Seychelles

 Seychelles are a stunning collection of small islands and sandbars in the Indian Ocean. 

Mahe, the largest island in the collection, is home to the Sunsail base. Here, you’ll discover pristine beaches, vibrant bars, and restaurants overlooking the stunning blue ocean teeming with wildlife. Whilst you embark on your sailing holiday, be sure to explore as much of the surrounding islands as possible; they offer opportunities for hiking, scuba, relaxation, and more. 

But where is the best place for you to sail in  Seychelles? We have our one-week itineraries, but if you decide to stay longer, or want to customize your trip, we have our top picks – filtered by group type, below.

For Families

Seychelles is a known location for couples but is also a brilliant location for family trips and sailing.  Seychelles are surrounded by coral reefs, creating natural barriers that protect the waters and make them relatively calm and safe. This is particularly reassuring for families with young children or individuals who may be new to sailing holidays. Beau Vallon, Mahé is our favorite beach spot in Seychelles for young children.

For Couples

Seychelles is undeniably romantic; remote island collections with beaches could all be the advert for ‘paradise’. Many of the luxury resorts on Seychelles have chalets built over the oceans and activities tailored for honeymooners. 

Our one-week Seychelles sailing Itinerary sets off from the island of Mahe, which has a stunning array of biodiversity, both on land and under the waves. 

Our Seychelles yacht charter in the Indian Ocean offers 4 cabin Catamarans – ideal for lounging on deck, enjoying delicious platters of food (if you decide to add the luxury of an on-board chef), soaking up the sun and enjoying the bliss that is this tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean.

For First-Time Sailors

Although a Level 3 sailing holiday, Seychelles does offer a lovely first sailing experience for established sailors wanting to explore this archipelago. Praslin and Mahe are the two most established docks and sailing spaces. 

If you wish to experience the freedom of a sailing holiday, without having to sail yourself, consider hiring a skipper. Our skippered holidays offer the chance to take in your surroundings and enjoy the experience of having one of our knowledgeable skippers navigate your passage. 

If you want to brush up on your sailing skills or add to your range of sailing qualifications and skills, the Sunsail Sailing Schools could be of use to you, with bases in Portsmouth, UK, Agana, Croatia, and Lefkas, Greece – find something for you, regardless of your prior sailing experience.

For Large Groups

• Mahe, where our Seychelles yacht charter base resides, is one of the larger islands that make up the Archipelago – and is well equipped for larger parties – although we do recommend planning and booking in advance where possible. 

The range of Sunsail yachts available in Seychelles have a max of 4 cabins and berth 10/11 people or skippers, they will need their own cabin space) – It is possible for larger groups to hire multiple yachts – please speak with one of our sailing holiday planners for more information about this.

There are so many incredible experiences to enjoy whilst in Seychelles. Whether you want to kick back and relax, explore all of the island’s natural beauty, dive beneath the waves & have close encounters with their unique wildlife or are foodies looking for the top-spots for sensational dining and views we pulled our top things to do in the Seychelles below.

Relaxing

• Seychelles is famed for its relaxed atmosphere, with accommodation on the islands being tailored to enhance this. These islands are some of the best in the world for the feeling of escape, and the opportunity to relax – enjoying entertainment, glorious beaches and lazily watching the ocean rolling back and forth.
• Anse Lazio, Praslin Island can be considered one of the best beaches in the world, this tropical paradise – with dense greenery fringing powder-white sand and pristine turquoise water – is scattered with large, tan boulders that juxtapose the softness of their surroundings. This beach is ideal for kicking back, relaxing, and taking in the wonders of the world around you.

Exploring

• Seychelles has a plethora of remote beaches, rainforests, and sand bars for you to explore. Our favorite area to explore by yacht is St. Anne Marine Park.
• Discover hiking trails such as the Anse Major Trail in Morne Seychelles National Park – for 360 views of the islands and the turquoise waters surrounding it. 
• Wade through the shallows and explore a new perspective – from horseback – with Turquoise Horse Trails, which run on Mahe island.

Eating and Drinking

Mahe is the biggest island in  Seychelles, with a plethora of exciting beachside restaurants and bars. You can’t go wrong. However below, we have summarised our top picks across  Seychelles.

