The Indian Ocean stretches emerald and infinite beyond the bow as your boat glides toward Curieuse Island, giant tortoises waiting on the granite shore and a coral reef shimmering below. All seychelles boat tours listed here include free cancellation, so you can book your perfect island day with confidence.
Quick answer
Seychelles boat tours are full days of about 7 hours, priced $57 to $162, and they split by island. From Mahé they run into St Anne Marine National Park for Moyenne and Cerf islands. From Praslin they cross to Curieuse, where free-roaming giant tortoises live, and to St Pierre, the granite islet used on every postcard. Snorkel gear and a Creole or barbecue lunch are included on almost all of them.
Key takeaways
Best Seller — 4.9★ Rating Most Reviewed Seychelles Boat Tour — 1,110 Ratings, 4.9★
The top-rated seychelles boat tour from Praslin: a full-day guided cruise to Curieuse Island and St Pierre Marine Park. Meet giant Aldabra tortoises, snorkel two pristine coral reefs, and feast on a traditional BBQ lunch with local rum punch.
Real-time dates and prices for the top-rated Curieuse guided cruise departing from Praslin — the most reviewed seychelles boat tour in the inner islands.
From the top-rated Curieuse island cruise with BBQ to budget reef snorkeling adventures and premium marine park safaris — these are the best-reviewed seychelles boat tours operating from Mahé and Praslin. All include free cancellation.
from $114 The top-rated seychelles boat tour from Praslin: a full-day guided cruise to Curieuse Island and St Pierre Marine Park. Meet giant Aldabra tortoises, snorkel two pristine coral reefs…
from $87 A popular full-day boat cruise from Victoria covering Sainte Anne Marine National Park, Moyenne Island nature reserve, and Cerf Island's turquoise bays. Glass-bottom boat viewing, snorkeling at the…
from $86 A full-day island-hopping adventure from Praslin combining Curieuse Island's giant tortoises and mangrove trails with a snorkeling stop at St Pierre coral reef. Creole BBQ lunch with rum…
from $86 A unique Mahé boat tour combining a glass-bottom boat and crystal kayak with snorkeling through Sainte Anne Marine National Park. Island hop to a sandbank, enjoy a Creole…
from $162 A premium full-day island cruise from Mahé exploring the Sainte Anne National Marine Park and the historic Moyenne Island nature reserve. Snorkel the coral reef, walk the island…
from $145 A full-day reef safari through Sainte Anne Marine National Park from Mahé — feed tropical fish, snorkel the Indian Ocean reef, and explore Moyenne Island. Expert marine guide…
from $57 The best-value seychelles boat tour from Praslin — explore Curieuse Island's famous giant Aldabra tortoises and lush mangroves, then snorkel at St Pierre Island Marine Park's spectacular coral…
from $92 A glass-bottom boat tour departing from Eden Island Marina — cruise through Sainte Anne Marine Park, walk the nature trail on historic Moyenne Island, snorkel in crystal-clear waters…
from $80 A half-day boat tour from Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles — sail to Mahé's most beautiful beach stops, snorkel in crystal-clear Indian Ocean waters, and enjoy a…
| Tour | Price | Rating | Book | Reviews | Duration | Departs From | Lunch | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curieuse + St Pierre BBQ | $114/pp | 4.9 ★ | Check | 1,110 | 7 hrs | Praslin | BBQ included | Best overall |
| Curieuse + St Pierre (no BBQ) | $57/pp | 4.6 ★ | Check | 421 | 7 hrs | Praslin | Not included | Best value |
| Praslin: Curieuse BBQ Day Trip | $86/pp | 4.6 ★ | Check | 660 | 7 hrs | Praslin | BBQ included | Mid-range Praslin |
| St Anne + Moyenne + Cerf | $87/pp | 4.1 ★ | Check | 1,005 | 7 hrs | Victoria, Mahé | Creole lunch | Most reviews |
| Glass Boat + Crystal Kayak | $86/pp | 4.5 ★ | Check | 39 | 7 hrs | Mahé | BBQ included | Unique experience |
| Reef Safari + Lunch | $145/pp | 4.7 ★ | Check | 310 | 7 hrs | Mahé | Lunch included | Marine life focus |
| St Anne + Moyenne Cruise | $162/pp | 4.6 ★ | Check | 524 | 7 hrs | Eden Island, Mahé | Creole lunch | Premium cruise |
| Glass Boat + Moyenne + Lunch | $92/pp | 5.0 ★ | Check | 3 | 7 hrs | Eden Island, Mahé | Creole buffet | New / top-rated |
| Victoria Beach Stops + Snorkel | $80/pp | 5.0 ★ | Check | 5 | 5 hrs | Victoria, Mahé | Creole lunch | Half-day / flexible |
The two main departure points for a cruise in seychelles are Mahé — locally written 'mahe' — (the largest island, home to Victoria Seychelles and Eden Island Marina) and Praslin (the second island, home to the famous Anse Lazio on Praslin and Vallée de Mai). Choosing your base for island hopping around the islands is simple: stay on Mahé and book a Sainte Anne Marine Park excursion (30–60 minutes by boat from Victoria or Eden Island Marina); stay on Praslin and book a Curieuse Island cruise (the top-rated Curieuse and St Pierre BBQ tour departs directly from Praslin and reaches Curieuse in 30–45 minutes). Day-trippers on La Digue can take the short catamaran ferry to Praslin and join any Praslin departure.
