Seychelles Yacht Charters
Ninety-one granite and coral islands scattered across the western Indian Ocean, where the southeast trades deliver reliable sailing conditions and the inner islands remain genuinely remote despite their fame.
Charter by Vessel Type in Seychelles
Catamaran Charter in Seychelles
Spacious twin-hull vessels offering stability, comfort, and generous deck space for the ultimate charter experience.
Sailing Yacht Charter in Seychelles
Classic sailing vessels that combine timeless elegance with the thrill of wind-powered adventure.
Motor Yacht Charter in Seychelles
Powerful luxury vessels delivering speed, sophistication, and effortless cruising across any waters.
Available Yachts in Seychelles
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409
Sun Odyssey 409 · 2013
From
€2k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Bavaria Cruiser 46
Bavaria 46 · 2016
From
€2k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Sun Odyssey 469
Sun Odyssey 469 · 2014
From
€2k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Dufour 520 GL with watermaker & A/C
DUfour 520 GL · 2018
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 39 (2015)
Lagoon 39 · 2017
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lipari 41
Lipari 41 · 2010
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 380 (2016)
Lagoon 380 · 2016
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 400 S2
Lagoon 400 S2 · 2016
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 380 (2018)
Lagoon 380 · 2018
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 42 (2016)- 6 Cabins
Lagoon 42 · 2016
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Fountaine Pajot Helia 44
Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 · 2018
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 40
Lagoon 42 · 2019
From
€4k/week
The Seychelles archipelago divides neatly into two sailing worlds. The inner granitic islands — Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette and their satellites — rise sharply from deep water, their boulder-strewn shores and protected bays making for some of the most visually distinctive anchorages in the Indian Ocean. The outer coral atolls, stretching south-west towards the Amirantes group, offer flat-water lagoons and the kind of complete solitude that is increasingly difficult to find anywhere.
A Seychelles charter rewards those who plan with the prevailing winds rather than against them. The southeast trade wind (the Sirocco locally) runs reliably from May through October, producing brisk beam reaches between islands and short, manageable swells. The northwest monsoon from November through March is lighter and more variable, suiting those who want calmer conditions at the expense of some wind-assisted passages. Neither season is poor — each has a different character.
Why Charter in Seychelles
The inner island chain spans roughly 100 nautical miles between Mahé and Bird Island, a comfortable range for a one- or two-week circuit that takes in dense jungle interiors, Creole fishing villages, world-class dive sites, and beaches that bear no comparison with anything in the Mediterranean. The distances between anchorages are short enough to leave the afternoons free, which is precisely how this coast should be explored.
Provisioning on Mahé and Praslin is genuinely good by remote-Indian-Ocean standards. Victoria's market on Mahé supplies fresh tuna, red snapper, octopus, and local fruit alongside international chandlery. Island-hopping logistics are straightforward: the Seychelles Port Authority manages the main marinas at Victoria and Praslin's Baie Sainte Anne, and the check-in process, while requiring advance notice, is well-established for charter vessels.
The underwater topography around the granitic islands is exceptional. Shark Bank, off Mahé's north-west coast, draws whale sharks, hammerheads, and eagle rays at predictable times of year. The shallow reef systems around Curieuse and St Pierre offer productive snorkelling from the boarding ladder without requiring a dive briefing. For a charterer who wants land, sea, and underwater interest within a single week, this archipelago is unusually well-rounded.
Seychelles Highlights
Anse Lazio, Praslin — a north-facing bay sheltered from the southeast swell, with direct anchorage access and the Vallée de Mai UNESCO reserve a short taxi ride inland; anchor in 4-6 metres over sand.
Curieuse Island Marine Park — a protected anchorage off the north coast of Curieuse where Aldabra giant tortoises roam the shoreline and the surrounding reef produces reliable snorkelling in one to two metres visibility.
La Digue, L'Union Estate — the iron-ore granite boulders at Anse Source d'Argent are the visual reference point for the entire archipelago; the anchorage at La Passe on La Digue's west coast is well-sheltered from the southeast trades.
Silhouette Island — Seychelles' third-largest island, still largely undeveloped, rising to 740 metres with dense hardwood forest; anchor off Anse Mondon on the north-west coast for a full day of hiking and reef diving.
Bird Island and Denis Island — the northernmost coral islands of the inner chain, roughly 100 nautical miles from Mahé; between May and October these low atolls host the world's largest breeding colony of sooty terns, numbering in the millions.
North Island anchorage — the deep-water bay on the west coast of North Island offers calm water and proximity to some of the best-maintained reef in the inner island group, with turtle nesting sites directly accessible from the beach.
Ste Anne Marine National Park — the cluster of islands just east of Victoria Harbour makes a convenient first or last night stop, with glass-bottomed water, accessible coral gardens, and easy reprovisioning run back to Mahé.
When to Sail
The Seychelles has two distinct monsoonal seasons. The southeast trade season from May through October is the most consistent for sailing, while the northwest season from November through April brings calmer seas and warmer, occasionally overcast conditions.
High Season (Jun-Sep)
The southeast trades blow at 15-25 knots through the inner islands, producing reliable beam-reach conditions on the passages between Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. Visibility underwater is at its best in June and July. The windward coasts can be choppy and some anchorages on the south-east-facing shores of islands become uncomfortable, so routing needs to account for this. Provisioning is fully stocked, marinas are busy, and advance booking of berths at Victoria Harbour is advisable. This is peak charter season; availability narrows significantly without early planning.