• For fine dining: Losean Restaurant, Praslin Island. This restaurant is part of the Raffles Hotel Seychelles, with manicured greenery overlooking the ocean and exquisite dishes that offer a dining experience you will not be quick to forget. The Losean also caters to vegetarian and vegan diets. We also love Paris Seychelles, located within the Fisherman’s Resort on Mahe, this spectacular restaurant offers fine dining on the water’s edge, specializing in Seafood, Cajun, and French Cuisine.
• Budget-Friendly: Our top picks are budget-friendly without compromising on quality, Bao on Mahe offers delicious, authentic Japanese food at a reasonable price, it also has glowing TripAdvisor reviews! We also love Baobab Pizzeria on Beau Vallon beach, Mahe –  perfect for taking away, walking a few steps down to the beach, and enjoying your pizza as the waves roll toward the shore.
• Market meals: We love a day and night market on holiday, always bustling with energy, the air filled with the smell of exotic spices that in future will bring us back to that moment. Markets are the perfect places for affordable eating & stocking up before heading back to the yacht. We recommend Victoria Market Street (find A Taste of Italy whilst there) and Beau Vallon Night Market (only open on Wednesday evenings), to find some of the best grilled seafood you will ever taste. 

Underwater Adventures

The Indian Ocean is teeming with biodiversity. The coast surrounding  Seychelles Islands) offer clear, warm waters – some even say the smaller archipelagos offer bath-like temperatures. 

Are you looking to be Diving Seychelles? Well, there are many opportunities across this vast ocean space, so below we have summarised our favorite underwater adventures for those exploring  Seychelles Islands. 

• Seychelles is a fantastic destination for snorkeling. Explore coral reefs teeming with colorful fish, rays, and even sea turtles. Top snorkeling spots include Anse Lazio (Praslin), Anse Source d’Argent (La Digue), and Sainte Anne Marine National Park.
• Discover Seychelles’ diverse marine life by scuba diving. There are dive sites suitable for all levels, from beginners to experienced divers. Popular dive sites include the Aldabra Atoll, Shark Bank, and the Ennerdale Wreck.
• Mahe and Praslin are known for opportunities to see whale sharks, especially during the months of October to November.
• Enjoy exploring coastal areas and mangroves while kayaking or paddleboarding. Some locations, like Port Launay Marine National Park, offer clear and calm waters for these activities.
• Scuba or snorkel The Aldebaran Wreck, a fishing boat measuring 30 meters, submerged in 2008, has become a hub for diverse marine life. It draws in a variety of species, including moray eels, lionfish, starfish, and batfish. Occasionally, fortunate observers may spot hammerhead sharks and massive groupers around the wreckage.

We recommend visiting  Seychelles in their dryer months – April, May, September, and October. Although the islands remain warm year-round, they can get quite humid and stay so lush due to heavy rainfall.
For more details on when to visit the Seychelles, check our Sailing Conditions page.

Our Seychelles yacht charters require a Level 3 Sailing Experience: meaning you will need to have completed at least 20 days or 400 miles as a skipper and meet our other requirements before you can depart on a bareboat charter with Sunsail. Please fill out our Sailing CV to see if you meet our requirements, or look at our incredible Sailing School options, if you are looking to improve or level-up your sailing abilities before this trip.

If you have less experience but still wish to embark on a Seychelles yacht charter, we recommend looking at our skippered holiday options.

Our Seychelles yacht charters start at £3,765 for a 7 day, for 2 people out of peak season. 

However, it is important to remember that time of year, charter type, and extras can all impact the cost of your charter. 
This also does not cover flights or insurance. For a better guess – build your dream Seychelles yacht charter with our sailing holiday quote builder.

 Seychelles Mooring Fees change depending on the island or space, most cost 200 or 250 SCR (Seychelles Rupee)/ €15 per person. 

Some, such as Port Launay, cost 200 SCR per yacht, rather than per person. Private Islands which are open to the public cost between SCR 300-600 and some marine parks are the same. 

Please, check the opening times for any marine parks you choose to moore at. Confirm any further queries with your holiday planner before you set sail!