The combination of mahe and praslin in a single holiday is the most popular itinerary for visitors to the Seychelles — spend the first half on Mahé (Victoria, Beau Vallon beach) and move to Praslin for the final days, with a seychelles boat tour from each island.
The Sainte Anne Marine National Park, located 5 km east of Victoria Seychelles, is the heart of all boat tours around mahe island. Established in 1973, it was the first marine national park in the Indian Ocean and covers six inner islands: Sainte Anne, Moyenne, Long, Cerf, Cachée and Round Island. Every boat cruise from Mahé passes through the park, which is protected from fishing and anchoring outside designated areas.
Guests disembark on Moyenne Island to walk the ancient nature trail (home to giant tortoises and the tomb of Brendon Grimshaw who single-handedly restored the small island) and swim on Cerf Island's pale-sand coast. The seychelles catamaran cruise (tour-5, $162) adds a gourmet Creole lunch and departs from Eden Island Marina for an uncrowded boarding experience. The glass-bottom boat tour (tour-4, $86) is the best choice for families with younger children who prefer viewing the reef without getting wet.
Curieuse Island is the undisputed highlight of seychelles boat tours from Praslin. Separated from Praslin by a narrow channel, Curieuse is a Seychelles National Park where no development is permitted — the island hosts a colony of over 300 giant Aldabra tortoises that roam free across the beach and mangrove trails. The guided tour (tour-1, 4.9★ — the top-rated seychelles boat tour on this site) includes two snorkeling stops: one in the sheltered bay between Curieuse and Praslin, and one at St Pierre Island Marine Park — a tiny granite outcrop surrounded by one of the healthiest coral gardens in the inner Seychelles, with parrotfish, surgeonfish, octopus, and the occasional hawksbill turtle.
The BBQ lunch is served on the beach at Curieuse — fresh-caught fish, Creole rice, local rum punch, and cold beer under casuarina pines. The budget version (tour-7, $57) skips the BBQ but visits both islands; the mid-range tour-3 ($86) adds the BBQ. All three depart from Praslin's main pier or Anse Volbert.
Most full-day seychelles boat tours follow a similar rhythm regardless of departure island. The boat departs at 8:00–9:00 AM, giving you a morning snorkeling stop with the best visibility and fewest crowds. The second stop — usually a beach or island walk — runs from mid-morning to early afternoon.
Lunch is served on the beach or on board around 12:30–13:30. The afternoon brings a second snorkeling or swimming stop before the return journey, arriving back at the marina by 16:00–17:00. Half-day tours (tour-9, 5 hours from Victoria) depart at 9:00 AM and return by 14:00.
The skipper and crew handle all navigation, and most tours include an English-speaking guide who provides commentary on the marine national park, the local ecosystem, and Seychelles history throughout the day. Bring sunscreen (reef-safe only in marine parks), a hat, a light coverup, and a dry bag for your phone.
The inner Seychelles offers some of the most biodiverse snorkeling in the Indian Ocean, though the reefs here are different from the Caribbean or the Great Barrier Reef — expect massive granite boulders draped in hard coral, with schools of surgeonfish, parrotfish, damselfish, and barracuda weaving between. Hawksbill turtles are a regular sighting at Sainte Anne Marine Park and St Pierre. The coral at St Pierre Island (Praslin tours) is particularly healthy and colorful — brain coral, staghorn, and table coral — owing to the site's strong tidal currents that keep the water oxygenated.