Shoulder Season (May, Oct)
May sees the trades building and the water beginning to clear after the calmer northwest season. October is the inter-monsoon transition: winds are light and variable, seas flat, and the archipelago noticeably quieter. October is arguably the most comfortable month on deck, with air temperatures in the low 30s Celsius and little swell to speak of. The outer atolls and Amirantes become more accessible in these flatter conditions. Some charter guests specifically target October for this reason, though a degree of passage flexibility is wise as weather systems can be unpredictable during transition months.
Choosing the Right Yacht
The overwhelming majority of charter yachts operating in the Seychelles are catamarans, and for good reason. The wide, shallow-draft platform of a 44- to 50-foot catamaran allows access to anchorages off beach fringes where a monohull of equivalent capacity would need to anchor further off. Stability at rest matters here: you will spend long hours in the cockpit, in the water, and on deck, and the reduced motion of a cat at anchor makes a material difference to comfort in a 15-knot trade wind chop. The Fountaine Pajot Helia 44, Saba 50, and Saona 47 are well-represented in the local fleet and benefit from strong local technical support should anything require attention.
Seven Nights through the Inner Islands from Mahé
A suggested week-long charter route
Collect the yacht at Eden Island Marina, Mahé, and complete provisioning at the nearby supermarket before an afternoon passage north-east to the Ste Anne Marine National Park. Anchor off the south coast of Moyenne Island by late afternoon and snorkel the reef before a Creole dinner on board.
Early morning sail north-east in the southeast trade, a 24-nautical-mile passage to Praslin's Baie Sainte Anne. Check in with the harbour office, collect shore passes, and spend the afternoon at Anse Lazio by dinghy or taxi. The bay faces north and is protected from the prevailing wind direction throughout the trade season.
Day charter to the Vallée de Mai on Praslin, a 19-hectare palm forest containing the endemic coco de mer, with a return passage to anchor off the north-west tip of Praslin at Anse Boudin by early evening.
Short 8-nautical-mile sail to Curieuse Island. Anchor off the north coast and spend the morning in the marine park. The afternoon passage continues to La Digue, arriving at L'Union anchorage off La Passe in time for a sundowner ashore at one of the Creole restaurants on the main track.
Full day on La Digue: bicycle hire to Anse Source d'Argent and the south-east coast beaches, which require a pleasant 20-minute ride across the flat interior. The boulders here are extraordinary at any tide. Return aboard for a night at anchor or a buoy off La Passe.
Passage south-west, 30 nautical miles, to Silhouette Island. This is the most open-water leg of the week and the southeast trade makes it a fast beam reach in season. Anchor off Anse Mondon on the north-west coast and dinghy ashore to walk the Pointe Cap Barbi trail through hardwood forest.
Relaxed day around Silhouette's reef systems before a 20-nautical-mile return passage to North Island or Mahé, depending on the skipper's assessment of conditions and remaining time before handover. Final night at anchor off Ste Anne for a last swim.
Return to Eden Island Marina for a 09:00 handover. Allow an extra hour if the southeast trade has been running hard, as the final approach into Victoria Harbour against the wind can require a short motor.
Local Tips
- •Entry formalities require advance registration with the Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration for all visiting vessels. Charter companies will handle this, but confirm the procedure with your broker before departure as permits for certain marine parks, including Curieuse and Ste Anne, require separate applications and incur a daily fee per person on board.
- •Provisioning is best handled on Mahé rather than Praslin or La Digue, where selection is narrower and prices considerably higher. Eden Island Marina and the Victoria market are both within easy reach of the base marina. Stock up fully on day one.
- •The Seychelles operates on Creole cuisine rather than the pan-Indian-Ocean generic that dominates some resort menus. Seek out ladob (banana or breadfruit cooked in coconut milk), fresh grilled bourgeois (red snapper), and octopus curry with turmeric at beach shacks on La Digue and Praslin rather than eating exclusively on board.
- •Mooring buoys are preferred over anchoring in most of the designated marine parks. Bring sufficient lines and confirm buoy availability with the local park authority; demand can exceed supply during peak weeks in July and August. Stern-to anchoring off the beach at Anse Lazio is generally tolerated with a sand hook but is not official park policy.
- •Fuel is available at Eden Island Marina on Mahé and at Praslin's Baie Sainte Anne. Diesel prices are higher than in European charter bases. Catamarans are economic on fuel in the trade wind season when the sails do most of the work, but budget for motor-sailing on the return passage if conditions ease.
- •Take reef shoes and a good mask even if your yacht is fully equipped with snorkel gear. The standard of equipment on bareboat charter yachts varies, and the reef systems in the inner islands are close enough to the surface that the quality of your mask makes a genuine difference to the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a local skipper to charter in the Seychelles+
Which islands are accessible on a one-week charter from Mahé+
Is the Seychelles suitable for families with children+
What is the practical difference between sailing in the southeast and northwest monsoon seasons+
Are there marine park fees to budget for+
How does the Seychelles compare to the Maldives for a sailing holiday+
Speak to our specialists to match the right yacht from our Indian Ocean fleet to your preferred dates and island route.
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