The Country is an isolated archipelago of outstanding natural beauty comprising about 115 islands. About 35 islands of the "Inner Islands Group" are granitic, rocky and hilly with narrow coastal strips. The other islands are coralline and flat with elevated reefs.
The granite islands support luxuriant tropical forest on the mountain slopes. The coral islands are also densely covered with vegetation more characteristic of sandy coral soils.

Generally, the most common trees are the coconut palm and casuarina. Others include banyans, screw pines and tortoise trees and the giant coco de mer palm, which is unique to the Seychelles and lives for up to 1,000 years.
Of about 200 plant species, 80 are indigenous, including the bois rouge, the giant bois de fer and the capucin.

Fruit bats, flying foxes, geckos and skinks are common and there are more than 3,000 species of insect.
The giant tortoise (which appears on the Seychelles coat of arms) survived near-extinction; there are now over a hundred thousand on Aldabra.
There are many species of rare bird, such as the bare-legged scops owl, Seychelles kestrel, black parrot, magpie robin and paradise flycatcher.
Four islands are bird sanctuaries, including Bird Island, which is inhabited by millions of fairy terns

Although tropical and generally warm and humid, there are nonetheless two distinct seasons.

May - September.
Southeast trade winds bring cooler temperatures, lower humidity (average 70%) and less rain along with gentle breezes.

November - March.
Northwest monsoons bring more rain, sometimes in heavy squalls, higher humidity (average 80%) and warmer weather.
The heaviest rainfall is usually during mid-December to mid-January

The transition periods of April and October are fairly hot, with little breeze and calm seas.
Seychelles lies outside the cyclone belt and enjoys stable weather year round with a mean maximum temperature of 29?C and 12 hours of daylight.

Even though conditions for visiting Seychelles are generally good all year, there are certain times which are slightly more advantageous for certain activities.

Scuba divers
will find April, May, October and November have the highest visibility and calmest seas although conditions are excellent year round.

Anglers
will find that the southeast trade winds: from May to September are better for Big Game though the seas can sometimes be rough;from November to February the northwest bring calmer seas for bottom fishing.
October and April are perhaps the most enjoyable with calm seas.

For birdwatchers
April heralds the new breeding season and Bird Island will be found to be overrun with seabirds from May through September; migration periods are from September to December.

Hiking and walking
is best from May to September because of the dry conditions, lower temperatures and lower humidity.

Light clothes are advisable because of the tropical climate. For women, light cotton dresses, slacks and shorts and pareos for the day and a long skirt or cool dress for evenings.
Men are most comfortable in light weight slacks and shorts and open neck shirts.
For business, safari suits are acceptable and ties are not worn except to church. Sandals or light canvas shoes are adequate. Swimwear is not worn except on the beaches.

Seychelles : North West winds
8 days cruise

From December to March
Day 1: Praslin to Curieuse - 7 miles
Short sail in the afternoon to Bay Laraie, Curieuse island. Part of the Marine National Park, Curieuse is home of hundred or so giant turtles.
You cannot miss them.

Day 2: De Curieuse à Anse Lazio (Praslin) - 22 miles
Sail to St Pierre islet, a mass of rounded rocks crowned with a clump of tall palms swaying in the wind : typical and superb scenery of the Seychelles photographed on countless occasions and printed a million times in tourism magazines !
Excellent spot for snorkelling with magnificent underwater scenery.
Sail to Chauve Souris islet and head up west to Anse Lazio, the most comfortable mooring in Praslin and may be the most beautiful beach in the Seychelles.

Day 3: Anse Lazio to Victoria - 28 miles
After a quiet morning enjoying the beach and the beautiful surroundings of Anse Lazio, sail to Victoria harbour.

Day 4: Victoria to Anse Royale - 13 miles
Visit the picturesque marketplace in the morning.
Good opportunity for fresh provisioning. Less than 3 miles sail to the Sainte Anne National Park and anchor at the island au Cerf.
Lovely beaches of sand as white and thin as talcum powder line the shores of most of the islands in the Park.
Snorkelling is particularly good in the rocky shallows to the North West South East of Ste Anne.
You can enjoy lunch in one of the small restaurants shaded by palms on Cerf island shores. 10 miles sail to Anse Royale for night anchorage.

Day 5: Anse Royale to La Digue - 30 miles.
Anchorage in Petit or Grande Anse, South East of the island.
Rent a bike to visit this beautiful island never overrun with tourists, thanks to the lack of accommodation.
With its white tracks winding under tall palm trees, houses with roofs of palm leaves, small copra factories, fine white sand beaches and large polished rocks, La Digue might be the most beautiful island in the Seychelles.
No cars, only bicycle or carts drawn by oxen. Horse rides are also possible.

