Some of the most beautiful bays in the Seychelles have no road. The best way in is under sail

A Week on the Sea Star

The Seychelles is made for a mix of beach and boat. Its granite islands, scattered across the Indian Ocean about 1,600 km east of Africa, hide coves you can only reach from the water. The country is also one of the safest in the world for travellers, with no malaria and no dangerous wildlife. Even its busiest beaches never feel crowded.

Silhouette Cruises sails three yachts out of Victoria, the small capital on Mahé. The Sea Star is a 40-metre three-master with nine air-conditioned cabins, each with portholes, two or three beds and a private bathroom. Meals are served at one long table on the stern deck: fresh fish, chicken, salads and vegetables with Creole spices. There are sun decks at the bow and midships.

The route

1. MahéBoard in Victoria's harbour. The main island rises to 900 m of jungle-covered peaks.
2. CurieuseAround 200 giant tortoises roam free here, and rangers let you feed them leaves. Swim in a glassy bay while the crew fires up a beach barbecue.
3. PraslinWalk an hour through the Vallée de Mai, the only place on earth where the coco de mer palm grows wild. Then laze on Côte d'Or and Anse Volbert, about 4 km of soft sand with almost no swell all year.
4. La DigueTwo hours' sail east lies the island from a thousand adverts. Follow sandy paths between giant boulders to tiny coves, or hire a bike and loop the island.

In between, the days are yours. Ask to be dropped by dinghy on an empty beach, snorkel, dive or kayak, or stay aboard with a book.

Choosing where to stay? See our Six Luxury Seychelles Resorts Compared.