Reef safaris (tour-6, $145) include a marine guide who explains the ecosystem and points out species you'd otherwise miss. Visibility averages 15–25 metres at the marine national park sites; conditions are typically best from May to October when the southeast trade winds keep the waters clear on the Mahé side. Snorkeling in crystal-clear waters here is the single activity most visitors cite as the trip highlight.
Beyond the shared group tours listed on this site, the Seychelles has an active yacht charter in seychelles market centered on Eden Island Marina in Mahé and the Praslin marinas. A private yacht with an experienced skipper lets you design a custom day — combining Curieuse, Anse Lazio on Praslin, and the islands around La Digue in a single day without the group schedule. Private yacht rates in the Seychelles typically start from $600–900 per day for a 6–8 person vessel with a skipper; a crewed yacht with catering runs $1,500–2,500 per day.
For couples, honeymooners, or families with specific island requests (such as visiting Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue or stopping at Cousin Island bird sanctuary), a private charter offers a sailing experience that the shared group tours cannot match. The sailing experience on a private crewed yacht is also fundamentally different — you're moving with the southeast trade winds rather than on a rigid schedule, and the skipper can adapt based on conditions in the seychelles on the day.
The Seychelles has two monsoon seasons that affect which side of the islands is calm for boat tours. From May to October (southeast trade winds / 'Anse du Sud'), conditions in the seychelles favour the east side of Mahé and the Praslin area — winds are steady but manageable (15–25 knots), seas are calm, and the Sainte Anne Marine Park excursions from Victoria run smoothly. From November to April (northwest monsoon), conditions favour the west and south coasts of Mahé and the La Digue side.
Weather conditions in the Seychelles can change quickly — it's a tropical archipelago and squalls are possible year-round, but full cancellations due to weather are rare, occurring mainly in January–February at the height of the northwest monsoon. The best overall conditions for seychelles boat tours are March–April (transition period, glassy seas on all sides) and September–October (end of southeast trades, warm and clear). Avoid booking Praslin tours during heavy northwest monsoon swells (January–February) without flexible cancellation.
While Mahé and Praslin boat tours cover the inner granite islands, the Seychelles archipelago extends to the outer islands — flat coralline atolls like Aldabra (home to the world's largest giant aldabra tortoise colony), Cosmoledo, and Farquhar, which require charter flights or live-aboard yachts to access. Closer to the main islands, the praslin and la digue combination is the most popular extension for visitors — La Digue is reachable by a short catamaran ferry from Praslin or by speedboat from Mahé. Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue is consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful beaches (20-minute bicycle ride from the La Digue jetty).
On Praslin itself, the Vallée de Mai (vallee de mai) — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the only place in the world where the coco de mer palm grows wild in a natural forest — is reachable by a short tuk-tuk ride from Anse Volbert. The coco de mer produces the world's largest seed; the de mai nature reserve is open daily. Anse Georgette on Praslin (anse georgette) and the smaller beaches around felicite island are accessible by private boat.
Cousin Island (a seabird sanctuary managed by Nature Seychelles) is accessible by small boat from Praslin — visits are limited to mornings to protect nesting birds. Aride Island, the most northerly of the inner Seychelles, is a nature reserve hosting one of the world's most important seabird colonies — boat trips from Praslin operate in calm-weather periods. When planning island hopping around the islands, allow at least a week on Praslin to combine the boat tour to Curieuse, a day on La Digue, and a morning walk through the Vallée de Mai.
Seychelles boat tours run year-round — the 115-island archipelago has at least one sheltered side in every season. The best month depends on which island you're based on and what you want to see.
Sea temperatures are approximate monthly averages (°C). Seychelles boat tours operate year-round — cancellations due to weather are rare. May to September is peak season for Praslin-based island hopping; November to April favours Mahé-side marine park excursions.
Board at the Marina
Check in at the departure pier 15–20 minutes before the tour starts. Victoria Harbor and Anse Volbert (Praslin) are the main embarkation points. Snorkeling gear and safety equipment are distributed on board.
