Why the Seychelles works so well by yacht
The Seychelles is made up of 115 islands, many of them clustered closely together. That geography matters. Short distances between islands mean less time cruising and more time exploring. Spend your days island hopping, from one anchorage to the next, without long passages or rigid planning.
Sea conditions are generally kind. Protected waters make for relaxed cruising, easy anchoring and reliable access to beaches and reefs. Shallow draft is rarely an issue, opening up anchorages that simply are not practical by land-based travel.
Eleanor compares the rhythm to the British Virgin Islands, but with a crucial difference. “In the BVIs, every anchorage has dozens of boats. In the Seychelles, you might see four or six. It feels calm, open, and genuinely exclusive.”
That lack of crowding defines the experience. The Seychelles can feel entirely yours.
Inner islands and outer islands
Two very different experiences
The Seychelles offers two distinct cruising styles, often within the same itinerary.
The inner islands, also known as the granite islands, are volcanic and surprisingly dramatic. Mahé, Praslin and La Digue rise steeply from the sea, with rainforests at their core and waterfalls spilling through the landscape. These islands deliver variety. Forest hikes. Cycling on car-free islands. Botanical gardens. Small bars hidden in the hills, an unforgettable vista for sundowners.
“There’s a lot more to do ashore than people expect,” Eleanor says. “You can cycle around islands. Visit botanical gardens. See coco de mer trees. Walk through rainforest. It’s a much richer onshore experience than some other exotic yacht destinations.”
Further afield, the outer islands are something else entirely. Low-lying coral atolls with sand flats, lagoons and extraordinary fishing. These are remote and uncompromising. Eleanor is clear that they are not for everyone. “Unless you’re specifically looking for fishing or extreme remoteness, they are not something I’d recommend for most clients.” But for those who want to go there, the option exists. Few destinations offer such a clear shift in topography within a single country.
What the Seychelles is best known for
The headlines are familiar. White sand beaches. Clear water. Rare wildlife. But what sets the Seychelles apart is how these elements coexist with everyday life.
The islands feel lived in. Eleanor notes the difference immediately. “There’s a higher standard of living than in many Caribbean destinations. There’s a real sense of community.”
Culturally, the Seychelles reflects its history as a crossroads. Creole culture shapes everything from language to cuisine, blending African, Asian and European influences. Dining ashore feels local rather than curated. Markets are active. Villages are working, living, breathing places, not tourist backdrops.
When is the best time to visit the Seychelles?
The Seychelles is generally thought of as a winter/early spring destination (if you are coming from the northern hemisphere), but conditions vary depending on what you want from your charter. February to April tends to be the key period that offers calmer seas and better visibility for diving and snorkelling.
There is no cyclone season here. Temperatures remain consistent. For families, the minimal time difference from Europe, just three hours, makes the destination far more manageable than many long-haul options.
How to get to the Seychelles
International arrivals fly into Mahé, the main island and home to the country’s capital, Victoria. Private aviation can fly direct. Commercial flights typically route via Dubai.
Mahé also offers the only true marina infrastructure in the country. Crime rates are low. Tourism is well established but not overwhelming. Movement ashore feels relaxed and easy.
Eleanor describes it simply. “If I could rent a small boat with my family anywhere, this is where I’d go.”
Why chartering here feels different
Compared with the Caribbean or the Maldives, the Seychelles offers more range. More landscape. More culture. More room to breathe.
“It’s like the Caribbean as you want it to be,” Eleanor says. “But with fewer people, and more to do ashore.”
For clients looking beyond the obvious, the Seychelles rewards curiosity. It is not flashy. It does not sell itself loudly. But by yacht, it quietly delivers one of the most unforgettable charter experiences available today.
And for those who value space, variety and authenticity, it may be the destination they did not realise they were looking for.