Day 6: La Digue to Cocos Island and Grande Soeur - 15 miles
Made of large rocks with strange regular stripes carved by the sea, Cocos island form a beautiful sight with a great harmony of shapes and colours .
The ochre colour of the rocks is in contrast with the bright green palms of the coconut trees and the white sand of beaches lined with deep turquoise water.
Mooring on buoys installed south of the island.
Under the sea , the vision is equally attractive with large arborescent corals where thousands of many fish swim in front of narrow breaks and dark caverns.
Unforgettable snorkelling. Anchorage on the west coast of Grande Soeur.

Day 7: Grande Soeur to Bay Ste Anne (Praslin)
A short sail to Praslin, home of rare species of trees and particularly the famous coco de mer, a unique palm tree.
Don't leave Praslin without visiting Vallé de Mai, a valley protected by UNESCO.
A walk in the Vallé de mai is enchanting.
The path wanders in the near obscurity created by enormous palm leaves of the cocos de mer.
The trunks are 40 m high and sway gently in the breeze, making a strange rustling sound as they rub against one another.
Wherever you look the foliage seems to go on and on as the path winds up through dark, damp clefts before coming out onto the ridge where there are magnificent views over a dense sea of green.

Day 8:Airport
unfortunately it is time to go

Seychelles - South-East winds
8 days cruise
From April to November

Day 1: Bay Ste Anne to Pointe Zanguilles (Praslin) - 7 miles
Leave Bay Ste anne and sail to Pointe Zanguilles on the north coast. Peaceful anchorage on the west bank in front of a nice white sand beach and a romantic restaurant.
Day 2: Pointe Zanguilles to Victoria (Mahé© - 31 miles
Three miles sail to St Pierre islet, a mass of rounded rocks crowned with a clump of tall palms swaying gently in the wind : typical and superb scenery of the Seychelles on countless occasions and printed a million times in tourism magazines ! Excellent spot for snorkelling with magnificent underwater scenery. Sail to Chauve Souris islet and stop in Bay Laraie, Curieuse island, for lunch . Part of the Marine National Park, Curieuse is home of hundred or so giant turtles, you can not miss them ! Leave before 1 pm for Mahé ¡nd Victoria harbour, a 28 miles crossing.
Day 3: Victoria to Beauvallon Bay or Anse Major (Mahé© - 13 miles
Visit the picturesque marketplace in the morning. Good opportunity for fresh provisioning. Sail up to Beauvallon Bay, the most popular tourist spot of Mah鬠fringed by a superb beach lined with tall trees overshadowing small restaurants. If you prefer a quieter area head up to Anse Major, in the heart of the natural park of Morne Seychellois. Inaccessible by car the coast, by steep hills, is particularly wild. Highly recommended for snorkelling.
Day 4: Mahé ´o La Digue - 42 miles
Sail along the coast to Th鲨se island through Ternay Bay, great spot for snorkelling, and Port Launay, limited to the south east by the Pointe de l'Escalier, a strange geological that has built up a giant stairway leading to the sea with steps consisting of regular flat layers of rock. Back to Anse Ternay and 32 miles sail to La Digue harbour.
Day 5: La Digue
Rent a bike to visit this beautiful island never overrun with tourists, thanks to the lack of accommodation. With its white tracks winding under tall palm trees, houses with roofs of palm leaves, small copra factories, fine white sand beaches and large polished rocks, La Digue might be the most beautiful island in the Seychelles. No cars, only bicycle or carts by oxen. Horse rides are also possible.
Day 6: La Digue to Cocos Island and Grande Soeur - 15 miles
Made of large rocks with strange regular stripes carved by the sea, Cocos island form a beautiful sight with a great harmony of shapes and colours . The ochre colour of the rocks is in contrast with the bright green palms of the coconut trees and the white sand of beaches lined with deep turquoise water. Mooring on buoys installed south of the island. Under the sea , the vision is equally attractive with large arborescent corals where thousands of many coloured fish swim in front of narrow breaks and dark caverns. Unforgettable snorkelling. Anchorage on the west coast of Grande S?ur.
Day 7: Grande Soeur to Bay Ste Anne (Praslin)
A short sail to Praslin, home of rare species of trees and particularly the famous coco de mer, a unique palm tree. Don't leave Praslin without visiting Vall饠de Mai, a valley protected by UNESCO. A walk in the Vall饠de mai is enchanting. The path wanders in the near obscurity by enormous palm leaves of the "cocos de mer". The trunks are 40 m high and sway gently in the breeze, making a strange rustling sound as they rub against one another.
Wherever you look the foliage seems to go on and on as the path winds up through dark, damp clefts before coming out onto the ridge where there are magnificent views over a dense sea of green.
Day 8: Sorry , holiday is over