Sailing in the Seychelles: Indian Ocean Paradise Guide

Sailing in the Seychelles: Indian Ocean paradise

The Seychelles is unlike any other sailing destination on earth. One hundred and fifteen islands scattered across 1.3 million square kilometres of the Indian Ocean — some of them ancient granite peaks rising dramatically from the sea, others flat coral atolls barely above the waterline, all of them surrounded by water in shades of turquoise and cobalt that beggar description.

Sailing in the Seychelles is a commitment: expensive to reach, expensive to charter, but offering scenery, wildlife and sailing conditions that justify every pound.

Two sailing seasons

The Seychelles has two distinct sailing seasons, driven by the Indian Ocean monsoon cycle.

North-west monsoon (December to March): Winds from the north-west at 10–15 knots. Generally lighter and more settled. Can bring occasional squalls and overcast periods. The calmer season for beginners — flatter seas, more predictable conditions.

South-east trade winds (May to September): Stronger winds from the south-east, building to 20–25 knots in June and July. More consistent and reliable for sailing, but choppier on exposed passages. Experienced sailors prefer this season for the reliable breeze.

Transition months (April, October–November): The shoulder season. Variable, light winds. Some days glassy calm. Beautiful weather, lower prices. The best compromise for those who want decent sailing without the full force of the south-east trades.

The Inner Islands circuit

Most charterers spend their time in the inner island group — the granitic Seychelles, within a 100-mile radius of Mahé. The standard circuit covers:

Mahé and Eden Island Marina: The capital island and the charter base. Eden Island Marina sits on a reclaimed land development on Mahé's east coast — well-appointed, with a full-service marina, fuel, chandlery and provisioning at the adjacent INA supermarket. Victoria, the capital, is ten minutes away — the market on Saturday morning is unmissable.

Sainte Anne Marine National Park: Five minutes from Eden Island. An underwater national park with snorkelling on pristine coral reefs above white sand. Charter yachts anchor here the first evening and snorkel before sunset.

Praslin — Vallée de Mai: Praslin is the Seychelles' second-largest island and home to the Vallée de Mai UNESCO World Heritage Site, a primeval forest where the coco de mer — the largest seed in the plant kingdom, shaped unmistakably like the human female form — grows wild. The UNESCO permit is worth buying for the walk among trees unchanged since the Jurassic.

The Anse Lazio anchorage on Praslin's north-west coast is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. White granite boulders, white sand, water the colour of a swimming pool. Anchor in 4m, swim to the beach.

La Digue: The third island, accessible by inter-island ferry or by sailing yacht in under an hour from Praslin. La Digue has no cars — transport is by bicycle and oxcart. Anse Source d'Argent, on the island's south-west coast, is the Seychelles' most photographed beach: pink granite boulders of extraordinary scale emerging from white sand and shallow turquoise water. The beach itself is within the Union Estate Park — a small entry fee applies.

Silhouette Island: A granitic peak rising to 740 metres, almost entirely covered by primary forest and designated a national park. The Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort occupies the beach at Grande Barbe — beautiful lodges, a good open restaurant for dinner. Anchor in the bay, dinghying ashore for lunch.

Curieuse Island: A nature reserve where Aldabra giant tortoises roam freely in a rehabilitation centre programme. The beach at Laraie Bay is sheltered, shallow and spectacular. Children can hand-feed tortoises that have been living in this bay since the 1970s.

Félicité and the Sister Islands: The most easterly of the inner islands accessible by daysail. The anchorage between Félicité and the two Sister Islands is shallow, turquoise and extraordinarily beautiful. Six Senses Zil Pasyon resort occupies Félicité — one of the world's most exclusive island resorts. Day visitors can sometimes access the beach restaurant.

Wildlife

The Seychelles is one of the world's premier wildlife destinations:

Coco de mer: Endemic to Praslin and Curieuse. The Vallée de Mai is the primary habitat.

Aldabra giant tortoises: The largest land tortoise on earth. Found at Curieuse Nature Reserve, Bird Island, and throughout the outer atolls. The Aldabra atoll (outer Seychelles) has the world's largest population — 100,000 individuals.

Hawksbill turtles: Nest on beaches throughout the inner islands from October to February. Denis Island and Bird Island have excellent turtle-watching programmes.

Whale sharks: Seasonally present in the waters around Mahé and the northern granitic islands from October to February. Several operators run whale shark snorkelling trips from Eden Island.

Manta rays: Present year-round at certain cleaning stations. The dive sites around North Island and Alphonse atoll are particularly productive.

Charter base and provisioning

Eden Island Marina, Mahé: The primary charter base. Dream Yacht Charter and Sunsail both operate fleets from here. Provisioning at INA supermarket. Fuel dock within the marina.

Provisioning tip: buy everything you need at INA before departure. Prices on the outer islands are high. Carry enough water for the week — desalinated water is sold in the outer islands but at significant cost.

Costs

Bareboat catamaran (42–48ft): £2,500–4,500 per week depending on season and size.

Crewed charter (skippered catamaran or luxury sailing yacht): £5,500–10,000 per week plus APA (30–35% for fuel, food, crew).

Peak season (August–September south-east trades) is 20–30% more expensive than the transition month shoulder periods.

Practical information

Getting there: Long-haul from the UK — approximately 10 hours via Dubai or Abu Dhabi (Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Mahé). Book flights 6–9 months ahead for peak season.

Entry requirements: No visa required for UK passport holders for stays under 30 days. Seychelles entry permit issued on arrival.

Currency: Seychellois Rupee. US Dollars and Euros widely accepted at marinas and tourist facilities. Carry rupees for local markets.

Health: No mandatory vaccinations for UK travellers. Recommended: Hepatitis A, Typhoid (as standard travel health precautions). No malaria in the inner islands.

Topless sunbathing: Legal on private beaches and charter boats. Observe local custom in villages and around public areas.

Explore Seychelles charter options on HeyBoat.