Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island Celebrates the Return of Hawksbill Sea Turtle Nesting Season with Immersive Conservation Experiences

As the annual hawksbill sea turtle nesting season begins, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island welcomes the return of one of the island's most treasured visitors. Between October and March, the island's 14 kilometres (9 miles) of secluded beaches become an important nesting habitat for critically endangered hawksbill turtles, offering guests a rare opportunity to experience one of nature's oldest rituals in one of the world's most pristine settings.

The Seychelles is home to one of the largest remaining nesting populations of critically endangered hawksbill turtles, making each nesting season an important chapter in the conservation of the species. Green sea turtles also frequent the waters surrounding Desroches Island throughout the year, with their peak mating season taking place from June to September. Together, these seasonal cycles provide guests with unique opportunities to observe different stages of the turtles' life cycle while learning about the vital conservation work taking place on the island.

Throughout the year, guests are invited to join the resort's marine conservation team for immersive experiences that offer a deeper understanding of the island's thriving marine ecosystem.

From June to September, "Turtle Tango Time" introduces guests to the fascinating courtship behaviour of green sea turtles during the peak of their mating season. Accompanied by the resort's marine biologist and island conservationists, guests learn about turtle behaviour, breeding biology and the importance of protecting these remarkable marine animals.

During "Turtle Patrol," available from October through March, guests have the opportunity to accompany the marine team as they monitor the island's beaches during hawksbill nesting season. On fortunate occasions, guests may witness a nesting hawksbill turtle during the day while conservation work is underway. While the turtle is in a natural trance-like state as she lays her eggs, the team may safely carry out scientific monitoring, including tagging the turtle, taking measurements, counting eggs and recording the nest location using GPS. These activities contribute valuable data to long-term conservation efforts while ensuring minimal disturbance to the animal.

From April to September, "Turtle Tracks and Traces" offers guests the opportunity to follow the signs left behind by green turtles who come at night or early parts of the morning to nest (this activity is offered outside of the hawksbill nesting season). Guided by the marine team, guests learn how to identify tracks, interpret nesting activity and better understand the life cycle of green sea turtles through the evidence they leave on the island's beaches.

Every nest located by the marine team is carefully recorded and monitored throughout the incubation period. In rare circumstances, if a nest is at risk from seawater infiltration, the eggs may be carefully relocated to a safer location through a conservation-led nest translocation. Approximately 70 days later, and around 10 days after the hatchlings have naturally emerged, the team conducts a nest excavation to assess the nest's success rate by recording how many hatchlings emerged from the original number of eggs laid. These findings contribute to ongoing research and conservation management.

Guests staying during hatching season may also be fortunate enough to witness hatchlings making their first journey to the ocean. Should hatchlings be discovered elsewhere on the island, guests are encouraged to notify the resort team so the situation can be assessed and assistance provided if necessary.

The conservation efforts extend beyond the nests themselves. Following nesting, mother turtles can occasionally become stranded amongst coral formations or face challenges returning to the sea due to changing tides. During the season, the conservation team remains on standby to assist turtles whenever intervention is required.

For guests seeking an even more immersive experience, "Turtle Tracks and Traces" to La Passé Therese can be arranged on request. Conducted alongside the marine team, these guided excursions offer the chance to observe nesting sea turtles under the cover of darkness, providing a memorable insight into one of nature's most remarkable spectacles.

"Sea turtle nesting season is one of the most rewarding times of the year on Desroches Island," says Nasreen Khan, Marine Biologist at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island. "Every nest we monitor, every hatchling we help safely reach the ocean, and every guest who joins us on a turtle patrol contributes to a much bigger conservation story. These experiences create a genuine connection between people and nature, and it's incredibly rewarding to see guests leave with a deeper appreciation for the importance of protecting these remarkable animals. Conservation isn't something we simply showcase — it's part of everyday life on Desroches Island."

The resort's turtle conservation program forms part of Four Seasons for Good, the company's global commitment to preserving and regenerating the destinations in which it operates. On Desroches Island, this philosophy is woven into daily life through marine research, biodiversity monitoring, habitat protection and immersive guest experiences that inspire a greater appreciation for the natural world. Working alongside the Island Conservation Society (ICS), the resort's marine team contributes valuable data that supports the long-term protection of Seychelles' sea turtle populations while encouraging guests to become active participants in conservation.

Whether witnessing a hawksbill turtle emerge from the turquoise waters to nest, observing green turtles during their mating season, following fresh tracks across untouched beaches, or watching hatchlings take their first journey to the sea, guests are invited to experience one of the Seychelles' most extraordinary natural events. Through Four Seasons for Good, these unforgettable encounters become more than memorable moments - they become part of a shared commitment to protecting the island's unique biodiversity for generations to come.