Luxury holidays with a difference: sailing in the Seychelles
If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury holiday, the Seychelles is probably a destination you’ve already done a bit of research into. However, have you considered a sailing trip around this stunning island nation?
There really is no better way to see the best that the Seychelles has to offer in a single break, so if this isn’t something you’ve looked into, read on to find out why cruising around the islands in a yacht is the only way to travel.
Luxury wherever you go
One of the joys of hiring a luxury yacht when you’re on holiday is that you can travel around as much as you like and always know that you’ll have high-end accommodation to come home to at the end of each day.
There’s also the added advantage that there’s no upheaval in terms of packing and repacking your bags every time you move on to a new place for an overnight stay - everything you need will be with you for the duration of your trip.
For the most opulent sailing break possible, book a crewed yacht charter. As the name suggests, you’ll have a skilled captain onboard to sail you from A to B, while you’ll also be lucky enough to have your own chef who can whip up delicious meals and snacks in the galley.
This gives you the best of both worlds - privacy and seclusion when you want it, along with top-quality cuisine that’s tailored to your tastes; what more could you want from a luxury holiday?
Seychelles: a wonderful backdrop
Of course, your experience during your luxurious Seychelles sailing holiday will only be enhanced by the islands themselves, each of which has its own attractions and charms for you to discover.
You’ll meet your yacht (and crew) on the main island of Mahe, which is home to the country’s capital Victoria, as well as the stunning Morne Seychellois National Park. This protected area covers a vast section of the island’s interior and is the perfect place to begin discovering some of its flora and fauna.
Mahe also boasts 65 outstanding beaches, so you needn’t go far to get your first taste of the Seychelles’ stunning stretches of sand. Anse Major, Petit Anse and Anse Jasmine are some of the best, but you can ask your captain for recommendations once you arrive.
From Mahe, it’s a short journey to reach the spectacular St Anne Marine National Park, which is around 5 nautical miles offshore. There are several small islands within the protected area, although the real attractions lie beneath the surface in the form of colourful coral reefs and a dazzling array of fish and other marine life.
This is the ideal spot for some snorkelling or, if you want to get a closer look at the sea creatures, scuba diving. After you’ve spent plenty of time in the water observing this fascinating ecosystem, you can dry off on the deck of your luxury yacht, or head ashore to sample the cuisine available at the restaurants on isles such as Moyenne, Cerf and St Anne.
La Digue is another of the Seychelles’ islands that you really shouldn’t miss during a sailing holiday, with this destination renowned for its striking granite boulders that dot the shoreline. The rocky outcrops contrast wonderfully with the pristine white sand of the beaches and the deep turquoise of the sea.
This isle is where you’ll find secluded bays and wonderful inland hiking trails that lead you through exotic swathes of jungle. You can also visit a vanilla plantation or a factory that produces coconut oil if you fancy doing something a little bit different during your time on dry land.
