Comparing skippered vs bareboat experiences in the inner islands
Hey everyone, I've been daydreaming about a Seychelles trip forever, and now I'm stuck deciding between skippered and bareboat for poking around those inner islands like Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. Last summer I did a short bareboat thing in the Med with a couple friends who actually know what they're doing on the water, and it felt so freeing to pick our own spots and timing, but honestly by day three I was exhausted from all the maneuvering and checking weather constantly. With the Seychelles looking so gorgeous but also kinda tricky with currents and reefs, I'm wondering if skippered might be smarter for chilling more and just enjoying the views instead of stressing. Anyone got real experiences comparing the two there—did you feel more relaxed with a skipper or did bareboat still win for adventure? Curious what tipped the scale for you guys.
Yeah, totally get where you're coming from with the stress factor. I've done both in the Seychelles inner islands and honestly bareboat was my jam because I love having full control—waking up whenever, deciding to linger at some quiet anchorage off Curieuse or swing by Anse Lazio on a whim without anyone else's schedule. But I had the qualifications and we'd sailed similar waters before, so it never felt overwhelming. The flip side, when I went skippered once with family who weren't sailors, it was pure bliss; the captain knew every hidden snorkel spot and handled all the docking and navigation while we just floated around with drinks and spotted turtles. For pure relaxation and not worrying about licenses or tides, skippered wins hands down, especially if you're mixing in some fishing or fancy beach picnics. If you're leaning toward less hassle, check out some options for coastal leisure trips seychelles boat rental—plenty of solid setups that keep it personal and fun without feeling over-the-top. Either way, you can't really go wrong with those granite islands and turquoise water.