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Once believed to be the site of the biblical Garden of Eden for its lush and verdant beauty, the Seychelles is a spectacular Indian Ocean yacht charter destination — a jungle paradise of powder-soft beaches, rainforest-covered mountains, and superb diving in sapphire waters.
There are 115 islands in the Seychelles, of which only ten are inhabited. The Seychelles are made up of two distinct island chains with wildly different geographies. The Inner Islands are granitic, with house-sized boulders looming over incredibly beautiful sugar-white beaches. The Outer Islands are low-lying coral atolls that stretch in a giant, lonely arc back towards the African mainland and offer idyllic remote cruising
On this 7-day itinerary, we will explore the Inner Islands most frequented by Indian Ocean charter superyachts. The Seychelles lie outside the hurricane belt, and yachts can cruise there year-round, with peak season between December and March.
Day 1: Mahé - St. Anne Marine National Park
You join the yacht at Eden Marina and get underway immediately, enjoying lunch onboard and marvelling at the view of the green mountains of Mahé dropping away behind the yacht’s wake.
The yacht drops anchor off St. Anne Island, where you take your first dive in the warm water of the Seychelles — a blue so aquamarine that it almost defies belief. You can see all the way to the bottom, where hawksbill turtles nibble on the waving Poseidon Sea meadows. The captain tells you to watch for the resident pod of dolphins.
After diving, you swim ashore to St. Anne Island and sink your toes into the soft, white sand. You take a quiet path into the jungle, bare feet padding on the sand and fallen palm fronds. You breathe deep. You are a long way from home, and you have found paradise. You watch your first Seychelles sunset back on the yacht as the stewardess passes around with silver trays of canapes and cocktails. You sit down for a long, candlelit dinner on the deck, looking out across the silvery sea.
Day 2: Moyenne Island - La Digue Island
The yacht moves across to Moyenne Island, the world’s smallest national park site. You eat breakfast at anchor before jumping in the tender and going ashore to explore the rainforest, home to 120 giant tortoises that lumber slowly along the paths.
You return to the yacht and quickly jump to La Digue Island. As you approach Anse Source d’Argent Beach, you cannot help but gasp. Giant granite boulders rear up out of the jungle, their tops in line with the coconut palms. These pink-hued boulders shade a perfect powder-soft beach edged by turquoise water. You cannot bear to wait another minute to get ashore and spend the afternoon on the most beautiful beach on earth.
Flushed with salt-air happiness and the start of a holiday tan, you wander around La Digue Island, where oxcarts rumble along the streets, and sit down for dinner at the lively Chez Jules Restaurant.
Day 3: La Digue Island – Praslin Island
After a long, lazy breakfast and a swim, the yacht gets underway for Praslin Island — home of the UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai, a primaeval rainforest known for its vanilla orchids, birdlife, and towering Coco de Mer trees. These coconut palms bear the largest coconuts in the world with trees up to 300 years old, and Praslin Island is one of only two places on earth they are endemic to. The captain has organised a tour with a local guide as you tramp the trails and learn the forest’s secrets.
After lunch and some water sports back at the yacht, you go ashore to Raffles Hotel, where the stewardess has booked you an afternoon in the splendid resort spa, followed by cocktails and dinner.
Day 4: St. Pierre Island, Grande Soeur Island and Curieuse Island
You start your day with a phenomenal snorkel around tiny St. Pierre Island, a picture-perfect outcrop of granite boulders and palm trees. Your slightly sore head from the fun night before instantly vanishes as you’re enveloped in crystal-clear water and vibrant schools of fish.
Lunch is out of a dream — one you know you’ll be talking about for a long while! The captain moves the yacht to Grande Soeur Island, where the crew sets up a luxury beach picnic on a white sand beach surrounded by pale pink rocks and coconut palms.
When you finally feel ready to leave this special place, you return to the yacht, which moves to Curieuse Island for the night. You eat early and retire to the sky lounge for a movie night, the stewardess bringing buckets of popcorn and mugs of hot chocolate as you snuggle into the soft couch. Every once in a while, you look out the window at the beautiful Indian Ocean night.
Day 5: Curieuse Island – Aride Island
Today is a day for exploring nature and quiet islands. First up, you tender into Curieuse Island again, where the red rock and sand starkly contrast with the lush forest green and vibrant turquoise sea. You explore, coming across giant tortoises, Coco de Mer trees, and mangrove swamps. You take the cliff path and discover ruins, an old leper colony, and colonial villas.
You spend the afternoon at Aride Island Nature Reserve, a birdwatcher’s paradise. This is one of the most crucial seabird habitats in the entire Indian Ocean, and you hike to the top of Crystal Esprit, looking out across the island and hearing the cries of the bird colonies carrying on the wind. Then it’s back down to sea level for a great snorkel and back to the boat for a well-earned dinner!
Day 6: Cousin Island - Praslin Island
You wake up feeling a little glum that it is your last day on charter and vow to make it great. Your day starts on Cousin Island, where the nature reserve holds many treasures, including hawksbill turtle breeding sites and rich birdlife, including fairy terns, Seychelles warblers, and puffins. By the time you make it to the beach, the crew has set up stunning picnic tables on the sand, and you spend a couple of happy hours eating, swimming, and drinking in the tranquillity.
In the afternoon, the yacht returns to Praslin Island and anchors off Anse Lazio Beach. You have one last spin on the water toys before heading ashore for sunset cocktails and dinner, discussing your favourite part of your trip. Your tender ride back to the yacht feels incredible as the warm wind blows through your hair, and the moon throws silver on the sea. You decide to have a nightcap and sit on the swim platform, feet dangling in the water.
Day 7: Praslin Island to Mahé Island
It’s a reasonably short jump back to Mahé Island today, so there’s time for a leisurely swim and beach walk on Praslin Island before breakfast. The yacht then gets underway for Eden Island Marina, where you say your reluctant goodbyes to the crew and head to the airport. As you board the plane, you realise that you have visited ten islands on your charter, which means there are 105 still to go. You start planning your next Seychelles yacht charter before the plane is in the clouds.
This is one possible Seychelles yacht charter itinerary out of hundreds. Please get in touch with Bluewater to create one tailored exactly to your group.
You’ve just planned an action-packed trip, and you’re looking into the best superyacht to get the job done. Here are our recommendations for superyachts to make your trip super.
IJE 108m M/Y
IJE is an adventure seeker’s paradise with two custom 12-metre tenders, eight jet skis and a full-beam beach club. Are you looking for entertainment onboard? She boasts a gym, cinema, nightclub, beauty salon and spa for whatever mood you find yourself in throughout your holiday.
LA BELLA VITA 47m S/Y
Following her complete refit in 2022-23 winter, she offers large, amazing spaces onboard with modern touches and amenities. She holds 12 guests and is home to an array of toys for days of fun (water skis, wakeboards, kayaks and snorkelling equipment).
SIROCCO 47m M/Y
HEESEN pulled out all the stops when creating SIROCCO in 2006. Following her refit in 2013, she includes six rooms for 12 guests and carries nine crew onboard. Timeless styling, exquisite furnishings and lavish seating create an unforgettable atmosphere for charter guests.
