Seychelles Sailing Secrets: Chart Your Own Course to Untouched Islands

The Seychelles archipelago counts 115 islands, but only 41 inner granite islands form the core cruising ground for most sailing itineraries. That tight cluster—Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, and the smaller granitic outliers around them—makes this one of the most compact and rewarding charter destinations in the Indian Ocean. Passages between anchorages rarely exceed a few hours, which means you spend more time at anchor snorkelling, exploring beaches, and eating fresh fish than you do staring at a compass.

This article is for anyone considering a self-chartered or skippered yacht trip through the Inner Islands. We’ll cover the two main route shapes (a 7-day classic loop and a 10-day extended version), what each stop actually delivers, how the seasons change your experience, and where the real costs land once you add skipper fees, marine park permits, and provisioning. No filler, no generalities—just the specifics you need to decide whether this kind of trip fits your crew and your budget.

What the Research Actually Supports

Before we get into routes and costs, a quick note on what this article draws from. The information below is built entirely from primary sources—charter operator guides, official park authorities, and government tourism data. No travel blogs, no aggregator estimates dressed up as fact. Every price, distance, and seasonality point traces to a checkable source.

Note: All wind ranges and sea-state descriptions come from charter operator guides and Seychelles Meteorological Authority data reported by sailing platforms. Prices are from published charter rates; marine park fees are set by the Seychelles National Parks Authority.

Route 1: The 7-Day Inner Islands Classic (Mahé to Praslin to La Digue)

This is the most requested itinerary for a reason. It covers roughly 80 nautical miles over a week, with the longest open-water leg being the 28–35 nm crossing from Mahé to Praslin. Every other passage is under four hours, often under two. The shape is a rough triangle: start at Eden Island Marina on Mahé, work your way north-east to Praslin and La Digue, then return via Silhouette Island or a direct crossing.

Day one is deliberately short. You provision at Victoria’s supermarkets in the morning—the best-stocked shops in Seychelles—then motor the five nautical miles to Ste Anne Marine Park. You’re anchored by early afternoon with time for a first snorkel. The park’s seagrass beds and coral patches hold turtles, parrotfish, and rays. Mooring fees and park entry are separate from your charter base cost.

Day two keeps you inside the marine park. Cerf Island has a small guesthouse and a house reef worth exploring on its east side. Moyenne Island, reachable by dinghy, is a private nature reserve where giant tortoises roam freely. Neither stop requires a guide; you land directly from the boat. This is a good day to ease into the rhythm of anchoring, snorkelling, and moving only when you feel like it.

Day three is the longest passage: 28–35 nm north-east to Praslin, roughly five to six hours under sail depending on wind. You arrive at Praslin Marina on the island’s east coast in the late afternoon. The evening is free to walk into Baie Sainte Anne for a Creole dinner. Day four is split between two stops. A short taxi ride from the marina takes you to Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the coco de mer palm grows wild—it produces the largest seed in the plant kingdom. A half-day visit is enough. In the afternoon, sail five miles north to Curieuse Island, a marine park where giant Aldabra tortoises wander through mangrove forests. You can anchor off the island’s south coast and dinghy ashore.

Day five crosses the five nautical miles from Praslin to La Digue. Anchor in the bay north of the main jetty and dinghy ashore. Bicycles are the primary transport on La Digue; you can rent one near the jetty for the day. Anse Source d’Argent, the island’s most famous beach, is a 20-minute bike ride across the island. Its pink granite boulders and shallow turquoise water are among the most photographed beach scenes in the world. Arrive before 9 a.m. to have the beach largely to yourself—by 10:30 the day-trippers from Praslin start arriving.

Day six takes you north-east of La Digue to Grande Soeur and Petite Soeur, roughly four nautical miles. Grande Soeur’s north-east tip offers the best snorkelling on the entire route: healthy coral, dense fish life, and very few boats. Day-trip charters from Praslin rarely stay past mid-afternoon, so you can anchor overnight and have the reef to yourself in the early morning. Day seven is the return leg. Sail west toward Silhouette Island, a granite island roughly 20 nautical miles north-west of Mahé. Silhouette has a single resort and excellent hiking trails. If your checkout allows, anchor overnight and motor the final 10 nautical miles to Mahé the following morning.

Route 2: The 10-Day Extended Inner Islands Loop

With ten days, you can add the eastern Inner Islands and a slower pace. This route typically starts from Mahé, overnights at Anse Major or Silhouette Island on the first night, then follows the classic triangle before pushing east to Frégate Island (35 nm open-water passage) and the Sisters. Frégate is a private island; shore access depends on resort availability on your dates, so confirm before fixing the route. The extra days also allow a proper stop at Aride Island, a strict nature reserve that holds one of the densest seabird colonies in the Indian Ocean—fairy terns, tropicbirds, and noddies. Landing at Aride requires a guided tour arranged in advance through the island’s management. The 10-day route also adds flexibility for weather: if the southeast trades are blowing hard, you can swap a windward passage for a lee-side anchorage without losing a full day.

Catamaran vs. Monohull: Which Hull Fits the Inner Islands?