Morning Snorkeling Stop
The first snorkeling stop is always in the morning when visibility is best and crowds are smallest. At St Pierre Marine Park (Praslin tours), the coral garden starts in 3 metres of water — ideal for all experience levels. Marine park guides point out turtles, parrotfish and reef sharks.
Island Walk and Giant Tortoises
On Curieuse tours, the boat anchors in the sheltered bay and you wade ashore to the beach. The tortoise colony roams freely — selfies are allowed, but guides ask you not to touch or feed them. The mangrove boardwalk takes 20–30 minutes.
BBQ or Creole Lunch on the Beach
Lunch is served on the beach under casuarina trees — fresh Creole fish, rice, salad, local rum punch, and cold beer. The afternoon is the most relaxed part of any seychelles boat tour, with time to swim in the lagoon or explore the beach independently.
Second Snorkel or Swimming Stop
The afternoon stop is usually calmer — the trade winds ease slightly and the water temperature peaks. Stingrays, hawksbill turtles and surgeonfish are most active in the warm afternoon shallows.
Return to Marina
The boat returns to the departure marina by late afternoon, leaving plenty of time for dinner, a sunset walk, or a visit to a local market. Most Praslin tours finish at Anse Volbert; Mahé tours return to Victoria or Eden Island Marina.
The Curieuse tour was the highlight of our entire Seychelles trip. The giant tortoises on the beach were unbelievable — you can get so close. The BBQ lunch was delicious and the snorkeling at St Pierre was stunning. Highly recommended from Praslin.
We did the St Anne Marine Park cruise from Victoria and couldn't have been happier. The glass-bottom boat section was great for the kids, and the snorkeling stop was better than we expected — so many colorful fish and we spotted a turtle. Creole lunch was excellent.
Took the reef safari on Mahé — the marine guide was incredibly knowledgeable and pointed out species we would have completely missed on our own. The Indian Ocean visibility here is something else. Worth every cent of the $145.
Perfect honeymoon afternoon — the half-day boat tour from Victoria was relaxed, uncrowded, and the Creole lunch on the water was so romantic. We snorkeled right off the boat. The booking was easy and we got instant confirmation.
Every seychelles boat tour listed here includes free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Book ahead to secure your preferred date and cancel for any reason if your plans change — no penalties.
We list only the highest-rated boat excursions in the Seychelles — with verified reviews from real travelers on GetYourGuide. The featured Curieuse tour has 4.9★ across more than 1,100 bookings.
Whether you're staying on Mahé (Victoria, Eden Island Marina) or Praslin (Anse Volbert, Grand Anse), we have seychelles boat tours departing from your island — no extra ferry required.
From the best-value Curieuse snorkeling adventure from $57 to the premium reef safari with a marine guide at $162 — we cover the full range of island cruise experiences in the inner Seychelles.
The standout experiences on a seychelles boat tour — giant Aldabra tortoise encounters on Curieuse Island and snorkeling inside a marine national park — are on every recommended tour we list.
All tours offer instant booking confirmation via GetYourGuide — no waiting for operator callbacks. Mobile ticket on your phone, no printing required. Reserve now, pay later on most tours.
The Curieuse and St Pierre boats leave from Praslin, so a night on the island saves the early ferry from Mahé.
We have not stayed at these hotels. Guest scores, review counts and nightly rates are what Expedia listed for a midweek night in September 2026, checked on 1 August 2026. Praslin has limited inventory and it books out well ahead in high season.
Prefer to compare on your own? browse every hotel on Praslin on Expedia.
Tours depart from two main hubs: Victoria Harbor or Eden Island Marina on Mahé, and Anse Volbert or Grand Anse pier on Praslin. The Mahé tours depart from Victoria and cover Sainte Anne Marine National Park, Moyenne Island, and Cerf Island. The Praslin tours depart from Praslin and cover Curieuse Island and St Pierre Marine Park. Your booking confirmation includes exact meeting point details.
Yes — all full-day seychelles boat tours listed here include snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel) at no extra charge. The tour-4 glass-bottom boat tour also includes a crystal kayak option for viewing the reef without getting wet. Wetsuit use is optional — the Indian Ocean stays at 26–29°C year-round.
