Mahe & Inner Islands

The inner Seychelles are a compact group of granite islands scattered across the western Indian Ocean, roughly 1,500 kilometres east of the African coast. Unlike the coral atolls of the outer Seychelles, these are mountainous, forested islands with the dramatic granite boulder formations that define the archipelago's visual identity — particularly at Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue, where the boulders frame a beach that appears in every Seychelles tourism image. Mahe, the largest island and the location of the international airport, provides the charter base. Eden Island Marina, a modern development in a reclaimed lagoon on Mahe's east coast, handles most of the charter fleet. The passage from Mahe to Praslin, the second largest island, covers roughly 25 nautical miles of open Indian Ocean — a crossing that should be timed with the weather and sea state, particularly during the south-east trade wind season when the seas can be choppy. Praslin is home to the Vallee de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage forest containing the endemic coco de mer palm, whose suggestive double coconut is the world's largest seed. The anchorages around Praslin — Anse Lazio on the north coast, Baie Sainte Anne on the east — provide overnight stops with good holding over sand. La Digue, a short hop from Praslin, is the most photogenic island. No cars until recently — ox-carts and bicycles handled transport — the island retains a pace that the larger islands have partly lost. The granite boulder beaches on the south-west coast are the centrepiece. The sailing season is governed by the monsoons. The north-west monsoon (November-March) brings warmer, calmer conditions with light variable winds. The south-east trades (May-September) bring stronger, more consistent wind but choppier seas and cooler temperatures. The inter-monsoon months — April, May, October, November — are generally considered optimal for sailing: lighter winds, warmer water, and better visibility. Provisioning on Mahe is adequate — a few supermarkets and the Victoria market cover basics. Prices are high — almost everything is imported. Fuel and water are at Eden Island Marina. The Seychelles is a luxury destination with pricing to match, from charter rates to restaurant bills.