Catamaran Sailing Among the Wonders of the Seychelles
Thinking about the best way to see and, above all, EXPERIENCE the wonderful Seychelles sea ‘up close’, we decided there was nothing better than a lovely catamaran!
In the end, after looking at and comparing dozens of different options, we chose VPM Cocktail Créole, which offers a nearly new catamaran with 12 cabins for up to 24 guests, each with a private bathroom, more space than a sailing boat, greater stability at sea and… excellent reviews from those who had already tried the experience!
We took off from Venice with Emirates right on time at 15.50 and were immediately delighted by the warm welcome and excellent service on board!
Mahé Airport is small, so it is impossible to get lost, but we had spent many hours flying, mostly overnight, and felt a little dazed.
Fortunately, for a small supplement, SeyVillas allowed us to spend the entire morning on Eden Island at Eden Bleu Hotel, overlooking the marina. There, we enjoyed a few carefree hours of relaxation, a delicious breakfast and a wonderful, uncrowded infinity pool surrounded by extremely comfortable sun loungers, where we stayed until it was time to check in for our catamaran at 15.00!
Once on board and after completing a few formalities, we were shown to our cabin. It was small, but had no fewer than three portholes, a little fan for the sultry nights and a lovely private bathroom.
We set sail almost immediately and headed towards the nearby Sainte Anne Marine National Park. By then, however, it was late afternoon and we could not go snorkelling, as the sun sets at 18.00 and darkness falls quickly. In the meantime, though, we enjoyed sailing, the colours of the sunset and a silvery moon reflected on the sea.
The following morning, when the bell rang, we were all ready for breakfast, enjoying bread, butter and jam or eggs and sausages in the middle of the sea! Delicious. The journey to Praslin, the second-largest island in the Seychelles, took just under 4 hours, and the captain hoisted the jib and mainsail! What an amazing sight!
As soon as we spotted the island in the distance, we were struck by the crystal-clear waters of Anse Lazio. Once the anchor was dropped, we were thrilled to spend the entire afternoon and night in this beautiful bay. Close to the boat, we could see plenty of fish with the naked eye, a sea turtle that seemed to wink at us and a small manta ray!
The scenery looked just like a postcard: this is where scenes from the film ‘10’, starring Bo Derek, were shot, and none other than Prince William and Kate spent their honeymoon here!!!
This beach really is as beautiful as people say. Words, and perhaps even photographs, cannot truly capture what the eye can see, but they are the only way we can share it with you and encourage you to come and experience it in person!
On the third day, the captain suggested stopping at Saint-Pierre, one of the many small islands off the north-western coast of Praslin. It covers an area of just 0.65 square kilometres: granite rocks rise from the sea, while a small crown of palm trees perfectly captures the essence of a typical Seychelles island! The weather was fabulous, and we dived straight in!
The sun remained bright and radiant in the afternoon, allowing us to appreciate the Curieuse Marine National Park to the full.
Here too, as in all nature reserves and marine parks, there are quite rightly rules to follow, such as not riding the giant tortoises (!!!) and generally treating the natural environment with care, without picking flowers or leaves!
The captain recommended a short hike of around 1 kilometre across the island, through mangroves and local vegetation, until we reached the south-west, where there is an enchanting little beach and the so-called ‘Doctor’s House’, dating back to the time when Curieuse was used as a leper colony.
We anchored off Praslin for the night and were ready to enjoy dinner. It was cool that evening, and we were all excited at the thought of visiting the famous little island of La Digue the next day!
The island is magnificent: a mass of pink granite shaped by the wind and sea, bristling with palm trees, edged with beaches as white as sheets, surrounded by a picture-perfect turquoise sea and partly protected by the reef, beyond which stretches a cobalt-blue ocean.
There is no harbour, but La Passe has a landing jetty, and this is where our captain dropped us off at exactly 10.00! The best way to get around La Digue is by bicycle.
We followed Captain Conrad’s advice and, after climbing onto our bikes, set off towards three beaches of rare beauty.
We saved the HIGHLIGHT for the afternoon, so we could give it all the time and attention it deserved! Surfer waves and incredible colours. We were in the south-east of La Digue and managed to see Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos!
We could hardly contain our excitement and wanted to reach Anse Source d'Argent as soon as possible. They say it is so beautiful that it looks like a painting, and National Geographic even named it the most beautiful beach in the world. That’s right! You read that correctly: I N T H E W O R L D!!!!!!!
Well, it is not merely beautiful; it is spectacular, astonishing and utterly breathtaking!
It can be reached through L'Union Estate , with an entrance fee of 115 rupees.
Our eyes lit up, and we no longer knew which way to look! The water was crystal clear, the boulders sloped down towards the sea, and shades of blue were everywhere. The rocks formed wonderful little coves where we could enjoy pure Robinson Crusoe-style relaxation!
We had just enough time to take a couple of photographs before jumping into the water. I defy anyone to resist the temptation to dive into this natural swimming pool. At 17.00, the captain was waiting for us punctually at the jetty. He brought ‘our’ catamaran alongside with elegance and precision, and we felt a surge of pride when we saw several tourists photographing ‘our’ boat and exclaiming admiringly!
The following day, we set off on our final crossing and the last leg of our journey. We sailed past St Anne once more before making a final stop at Beau Vallon, one of the many beautiful beaches on Mahé, the largest island.
We had reached our final day. Unfortunately, the clouds took over and stayed with us until the evening. Some of the catamaran guests were a little disappointed, as it would have been lovely to enjoy one last sunny day, but, as we all know, the weather cannot be controlled!!
A trip to the Seychelles is one of the best ways imaginable to restore harmony between body and soul, a harmony that our hectic urban lives tend to destroy. Add a lovely catamaran and impeccable organisation by SeyVillas, and you will not regret it!
