The beaches of the Seychelles archipelago are among the most famous in the world and have been featured in many movies and advertisements. Sailing here means you can experience this dreamlike landscape firsthand. Admire the stunning coral atolls, the rich wildlife that is unique to this archipelago, the lush mountains, and colonial architecture. The conditions for yacht charter are perfect with tropical temperatures throughout the year and calm waters. It’s like renting a boat in paradise!

What are the main features you find when renting a sailing yacht in the Seychelles?

Seychelles International Airport offers many daily scheduled direct flights to and from European, African, Indian and Middle Eastern destinations. There are also very good ferry connections and flights between the larger islands.

The Republic of Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands with the capital Victoria on the island of Mahé. It is located in the Indian Ocean, about 1,600 km east of mainland Africa, just south of the equator. Other island states south of the Seychelles are Madagascar, La Réunion, and Mauritius. The population is ca. 93,000, 90% of whom live on Mahé. It is the smallest population of any independent African state.

The Seychelles have 42 granitic inland islands containing the three main islands Mahé, La Digue and Praslin and spread over a total sea area of ​​about 31,000 km² and a land area of ​​266 km². Then there are 73 outer coral islands that arc towards Africa that have a sea area of ​​about 400,000 km². The highest point of these islands is only 9 m and they have very few settlements. It should be noted that on a one or two week charter there is probably not enough time to sail both groups of islands. In that case, it is better to stick exclusively to the Inner Islands.

The archipelago is spoiled by tropical temperatures moderated by trade winds and mostly calm seas throughout the year. Sailing yacht charter is therefore possible all year round and sailing is easy. The landscape is pristine and truly paradisiacal with long sandy beaches, green mountains, waterfalls and incredible lush wildlife. The highest point is Morne Seychellois on Mahé at 905 m. You can meet giant tortoises and see the famous coco de mer palm trees that are endemic to the Seychelles and have the largest plant seeds in the world. The underwater flora and fauna is excellent and ideal for diving and snorkelling, as well as many other water sports. Seychellois are very protective of their beautiful surroundings. There are seven national parks as well as four protected reserves and many safe anchorages are being created to prevent coral reefs from being destroyed.

On top of that, it has friendly locals, a very interesting culture, delicious Creole cuisine with fresh and healthy food, and French and British colonial architecture. All of this adds up to a perfect charter vacation.

Some of the most important figures for yacht charter in the Seychelles:

Location: Indian Ocean; about 1,600 km east of Kenya; 4° – 10° south of the equator

Surface: Surface 459 km²; total territory 1,374,000 km²

Number of islands: 115

Coast: 491 km

Capital: Victoria

Major islands: Mahé (156 km²) with capital Victoria, Praslin Island, Silhouette Island, La Digue

Highest point: Morne Seychellois, 905m

Population: 93,000

Climate: Tropical, moderated by trade winds

Languages: Seychellois Creole, French, English

Tidal range: inner islands 0.9 – 2 m; Outer Islands 1.8 – 4m

Peak Charter Season: Year-round, but primarily during the winter months in Europe and North America

What are the most popular charter destinations and cruise areas in the Seychelles?

Sailing around the Inner Islands, or the “Bank of Seychelles”, means a quiet, easy and protected cruise. There is always less than 32 NM between mooring possibilities. You will find many mooring buoys in the north-west of Mahé, the north-east of Praslin and some neighboring islands. The distance from Mahé to Praslin is about 27 nautical miles and La Digue is close by. Only Mahé, which is the largest island, has miles of scenic coastline with white sand beaches, coves and grottoes. La Digue and Praslin are home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world. Anchoring on coral bottom is not allowed, but there are many good anchorages with sandy bottoms at about 5 – 8m depth. Most of the Seychelles’ ports are located on the three main islands. Port Victoria has 210 berths for yachts up to 34m. The new Eden Island Marina can accommodate 140 boats and superyachts up to 100m in length.

Navigating the Outer Islands you will come across the main Amirantes island groups, the Alphonse Group, the South Coral Group, the Farquhar Group and Aldabra. Those islands are between 130 and 630 NM from Mahé and are much less frequented, but are therefore very unspoiled and special sailing locations.

