So, here we are! It’s been about a month and a half since our passage from Chagos to Seychelles, and now we’re getting ready to depart again. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time in this amazing country, and I’m really excited to go back through the highlights with you!
Without further ado, let’s dive into Seychelles by sailboat and all of our favourite spots!
Related:
Day in the Life Sailing in the Seychelles: What We Actually Do Every Day
Indian Ocean Crossing: Part Four – Chagos to Seychelles
Ruins and Rules: Two Weeks Sailing in Remote Chagos
Sailing in the Maldives: Our Top Stops from North to South
Entering Seychelles (for Cruisers)
Before we get into the fun stuff, here’s a quick note about the process for incoming yachts — it’s super simple and relatively easy. You have to anchor in a quarantine anchorage outside of the port. It’s not super protected, but we did spend our first night here after arriving in the dark, so it’s not terrible.
The officials will come out to clear you in on their pilot vessel, so you’ll need fenders on the side. We had quite a few people come out — I think it was five or six.
Once you’ve been cleared, you’re free to move into Eden Anchorage, which is really protected and the main ‘town’ anchorage.
If you want more detailed info on the clearing in/out process, head over to Noonsite.
Things to Do in Seychelles by Sailboat
All right, the exciting stuff! This is a brief list of all our favourite things we did — there’s way more, but these are the top picks…
Hiking in Seychelles
I had to start with hiking. I mean, you sail in here and can’t help but be in awe of the lush, mountainous landscapes — such a contrast from the flat Maldivian atolls! There are heaps of hikes on all the islands — way more than we had time for — but the ones we did were seriously fun and had some amazing views.
My favourites:
- Morne Blanc Trail (Mahe) – Short but steep (800m uphill). It’s free, and at the top there’s a platform with panoramic views of the island’s west coast.
- Anse Major Trail (Mahe) – A beautiful hike in the north of Mahe. You end up at a small beach with a shack-style restaurant and really chill vibes. We started from Beau Vallon where we were anchored.
Biking on La Digue
Next, we’re heading about a 3–4 hour sail away to La Digue. You might’ve already heard of this island — it’s known for having few cars and lots of bikes.
The anchorage is a little rolly, so it’s best to spend most of the day on land. We hired bikes with another sailing family and spent two days riding around the island. There are some good hills and a couple of beaches worth checking out. We also made the (slightly crazy) decision to ride up to a restaurant near the highest point — we ended up pushing our bikes up a near-vertical road, but it was totally worth it for the smoothies and the view.
Kitesurfing in Seychelles
Surprise! We managed to find a watersport to do here — and while there’s no surf when the southeasterlies are blowing (which is when we were here), there is a great kiting spot!
Just out from Eden Anchorage, there’s a sweet sandbank where the wind funnels straight through. You can dinghy out and set up right there. Even better, there’s a bit of a kiteboarding community, which we found out about from a friendly expat who invited us to join them — and we kited that very afternoon.
Best Beaches in Seychelles
I know there are amazing beaches all over the world, and they do start to look similar… but Seychelles beaches are next level. Add those dramatic green mountains behind them, and it’s amazing.
Pretty much every bay we anchored in had a beach to explore. We played frisbee and soccer on the sand — and yes, if you’re looking for pristine, picture-perfect beaches, Seychelles won’t disappoint.
Seychelles Wildlife: Tortoises & More
If you’re anything like my mum, you won’t leave Seychelles until you’ve seen giant tortoises.
Good news — you don’t have to pay to see them. They’re in almost every resort. We saw them twice in Praslin (the second-biggest island near La Digue), and again in Mahe.
If you want the full experience, go to Jardin du Roi Spice Garden — you do have to pay, but it’s well worth it. The gardens are beautiful, and there are tons of tortoises, including babies!
Aside from tortoises, there are fruit bats and plenty of unique creatures. I’m not big into wildlife, but if you are, you’ll find plenty to love.
Fishing in Seychelles
If you’ve read about any of our passages, you may have noticed we’re not amazing at fishing. But… we got lucky here!
Fishing in Seychelles is incredible, and anyone keen to troll or throw a line out probably won’t come home empty-handed. Finn (my brother) even got invited to join a fishing contest — he loved it, and we saw some pretty big fish. So yeah, bring some rods.
Cruising Food & Provisions
Can’t finish without talking about the food — mostly the baguettes. I’ve got a soft spot for French pastries, and if you look hard enough, you’ll even find croissants. Most supermarkets have fresh baguettes and even the odd Indian treat.
Also — the supermarkets here are well stocked, which is a huge bonus after sailing through the Maldives.
What It’s Like Sailing in Seychelles
Let’s talk about the actual sailing conditions in Seychelles.
When we were here, the southeasterly trade winds blew steadily the whole time. This makes visiting the southern anchorages trickier, but the northern spots are honestly nicer anyway.
The crossing to Praslin and La Digue is short but fast — you’re on the wind a bit, so the deck will get salty.
In terms of anchorages, you can go almost anywhere. When we first researched Seychelles, it seemed like there were lots of rules, but it’s not like that at all. We’ve been to all the main spots and haven’t had to pay any fees (other than the regular charge for staying over 10 days). Just avoid anchoring in marine and national parks unless you’re happy to pay.
Our favourite anchorages:
- Anse Lazio (Praslin) – absolutely beautiful.
- Beau Vallon (Mahe) – super nice, great for access to stores and services.
For more info on anchorages and spots, check out NoForeignLand, it’s got heaps of stuff on it!
We also rented a car several times — partly because it’s fun to explore by land, and partly because it’s the easiest way to get around Victoria (the main city). Definitely recommend getting a car for a few days!
Just a heads-up: there are a lot of charter boats, many self-chartered, so be aware of them anchoring close by in popular spots.
Final Thoughts
I think that’s about it! Honestly, words can’t quite do Seychelles justice, but I’ve tried. It’s a stunning country with amazing people and a rich, unique culture.
Our first taste of Africa has been amazing, and I can’t wait to see what Tanzania has to offer!
If you’ve been to Seychelles or want to share your thoughts, please leave a comment!