Top Sailing Itineraries: Seychelles
Picture yourself sailing in a tropical paradise where turquoise clear waters meet impossibly white, soft sand and lush green vegetation. A magical destination where every exotic island is even more breathtaking than the last, and summers are never-ending. If you seek the most unique experience of a lifetime, we have just the place for you!
The Seychelles is a rare tropical gem where acres of magnificent wilderness have been left untouched and are waiting to be discovered. Endemic palm tree forests, giant tortoises, white sandy beaches with spectacular granite boulders, crystal clear turquoise water with coral reefs, and thriving marine life are just a few of the natural wonders that set the Seychelles apart from other destinations.
As with any group of islands, the Seychelles is best explored from the water. Without the restrictions that come with land travel, you can move freely and effortlessly from island to island, discover the most beautiful hidden coves along the way, and get the most out of your vacation. We are happy to offer our guests the opportunity to have a professional skipper onboard, who will sail the boat and take you to some of the most fantastic spots that you may have missed otherwise.
Every yacht from our Seychelles fleet is like a luxury hotel on the water; know that you will travel in elevated style and the highest comfort at all times. Our top-rate Seychelles fleet is growing each year, and with 7 brand new yachts arriving in 2024, we can’t wait to welcome more guests than ever before to our highly reviewed base in Seychelles.
This week we feature a 7-day sailing itinerary for this marvelous archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 860 nautical miles off the east coast of Africa. If you are ready to discover your paradise, then let’s dive into this week’s itinerary!
7 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Mahé to Saint Anne Marine Park
Our base is located on Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles, where the capital city of Victoria is located. Check-in is at 3 pm, so spending your first morning at the bustling Victoria Market (Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market) is a great way to start your getaway in the Seychelles.
While you may not find everything you need in terms of provisioning, the vibrant, lively market is an excellent source of local fruit, vegetables, spices, and seafood and makes a memorable first stop on your journey. Once you have stocked up on provisions, you can go for a little treasure hunt to check out the colorful boutiques and stands selling a variety of locally made clothes, accessories, artwork, and souvenirs.
After check-in, embark and set sail towards Saint Anne Marine Park. This breathtaking National Park is less than 3 nautical miles from Victoria. Fishing and water sports are prohibited here, but the vibrant marine life and healthy coral reefs will surely keep you busy. Some marine animals to look out for are reef sharks, a variety of colorful fish, starfish, octopus, jellyfish, oysters, bottlenose dolphins, and of course, the popular sea turtles. Thanks to the vast sea-grass meadows that serve as nesting sites, sea turtles are a common sight in this area. Nearby locations are also known to offer glass-bottom boat tours for those who want to get a close look at the reefs while staying dry.
St. Anne is interesting for its historical significance as well as its diverse wildlife. The first settlement in the Seychelles was at St. Anne back in 1770, not at the once crocodile-populated swamps that made up the island of Mahé.
You may moor your boat in the St. Anne Marine Park overnight.
Day 2: Saint Anne Marine Park to La Digue
After breakfast, set sail towards the island of La Digue. Sailing to La Digue from St. Anne Marine Park takes about 4 hours, and is a distance of 25 nautical miles, but as you are soon to discover, it is well worth the trip.
La Digue is the fifth largest island in the Seychelles, after Mahé, Praslin, Silhouette, and the distant Assomption. Still, it’s the third most populated, with a population of 2,800, most of whom live in the city of La Passe on the west coast. Private cars are not allowed here, which contributes to the island’s already peaceful, relaxing atmosphere and the incredible beaches don’t hurt either. The famous Anse Source D’Argent beach, which has spectacular giant rock formations, is one of the most photographed beaches in the world.
Apart from visiting the beautiful beaches and renting bikes to travel around the island, one of the highlights is the Crystal Water Kayaks tour. This TripAdvisor top-rated kayaking tour features 100% clear kayaks, meaning you can see through them to the crystal water below. Like gliding across the water in a shell of glass, you will have a panoramic view of the marine life and coral reefs thriving beneath the ocean’s surface during the entire tour.
L’Union Estate Park is another highlight for history and nature lovers alike. See the Giant Aldabra Tortoise, one of the largest tortoises in the world, visit the historic coprah factory where coconut oil is produced, and go for a walk in the vanilla and coconut plantations. Don’t forget to also pay a quick visit to the old colonial plantation house.
Anchor overnight in La Passe Harbour.
