atoll can now be experienced. The operators of the new lodge built the facility with the goal being “the conservation, preservation, and protection of the natural resources … where nature meets creative hospitality and understated luxury.” The distinctive eco-camp has been designed with a sense of serenity and adventure, meshing perfectly with its surroundings and conveying a feeling of unity with its location.

The new lodge offers eight individual guest rooms, all of which are new, recrafted, and air-conditioned “Eco Pods” that perfectly blend in with the natural wilderness of Wizard Island. Equipped with modern amenities, the eco-pods are comfortable, clean, air-conditioned, and spacious – a marked improvement from the tight staterooms of the previous mothership option.

It is important to state that the new lodge has REPLACED the mothership, and the new additions and changes collectively offer nothing but positives for anglers interested in fishing this incredible ecosystem.

Food and Beverages
The dining on Cosmoledo is a fantastic mixture of Creole and international food, featuring fresh fish at any time. The Cosmoledo Eco Camp has a fantastic new dining and entertainment area consisting of a large tent with bare beach floors, great island character, and a fully stocked bar. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in all Cosmo packages. Breakfast consists of a full house buffet, while lunch can either be enjoyed in the dining area or packed as a cooler picnic option for your day on the flats. Dinner is a time for all of the guests at the lodge to come together and share stories about the day’s adventures. There is a strong emphasis on the Seychellois Creole heritage of the island, and menus often feature fresh fish complemented by produce from the vegetable garden on nearby Alphonse Island.

Typical Length of Stay
All Cosmoledo trips are seven (7) nights and include six (6) days of guided fishing. Because this is a fishery that can only be accessed by a charter flight and water transfer from Astove that runs once a week, all packages are fixed at one week in length.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
The primary reason to make the trip to Cosmoledo is to fish. That said, there are a number of non-angling options and activities that are available on the atoll. Complimentary and non-angling activities on Cosmoledo include guided kayaking around the atoll, guided stand-up paddleboarding, a guided walking tour across Wizard Island for guests to familiarize themselves with the coastal trails and secret spots on the island, and a reef flats expedition where one travels the inside reef flats of Cosmoledo with a knowledgeable guide. Each week all island guests are offered a few additional experiences, such as sundowners on the beach, a flats lunch, and on Wednesdays, a group de-tackling and drinks session! Cosmoledo is an important bird area, and the atoll holds Seychelles’ largest colonies of all three species of booby that breed in the region, including the last viable population of brown booby. Enjoy a bird-watching excursion with an expert guide at any time. There are snorkel and dive opportunities as well, and to date, very little SCUBA diving has been done around Cosmoledo. This makes for a thrilling and unique diving experience, with new dive sites constantly being discovered.

Internet / Communications
There is now Wi-Fi service on Cosmoledo! The lodge is equipped with basic satellite wi-fi and email access. There is also a lodge satellite phone, which can be used in case of emergencies.

Security
The Seychelles waters are considered to be very safe these days, and precautions and relevant safety protocols are in place at all times. We are happy to discuss the security situation in the Seychelles at any time!

How To Get There
The primary airport and access hub for the Seychelles is the Mahe International Airport (SEZ). The Seychelles is served by several internationally scheduled flights, including direct services from London (Heathrow) with Air Seychelles, Paris with Air France, Dubai with Emirates, and Johannesburg with Air Seychelles. From the U.S. you will typically fly to Paris, London, or Dubai, and from there fly directly to Mahe (SEZ). Each flight is approximately eight to 10 hours long. Guests should plan to arrive on Mahe the day before and overnight in order to catch the morning shuttle to Astove. Yellow Dog is happy to assist with hotel reservations or recommendations on Mahe.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Guests should plan to arrive on Mahe the day before the start of the trip and overnight. The transfer flight departs Mahe for Assumption early the following morning. Charter flight times can vary, so it is best to play it safe and come in the day before. The flight from Mahe to Astove is just under three hours onboard a private chartered Beechcraft 1900. Guests are met by the AFC staff at the Astove landing strip and then taken to the main lodge area to meet the transfer boat to Cosmoledo. The run time in the transfer boat from Astove to Cosmoledo is usually 1-2 hours depending on conditions. On your departure day from Mahe, you should plan your international flight to depart Mahe (SEZ) no earlier than 7:30 PM, which is not really a problem since most international flights depart between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM.

