17 nights · train/bus travel · Departs land tour (Seychelles) · Visiting Sainte Anne Island Seychelles, Cousin Island Seychelles, Praslin Island Seychelles, La Digue Island Seychelles, Curieuse Island Seychelles, Aride Island Seychelles · Aboard Emerald Cruises on the Emerald Raiya
Image courtesy of Emerald Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Emerald Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Emerald Raiya |
| Duration | 17 nights |
| Port calls | 7 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $14,426 per person |
| Year built | 2027 |
| Guests | 128 |
| Cabins | 64 |
| Crew | 92 |
| Length | 120 m |
| Beam | 16 m |
| Cruising speed | 22.0 kn |
Mahé is the Seychelles’ largest island, where granite peaks rise above beaches and a capital built beside the sea. In Victoria, browse the lively market, see the miniature Big Ben clock tower, and visit the National Museum of History. Beyond town, winding roads lead to botanical gardens, quiet coves and viewpoints over the Indian Ocean. Choose a beach day or a drive across the island; Mahé makes both easy.
Sainte Anne lies just off Mahé, close enough to see the capital’s shoreline yet distinctly quieter. Established in 1973, Sainte Anne Marine National Park was the Indian Ocean’s first national marine park. It protects six islands and their surrounding reefs. Arrive by tender for clear-water swimming, snorkelling and views back to Mahé’s green hills. Glass-bottom boat trips offer another way to explore the reef.
Cousin Island, two kilometres west of Praslin, is a protected nature reserve rather than a conventional beach stop. Since 1968, conservation has restored its native woodland and made the island a sanctuary for seabirds and endemic species. Follow a guide along shaded trails, watching for Seychelles warblers, nesting seabirds and giant tortoises. Visits are carefully managed, offering a rare chance to see conservation at work.
Praslin offers a slower island pace, with granite-framed coves and some of the Indian Ocean’s most celebrated beaches. At Anse Lazio, clear water meets a broad sweep of pale sand. Inland, the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, shelters the rare coco de mer palm. Follow its shaded paths, then linger over Creole seafood beside the shore.
Step ashore at La Passe, and La Digue’s unhurried scale becomes clear. Bicycles are the usual way to explore; ox-cart rides remain part of the island’s character. Anse Source d’Argent draws visitors with pale sand, shallow water and sculpted granite boulders. At L’Union Estate, a former coconut and vanilla plantation, trails pass historic buildings on the way to the coast. Bring sturdy sandals and allow time to swim.
A short boat ride from Praslin brings you to Curieuse, a protected island of striking contrasts. Red earth, granite coves and groves of rare coco de mer palms define its landscape. Follow the coastal trail through mangroves to Anse St Joseph, where giant Aldabra tortoises roam freely. At the restored Doctor’s House, discover the island’s history as a leper colony. Here, Seychelles wildlife and history meet along an unforgettable shore.
From the deck, Aride Island rises above the northern Seychelles as a green, granite-backed sanctuary. Step ashore with a guide, and its real spectacle soon appears. Seabirds wheel above coastal forest, while rare plants and lizards thrive among rugged slopes. This protected reserve rewards visitors with quiet trails and close encounters with native wildlife. Boat access and guided visits make planning essential; the island has no visitor accommodation.
Mahé is the Seychelles’ largest island, where granite peaks rise above beaches and a capital built beside the sea. In Victoria, browse the lively market, see the miniature Big Ben clock tower, and visit the National Museum of History. Beyond town, winding roads lead to botanical gardens, quiet coves and viewpoints over the Indian Ocean. Choose a beach day or a drive across the island; Mahé makes both easy.
Published August 30, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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