Treasure Hunting & Cultural Tour on Mahé
Seychelles · Mahe · Bel Ombre 2 hours
FamilyAdventureCultural Tour
Embark on a thrilling pirate adventure with 'Treasure Man' John Cruise-Wilkins at Seychelles' Bel Ombre Treasure Site. Dive into history, decode cryptic clues, and use professional tools to hunt for hidden pirate treasure. Unearth legends, discover mysteries, and claim your reward in this unforgettable journey through the Golden Age of Piracy.
HIGHLIGHTS
Pirate Adventure with 'Treasure Man' John Cruise-Wilkins: Embark on an exciting treasure hunt led by the legendary 'Treasure Man' himself, John Cruise-Wilkins. Discover the secrets of pirates and follow in their footsteps.
Bel Ombre Treasure Site: Explore the world-famous Bel Ombre Treasure Site, located on the picturesque island of Mahe in Seychelles. Dive into the rich history and legends surrounding this iconic location.
Time Travel to the Golden Age of Piracy: Experience the romantic era of pirates as you're transported back in time. Immerse yourself in the swashbuckling tales and mysteries of the high seas.
Heroic Quest with Treasure Map: Become the storybook hero armed with a treasure map and a backpack, ready to piece together the puzzle of the pirates. Your mission: to locate the hidden treasure!
Granite Rock Markings: Discover ancient markings etched into the granite rocks, which may hold clues to the treasure's whereabouts. Decode these enigmatic symbols as you inch closer to your goal.
Pirate Cryptogram: Unravel the cryptic messages left behind by pirates. These cryptograms are believed to be vital in uncovering the secrets of the buried treasure.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Meeting point
- Entry of the Treasure site in Bel Ombre (Mahe) near Beau Vallon beach
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Group size
- from 2 people, up to 10 per date
- Speaks
- English, French, French creole
- Confirmation
- Tour provider confirms reservation within 48 hours
- Start time
- 09:00, 13:00
What you will expect
FULL DESCRIPTION
Welcome to the legendary Bel Ombre Treasure Site, located on Mahe Island, Seychelles, where history, adventure, and mystery come to life. Join the world-renowned ‘Treasure Man’ John Cruise-Wilkins as he takes you on an extraordinary journey through the most famous pirate treasure legend—the lost hoard of Olivier Levasseur, also known as La Buse. As you walk in the footsteps of pirates, immerse yourself in the thrilling world of treasure hunting at this globally recognized site, where cryptic clues and hidden riches await discovery.
Step into the golden age of piracy as John Cruise-Wilkins guides you through this fascinating archaeological site. Decode mysterious markings carved into granite rocks, believed to be part of La Buse’s cryptogram, a riddle leading to one of the world’s most elusive treasures. With over 50 years of exploration, John and his late father have dedicated their lives to unlocking this mystery, making this tour a once-in-a-lifetime experience for history buffs and adventure seekers alike. Equipped with professional tools and treasure-hunting detectors, you’ll be part of an active search that continues to captivate explorers from around the globe.
Your journey doesn’t just end with an exciting history lesson—this hands-on adventure allows you to take part in an actual treasure hunt! Feel the adrenaline rush as you scan the terrain for hidden gold, and if luck is on your side, a special local gift awaits you. Book now for an unforgettable experience where Seychelles’ pirate past meets modern-day exploration, offering an exhilarating blend of history, mystery, and adventure.
INCLUDED
Treasure hunting (40-60 min).
Treasure hunting tools.
Local gift.
Guided tour through the entire treasure site (40 - 60 min).
Find out if John Cruise-Wilkins knows where the treasure is buried.
NOT INCLUDED
Pick-up and drop-off.
Welcome to the legendary Bel Ombre Treasure Site, located on Mahe Island, Seychelles, where history, adventure, and mystery come to life. Join the world-renowned ‘Treasure Man’ John Cruise-Wilkins as he takes you on an extraordinary journey through the most famous pirate treasure legend—the lost hoard of Olivier Levasseur, also known as La Buse. As you walk in the footsteps of pirates, immerse yourself in the thrilling world of treasure hunting at this globally recognized site, where cryptic clues and hidden riches await discovery.
Step into the golden age of piracy as John Cruise-Wilkins guides you through this fascinating archaeological site. Decode mysterious markings carved into granite rocks, believed to be part of La Buse’s cryptogram, a riddle leading to one of the world’s most elusive treasures. With over 50 years of exploration, John and his late father have dedicated their lives to unlocking this mystery, making this tour a once-in-a-lifetime experience for history buffs and adventure seekers alike. Equipped with professional tools and treasure-hunting detectors, you’ll be part of an active search that continues to captivate explorers from around the globe.
