Seychelles Cruise Guide: Islands, Wildlife and the Best Time to Visit
Destination guide · Seychelles
A Seychelles cruise is an invitation to explore an extraordinary ecosystem of rare wildlife, Creole culture, and quiet coves, spread across 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Here’s which islands you’ll visit, the wildlife you’ll meet, the best time to visit Seychelles, and what life is like on board.
In short
The best time to visit Seychelles is April to May or October to November, when calm seas and light breezes make cruising, snorkelling, and diving easiest. The islands are warm all year, though, and our Seychelles Island Odyssey cruise sails all year round. It starts with three nights on Mahé, then seven nights on M/Y Pegasos, from £3,020 per person with flights, or £1,383 cruise only.
115
islands in the Seychelles archipelago
44
guests on M/Y Pegasos
3
nature excursions included: Curieuse, Cousin, and Aride
£3,020
from, per person, with flights and three hotel nights
On this page
Why go
Why choose a Seychelles cruise?
The Seychelles is less about sights and more about nature: ancient palm forests, endemic wildlife, granite coves, and white-sand beaches that feel almost unreal. A small ship lets you see the best of it in one week.
Island hopping, sorted
Sail between Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, and the smaller islands without ferries, domestic flights, or repacking. Read more in our Seychelles island hopping guide.
Wildlife found nowhere else
Giant tortoises on Curieuse, nesting hawksbill turtles on Cousin, and seabird colonies on Aride.
Some of the world’s best beaches
Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue and Anse Lazio on Praslin, with swim stops straight from the yacht.
Creole food
Fresh seafood, often cooked in banana leaves, piquant curries spiced with local chillies, and breadfruit chips as the local snack.
The route
The Seychelles Island Odyssey, day by day
Here’s the 12-day holiday as it appears on our Seychelles cruise page.
Day 1
Fly to the Seychelles
Fly from the UK, with departures from seven UK airports.
Days 2–4
Mahé
Three nights at the Savoy Resort & Spa. Relax at the hotel or plan your own days on Mahé.
Day 5
Victoria and St Anne
Board M/Y Pegasos in Victoria and sail to St Anne for a swim stop and a welcome dinner at anchor.
Day 6
Curieuse
Walk with a park guide through the mangroves to meet the giant tortoises.
Day 7
Cousin and Anse Lazio
Visit the Cousin Island bird sanctuary, then anchor off Anse Lazio on Praslin.
Day 8
Aride and Baie Ste Anne
Visit Aride, a seabird reserve, then sail on via St Pierre to Baie Ste Anne on Praslin.
Day 9
Praslin, Félicité, and La Digue
An optional visit to Vallée de Mai, then on to Félicité and La Digue.
Day 10
La Digue and Moyenne
Discover La Digue, then sail to Moyenne.
Day 11
Moyenne and Mahé
A short guided tour of Moyenne, a swim, and a beach barbecue, then back to Mahé.
Day 12
Fly home
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Mahé airport.
The islands
Which Seychelles islands does the cruise visit?
The cruise explores the granite inner islands around Mahé and Praslin, where most of the Seychelles’ famous beaches and forests are.
Mahé
The largest island and home to the capital, Victoria, with its lively market, colourful Hindu temple, and Botanical Gardens. Inland, Morne Seychellois National Park climbs into cloud forest.
St Anne
Part of Sainte Anne Marine National Park, with coral reefs full of butterflyfish, parrotfish, and green turtles. Your first swim stop is here, on the evening you board.
Curieuse
A former leper colony, now a national park with red earth, mangrove boardwalks, and Aldabra giant tortoises. The guided walk is included.
Praslin
Home to Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of only two places where the coco de mer palm grows wild, and to the curved shore of Anse Lazio.
La Digue
Barely any cars, a few ox-carts, and Anse Source d’Argent, one of the most photographed beaches in the world. Visit L’Union Estate, a historic plantation where Aldabra tortoises roam.
Moyenne
Your last island: a short guided tour, a swim in clear water, and a beach barbecue before you sail back to Mahé.
Wildlife
Seychelles wildlife: tortoises, seabirds, and turtles
Three nature reserves are part of the cruise, with the excursions included in the price.
