There are two bases for setting sail in the Seychelles: Mahé, the main island, and Praslin, about 28 miles (25 nautical miles) to the northeast. In short:

• Set sail from Mahé if you want the widest choice of boats, an embarkation point just minutes from the international airport and an itinerary of 10 days or more.
• Set sail from Praslin if you are going for a week and want to spend as much time at anchor as possible, close to La Digue, Curieuse and St Pierre islet.

Mahé or Praslin: how they compare

From either base, you can explore the islands of the Seychelles in the inner archipelago, but the travel logistics and the pace of sailing are different.

Why set sail from Mahé?

Mahé is home to most of what the archipelago has to offer. It is the natural starting point if you arrive on an international flight.

• The widest choice of boats: catamarans of all sizes, monohulls, power catamarans and crewed yachts, which you can compare in our range for catamaran charter on Mahé.
• Simpler logistics: Eden Island Marina is very close to the international airport, with no domestic flight or ferry to arrange.
• Services on site: supermarkets for provisioning, restaurants and shops at the marina, and the capital, Victoria, close by.
• The embarkation point for most cabin cruises, ideal if you are traveling as a couple.
• Stops unique to Mahé: Sainte-Anne Marine Park, Anse Major, Beau Vallon and the wild island of Silhouette.

Worth knowing: the most beautiful islands (Praslin, La Digue, Curieuse) lie about 25 nautical miles (28 miles) from Mahé. Allow half a day for the crossing each way, which eats into a one-week trip.

Why set sail from Praslin?

Praslin sits at the heart of the archipelago’s most popular islands. From Baie Sainte-Anne, each stop is only a short sail from the last.

• More time at anchor: La Digue, Curieuse and St Pierre islet are less than two hours’ sailing away.
• No long crossings: a plus for crews prone to seasickness or families with children.
• Beaches within reach from day one: Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, in the northwest of Praslin.
• A fleet of recent catamarans and monohulls, which you can browse in our range for catamaran charter on Praslin.

Worth knowing: you will need to get from Mahé to Praslin, either on a domestic flight of around 15 minutes or by fast ferry (a crossing of around 1 hr 15 min, depending on the operators’ timetables). Leave enough time between your international arrival and embarkation.

Which base for the length of your cruise?

On a short trip, many travelers wonder whether they can sail Mahé, Praslin and Silhouette in 4 days. For a longer trip, our sailing itinerary in the Seychelles from Mahé shows how to spread 11 days across Sainte-Anne, La Digue, Praslin, Curieuse and Silhouette.

Which base for the season?

The season mainly affects how comfortable the crossing between Mahé and Praslin will be. Sailing conditions in the Seychelles follow two wind patterns:

• May to October (southeast trade wind, 15 to 25 knots): great sailing, but the sea can build between Mahé and Praslin. Setting off from Praslin cuts down the hours spent in the channel.
• November to April (lighter northwest winds): calm seas and an easy crossing. Setting off from Mahé is then very comfortable, even for a week.

The shoulder seasons, April to May and October to November, often offer the best balance of wind, weather and crowds. Our guide on when to go to the Seychelles covers temperatures and rainfall month by month.

Catamaran or sailboat charter: which base to choose?

• Catamaran with or without a skipper: available at both bases, with more choice on Mahé.
• Monohull sailboat: available from both Mahé and Praslin.
• Crewed yacht or large catamaran: almost exclusively from Mahé.
• Cabin cruise: embarkation mainly at Eden Island, on Mahé.

Frequently asked questions

Can you set sail from Mahé and finish on Praslin (one way)?

Some charter companies accept one-way trips between their Mahé and Praslin bases, usually for a surcharge. This option is confirmed case by case with our advisors, depending on the boat and dates.

How do you get to Praslin from Mahé airport?

• By plane: frequent domestic flights, around 15 minutes in the air.
• By fast ferry: around 1 hr 15 min from Victoria harbor.

Can you visit La Digue if you set sail from Mahé?

Yes. La Digue features on almost every itinerary, whichever base you choose. From Mahé, allow half a day’s sailing to get there, compared with under an hour from Praslin.

Which base for a family cruise?

Praslin is often the most comfortable choice with children: short sails, sheltered anchorages and different activities every day. Family highlights: hiking in the Vallée de Mai, cycling on La Digue and the giant tortoises of Curieuse.

Sailing conditions in the Seychelles are very favorable. However, wind speeds vary depending on the time of year, and it is important to distinguish between the two seasons in the Seychelles:

• the dry season, from May to September, during which southeasterly winds range from 15 to 25 knots—ideal if you want to sail.
• the wet season from November to March, during which northwesterly winds range from 8 to 12 knots, best for a relaxing, windless cruise

In the archipelago, the prevailing winds are dry, low-altitude winds known as trade winds, which are typical of the tropics.

Another point to note: the archipelago lies outside the hurricane zone of this part of the tropics.

For a trip to the Seychelles, you can depart from two bases: Mahé, home to the capital Victoria, where 100 boats are available, or Praslin, further to the northeast, where we offer 21 boats.