Seychelles by Yacht:

Why This Indian Ocean Paradise Belongs on Your ‘Life Is For Living Now’ List

I have spent the last few weeks writing weekly spotlight cruise line & destination posts on my Facebook profile (which is also my business page, and in my exclusive group, with much more in-depth information), and I thought, why not turn these posts into blogs for my website? And so, I am.

Here is week one:

There are some places in the world that seem almost too beautiful to be real, and the Seychelles is one of them.

Scattered across the Indian Ocean, this collection of islands is famous for huge granite boulders, white-sand beaches, crystal-clear water and lush tropical landscapes. But while you can experience the Seychelles from a luxury resort, and staying in that one luxury resort, there is another way to see it that I think is particularly special, and that is island-hopping by small yacht.

And this is exactly what I would do.

Because when you're travelling between beautiful islands on a small yacht, the journey becomes part of the experience, and it’s not at all rushed or stressful, incase you are imagining this.

Why see the Seychelles by yacht?

One of the biggest attractions of a yacht cruise is the opportunity to experience several islands without having to keep packing and unpacking, as your yacht becomes your floating base while you wake up somewhere different.

One day you might be exploring a tiny island, the next swimming or snorkelling in incredibly clear waters, and another day simply finding a quiet stretch of beach that feels a world away from everything.

And because you're travelling on a small yacht rather than a huge cruise ship, the whole experience feels much more intimate. There are not thousands of people heading ashore at the same time. Instead, you feel like you could be alone.

It's about the islands, but also what's between them

One of the biggest attractions of this type of cruise is that you're not simply travelling to the Seychelles, but you're experiencing it from the water.

There is something wonderful about sitting on deck as the islands appear on the horizon, watching the scenery change as you sail between them, and because the Seychelles is made up of so many islands, a yacht allows you to experience a variety of landscapes and experiences in one journey; Granite islands, coral islands, tropical forests, hidden coves, and beautiful beaches, all wrapped up in an impossibly blue Indian Ocean.

A destination for doing as much, or as little, as you like

The Seychelles can be wonderfully active if that's what you're looking for; try snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, or hiking and exploring the islands.

But equally, this is somewhere where I think doing very little can be just as rewarding, like finding a quiet spot on the deck of the ship, taking a swim in the pool, enjoying lunch overlooking the ocean, reading a book, or watching the sunset. Sometimes the luxury is simply having nowhere else you need to be.

And here's something you might not know...

The Seychelles is home to one of the world's most unusual plants; the coco de mer. It produces the largest seed in the plant kingdom and is naturally found only on two islands in the Seychelles: Praslin and Curieuse. It's also surrounded by some rather extraordinary folklore because of its distinctive shape.

So when you visit the Seychelles, you're not simply visiting somewhere beautiful, you're discovering a destination with some fascinating natural history too.

Why I'd choose a small yacht

You may have noticed that I'm rather fond of small-ship cruising, and the Seychelles is a perfect example of why. Cruising isn't about how many restaurants, swimming pools or entertainment venues you can fit onto a ship, it's about where the ship can take you and how you experience the destination when you get there.

A smaller yacht like Emerald cruises’ Emerald Kaia, creates a much more intimate atmosphere and allows the focus to remain firmly on the destination; it's relaxed, personal, and it feels rather special.

Who would I recommend a Seychelles yacht cruise to?

I'd particularly recommend this type of journey to couples looking for something beyond the usual luxury beach holiday.

Perhaps you're celebrating a special birthday or anniversary, or you've already done the Caribbean and Mediterranean and want somewhere completely different, or maybe you're simply looking for that elusive combination of luxury, adventure and relaxation.

And if you have the time, I'd seriously consider extending the trip with a luxury hotel stay, (or even better, a safari, staying in lodges on the game reserves, or why not add Tanzania & Kenya?) before or after your yacht cruise, because if you're going all that way, why rush home?

My verdict

The Seychelles is undoubtedly a ‘Live NOW’ destination, but I think the way you experience somewhere can be just as important as the destination itself, and that's why I love the idea of exploring the Seychelles by an Emerald cruises yacht.

You get the beauty of the islands, the freedom to explore several different places, the intimacy of a small ship and plenty of opportunities to simply slow down and enjoy being somewhere truly extraordinary.

For me, this is what luxury cruising should be about, and not simply a beautiful ship, but a beautiful ship taking you somewhere you may never have thought to experience in quite this way.

Thinking about your own ‘Live Now’ journey?

This is the sort of journey I love helping my clients discover, matching the right style of cruise with the destination, and then looking at how we can turn it into a complete, unforgettable holiday.

Sometimes the best journeys aren't the ones you find by simply searching for a cruise, they are found by someone who knows where to look.

Ready to explore somewhere extraordinary?

From remote islands to extraordinary wildlife and unforgettable journeys, if the Seychelles has made its way onto your ‘Live Now’ list, let’s talk about how you could experience it; by yacht, small ship, or as part of a wider luxury journey.