Your journey doesn’t just end with an exciting history lesson—this hands-on adventure allows you to take part in an actual treasure hunt! Feel the adrenaline rush as you scan the terrain for hidden gold, and if luck is on your side, a special local gift awaits you. Book now for an unforgettable experience where Seychelles’ pirate past meets modern-day exploration, offering an exhilarating blend of history, mystery, and adventure.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
What you need to know before you go
THE TREASURE LEGEND
Frenchman Olivier Levasseur nicknamed the "The Buzzard" (La Buse) was licensed in 1716 by the French government as a privateer (corsair) or legal pirate but quickly turned to piracy, a much more lucrative career for that time being.
La Buse operated in the Caribbean, West Africa, and finally, the Indian Ocean waters where he teamed up with the English pirate captain Taylor. Together they captured several ships, the most important being the Portuguese ship "Virgen do Cabo" that they took into the harbor of Reunion Island. In 1724 Taylor returned to the Caribbean but La Buse sailed off into the coast of Madagascar. It is believed that during part of that time, he was in Seychelles burying the fabulous treasure that he found on the Portuguese ship "Virgen do Cabo". Eventually, La Buse was captured, tired, and hung in 1730 in Reunion by the French authorities there.
In reality, pirates burying treasure was rare. According to the legend, La Buse treasure reportedly worth £100 million is buried on an island in Seychelles. Although the region is thought to be littered with hidden treasure, this one is said to be the Holy Grail, the world’s biggest booty haul. This priceless historical treasure consists of the famous "Fiery Cross of Goa", a gold cross encrusted with precious stones which needed 3 men to carry it. Golden church plates and thousands of uncut diamonds and gold coins also make up a part of this treasure.
THE TREASURE HUNT
The story, which reads like a Hollywood script, has been passed down through generations on the islands of the Seychelles and La Réunion. Although many have tried – and failed – to locate the bounty, two men have devoted their lives to the quest. Reginald Herbert Cruise-Wilkins, known locally on the Seychelles island of Mahé as the ‘Treasure Man’, hunted the fortune for 27 years until he died in 1977. His son John Cruise-Wilkins inherited both the nickname and the quest. For John, as for his father, the search has become his life. This is the true story of two men’s life-long search.
WEATHER
The site is subject to tide and weather conditions so at times tour times and dates might be subject to change.
WHAT TO BRING
We recommend you bring comfortable shoes/sandals to walk on the Island, a waterproof bag, sun cream, etc. This is not obligatory to participate in the tour.
PICK UP & DROP-OFF
Pick-up can be organized on request and need to be paid extra.
NOT INCLUDED
Pick-up and drop-off.
Frenchman Olivier Levasseur nicknamed the "The Buzzard" (La Buse) was licensed in 1716 by the French government as a privateer (corsair) or legal pirate but quickly turned to piracy, a much more lucrative career for that time being.
La Buse operated in the Caribbean, West Africa, and finally, the Indian Ocean waters where he teamed up with the English pirate captain Taylor. Together they captured several ships, the most important being the Portuguese ship "Virgen do Cabo" that they took into the harbor of Reunion Island. In 1724 Taylor returned to the Caribbean but La Buse sailed off into the coast of Madagascar. It is believed that during part of that time, he was in Seychelles burying the fabulous treasure that he found on the Portuguese ship "Virgen do Cabo". Eventually, La Buse was captured, tired, and hung in 1730 in Reunion by the French authorities there.
In reality, pirates burying treasure was rare. According to the legend, La Buse treasure reportedly worth £100 million is buried on an island in Seychelles. Although the region is thought to be littered with hidden treasure, this one is said to be the Holy Grail, the world’s biggest booty haul. This priceless historical treasure consists of the famous "Fiery Cross of Goa", a gold cross encrusted with precious stones which needed 3 men to carry it. Golden church plates and thousands of uncut diamonds and gold coins also make up a part of this treasure.
THE TREASURE HUNT
The story, which reads like a Hollywood script, has been passed down through generations on the islands of the Seychelles and La Réunion. Although many have tried – and failed – to locate the bounty, two men have devoted their lives to the quest. Reginald Herbert Cruise-Wilkins, known locally on the Seychelles island of Mahé as the ‘Treasure Man’, hunted the fortune for 27 years until he died in 1977. His son John Cruise-Wilkins inherited both the nickname and the quest. For John, as for his father, the search has become his life. This is the true story of two men’s life-long search.
WEATHER
The site is subject to tide and weather conditions so at times tour times and dates might be subject to change.
WHAT TO BRING
We recommend you bring comfortable shoes/sandals to walk on the Island, a waterproof bag, sun cream, etc. This is not obligatory to participate in the tour.
PICK UP & DROP-OFF
Pick-up can be organized on request and need to be paid extra.
NOT INCLUDED
Cancellation policy
Tour can be canceled free of charge until 2 days before.
Your host
John Cruise Wilkins See all tours of this host