Our 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday is the most relaxed way to see the islands. Instead of packing and unpacking, you sail between them on a small cruise ship, waking each morning to a new bay, a new beach and a new reef to explore.
In one week you visit the granite islands of the Inner Seychelles. You walk among giant tortoises on Curieuse, see rare seabirds on Cousin and Aride, swim at Anse Lazio and Anse Source d'Argent, and explore the forest home of the famous coco de mer palm.
Many of our guests book this 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday straight after a Uganda safari. After tracking gorillas through the forests of Bwindi, a week on the Indian Ocean is the perfect way to rest before flying home.
Why Choose This 8 Days Seychelles Cruising Holiday
An 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday lets you reach islands and quiet anchorages that are hard to visit from a single hotel. Here is what makes this itinerary special.
- Island hopping without the hassle: your cabin moves with you, so you unpack only once.
- Wildlife: giant tortoises, nesting hawksbill turtles and some of the rarest birds on earth.
- World-famous beaches: Anse Lazio on Praslin and Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue.
- UNESCO heritage: the Vallée de Mai, home of the coco de mer and the Seychelles black parrot.
- Snorkelling every day: clear, warm water around protected marine parks.
For more ideas across the islands, see our guide to the best places to visit in Seychelles.
8 Days Seychelles Cruising Holiday: Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Mahé and Sail to Ste Anne
Welcome to the Seychelles and the start of your 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday! Our representative meets you at Seychelles International Airport on Mahé and takes you to the port in Victoria to board your ship.
After a welcome drink and a short briefing from the crew, you sail out to the Ste Anne Marine National Park, just off Mahé. You stop for your first swim in the clear water, then spend the night at anchor and enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers.
Day 2: Curieuse Island
After breakfast, you sail north to Curieuse, a small protected island just off the coast of Praslin. It was once called Île Rouge because of its red earth.
A park ranger leads you on a walk across the island. You meet the giant tortoises that roam freely here, and pass mangrove swamps on a boardwalk trail. You also see the ruins of the old leper colony and the restored Doctor's House, built in the 1870s and now a small museum.
Curieuse is one of only two islands in the world where the coco de mer palm grows wild. After the walk, you enjoy a beach barbecue under the trees and spend the afternoon swimming and snorkelling.
Day 3: Cousin Island and Anse Lazio
This morning you visit Cousin Island, a tiny 27-hectare nature reserve near Praslin. In 1968 it became the first island in the world bought for conservation, when it was purchased by the organisation now called BirdLife International to save the Seychelles warbler from extinction.
Today Cousin is one of the most important nesting sites for hawksbill turtles in the western Indian Ocean. It is also home to thousands of seabirds and rare land birds such as the Seychelles magpie robin. Local rangers guide your visit, and your fees support conservation and communities on Praslin.
In the afternoon, you sail to Anse Lazio on Praslin, often rated among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Spend the afternoon swimming and snorkelling in its calm, clear water. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 4: Aride Island and St Pierre
Today your 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday takes you to Aride, the most northerly of the granite islands. Aride shows what the Seychelles looked like before people arrived, and it has more species of breeding seabirds than any other island in the granitic Seychelles.
On a guided walk you may see shearwaters, noddies, tropicbirds and frigatebirds, along with the Wright's gardenia, a flowering shrub found nowhere else on earth. Landings on Aride depend on sea conditions, and the crew will choose an alternative stop if the sea is too rough.
Around midday you sail to St Pierre, a tiny granite islet that appears on many Seychelles postcards. The rest of the afternoon is for swimming and snorkelling. At sunset you sail to Baie Ste Anne on Praslin for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Vallée de Mai, Côte d'Or and Félicité
This morning you can join an optional tour of the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A scenic drive over Praslin's mountain pass brings you to an ancient palm forest that feels untouched by time.
This is the home of the coco de mer, whose nut is the largest seed in the plant kingdom. Listen for the whistle of the Seychelles black parrot, one of the rarest birds in the world.
