Day 1: Visit the Vallée de Mai in Bay Ste. Anne, a valley protected by UNESCO. A walk in the valley is enchanting, the path wandering through the enormous palm leaves of the cocos de mer. Wherever you look, the foliage seems to go on and on. Spend the night anchorage in Bay Ste Anne.
Day 2: Anchor in Petite or Grande Anse, Southeast of La Digue. Rent a bike to visit this beautiful island, which is never overrun with tourists. With its white sand trails winding under tall palm trees, houses with palm thatched roofs, small copra factories, fine white sand beaches, and large polished rocks, La Digue might be the most beautiful island in the Seychelles. No cars – only bicycles or carts drawn by oxen.
Day 3: La Digue – Visit Union Estate, where they grow vanilla, do coprah. Visit “La Veuve reserve”, endemic bird of La Digue.
Day 4: Grande Soeur and Cocos Island / Anse Volbert – Sail around Marianne and Félicité. Anchorage on the west coast of Grande Soeur for lunch.Unforgettable snorkeling at Cocos Islands. Made of large rocks with strange irregular stripes carved by the sea. Cocos Island forms a beautiful sight with a great harmony of shapes and colors. The ochre color 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 arbores cent corals where thousands of many colored fish swim in front of narrow breaks and dark caverns. Anchor North west of Chauve Souris for the night or Anse petite cour.
Day 5: Saint Pierre / Curieuse – One mile sail to St Pierre Islet, a mass of rounded rocks crowned with a clump of tall palms swaying gently in the wind. Excellent spot for snorkeling with magnificent underwater scenery. Sail to Curieuse and stop in Anse san José. Part of the Marine National Park Curieuse. 45 minute walk into mangrove and “coco fesse” trees, leads you to the other side of the island, home of hundred or so giant turtles. You cannot miss them.
Day 6: Aride / Baie Sainte Anne – Aride Island, placed under the supervision of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation, is a conservation area. Narrow paths through the dense vegetation leads to the rocky barrier in the north from where the whole island can be observed. Free of cats and rats, which have ravaged so many tropical islands in the worlds, Aride is a haven for a wide variety of seabirds, unique vegetation and rare land birds. The ten species of breeding seabirds include the rare roseate tern and the red tailed tropicbird. The world’s largest colony of lesser noddy, more than 200,000 couples nest there. Open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays. More than 300 species of fish have been identified in Aride coral reef where some hawksbill turtles may come to the surface. Go back to Baie Sainte Anne to fill up water.
Day 7: Victoria – Anchor for the night in Eden Island Marina, and visit this nice little town.
Day 8: Beauvallon Bay – Visit the picturesque market place in the morning. Great opportunity for fresh provisioning. Sail up to Beauvallon Bay, the most popular tourist spot of Mahé, fringed by a superb beach lined with tall trees overshadowing small restaurants. If you prefer a quieter area head up to Anse Major, in the heart of the natural park of Morne Seychellois. Inaccessible by car, the coast, surrounded by steep hills, is particularly wild. Highly recommended for snorkeling.
Day 9: Port Launay – Sail along the coast to Thérèse island through Ternay Bay , great spot for snorkeling, and Port Launay marine park, limited to the south east by the Pointe de l’Escalier, a strange geological phenomenon that has built up a giant stairway leading to the sea with steps consisting of regular flat layers of rock. You can also head up to Anse la Mouche.
Day 10: Silhouette / Ile Sainte Anne – Go to Silhouette. Anchor in the north at Anse Mondon. Go back for the night in Sainte Anne Marine Park, in Anse Cabot, north of the island.
Day 11: Anchorage for the night in Anse Lazio, the most comfortable mooring in Praslin. It might also be the most beautiful beach in the Seychelles.
Day 12: Cousin Island is a nature reserve and bird sanctuary with rare species and some giant turtles. Less than 800 meters in diameter, the island can be visited on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. A small path leads to the turtle enclosure, then to the summit, through dense vegetation. The panoramic view is amazing, and is made even more awe-inspiring when tropical birds fly by. Go back to Baie Sainte Anne for checkout.