Praslin tours focus on Curieuse Island (giant tortoises, mangroves) and St Pierre Marine Park (vibrant coral reef) — these are the most scenic island hopping experiences in the inner Seychelles. The top-rated tour is the Curieuse + St Pierre BBQ cruise from Praslin at $114. Mahé tours focus on Sainte Anne Marine National Park and Moyenne Island — the St Anne Marine Park cruise and reef safari are the best options from Mahé. Both offer snorkeling, lunch, and giant tortoises — the main difference is the island visited and the departure point.
Yes — giant Aldabra tortoise encounters are virtually guaranteed on Curieuse Island tours (tour-1, tour-3, tour-7) and on Moyenne Island tours (tour-2, tour-5, tour-6, tour-8). The Curieuse colony has over 300 tortoises that roam freely across the beach — the giant aldabra are the world's largest land tortoise and can live over 150 years. Guides will introduce you to individual tortoises by name.
For the best snorkeling, the Curieuse + St Pierre BBQ tour (4.9★, $114) offers two dedicated snorkeling stops at St Pierre Marine Park — one of the most intact coral reefs in the inner Seychelles. The Reef Safari from Mahé ($145, 4.7★) is the most focused marine experience if you're based on Mahé — it includes a marine guide and covers the full St Anne Marine National Park reef. Both include all snorkeling equipment and free cancellation.
Yes — most tours are family-friendly. The glass-bottom boat tour from Mahé (tour-4) is ideal for young children who want to see the reef without snorkeling. The Curieuse BBQ tours (tour-1, tour-3) are popular with families because the tortoise encounter is accessible to all ages and the BBQ lunch is child-friendly. Check specific age requirements at booking — most operators welcome children from 3 years upward.
Pack reef-safe sunscreen (fluorinated chemicals are banned in Seychelles marine national parks), a hat and light rash guard for sun protection, a dry bag for your phone and camera, reef-safe footwear (water shoes or bare feet), and a light change of clothes for after snorkeling. The boat provides snorkeling gear, lunch, and drinks. Leave large camera bags ashore — spray is common on the boat. If you're prone to seasickness, take medication an hour before boarding; the inner island waters are generally calm but the open-water crossing to Curieuse can have light chop during the southeast trade winds.
All seychelles boat tours listed here offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time (local Seychelles time, UTC+4). You receive a full refund if you cancel within this window. If the operator cancels due to unsafe weather conditions or mechanical issues, you'll receive a full refund or a reschedule. Book ahead — especially for the Curieuse BBQ tours from Praslin, which fill weeks in advance during peak season (July–August and December–January).
Tour-1 ($114, 4.9★) includes a guided commentary in addition to the BBQ lunch — a professional guide accompanies the group on the Curieuse nature trail and explains the ecosystem, tortoise history, and Creole culture. Tour-7 ($57, 4.6★) covers the same two islands (Curieuse and St Pierre) without the BBQ or guided trail — you explore independently and bring your own lunch or purchase from a local vendor on Curieuse. Tour-3 ($86, 4.6★) is the middle option — BBQ lunch included, guide accompanies the group. All three depart from Praslin.
Yes — La Digue is just 20 minutes by ferry from Praslin. Many visitors spend a morning on a seychelles boat tour from Praslin (returning by 4:00–5:00 PM) and take the late-afternoon inter-island ferry to La Digue for a sunset visit to Anse Source d'Argent. If you're planning this combination, book the Curieuse tour-7 (no BBQ, $57) for the shorter experience and allow the afternoon ferry slot. Anse Lazio on Praslin is also a 30-minute tuk-tuk ride from Anse Volbert and can be visited in the early morning before your boat tour departs.
The inner Seychelles is considered very safe for snorkeling. There are no crocodiles, box jellyfish, or significant shark populations in the marine national park areas. Hawksbill turtles, reef sharks (whitetip and blacktip — harmless), stingrays, and barracuda are common sightings but pose no threat to swimmers. Guides will brief you on any specific conditions on the day. The coral itself can be sharp — reef-safe footwear is recommended for the beach areas around St Pierre's shallow reef.
It depends which trip you want. The Curieuse and St Pierre boats leave from Praslin, so stay there rather than catching the 7am ferry from Mahé; the St Anne Marine Park cruises leave from Victoria on Mahé instead. Expedia lists Praslin rooms from around $77 a night, with the Côte d'Or hotels higher. See three in where to stay on Praslin.