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within six (6) months of trips dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages remaining in the back, and that it is not torn, delaminated, or damaged in any way. UK, US, EU, and RSA passport holders do not require a visa for entering the country of the Seychelles for vacation purposes.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Luggage Weight Restrictions for Inter-Island Flights
IDC (the operators of the inner-island flight in the Seychelles)  enforces a 15 kilograms (33 pounds) main luggage and 5 kilograms (11 pounds) hand luggage rule for all passengers boarding the IDC aircraft to Alphonse Island, Farquhar, Cosmoledo, and Astove Atolls. Passengers that fail to comply with the restrictions will be instructed to unpack their overweight luggage and will have to leave the unpacked goods in Mahe at their expense. Please be aware that there is no option to pay ‘overweight’ baggage fees, as the aircraft can only carry so much cargo.

Travel Tools
- Travel Insurance
- Moon Phases
- Airline Ticketing
- Rent This Rod
- Global Rescue Membership

General Information
Cosmoledo’s large white sand flats, lagoon edges, and channels are without question ruled by the notorious giant trevally, so much so that it is often referred to as planet earth’s GT headquarters! Geets are, however, not the only species that can be found throughout the Cosmoledo fishery in numbers. Bonefish, milkfish, the finicky Indo-Pacific permit, and a host of triggerfish species all call Cosmoledo home and can easily be found throughout the fishing season.

Each day, anglers will head out in pairs with a single guide on mini mahe's outfitted with a poling platform. Fishing is a combination of fishing from the mini mahe's and wading where it makes sense. When wading, clients carry their own waterproof backpack with both a bonefish and trigger rod (usually a 9 weight) and a heavier GT rod (usually an 11 or 12 weight). Each fishing day usually begins at 8:00 AM and runs late into the afternoon – usually 5:30 PM or slightly later. Tides play a huge role in which types of species are found throughout the day. It is common to set up several “sessions” in different locations for different species throughout the day (triggers and bonefish at low water, GTs on the incoming tide, etc.) The guides know the area and the fishery well and will plan and execute each day according to tides and overall conditions.

One of the things that we love about the Eco-Lodge location on Wizard Island is that guests can now fish on their own early in the mornings or late into the evening, wading the bonefish flats on the lagoon side of the island, or walking the beaches on the surf-side of Wizard in search of GTs.

Boats and Equipment
Anglers fishing Cosmoledo will access the different areas of the atoll utilizing Mahe tender boats (skiffs). There will always be two clients per skiff/guide (unless single occupancy fishing is pre-arranged). Each tender will be skippered by an experienced guide, and the guide team on Cosmo is always comprised of the most seasoned and experienced guides from Alphonse Fishing Company. Each guide is a qualified skipper, has first aid experience, and is extremely experienced with regards to all facets of fly fishing these remote atoll destinations. It is recommended that clients bring all gear, equipment, terminal tackle, and flies with them. That said, the guides typically have some patterns for sale, and we always recommend that you purchase whatever guide-tied “local” patterns that the guides recommend. Yellow Dog will be happy to help you pre-order these fly selections so that they are waiting for you when you arrive.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter.

2024 RATES 
Fishing Package Double Occupancy: $19,145.00 per person
Fishing Package Single Occupancy: $24,185.00 per person
Single Skiff Supplement: $3,900.00 per week / $650.00 per day

What’s Included:

• Seven (7) nights of accommodations and amenities at Cosmo Eco Lodge
• Six (6) full days of guided fishing (two anglers per guide)
• Use of tender boat and all fuel for daily transportation
• All meals while at the lodge
• Round-trip inter-island IDC charter flights between Mahe and Astove
• Water transfers from Astove to Cosmoledo
• Seychelles fishing license
• Daily laundry services at lodge
• All applicable taxes and landing fees
• Water, soft drinks, coffee, and tea
  
  

What’s Not Included:

• International airfare to and from Mahe, Seychelles (SEZ)
• Hotel nights, meals, and ground transfers on Mahe (if needed)
• Bar tab and alcohol at lodge
• Gratuities for lodge staff and guides
• Mandatory travel and medical evacuation insurance
• Terminal tackle, flies, and fishing gear
• Seychelles conservation license of $210.00 per person (will be added to the invoice)

Payment Terms
Reservations will be held for two weeks once booked and confirmed with Yellow Dog. We require a 50% deposit within 15 days to confirm the booking, and final payment is to be made 90 prior to arrival and the start of the trip.