Afterwards you relax on the long white beach at Côte d'Or. In the afternoon you sail to the island of Félicité for swimming, snorkelling or an optional dive, before an evening sail to La Digue for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: La Digue
La Digue is the most charming of the inner islands, with sandy lanes, ox carts and more bicycles than cars. After going ashore, you visit the Veuve Nature Reserve, home of the rare Seychelles paradise flycatcher.
You then continue to L'Union Estate, an old coconut plantation with a traditional copra kiln, a colonial plantation house and giant tortoises. The estate leads to Anse Source d'Argent, famous for its pink granite boulders and shallow turquoise water, and one of the most photographed beaches in the world.
Before returning to the ship, you can shop for souvenirs in La Passe, the island's main village. In the late afternoon you sail back towards Mahé to anchor off Moyenne Island for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Moyenne Island and Return to Mahé
Moyenne is a small island inside the Ste Anne Marine National Park. For decades it was cared for by a single owner, who planted thousands of trees and brought back giant tortoises before it became a national park.
After a short guided walk, you enjoy a final swim and a barbecue lunch on deck. In the afternoon you sail into Victoria harbour for the captain's farewell dinner with live music, and your last night on board.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast you disembark, ending your 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday, and transfer to Seychelles International Airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!
Combine Your 8 Days Seychelles Cruising Holiday With a Uganda Safari
The Seychelles is one of the most rewarding beach add-ons to a Uganda safari. Flights from Entebbe connect to Mahé through Nairobi, Addis Ababa or Dubai, so you can travel from the gorillas of Bwindi to the Indian Ocean in a single day.
A popular plan is 7 to 10 days in Uganda for gorilla trekking, chimpanzees and wildlife in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national parks, followed by this 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday. See how it works in our Uganda safari and Seychelles holiday itinerary.
Best Time for an 8 Days Seychelles Cruising Holiday
The Seychelles is warm all year, with temperatures of around 26 to 31°C. An 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday runs in every season, but the calmest and clearest sailing months are April and May and October and November, between the two trade wind seasons.
From May to September the south-east trade winds bring cooler, breezier days and choppier seas. From December to March the weather is hotter and more humid, with occasional heavy showers. Read more in our guide to the best time to visit Seychelles.
Practical Tips for Your 8 Days Seychelles Cruising Holiday
- Travel authorisation: the Seychelles does not require a visa, but every visitor must apply online for a Seychelles Travel Authorisation before flying.
- Cabins: ships are small, with en-suite cabins. Book early for peak dates around Christmas, Easter and August.
- Excursions: some park and reserve fees, such as the Vallée de Mai, are paid locally.
- Money: the currency is the Seychelles rupee, and euros, US dollars and cards are widely accepted.
- Packing: bring light clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sandals for wet landings and a dry bag for your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 8 Days Seychelles Cruising Holiday
Is a Seychelles cruise better than staying in one hotel?
For seeing several islands, yes. A cruise takes you to Curieuse, Cousin, Praslin, La Digue and quiet anchorages without changing hotels or catching ferries.
Can I add this Seychelles cruise to a Uganda safari?
Yes, and many of our guests do. Flights from Entebbe connect to Mahé through Nairobi, Addis Ababa or Dubai, so it is easy to end your safari with a week at sea.
Do I need a visa for the Seychelles?
No visa is needed, but all visitors must apply online for a Seychelles Travel Authorisation before they travel.
Is the 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday suitable for families and honeymooners?
Yes. The relaxed pace, calm anchorages and daily swimming suit couples and families alike. See our guide to a honeymoon in Seychelles for more ideas.
What if the sea is rough?
Your captain plans each day around the weather. If a landing such as Aride is not safe, the crew will choose a sheltered alternative so you still enjoy the day.
Book Your 8 Days Seychelles Cruising Holiday
Tell us your travel dates and cabin preference, and we will arrange this 8 days Seychelles cruising holiday on its own or as the perfect end to your Uganda safari. Explore more island ideas on our Seychelles tours and holidays page.
Continue Planning Your Trip
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- Ask for a quote for your dates on our contact page