18
seabird species on Aride
6 of 7
Seychelles mangrove species found on Curieuse
3
included nature excursions
Aride
Home to 18 species of seabirds, including frigatebirds and fairy terns, and one of the few nesting grounds of the rare Seychelles magpie-robin.
Cousin
A bird sanctuary known for its nesting hawksbill turtles, with dense forest that shelters tiny endemic reptiles.
Curieuse
Aldabra giant tortoises roam freely here, among six of the Seychelles’ seven mangrove species.
Giant tortoises on Curieuse, sea turtles, and the reefs around Praslin.
On board
What is life like on M/Y Pegasos?
M/Y Pegasos is a twin-hulled motor yacht, renovated in 2022, with 21 cabins for up to 44 guests and 16 to 18 crew. She has 240 m² of open deck, a lounge, and a mini spa.
Meals are full board, with a welcome cocktail, a local themed evening, a barbecue on the beach or on deck, and the Captain’s Dinner.
Included
- Flights from seven UK airports, including London and Manchester
- All local transfers
- Three nights at the Savoy Resort & Spa, with breakfast
- Seven nights on board, full board
- Excursions on Curieuse, Cousin, and Aride
- Snorkelling gear, kayaks, and paddleboards
- Port charges
At an additional cost
- Drinks other than filter coffee, tea, and water
- Other shore excursions
- Crew gratuities, optional (€15 to €18 a day recommended)
- Wi-Fi
Comparing destinations?
See how the Seychelles compares with French Polynesia in Small Ship Cruising: Tahiti or Seychelles?, or read our first-timer’s guide to small ship cruising.
When to go
When is the best time to visit Seychelles?
The Seychelles has a tropical climate with warm temperatures all year, so there’s no bad time for a cruise. The trade winds shape the seasons, though, and it’s worth knowing the pattern before you book.
| Months | Winds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| April to May | Between the trade winds | Calm seas and light breezes: the best months for cruising, snorkelling, and diving |
| June to September | South-east trade winds | Cooler, drier weather and steady breezes, good for sailing and hiking. Seaweed and stronger winds can affect some beaches |
| October to November | Between the trade winds | Calm seas and light breezes again, ideal for time in the water |
| December to March | North-west trade winds | Warmer and more humid. It’s the wet season, but rain usually comes in short, heavy showers, often in the afternoon or evening |
Cruise all year
Our Seychelles cruise departs all year round, so you can choose the season that suits you best.
Common questions
Seychelles cruise: your questions answered
When is the best time to visit Seychelles?
April to May and October to November, between the trade winds, bring the calmest seas and lightest breezes, ideal for cruising and snorkelling. The islands are warm all year, and our Seychelles cruise sails in every month.
How many islands are there in the Seychelles?
The archipelago has 115 islands. Our cruise explores the granite inner islands, including Mahé, St Anne, Curieuse, Praslin, La Digue, and Moyenne, plus the nature reserves of Cousin and Aride.
Can you see giant tortoises in the Seychelles?
Yes. Aldabra giant tortoises roam freely on Curieuse, where the guided walk is included in our cruise, and you can also see them at L’Union Estate on La Digue and in the Botanical Gardens on Mahé.
What’s included in a Seychelles cruise with Seafarer?
The flight-inclusive package includes flights from seven UK airports, transfers, three nights at the Savoy Resort & Spa, seven nights full board on M/Y Pegasos, excursions on Curieuse, Cousin, and Aride, and port charges.
Can you cruise the Seychelles all year round?
Yes. Our Seychelles Island Odyssey departs all year round. April to May and October to November are calmest, while June to September brings cooler, breezier weather.
Ready for the Seychelles?
Talk to us about a Seychelles cruise
Ask for a personalised quote for your dates and cabin, or call our team with any questions about the islands.
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Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:00 · Saturday 09:30 to 17:00
Book with confidence. Seafarer, a family company, has specialised in small ship cruising since 1995, and every payment you make to us is financially protected: ATOL licence 9511 for holidays with flights, ABTOT member 5660 for holidays without.