Eden Island Glass Boat Tour — Sainte Anne Marine Park & Moyenne Island Lunch
The Eden Island glass boat tour is the newest addition to the Sainte Anne Marine National Park cruise lineup — operating from Eden Island Marina with a perfect 5-star rating, covering the marine park reef via glass-bottom boat viewing and traditional snorkeling, a lunch stop at Moyenne Island, and a relaxed half-day format that gets you back in time for a Mahé afternoon. At $92 it sits neatly between the budget cruise and the premium charter. Here is what makes it stand out. (See all seychelles boat tours.)
About the Eden Island Glass Boat Tour
Full refund up to 24 hours before departure
Secure your date — no payment required today
Compact full-morning and lunch cruise from Mahé
See the reef, fish, and coral through the hull — no swimming required
Creole-style lunch on the historic Moyenne Island
Mask, fins, and snorkel at the Sainte Anne Marine Park reef
Check Live Availability & Prices
Real-time dates and prices for the Eden Island glass boat tour at Sainte Anne Marine National Park.
A 5-Star Rated Mahé Glass Boat Tour — What's Working
A perfect 5-star average is rare for any tour that has more than a handful of reviews. The Eden Island glass boat tour maintains this rating because it deliberately keeps the group small, the itinerary unhurried, and the focus on quality over quantity. Unlike the multi-island cruises that try to visit three or four stops in one day, this tour covers two: the Sainte Anne Marine Park reef and Moyenne Island.
The result is more time at each stop and a more relaxed experience throughout.
The glass boat format — a boat with a transparent hull section that allows underwater viewing without snorkeling — makes this particularly well-suited to couples or groups where some guests don't swim or prefer not to snorkel. The reef viewing through the glass bottom is a genuine experience, not a marketing gimmick: the water clarity at Sainte Anne Marine National Park at a depth of 3–6 metres shows coral formations, reef fish, and turtles with excellent visibility on most days.
What You'll See — Marine Park Reef and Moyenne Island
Two stops, each with distinct highlights:
- Sainte Anne Marine Park reef — glass-bottom viewing of coral garden (3–6m depth), parrotfish, surgeonfish, hawksbill turtles, and reef sharks through the hull; snorkeling in the same reef for swimmers
- Moyenne Island nature trail — 40 years of single-man conservation: 16,000 planted trees, giant Aldabra tortoises roaming the forest, endemic bird species, and the island's unique history
- Moyenne Island 18th-century French graveyard — the oldest recorded graves in the inner Seychelles
- Giant tortoise close encounters — the tortoises on Moyenne Island are habituated to human presence and approachable within a metre; genuine encounters, not staged
- Eden Island Marina departure — the quietest and most organized embarkation point on Mahé, a pleasant contrast to busy Victoria harbour
What's Included — and What's Not
Included
- Glass-bottom boat reef viewing at Sainte Anne Marine National Park
- Snorkeling equipment: mask, fins, and snorkel
- Creole lunch on Moyenne Island
- Giant tortoise viewing on Moyenne Island
- Boat transfers from Eden Island Marina
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Not included
- Hotel pickup — taxi or self-drive to Eden Island Marina
- Gratuity for crew — appreciated on this small-group tour
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen — mandatory in the marine park; bring your own
- Any additional drinks beyond water on board — confirm at booking
Glass Boat Tour Itinerary
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8:30
Departure from Eden Island Marina
Board at Eden Island Marina. The marina is calm and organized — no queues, no crowded harbour environment. Crew briefs guests on the glass-bottom viewing area and snorkeling equipment. 15-minute crossing to Sainte Anne Marine National Park.
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9:00
Glass-bottom boat reef viewing
The boat anchors over the Sainte Anne Marine Park coral reef. Guests using the glass-bottom panel get 45–60 minutes of direct reef viewing — parrotfish, surgeonfish, coral formations, and turtles visible at 3–6m depth.
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9:45
Snorkeling at Sainte Anne reef
Snorkelers enter the water from the boat ladder. 60 minutes of reef snorkeling at the marine park. Crew assists with equipment and safety. Turtles regularly encountered; reef sharks occasionally visible near the deeper coral.
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11:00
Transfer to Moyenne Island
Short crossing to Moyenne Island pier. Crew provides orientation to the island's trails and history.
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11:15
Moyenne Island exploration
Self-paced time on Moyenne Island: the nature trail, the giant tortoise colony (interior forest and beach), the 18th-century French graveyard, and the remarkable forest planted by Brendon Grimshaw.
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12:30
Creole lunch on Moyenne Island
Lunch served on the island — grilled local fish, Creole rice, salads, and fruit. Vegetarian options available on request.
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14:00
Return to Eden Island Marina
Boat returns to Eden Island Marina by approximately 14:00–14:30. Leaves the rest of the afternoon free for Mahé activities.