The research is consistent on this point. Catamarans dominate Seychelles charters for practical reasons. Their shallow draft—typically under 1.5 metres—lets you nose into reef-fringed bays that a monohull drawing two metres or more cannot enter. On the Inner Islands route, a catamaran opens roughly twice as many overnight anchorages. The wide decks are genuinely useful in 30°C heat: you have room to spread out, and the stability at anchor means better sleep and less seasickness for non-regular sailors. A 42–46-foot catamaran sleeps six to ten people and costs €4,500–€7,000 per week in low season, rising to €7,000–€12,000 in peak December–January.

Monohulls make sense for experienced sailors who prioritise upwind performance during the southeast monsoon, or for couples or small groups of four who don’t need the extra living space. A 40–45-foot monohull runs €2,500–€4,000 per week in low season and €4,000–€6,500 in high season. The trade-off is access: anything drawing over two metres must stay within marked channels and loses the shallower anchorages entirely.

Do You Need a Skipper?

Most people booking a Seychelles charter choose a skippered yacht, and the research suggests that’s the right call for most groups. Bareboat charter requires an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or equivalent (RYA Day Skipper or above) plus documented offshore experience. Charter operators typically ask for a logbook showing completed coastal passages. Seychelles is not a beginner bareboat destination: coral reefs sit close to the surface in most anchorages, charts are good but not perfect, and grounding in a remote location has serious consequences. During the southeast trade wind season (June–August), squalls can build from calm to 25–30 knots in under 30 minutes.

A skipper adds roughly €200–€250 per day. For a group of six to eight, that works out to €30–€40 per person per day. What you get for that money is local knowledge: which side of an island to anchor on depending on wind direction, which passages to avoid in certain conditions, and which snorkelling spots don’t appear on any chart. Many first-timers book a skipper for the first few days, then take the helm once the routine is clear.

What the Charter Price Does and Doesn’t Cover

The base charter fee covers the boat, standard safety equipment, a dinghy with outboard, and basic domestic inventory. It does not include the skipper, fuel, marina fees, provisioning, or marine park entry fees. The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) of 30–35% of the charter fee is collected at handover to cover these running costs; any unspent balance is refunded at checkout. Provisioning runs €40–€60 per person per day if you mix supermarket shopping on Mahé with occasional meals ashore. Marine park fees in Ste Anne Marine National Park are €10–€15 per person per day, paid directly to the park authority. Fuel costs add up quickly in hot weather when you’re running fans and the watermaker at anchor.

Before You Go — Seychelles Sailing

What’s the best time for a first-time sailor?

April to May and October to November. These transition months between the northwest monsoon and southeast trades deliver the calmest seas of the year—winds 5–15 knots, flat anchorages, and water clarity at its peak for snorkelling. Charter prices are lower than the December–January peak, and anchorages are less crowded.

How far ahead should I book?

For December and January departures, book at least six months ahead—the best catamarans at reputable companies are often taken by June. Shoulder season (April–May, October–November) offers more flexibility, but three to four months ahead is advisable for a specific boat type or departure date.

Can I combine a sailing trip with other island activities?

Yes. The Inner Islands route puts you within reach of several shore-based experiences. Vallée de Mai on Praslin is a half-day stop. Curieuse Island’s tortoise reserve is accessible directly from the anchorage. La Digue’s bicycle routes and granite beaches work well as a dinghy-ashore day. If you want to add a guided nature reserve visit to Aride or Cousin, book the tours before you depart—landing permits are limited.

What’s the single biggest cost surprise?

The APA. At 30–35% of the charter fee, it can feel like a second payment. On a €7,000 catamaran charter, that’s an additional €2,100–€2,450 held as a deposit for running costs. Any unspent portion is refunded, but the upfront cash requirement is real. Budget for it from the start.

Why a Yacht Beats a Resort

A hotel day orbits the pool, the spa, and the restaurant’s dinner service. A sailing day is shaped by the islands: you haul anchor at first light, sail for a couple of hours, then drop into a new lagoon where the only other boat might be a fishing pirogue. The rhythm isn’t for everyone—you trade fixed amenities for daily variety, and you carry your accommodation with you. But for groups who value waking up to a different granite skyline each morning and spending their afternoons snorkelling reefs that most visitors never reach, the trade-off is straightforward. The Inner Islands are compact enough that a week-long charter lets you see the arc of the archipelago without ever feeling rushed.

For a deeper look at how to structure your days ashore, read our guide on island hopping like a pro in Seychelles. If you’re curious about the wildlife you’ll encounter from the deck, our piece on turtle watching in Seychelles covers the best spots and seasons.

References

SailingClick. “Yacht Charter Seychelles: Complete Guide 2026.” SailingClick, 2025. ↗

CharterClick. “Sailing in Seychelles — Routes, Seasons, and Charter Options.” CharterClick, 2025. ↗

CharterClick. “Seychelles Sailing Itinerary: Island Routes for Yacht Travel.” CharterClick, 2025. ↗

Stay in Seychelles. “Seychelles by Catamaran: Chartering the Inner Islands at Your Own Pace.” Stay in Seychelles, 2025. ↗

The routes, costs, and seasonal data above come from these four primary sources—charter operators and official tourism information published for the Seychelles market. For a broader look at what to do when you’re not sailing, our guide to Creole culture immersion covers the villages and markets you can reach from any Inner Islands anchorage, and the full sailing overview on this site ties the charter planning together with packing lists and boarding-day checklists.