Seychelles... Who can say no to a sea vacation there!

Editor

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Created on May 3, 2023

May 3, 2023

Categories: Destination

Seychelles, with its turquoise sea, lush emerald forests stretching towards the white beaches, always mild season, coral reefs, and granite cliffs that are unique in the world, is a complete paradise for a boat holiday. Its rich historical texture and quality cuisine that blends several cultures are other factors that will increase the pleasure you will get from your Seychelles sea holiday.

A paradise made of granite

Although geographically included in the African continent, Seychelles, located 648 nautical miles (1,200 km) northeast of Madagascar, is a whole different world in the Indian Ocean. Spreading over an area of 1,300 km², 115 islands cover only 452 km² of land area. Renting a boat in Seychelles is not a one-time adventure. You have to come here a few times in order to visit such a large and magnificent maritime geography. The fact of the matter is that many of those who take a sea holiday in Seychelles come to this paradise again and again for a sea holiday.

One of the most beautiful examples of volcanic formations, 41 of Seychelles' 115 islands are made up of mountainous granite rocks. This feature distinguishes Seychelles from other tropical islands, where the ocean carved the granite cliffs into magnificent shapes over the centuries like a sculptor. When the cliffs formed by granite rocks and granite rocks such as sculptures are added to the image created by the forests stretching towards the white beaches, a landscape unmatched on earth emerges. It would not be an exaggeration to say that renting a boat in Seychelles is a lifetime experience thanks to these islands, also known as Granitic Seychelles.

Mahe Island

The largest and main island of Seychelles, 142 km² Mahe is also the liveliest island of Seychelles; Victoria, the capital of Seychelles, is also located on this island. Mahe, where 90 percent of the country, that is, about 70,000 people, live, is a relatively crowded settlement, but it also preserves its natural beauty with its magnificent beaches and 900-meter mountains. Due to the airport being located here, Mahe is home to many of the boat rental companies in Seychelles. You can charter a boat from Mahe for a wonderful sea vacation, but we recommend you also make time for Mahe Island and the capital, Victoria.

The official languages of Seychelles are both English and French, since it was a British colony and then a French colony many years ago. We hope that you will enjoy seeing the traces of these two cultures and the Creole style of the natives of Seychelles in Mahe and especially Victoria. Meanwhile, the country's only Hindu temple, Arulmigu Navasakti Vinayagar Temple, is also in Victoria. You can plan to visit this temple and the city, where you will enjoy walking around with its flamboyant architecture, before or after your Seychelles sea vacation. You can also visit the magnificent Morne Seychellois National Park, located inland, before sailing along Mahé's shores. With its 900-meter peak, this is the highest point of all Seychelles.

If you want to experience a little Seychelles-style nightlife as well as discover nature on your Seychelles boat vacation, you should spare a little more time for Mahe. There are also independent clubs and casinos in Mahe, but the most popular places are usually those located inside luxury hotels.

Praslin Island

Located 27 miles northeast of Mahe, the second largest island of the Inner Seychelles, Praslin and its beaches are another place to spend plenty of time on your Seychelles boat vacation. Anse Lazio is known as one of the most beautiful islands of Praslin and all of Seychelles, with its white sandy beaches, crystal clear water and palm trees. Other famous beaches you might want to add to your itinerary on your Praslin boat vacation are Anse Georgette and Cote d'Or. The World Heritage Site Vallee de Mai in Praslin is the largest example of natural palm forests. This place is also famous for its vanilla orchids.

Island Hopping in Seychelles

In addition to Mahée and Praslin, you can include La Dique, Silhouette, Felicite, Destroches, Curieuse and Aldabra in your Seychelles cruise itinerary. Another option is to charter a boat from Mahe to reach Bird Island, which is located in the northernmost part of your Seychelles sea vacation, with a 62-nautical-mile cruise. From there, you can go to Denis Island with a cruise of 24 nautical miles. These magnificent coral islands will be worth the journey, but there is so much to explore around Mahe and Praslin that if you are chartering a boat for the first time in Seychelles, we recommend you choose to stay in the area known as the Granitic Islands. An island hopping route around the islands of Mahe and Praslin, which are 24 nautical miles between them, surrounded by Silhouette and Fregate Island, will make you very happy if you are going to Seychelles for the first time.

3 nautical miles off Mahe, you can stop by the oldest marine protected area of Seychelles, Sainte Anne Marine National Park, which is famous for its corals. In addition to the island of Sainte Anne of the same name and the surrounding lagoon, the national park includes Moyenne, Round, Long, Cerf, Cachee Islands and shallow ocean waters. If you're lucky, you can spot eagle ray, pipefish, sea turtles and even bottlenose dolphins here. Preserving its natural beauty despite its proximity to Mahe due to its strict protection, Sainte Anne is home to the best snorkeling spots in Seychelles and more than 150 species of marine life. In addition to the vibrant and colorful reefs here, the granite rocks with coral growing on them just below the water surface will surely catch your attention.

After spending time on Praslin's famous beaches and restaurants, you can also head to Curieuse Island, just 1.5 nautical miles from Anse Lazio beach in the northwest of the island. With its tranquil beaches, rare giant Aldabra tortoises, mangrove forest, local history museum and national marine park, this is an island worth visiting. Curieuse Island is also the only place in the world where the very valuable sea coconut is grown.

La Digue Island, which you can also reach with a short cruise of 6.5 nautical miles from Praslin, is an island that you should definitely include in your Seychelles sea vacation. You should also visit the fragrant vanilla fields on the island, where you can visit the Plantation House, one of the oldest examples of French colonial architecture in Seychelles. If you have rented a boat in Seychelles, you should definitely go to Anse Source d'Argent, located on La Digue Island, which is called “the most beautiful beach in the world”. This beach is famous for its magnificent sand and beautiful granite formations beyond its trees. After spending enough time in La Digue, which has many other beautiful beaches, you can continue to the Cocos Islands, 3.5 nautical miles north.

We believe that the Cocos Islands, a magnificent place for snorkeling and diving, will be one of the indispensable stops of your Seychelles boat holiday. Surgeonfish, zebra fish, trumpetfish, spotted grouper (spotted coral grouper) and colorful butterflyfish (butterflyfish), as well as reef sharks, turtles and much more, can be spotted here.

Seychelles Marinas

When you rent a boat in Seychelles, you can connect to equipped marinas where you can get all kinds of services. Victoria Marina and Grand Anse Marina are the most famous on the main island of Mahe. In addition to all marina services, Grand Anse Marina also has a wide variety of restaurants and bars. You can also find good marinas and marinas in other important Seychelles Islands such as Praslin and La Digue.

Seychelles Cuisine

A blend of French and Indian traditions, Seychelles cuisine is based on our favorite main ingredient, seafood! Coconut and tropical fruits are also used in dishes flavored with saffron, curry and various spices, sweet sauces are balanced with bitterness and spice. In addition to seafood such as tuna and crab, vegetables such as peas and lentils, legumes and rice are among the dishes you will encounter frequently on your boat vacation in Seychelles.

Winds and Weather in Seychelles

Seychelles is always temperate because it is located in the Equatorial belt; There are two seasons, dry and rainy. The dry season between June and November is more attractive for a sailing holiday in Seychelles. In Mahe, which is not very hot due to trades, the temperature varies between 26-29 °C. The temperature never drops below 24 °C and rarely exceeds 32 °C.