Day 3: La Digue to Félicité to La Digue
Spend this day continuing to explore all the wonders of La Digue. We can also recommend a day trip to the island called Félicité, located only a short sail northeast of La Digue. Félicité is a small island and essentially offers two things, a luxury resort (Six Senses Zil Pasyon) and Ramos National Park. The resort features a very popular spa, and the national park unsurprisingly boasts the breathtaking wilderness that Seychelles is famous for and the chance to spot several endemic bird species. Return to La Digue for the night.
Day 4: La Digue to Grande Soeur/Petite Soeur to La Digue
Just north of Félicité lies two “sister” islands called Grande Soeur and Petite Soeur (which translates to big sister and little sister). The larger island is a popular stop for a picnic on the beach and they are both excellent destinations for hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. In other words, if you want to enjoy some outdoor activities, whether relaxing or adventurous, while taking in scenes of magnificent nature, you have come to the right place.
In the late afternoon, make your way to Curieuse and moor there overnight.
Day 5: Curieuse to St. Pierre to Praslin
In addition to beautiful coves and secluded beaches, Curieuse offers a national marine park and a tortoise sanctuary. The island is notable for its red earth eroded from dry forests, and its diverse flora and fauna. The rich wildlife includes endemic bird and tortoise species as well as the native giant nut called Coco de Mer whose only natural habitat is found on Curieuse and nearby Praslin (and nowhere else in the world). Step ashore in Laraie Bay and walk the winding trek through the mangrove forests that connect Laraie to Anse Jose. It’s sure to offer some of the most memorable views of your trip. The hike not only offers sights of fascinating nature but also of ruins of the leper colony as well as a museum at the Anse Jose beach.
The Curieuse island and its surrounding waters also offer some incredible diving and snorkeling sites. The Coral Garden and Pointe Rogue are two of the top diving/snorkeling sites, and so is St. Pierre, a small islet southwest of Curieuse. Its granite boulder coastline rising out of the crystal clear ocean and lush green palm trees make St. Pierre one of the most photographed islands in the world.
Continue your sailing journey until you reach the bay called Anse Volbert on Praslin. The bay is where Praslins most famous beach is located, Cote D’Or Beach. Spend an afternoon enjoying water sports, swimming, or simply relaxing.
Sail to Baie Ste Anne to moor overnight.
Day 6: Baie Ste Anne (Praslin) to Grand Anse (Praslin)
At the center of Praslin, there is a National Park and the famous Coco de Mer forest known as Vallée de Mai, so beautiful it was once described as the Garden of Eden by an explorer in the late 1800s. Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, requires a ticket to enter. The admission fee is used by the Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF), which manages the park, to fund and support preservation efforts and research programs. This National Park is definitely an interesting place whether you’re a nature enthusiast or not. Due to millions of years of isolation, the island has many fascinating endemic species that don’t appear anywhere else in the world and you may get a glimpse into the ecology of the past. In addition to the Coco de Mer palm, there are five other endemic palm species here and you may be lucky enough to spot the rare black parrot. Don’t forget to stop by the beautiful waterfall in the southwest part of the park.
Continue your exploration of Praslin by sailing to the north coast and make a stop at Anse Lazio, one of the most famous beaches on Praslin. It’s a place straight out of paradise where granite boulders and palm tree vegetation meet white soft sand and crystal clear water. If you are looking for a chance to try some authentic Seychellois cuisine, this is your perfect opportunity! There are several beach bars and restaurants in the area for lunch or dinner on the beach. The Seychellois cuisine features interesting flavors and takes inspiration from a wide range of cuisines including African, British, French, Spanish, Indian, and Chinese.
Moor overnight in Grand Anse on the west coast of Praslin.
Day 7: Grand Anse (Praslin) to Cousin
Cousin, a natural preserve since 1968, is a small island west of Praslin. It’s most notable for its large bird population: in fact, about 250,000 birds nest here every year. Giant tortoises are another common inhabitant of this beautiful island. If you are interested in a closer look at all the animal species, guided tours are offered Monday through Friday in the mornings.
Make the sail back to Mahé (about 4 hours) and moor there overnight. It’s a great opportunity to explore Victoria or one of the nearby bays. Return to our charter base for the night.
Checkout: Mahé
Fill up the fuel tanks, disembark, and checkout by 9 am.
If you have some time to spend on Mahé either before or after your charter, here is a guide to some of the top things to do on the largest and most populated island in the Seychelles.
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