They often say that God designed Seychelles with the sailor in mind, and it’s undeniable that gently cruising through crystal-clear waters is one of the best ways to discover the 115 island-strong archipelago that sits just off the coast of East Africa.
With a central location outside the cyclone belt, Seychelles makes for the perfect pitstop for any yacht travelling through the Indian Ocean. Good moorings and short sailing distances make it easy to visit a wide selection of the islands, while the gobsmackingly beautiful atolls and virgin waters of the Outer Islands are home to incredible opportunities for snorkelling, diving and fishing in secluded bays that are just begging to be explored.
Occupying some 1,350,000 sq. km of territorial water, the islands fall into two categories: the 41 granitic Inner Islands that sit on the Seychelles plateau, and the 74 low-lying, coralline Outer Islands, together providing two entirely different environments, with world-class beaches, magnificent coral reefs, untouched forests and exotic hideaways.
With such extraordinary biodiversity, Seychelles has strict conservation measures in place across almost half of its landmass. This means the islands are like a living natural history museum, home to some of the rarest flora and fauna that you’ll find on Earth. They also have two pristine Unesco World Heritage sites: the Vallée de Mai on the island of Praslin, and Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atoll.
With these stunning natural wonders, it’s unsurprising that the islands are the ideal place for swimming, snorkelling and diving. With warm waters that gently lap beaches of powder-soft sand, ringed by ancient granite boulders and lush palm forests, Seychelles
is a beautiful tropical paradise for beach bums and keen divers alike.
Seychelles has a population of just 81,000, making it a relaxed and carefree holiday. It’s the ideal destination to get away from stresses of modern life, and the islands’ reputation for a harmonious, welcoming local culture will instantly
make you feel at home. What’s more, English, French and Creole are the three official languages, making getting around easy and hassle-free.
Head to the capital city of Victoria on the main island of Mahé for a true taste of island life. Peppered with quaint galleries, craft shops, old Creole-style plantation houses, scenic viewpoints and natural wonders both above and beneath the waves, it’s an essential must-do for any visitor.
If you aren’t lucky enough to be cruising around on your own boat, the city is the ideal base for island hopping thanks to an efficient network of inter-island boats, aeroplanes and helicopter transfers.
Yet for the very best Seychelles experience, there’s only one way to travel: sailing around this glorious jewel in the crown of the Indian Ocean.
For more information, visit seychelles.travel
