Seychelles
To know before you go

In the heart of the Indian Ocean, there's an archipelago that makes you dream: the Seychelles.

The very symbol of travel, the Seychelles archipelago inevitably conjures up images of white-sand beaches encircled by crystal-clear water, omnipresent sunshine, exuberant nature endowed with exceptional flora and fauna, and breathtaking seabeds. This idyllic reputation is far from usurped.

Too long considered an unaffordable destination "where there's nothing to see and nothing to do" reserved for honeymooners, the Seychelles archipelago is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful journeys of a lifetime.

Catlante Catamarans invites you to discover this Eden on a cruise where your yacht will anchor near fascinating islands and islets: Praslin, Mahé, La Digue, Saint Pierre, Sainte Anne...

The Seychelles are some 115 islands occupying just 455 km2 of land in a territory of 1.5 million km2 in the middle of the western Indian Ocean, south of the equator and less than 500 km from the east coast of Africa.

41 granite islands, the inner islands, and 74 coral islets and atolls, the outer islands, make up this archipelago where the world's most beautiful beaches rub shoulders with unique, unspoilt landscapes.

Few destinations in the world can claim to offer their visitors, even today, the opportunity to discover one of the ultimate ecological paradises.

There are two main reasons why the archipelago has remained almost untouched: regulated tourism and a territory 47% of which is made up of nature reserves, protected areas and national parks. Seychelles boasts two natural sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List: the Aldabra atoll, discovered by Arab sailors as early as the 9th century, and the Vallée de Mai on the island of Praslin.

These heavenly beaches and lush natural surroundings are home to a wealth of endemic flora and fauna, the list of which is worthy of an inventory à la Prévert: 1,000 species of fish and coral, three-hundred-year-old land tortoises, more than 200 species of birds, 11 of which are found only on the archipelago, giant bats and more than 2,000 species of trees and plants, including the mythical coco de mer, known as the coco-fesse.

Before becoming this exceptional tourist destination, the archipelago had an eventful history: in the 18th century, the French colonized the Seychelles, which indirectly suffered the ravages of the French Revolution, before ceding it to the English in the 19th century. During this period, sugar, coconut and cotton production flourished. In 1976, the Seychelles became an independent republic.

These are the natural and historical treasures you'll discover on your sailing cruise: Mahé, Sainte-Anne, Praslin, Coco, La Digue, these most beautiful Seychelles islands will be your Garden of Eden for a week.

Your first port of call will be a natural sanctuary: Sainte-Anne Marine Park, a twenty-minute sail from Mahé and Ile au Cerf. Here you'll meet your new playmates: 150 species of flamboyant fish, dolphins, hawksbill turtles... In the past, whales were fished here, but today the Sainte-Anne Marine National Park is a real player in the protection of Seychelles' natural heritage.

Praslin is another not-to-be-missed stopover on your catamaran cruise, particularly for the famous Vallée de Mai, home to the famous Coco de mer palm trees.
You'll anchor in front of one of the world's most beautiful beaches: Anse Lazio.
A stopover in Praslin will give you the opportunity to enjoy magnificent walks in this vast forest of primary palms and delicious moments of idleness on immaculate white sand.
As for La Digue, its jewel is the beach of Anse Source d'Argent, with its granite boulders and leaning coconut palms.
Union Estate Park is home to a superb colonial house, the setting for one of the "Emmanuelle" films. Grande Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Coco, the three beautiful, almost deserted beaches on the windward coast, are well worth a bike ride along the island's paths.
With its postcard image typical of the Seychelles, the islet of Saint-Pierre is the ideal place for diving.
On your return to Mahé, you can relax or shop for souvenirs in the capital, Victoria.
Our planet still offers us many timeless, dreamlike and fascinating paradises: the Seychelles archipelago is one of them.