The Seychelles, from the water.

There is a way of seeing the Seychelles that most visitors never try. Rather than one island and one hotel, you wake each morning somewhere new, with the ship at anchor and the tenders already in the water.

The ship

Aqua Lares is an expedition yacht of fifteen suites, carrying thirty guests and a crew of thirty-two. She is a 77-metre, ice-class explorer yacht, and she carries the equipment of one: kayaks, paddleboards, snorkelling gear and tenders for getting ashore.

The suites are designed for long voyages rather than single nights. There is a spa, a cinema and a sun deck, and the menus are by chef Karime López.

The voyages

From November to April, Aqua Lares sails the Seychelles, Aldabra Atoll, Zanzibar and the coast of Tanzania, on voyages of five to eleven nights. The five-night voyages stay among the granite inner islands. The nine-night voyages head for the outer islands and Aldabra. The longest connect the Seychelles with Zanzibar and Tanzania.

Aldabra

Aldabra Atoll lies far out in the Indian Ocean. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a large population of giant tortoises, and visits are tightly controlled. It is reached by sea or not at all.

Few places are this hard to reach. That is most of the point.

For a group

Because she is small, Aqua Lares can also be chartered whole. That suits a family gathering, or a group of friends who would like the ship, and the itinerary, to themselves.

Photographs: Aqua Expeditions. We confirm the current itinerary, and any age policy for children, at the time of enquiry.