Important Things to Know
A few practical notes for the Eden Island glass boat tour:
- The shorter duration (5–6 hours vs 7 hours for most full-day tours) makes this a better option for guests with evening commitments or those staying in Victoria
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen is mandatory — bring zinc oxide-based sunscreen; chemical sunscreen is banned and enforced in Sainte Anne Marine National Park
- The glass-bottom viewing panel works best in bright morning sun with the boat anchored directly over the reef — this is why the marine park stop is scheduled for the morning
- Snorkeling is available for swimmers but the glass-bottom viewing is the main event — non-swimmers miss nothing significant on this tour
- Eden Island Marina: navigate to Eden Island via the bridge from the eastern Mahé coast (near Pointe La Rue) and follow signs to the marina; free parking available
Eden Island Marina and Sainte Anne Marine Park — Map
Who This Tour Is For
The Eden Island glass boat tour is the best choice for guests who want a shorter, less intense marine park day (5–6 hours rather than a full 7-hour cruise), couples or families with mixed swimming ability (the glass-bottom option eliminates snorkeling as a requirement), and travelers who want a quieter departure point than Victoria harbour. It is also excellent for a second Mahé marine park day if you have already done the full-day cruise.
- Not suitable for: guests who want to cover multiple islands in one day — this tour focuses on two stops (marine park reef and Moyenne Island) rather than the three-island coverage of the standard cruise
- Not suitable for: snorkeling enthusiasts who want maximum water time — the [reef safari](/reef-safari-seychelles/) provides a more intensive snorkeling experience
- Not suitable for: large groups — this is designed as a small-group tour
What to Bring
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (mandatory in marine national parks)
- Light rash guard or UV top for sun protection
- Camera for Moyenne Island tortoise photography
- Hat and sunglasses
- Cash for crew gratuity
Not Allowed
- Chemical sunscreen — banned in Sainte Anne Marine National Park
- Touching or feeding the giant tortoises on Moyenne Island
- Collecting coral, shells, or any natural material from the marine park
- Feeding reef fish independently
Eden Island Glass Boat Tour — FAQ
What is a glass-bottom boat?
A glass-bottom boat has a section of the hull made from transparent glass or reinforced polycarbonate, allowing passengers to see directly into the water below without snorkeling or swimming. The glass bottom on this tour is positioned amidships (in the middle of the boat), with seating around the viewing panel. When the boat anchors over the Sainte Anne Marine Park reef, guests can observe coral, fish, and marine life at 3–6m depth through the panel.
Can non-swimmers enjoy this tour?
Yes — non-swimmers get a full marine park experience through the glass-bottom viewing panel and the Moyenne Island land stop. The Sainte Anne reef is clearly visible through the glass bottom without entering the water. The Moyenne Island nature trail, tortoise encounter, and lunch require no swimming ability. This is one of the best Mahé seychelles boat tours for mixed groups where some guests don't swim.
How does the Eden Island glass boat compare to the other Mahé marine park tours?
The St Anne Marine Park 3-island cruise ($87) covers more islands (Sainte Anne reef, Moyenne, Cerf) in a larger group format from Victoria harbour. The Moyenne Island premium cruise ($162) is longer with more time on Moyenne Island. This glass boat tour ($92, 5★) is the best value for guests who specifically want the glass-bottom viewing experience and prefer the smaller group and quieter Eden Island Marina departure.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes — the glass-bottom boat and the Moyenne Island tortoise encounter are both particularly engaging for children. The shorter duration (5–6 hours rather than 7) is also more manageable for younger children. Children who can swim can participate in the snorkeling; those who can't get the glass-bottom marine park experience plus the island exploration.
What is the lunch at Moyenne Island like?
The Moyenne Island lunch is a Creole-style meal — typically grilled local fish (snapper, jobfish), Creole rice, fresh salad, and fruit. It is served on the island in an outdoor setting. Vegetarian options are available — request at booking. The combination of the island's remarkable setting and the Creole food makes the lunch one of the more memorable parts of the tour.
What Guests Say About the Eden Island Glass Boat Tour
We chose this because my mother doesn't snorkel and we wanted something she could fully participate in. The glass-bottom viewing was genuinely excellent — we saw two turtles and a reef shark without anyone getting wet. Moyenne Island was a wonderful bonus. Perfect tour for mixed groups.
Five stars is accurate. Everything about this tour was well-organized and enjoyable. Eden Island Marina departure is so much more pleasant than a busy harbour. The glass bottom worked better than expected — we could see the coral clearly. Moyenne Island and the lunch were lovely.
Short enough to have an afternoon on Mahé but long enough to feel like a proper day. We did the full-day 3-island cruise the day before and enjoyed this one more. Smaller group, nicer boat, more relaxed. The glass bottom is a genuine experience.