What to expect
By slow boat it takes about 20 minutes to get from Mahé to Ste. Anne. The park authority quotes around 10 minutes for the crossing from Victoria, depending on the boat and the departure point. The park lies roughly 5 km off the main island and is accessible only by water. It was established in 1973 and takes in six islands.
The Ste. Anne Marine National Park contains one of the largest seagrass beds in the granitic islands, where turtles are often seen. Bottlenose dolphins are also frequent visitors. You can snorkel from the boat or from one of the island beaches. There are no lifeguards, and the water mostly stays at around 8 metres deep.
There are Creole restaurants on the islands of Moyenne and Cerf.
The Ste. Anne Marine National Park is an important part of the natural and cultural heritage of the Seychelles. We ask you to leave nothing behind but your footprints and to take nothing away but photos and memories.
The islands and their history
The island of Ste. Anne was the site of the first settlement in the Seychelles in 1770, far from the once crocodile-infested marshes of Mahé. After serving as a whaling station, it became a Royal Navy base in the Second World War, helping to defend the harbour of Victoria. It is said that a great treasure lies buried on Moyenne, while Round Island was once a leper colony.
The islands of Ste. Anne, Round, Long, Moyenne and Cerf lie in the middle of the national park. The sixth is the tiny Île Cachée. On Long Island you will find the ruins of a hotel, as the Shangri-La Resort was never completed. Before the hotel was built, Long Island served as a prison island.
Round Island is home to the Enchanted Island Resort. The island itself is reserved for hotel guests. The surrounding beaches form part of the public shoreline and are also used by day visitors.
Boat trips to Moyenne run daily. You can explore the island and meet its Aldabra giant tortoises, some of which are over 100 years old. At low tide a sandbank appears between Moyenne, Long and Round, and you can walk between the islands almost dry-shod.
Getting there and excursions
On a day trip
Most visitors come on an organised boat tour. It starts from Victoria or the Eden Island marina, usually in the morning, and lasts 6 to 7 hours. The usual programme is one to three snorkelling stops, a landing on Moyenne and lunch on one of the islands. Many operators will collect you from your hotel.
There is no jetty on Moyenne. The boats anchor in the shallows, and you either wade ashore or are taken in by a small tender. Expect wet feet and wear sturdy sandals. The trails across the island come in several levels of difficulty.
On the semi-submersible from Eden Island
From Eden Island you can also take a trip on the “Semi Sub”, a partly submerged boat with an underwater cabin. The tour lasts about an hour. Around 20 minutes of that is spent watching the fish on the reef, the rest is the journey. The office is on the left after the bridge to Eden Island.
With your own boat or yacht
If you are travelling independently, you can charter a boat with a skipper or anchor your own yacht. For Moyenne the entry fee is then paid directly on the island. You will find more on operators and tours under Boat trips in the Seychelles, and on sailing under Sailing in the Seychelles.
Opening times and entry fee
According to the park authority, the park is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. All the marine national parks are open on public holidays too. Visitors over 12 who do not live in the Seychelles have to pay. Keep your ticket and show it if the rangers, who patrol every day, ask to see it.
In the past, tickets were sold in Victoria from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Check with the park authority beforehand whether that still applies. On booked tours the park entry is often included in the price, but not always, so ask when you book.
| Item | Price (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Park entry, non-resident visitors over 12 | SCR 200 |
| Children up to 12 | free |
| Landing on Moyenne | separate entry fee, around €20 according to visitor reports; often included in the price on tours |
| Full-day boat trip with snorkelling, Moyenne and lunch | from about €80 (as of November 2026), up to about €100 depending on the boat and programme |
| Semi-submarine from Eden Island, 1 hour | from about US$63 (as of November 2026) |
| Yacht anchored overnight, commercial filming | previously €10 per night or €200; ask the park management for current amounts and the written filming permit |
Duration, best time and tips
For a visit with snorkelling and a walk ashore on Moyenne, allow half a day to a full day. The semi-submarine is the shortest option. The water is usually calm and clear in the transitional months around April/May and October/November. From May to September the south-east trade wind can make the crossing rougher. Ask your operator about the conditions the day before. You will find more under Best time to visit and Climate & weather.
Seagrass is food for the turtles. When snorkelling, do not stand on seagrass or coral, and do not feed any animals unless your skipper shows you how. For more advice on snorkelling, see Diving & snorkelling.
