The Seychelles are located about 600 miles from the east coast of Africa.
With more than 115 islands offering immaculate, generous beaches of powder-soft alabaster sands, warm, crystal clear water and a divine tropical latitude.
The cruising area is restricted to the inner islands (the Amirantes possible upon request only). It includes the four main islands of Mahe, Praslin, Silhouette, La Digue and two dozen of smaller islands.

Teeming fishing grounds, bird sanctuaries, magnificent diving spots and exotic retreats are just as few of the attractions in the Seychelles. Visit the island of Mahe and wander onto one of its 70 beaches, sun bathe, surf, or dine at the beach where the chef will prepare your catch-of-the-day. Get into the history and culture of the islands when you visit the legendary Vallee de Mai, Le Jardin du Roi spice garden, St. Paul's Cathedral, or the Tea Factory. As always, there are many reasons why charter yacht enthusiasts are drawn here year round. The idyllic white sandy beaches, sparkling lagoons and brilliant coral reefs, are some of the reasons why this is one of the most unique yacht charter destinations in the world.

The Seychelles Islands was discovered only 250 years ago, and thanks to the Seychelles Government policy regarding environment, you will enjoy virgin and untouched heritage just like the XVIIIth century seamen did before you.

Seychelles
Typical 6 days sailing itinerary with Northwest winds.

Day 1
Praslin: Don't leave Praslin without visiting Vallze de Mai, a valley protected by UNESCO home of rare species of trees and particularly the famous coco de mer, a unique palm tree. A walk in the Vallée de mai is enchanting. The path wanders in the near obscurity created by enormous palm leaves of the cocos de mer. The trunks are 40 m high and sway gently in the breeze, making a strange rustling sound as they rub against one another. Wherever you look the foliage seems to go on and on as the path winds up through dark, damp clefts before coming out onto the ridge where there are magnificent views over a dense sea of green.

Day 2
Praslin to La Digue: Anchorage in Petite or Grande Anse, South East of the island. Rent a bike to visit this beautiful island never overrun with tourists, thanks to the lack of accommodation. With its white tracks winding under tall palm trees, houses with roofs of palm leaves, small copra factories, fine white sand beaches and large polished rocks, La Digue might be the most beautiful island in the Seychelles. No cars, only bicycles or carts drawn by oxen. Horse rides are also possible .

Day 3
La Digue to Curieuse: Sail around Marianne and Félicité. Anchor on the west coast of Grande Sœur for lunch. Snorkel at Cocos Islands. Made of large rocks with strange regular stripes carved by the sea, Cocos Island forms a beautiful sight with a great harmony of shapes and colors. The ochre color of the rocks is in contrast with the bright green palms of the coconut trees and the white sand of beaches lined with deep turquoise water. Under the sea, the vision is equally attractive with large arbores cent corals where thousands of many colored fish swim in front of narrow breaks and dark caverns.
Go to Curieuse and anchor for the night in Baie Laraie, east coast, or go back to Baie Sainte Anne if you need water .

Day 4
Curieuse to Saint Pierre to Curieuse: Curieuse, part of the Marine National Park is the home of hundred or so giant turtles, you cannot miss them. 45 min walk, into mangrove and "coco fesse" trees, leads you to the other side of the island, where is a nice beach and small but interesting museum. Sail to St Pierre islet, a mass of rounded rocks crowned with a clump of tall palms swaying gently in the wind: typical and superb scenery of the Seychelles photographed on countless occasions and printed a million times in tourism magazines! You will find an excellent spot for snorkeling with magnificent underwater scenery. Go back to Baie Laraie for the night .

Day 5
Curieuse to Aride to Curieuse: Aride Island, placed under the supervision of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation, is a conservation area. Narrow paths through the dense vegetation leads to the rocky barrier you can observe the whole island from here. Free of cats and rats, which have ravaged so many tropical islands in the worlds, Aride is a haven for a wide variety of seabirds, unique vegetation and rare land birds. The ten species of breeding seabird include the rare roseate tern and the red tailed tropicbird. The world's largest colony of lesser noddy, more than 200,000 couples nest there. Open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays. Return back to Baie Laraie for the night anchore .

Day 6
Curieuse-Cousin to Bay Ste Anne: Cousin Island is a nature reserve and bird sanctuary with rare species and some giant turtles. Less than 800 meters in diameter, the island can be visited from Tuesday to Friday. A small path leads to the turtles' enclosure from where it leads to the summit through dense vegetation. Here you will find a great panoramic view to observe the gracious flights of tropicbirds. During the season of southeasterly winds, there may be up to 100,000 couples of black noodies nesting in the trees. Go back to Baie Sainte Anne for the night.

Written by :

The - YCT - Yacht Charter Team.