The islands of The Bahamas encompass thousands of miles of irresistibly blue waters, secret sandbars and secluded pink-sand beaches.  The 16 major islands offer a range of accommodation options from five-star resorts to no-frills fishing lodges and romantic oceanfront villas to rustic beach bungalows. From award-winning scuba diving and fishing, to 32 National Parks, art galleries, historic sites, and much more—there is plenty to discover beyond the shores. Historic architecture, colourful island artwork, and modern street murals tell the islands’ exuberant stories in vivid detail.

Whether you’re in search of adventure, R&R, or a bit of both, The Bahamas is an unbeatable destination. Few things are as exhilarating as boating in crystal-clear Bahamian waters. Whether it’s a quick cruise between cays, a bareboat charter from Bimini to the Berry Islands, or an extended voyage aboard a private yacht, boating in The Bahamas is one of life’s more rewarding experiences.

The National Park System spans more than two million acres of mangrove wetlands, wildlife sanctuaries, blue holes, coral reefs, and one of the world’s longest underwater cave systems.  The Bahamas is a bucket list destination for bird lovers. Boasting more than 375 species of resident and migratory birds, the islands’ mangrove stands, native pine forests, and wildlife sanctuaries promise a rare treat for the world’s most enthusiastic birders. 

From fresh lobster and conch fritters to Eleuthera-grown sugarloaf pineapples to island-made rum, fresh flavours fuel every experience in The Bahamas. Nothing reflects Bahamian culture quite like the people - warm, hospitable and always ready with a smile, a story, a moment to share their love for the islands. 

Inagua, pristine and largely uninhabited, is the southernmost island in The Bahamas. A paradise for bird watchers and eco tourists. Home to over 70,000 West Indian flamingos (the largest breeding colony in the world) and 140 species of native and migratory birds.  Look out for the Bahama parrot, West Indian whistling duck, Kirklands warbler and a rare species of heron. The flock breeds around Lake Windsor (Rosa) which lies within the boundaries of Inagua National Park.  

The flamingo breeding activity usually begins in early March when huge flocks gather and engage in elaborate and loud courtship displays. The abirds parade together shoulder to shoulder, performing head flagging (waving the head from side to side), wing salutes (opening the wings to expose the black flight feathers) and the twist preen (twisting the neck over the back and pretending to preen itself whilst stretching out on of its wings). The chorus of courting birds can be heard miles away. This synchronised courtship dance stimulates the birds to breed at the same time, ensuring that the chicks are hatched around the same time.

When the courtship displays are all over the pairs are formed and the building of the nest mounds begins, usually around April. Nests are built on the ground out of mud and are baked hard by the sun. The nest can be from a few inches high to over two feet high with a shallow crater at the top, where the single egg is deposited. Flamingos lay one white egg that is about twice the size of a hen’s egg. Both parents share in incubation which takes exactly 28 days to hatch.

Flamingo chicks look nothing like their parents. They are covered with a thick coat of white down and have pink bills and feet. Both parents feed the chick a secretion from the crop gland in the neck known as “flamingo milk” or “crop milk”. This “milk” is a concentration of fats and proteins (similar to mammals milk) and has a very high amount of beta-carotene making it a bright red colour. When they are about 30 days old the chicks have changed to a dark grey down and start to feed themselves but still eat from their parents if they can. By three months the chicks are fully grown and become a bright pink colour signalling that they are sexually mature to the rest of the colony.

PRICE PER PERSON: £1798 sharing a twin room.

PRICE INCLUDES:  Return flights, accommodation, two full days bird watching tours.

NOT INCLUDED: Transfers in Nassau and Inagua, meals, gratuities and items of a personal nature.

Day 1 - Nassau

Arrive in Nassau and make your way to your hotel for two nights on a room only basis.

Day 2

At leisure. Explore downtown Nassau, roughly twenty square blocks of historic architecture, luxury shops, modern murals, and magnificent monuments, that has captured the curiosity of adventurous travellers for decades. The streets of downtown Nassau, unlike any other island of the Bahamas, are living, breathing monuments to island cultures both centuries-old and magnificently modern. A walking tour is the best way to explore.  Local artists bring the streets to life with colourful scenes of Bahamian life. Start or end your tour on the 66 steps of the Queen's Staircase. Carved out of solid limestone rock by 600 slaves between 1793 and 1794, it was created as an escape route from the fort above and is a major landmark of Nassau.

Day 3 - Inagua

Return to the airport for your flight to Inagua. On arrival take a taxi to your inn for 4 nights on a room only basis. Accommodation on Inagua is simple but comfortable and you will be in Matthew Town close to amenities and the beach.

Day 4 - Inagua                  

At leisure – full day bird watching/flamingo tour.

As well as birding and island tours, it is also possible to go trawling for deep sea fish like tuna and wahoo, or snorkelling on the reefs. A complete island tour includes visits to the National Park for birding and wildlife (including flamingos and wild donkeys), caves, Morton Salt facility, lighthouse and museum. 

Day 5 - Inagua

At leisure.  Home of Seafood Fest and the Inagua Heritage & Salty Festival, the island boasts big flavours. Try a local twist on jerk pork, cracked conch, and vegetarian dishes.

Day 6 - Inagua

At leisure – full day bird watching/flamingo tour.

Great Inagua reportedly has the reputation of experiencing the first act of piracy in The Islands of The Bahamas in 1713. In subsequent years, many ships were wrecked in the reefs along the island's shoreline, and The English Crown selected the island as a location for a lighthouse to be built in the 1800s to prevent such incidents. It used to be one of only three kerosene burning lighthouses in The Bahamas, but it is now automated. The classic all-white structure towers 113 feet (34.44 metres) and offers visibility to 17 miles (27.35 kilometres). A climb up the lighthouse offers amazing panoramic views of nearby Matthew Town and its environs.

Day 7 - Nassau

Return to Nassau and makie your way to your hotel for your final night on room only. 

Day 8 - Nassau

Day at leisure before returning to the airport for your flight home.