The Seychelles
Islands broken from Gondwanaland 65 million years ago, their beaches piled with granite boulders the size of houses and their interiors patrolled by giant tortoises that outlive the owners who come to see them.
The Seychelles scatters 115 granite and coral islands across an Indian Ocean exclusive economic zone of 1.3 million square kilometres, and Eden Island Marina on Mahé is the only true superyacht base among them — which is rather the point. Everywhere beyond it is anchor-and-tender cruising: Praslin's ancient coco de mer forest, La Digue's boulder beaches reached by bicycle, Curieuse's colony of giant tortoises ashore before breakfast. Push three or four days further south and the archipelago ends at Aldabra, a UNESCO atoll sealed behind a Foundation permit and home to more giant tortoises than anywhere else on Earth. Outside its far south, the whole territory sits clear of the Indian Ocean cyclone belt, and clearance at Eden Island can take as little as half an hour.
“Aldabra alone holds some 150,000 giant tortoises, more than anywhere else on Earth, and you still need a Foundation's permission to go and count them yourself.”
The gallery
Signature anchorages
The Indian Ocean's granite Eden: short hops between 115 islands, the boulder beaches of La Digue, and a three-day reach south to Aldabra's untouched atoll.
- Eden Island Marina, MahéThe hub — 180 metres of stern-to berthing for yachts up to 115m/377ft, a 5.1m approach channel, and Port Victoria customs a short tender ride away.
- St Anne Marine National ParkSix islets five kilometres off Victoria, protected since 1973 as the Indian Ocean's first marine park; an easy, sheltered first or last night at anchor.
- Anse Lazio, PraslinBoulder-framed and reef-free, repeatedly ranked among the world's best beaches; anchor off and tender in for the first swim of the trip.
- Anse Source d'Argent, La DigueThe most photographed sand in the Indian Ocean, its granite slabs enclosing shallow, current-free water inside the old L'Union Estate plantation.
- Curieuse Marine National ParkBare red earth and a coco de mer grove sheltering a 300-strong colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, free-roaming and unbothered by visitors.
- Silhouette IslandThe La Passe anchorage below Mount Dauban's virgin rainforest, inside the archipelago's largest marine park; green turtles nest on the beaches either side.
- Aldabra AtollThree to four days' sail south of Mahé, a raised coral atoll sealed behind a Seychelles Islands Foundation permit and the world's largest giant-tortoise population.
The scene
The Seychelles Challenge
A seven-day flotilla race between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue with a fresh anchorage each night; the second edition sailed 5–11 July 2026 after a successful 2025 debut.
Carnaval International de Victoria
Victoria's streets fill with costumed troupes, steel bands and craft stalls from across the Indian Ocean and beyond for three days every April.
Festival Kreol
Since 1985 — the world's first festival built around Creole heritage — the last week of October turns the capital over to music, food and the all-night bal bobes dance.
SUBIOS Festival of the Sea
Free-diving, marine science and sustainable-seafood chefs converge each November for the archipelago's own tribute to the reefs just offshore.
North Island
Prince William and Kate chose North Island's eleven villas, staffed two-to-one, for their 2011 honeymoon; it remains the region's benchmark for total privacy.
Table & stay ashore
KOI
The sushi counter at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, Petite Anse — widely tipped as the strongest Michelin-calibre candidate in the archipelago, with sunset views over the bay.
La Scala
A Bel Ombre institution for more than 40 years, working a clever seam between Italian tradition and Seychellois produce in a dining room open to the sea.
Chateau de Feuilles
Praslin's most lavish table, a different four-course set menu served nightly on a hillside estate above the Indian Ocean.
Seahorse
Constance Lemuria's fine-dining room on Praslin, a tight, well-drilled menu of Creole and international plates overlooking the resort's lagoon.
North Island
Eleven villas on a private granite-and-jungle island off Mahé — barefoot, discreet, and the honeymoon choice of a future king.
Six Senses Zil Pasyon
Thirty pool villas on the private island of Félicité, reached from Praslin or La Digue by speedboat or helicopter, with three beaches of its own.
A week, sketched
Mahé to St Anne
Clear in at Port Victoria and provision at Eden Island, then make the short run out to St Anne Marine National Park for an easy first afternoon at anchor and a snorkel in the channel.
North to Praslin
A 23-nautical-mile crossing north to Praslin, anchoring off Anse Lazio for the first swim of the trip on one of the world's most photographed beaches.
Vallée de Mai & Anse Georgette
Morning ashore in the UNESCO-listed coco de mer forest, afternoon at the untouched northern beach of Anse Georgette, reachable only by boat or a stiff walk.
La Digue
A full day on bicycles across La Digue, from the granite boulders of Anse Source d'Argent to the old vanilla plantation at L'Union Estate, before returning to the yacht at anchor off La Passe.
Curieuse & Cousin
Morning among the free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises on Curieuse, afternoon at Cousin Island's guided seabird colony, open to visitors on weekdays only.
Silhouette Island
Southwest to Silhouette's La Passe anchorage, below the rainforest of Mount Dauban, inside the largest marine park in the Seychelles.
Port Launay & Mahé
A final snorkel for turtles and reef life at Port Launay–Baie Ternay on Mahé's northwest coast, then the short run back to Eden Island Marina to disembark.
Pair with
Plan this water
The Seychelles
115 granite and coral islands cruised year-round from one marina on Mahé — boulder beaches, free-roaming giant tortoises, and a remote atoll south by permit only.