INDEMNITY & INSURANCE:
All activities require the client to sign an indemnity once on location
All clients require travel insurance to cover costs incurred due to flight delays for any reason
All clients require “From Scene of Accident Medivac Insurance”  

At the time of quote flight charges, island fees and government taxes are correct but are subject to change without prior notice. Increases in any of these facets are out of the control of Alphonse Island Lodge Limited and will be transferred to the client.  Service providers used such as airlines and charter boat operators are independent business concerns and are in no way affiliated to Alphonse Island Limited.  Although all reasonable efforts will be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour, Alphonse Island Lodge Limited cannot be held responsible in any way for bad or non-performance of service providers.  While all possible efforts will be made to ensure the success of this tour, Alphonse Island Lodge Limited cannot be held responsible in any way for the cancellation in total or in part or non-performance in any way, due to bad weather, insufficient bookings, or any other detrimental natural phenomenon/disaster, political unrest or war.  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
NOTE THAT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 29, 2021, THE FOLLOWING TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND CANCELLATION POLICIES ARE IN PLACE FOR ALL ALPHONSE FISHING COMPANY-RUN DESTINATIONS. PLEASE NOTE THAT TRIP INSURANCE COVERAGE, AS WELL AS MEDICAL EVACUATION COVERAGE, ARE BOTH NOW MANDATORY FOR ALL SEYCHELLES (AFC) BOOKINGS, AS FULL REFUNDS ARE SIMPLY NOT OFFERED IN ANY CASES OF CANCELLATION, REGARDLESS OF THE REASON.

 RESCHEDULE AND CANCELLATION POLICIES:
> A 10% fee shall be levied if cancellation is made more than 180 days prior to arrival
> A 10% fee shall be levied if the reservation is moved to an alternative date within the same year
> A 10% fee and the rate increase shall be levied if the reservation is moved to an alternative date that is not within the same year
> A fee of 50% shall be levied if cancellation is between 180 and 90 days prior to arrival
> A fee of 100% shall be levied if cancellation is 90 days or less prior to arrival
> All cancellations and provisional bookings must be confirmed in writing

 INDEMNITY & INSURANCE:
> All activities require the client to sign an indemnity once on location
> All clients are required to submit “From Scene of Accident Medevac Insurance” prior to arrival

> It is required that guests take out travel insurance that covers part or full cancellation of a trip due to flight delays, health (including infectious diseases), weather, force majeure or any other reason

 THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE:
> A ban on travel issued by the departing country stating that citizens may not travel to the Seychelles
> Border closure prohibiting non-residents from travel into the Seychelles

For all Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, L.L.C. (YDFA) Alphonse, Cosmoledo, Astove, Poivre and Farquhar fishing packages, both deposits and final payments are non-refundable. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge/operator or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be sent minus a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog. In the case of cancellation by the client, both deposit and final payment may be transferred to another guest or angler for those same (original) dates if facilitated and arranged by the client. In case of cancellation due to weather, a full or partial credit may be rolled over and credited to a future date, but this is wholly at the discretion of the operator. Yellow Dog reserves the right to charge a minimum handling fee of $100.00 per person for date changes (approved by the lodge) after the initial reservation has been made. At time of quote, all flight charges, island fees and government taxes are correct but nonetheless are subject to change without prior notice. All guests are REQUIRED to purchase a comprehensive medical emergency evacuation insurance policy, and Yellow Dog strongly recommend that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for your trip. It is the right of the lodge and operators to cancel any booking without refund if the client is not adequately insured. Please be aware that all guests will be required to sign and return the Alphonse Fishing Company Reservation and Indemnity Form prior to the trip, and there will be no exceptions to this. No refunds can be made for unused arrangements or fishing time lost due to inclement weather. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these Seychelles packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.