Go to the marine parks of Cousin, Aride, Curieuse National Marine Park, Ste. Anne National Marine Park, Ile Coco and St. Pierre National Marine Park. There are specific areas for anchoring and officials will come to the yacht to collect mooring and entry fees. Tickets start at €10 per person and overnight anchorage starts at €10 per yacht.

What are the prevailing weather systems relevant to your Seychelles bareboat charter?

Due to the tropical climate, the Seychelles are ideal for sailing throughout the year. The temperature of the water and the air usually oscillates between 24° and 32°. The waters are calm because the coral reefs upstream are breaking the waves. This makes browsing very easy. There are two main seasons. One from May to October with winds from the southeast. It is dry with only light rain but has stronger winds. The other, from November to March, is characterized by weaker northwesterly winds and slightly more rain but calm seas than in the dry season. April is the month between seasons and there is almost no wind.

January brings the most rain with an average of 397mm and June is the driest month with an average of 63mm. However, if it does rain, most of the time it ends after a few hours and another part of the island or another island will be dry at the same time, so it’s easy to escape the occasional rain. With the exception of the southernmost islands, the Seychelles are outside the range of the cyclone belt and there are no tropical storms.

Brief summary of the time to rent a yacht in the Seychelles:

Months with the highest average temperature: March/April 31°

Months with the lowest average temperature: July/August 24°

Strongest wind speeds: Southeast trade winds from May to October, 10 – 20 knots

Month with the highest average rainfall: January 379 mm

Month with lowest average precipitation: June 63 mm

Medium humidity: approx. 80%

Month with the highest average sun: May, 252 hours

Month with the lowest average sunshine: January, 153 hours

How much does it cost to rent a yacht in the Seychelles archipelago and what types of rental are there?

Prices for sailboat charter holidays in the Seychelles start at around €2,250 per week and catamaran charter is the most prevalent form of boat charter. Sport or deep-sea fishing trips are also very common. It can be chartered bareboat or crewed and there are lovely traditional and very modern yachts available. Sports and diving equipment is usually provided with the yacht.

What is there to do besides sailing your rental boat in the Seychelles?

Visit Praslin and the Vallée de Mai UNESCO World Natural Heritage Reserve, which is home to the legendary coco de mer palm tree with its huge coconuts that can take up to seven years to mature. There you will also find some of the world’s rare bird species and some of the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles.

Explore Bird Island, the northernmost island of the Inner Seychelles. It is located about 100 km from Mahé and is home to the oldest, largest and heaviest tortoise in the world, which is 170 years old and weighs 300 kg. Hundreds of thousands of birds, some very rare species, nest there.

Go fly fishing in the outer islands, where some of the best fishing grounds in the world are found and you can catch huge fish in a pristine environment.

Discover La Digue with its beautiful architecture. It is best to rent a bike and cycle around. Visit the stunning Anse Source d’Argent beach featured in ads for Bacardi, Raffaelo and others with its pink sand and spectacular rocks.

Take a look at the French colonial architecture, namely the historic cemetery with the tomb of the legendary pirate Olivier Le Vasseur and the Immaculée Conception Cathedral, which is the main cathedral of the Seychelles. There is also a lot of British colonial architecture in Victoria, like the clock tower for example. You can also visit the botanical gardens and learn about the rich local flora.

Drive along the coastal roads of Mahé and explore the diverse mix of chic resorts like Eden Island, laid-back port cities and deserted beaches for the perfect castaway experience. Climb up into the mountains for stunning views like the one from Silhouette Island.

You can admire giant tortoises in natural parks. Snorkel, dive, kayak or try any of the other types of water sports available. Try the local cuisine. It’s a fusion of African, French, British, Indian and Chinese influences and includes lots of fantastic fresh fish and exotic spices. Also explore the nightlife. Hit the clubs in Victoria and on Beau Vallon Beach and mingle with tourists and sailors from around the world.

We hope you now have a good idea of ​​what Seychelles yacht charter is like and what this wonderful island state has to offer. It is certainly a yacht charterer’s paradise!