7 Day Island Hopping Charter

Day 1

Eden Island, Mahé to Anse la Mouche, Mahé (13 miles)

Depart Eden Island and cruise around the north point of Mahé to Beau Vallon Bay, one of the most popular tourist spots on Mahé. This beautiful bay is fringed by a superb beach lined with tall trees overshadowing small restaurants. We then head on to the quieter area of Anse Major which is located in the heart of the nature park of Cap Ternay. Inaccessible by car, this coastline is surrounded by steep hills and is particularly wild. Highly recommended for snorkelling and Scuba Diving. We continue along the coast to Conception and Thérèse Island via Cap Ternay and Port Launay. At the South side of the bay is a strange geological phenomenon that has built up a giant stairway leading to the sea with steps consisting of regular flat layers of rock. We drop anchor in the sheltered bay of Anse la Mouche and watch the sunset while sipping on cocktails followed by dinner of barbequed Red Snapper.

Day 2

Mahé to Praslin via La Digue (35 miles)

Leaving Mahé after breakfast we cruise on to La Digue which takes about three hours. Here you can explore this beautiful island on rented bikes. With its white tracks winding under tall palm trees, houses with roofs of palm leaves, small copra factories, fine white sand beaches and large polished rocks, La Digue might be the most beautiful island in the Seychelles. Few cars are allowed, only bicycles or carts drawn by oxen. Horse rides are also possible. Most parts of the island can be reached in under an hour. The remote beaches at Grande Anse, Petit Anse and Anse Cocos with pink tinged sand are beautiful, but watch out for dangerous undercurrents.La Digue is home to the unique black paradise Flycatcher, one of the rarest birds in the world (less than 200 pairs). We make the crossing to Praslin in the late afternoon and anchor in a protected bay for the night.

Day 3

Cocos Island and Grande Sœur (15 miles)

Made of large rocks with strange regular stripes carved by the sea, Cocos Island forms a beautiful sight with a great harmony of shapes and colours. The ochre colour of the rocks is in contrast with the bright green palms of the coconut trees and the white sand of beaches lined with deep turquoise water. Under the sea, the vision is equally attractive with large coral heads where thousands of many coloured fish swim in front of narrow breaks and dark caverns. Unforgettable snorkelling. We anchor for the night on the west coast of Grande Sœur.

Day 4

Grande Sœur to Praslin

A short cruise to Praslin, home of rare species of trees and particularly the famous coco de mer, a unique palm tree. A visit to Vallée de Mai, a valley protected by UNESCO, is a must. Fantastic granite masses form striking backgrounds to the beaches of Anse Bois de Rose, Anse Boudin and Anse Kerlan, where the 5 star Lemuria Resort has an 18-hole championship golf course. At the northern tip of the island, Anse Lazio is excellent for swimming and snorkelling. We make anchorage for the night off Grand Anse one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, for cocktails and dinner.

Day 5

Pointe Zanguilles, Praslin

In the morning we leave our anchorage and cruise to Pointe Zanguilles on the north coast of the island. Here there is a calm anchorage on the west bank in front of a beautiful white sandy beach and a romantic restaurant. Three miles cruise to St Pierre islet, a mass of rounded rocks crowned with a clump of tall palms swaying gently in the wind provide the typical and superb scenery of the Seychelles that has been photographed on countless occasions and printed a million times in tourism magazines. This is an excellent spot for snorkelling with magnificent underwater scenery. We then cruise to Chauve Sourisislet and stop in Bay Laraie, Curieuse island, for lunch. Part of the Marine National Park Curieuse is home of hundred or so giant turtles.This area is ideal for nature lovers and those who enjoy swimming, diving and snorkelling amid crystal-clear seas rich in colourful marine life. Or just laze on the beach and soak up the tropical tranquillity and island lifestyle.The rest of the say is spent at your leisure as we anchor here overnight.

Day 6

Pointe Zanguilles to North Island and Silhouette Islands (30 miles)

We return to Mahé via the privately owned North Island and Silhouette Island. We anchor in the La Passe harbour at Silhouette where you can disembark and explore the island. There are no roads so it is a place for walkers.For serious hikers, there are two paths through equatorial forests linking La Passe and Grande Barbe and La Passe and Anse Mondon. It takes between a half day or full day to hike there and back. For those not so energetic, a days fishing is offered as an alternative.

Day 7

Silhouette to Eden Island via Sainte Anne, Moyenne, Ronde and Cerf Islands (15 Miles)

After breakfast we begin our cruise back and stop over at some of the smaller islands off the east coast of Mahé. Ste Anne is the largest of the six and is the site of the five star Ste Anne Resort; Ile au Cerf used to be the home of Wilbur Smith, the novelist; Ile Moyenne shelters a double mystery - a pirate treasure and the ghost of an old woman who lived there with her dogs; Ile Longue used to be a quarantine station and is now a prison; Ile Cachee is just a tiny dot in the ocean; and Ile Ronde's main attraction is its excellent restaurant, Chez Gaby, set in an old leper's camp! The area surrounding these islands is a marine park and has superb coral structures and therefore offers excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities. It is just a short trip back to Eden Island and the end of a trip you will never forget.