La Digue & Curieuse Islands boat tour: Private lunch boat

A private boat to four islands in one day, with lunch cooked on the one that matters most

A private boat tour from Mahé Island visits La Digue, Curieuse Island, Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette over 6 to 9 hours, with a live English or French-speaking guide. The tour includes a BBQ lunch served on Curieuse Island (a nature reserve where giant tortoises roam freely) snorkeling gear for exploring the reefs, and entry to the national park. You'll spend 2 to 3 hours on La Digue exploring Anse Source d'Argent, one of the world's most photographed beaches, and have time to snorkel at designated stops where dolphins and turtles sometimes appear.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour to islands

• Depart from Mahe Marina
• Pass by St. Anne Park islands
• Visit La Digue Island by bike
• Explore Anse Source d'Argent beach
• BBQ lunch on Curieuse Island
• See giant tortoises on Curieuse
• Snorkel in marine waters
• View Anse Lazio beach from sea
• Return to Mahe

The experience

You board a private boat at Mahé Marina in the morning and head out to four islands across the day. The boat itself is the Pursuit 310s, a single vessel the operator runs year-round, and the crew is experienced enough to tailor the route to what you want to do, whether that means more time snorkeling, lingering on a beach, or moving through the stops at a faster pace. The marina itself sits among yachts, and on some days you'll see visiting superyachts berthed alongside.

La Digue Island gets 2 to 3 hours of your day. Anse Source d'Argent, the beach you came for, is famous enough that it appears in travel magazines constantly: granite boulders frame turquoise shallows, and the sand is fine enough to photograph. You can explore it on foot or by bicycle (you choose the transport when you book), and the guide will point out the details most visitors miss. Before leaving the island, there's time to swim or wade in the shallows.

Curieuse Island is where lunch happens. The BBQ is prepared on the island itself, and you eat on a nature reserve that was once a leper colony and is now home to hundreds of free-roaming giant land tortoises. The tortoises move slowly across the sand and grass. You'll see them up close. After lunch, you have time to walk the island or rest on the beach before the boat moves to the next stop.

Snorkeling happens at stops you choose or the guide recommends based on conditions that day. The gear is provided, and the reefs here hold enough marine life that spotting turtles and dolphins is possible, though not guaranteed. Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette are viewed from the boat on the return journey to Mahé, giving you a sense of the coastline without stopping at every beach. The whole day ends back at the marina by late afternoon or early evening, depending on which departure time you pick.

What’s included

• A private boat with an experienced crew.
• a live guide who speaks English or French.
• BBQ lunch prepared and served on Curieuse Island.
• snorkeling gear at multiple stops.
• bottled water and soda throughout the day.
• entry to the national park.
• time to explore Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue for 2 to 3 hours.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Island Style Boat Charters

Is this one for you?The boat departs from Mahé Marina, so you don't need a car or a ride to the port. The marina is accessible and the tour handles the rest of the day on water. If you're staying on Mahé without transport or arriving with limited time to arrange one, this settles the logistics: you show up at the marina, and the boat takes you to four islands and back without another arrangement needed.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Anse Source d'Argent like when you get there?

Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue is a beach framed by large granite boulders rising from white sand and shallow turquoise water. It's one of the most photographed beaches in the world, and the 2 to 3 hours you spend on the island gives you time to explore it on foot, swim in the shallows, and see why it's famous without rushing through.

Can I snorkel on this tour, and what might I see?

Snorkeling gear is provided, and you'll have time at designated stops to explore the reefs. Marine life here includes fish, and if conditions and luck align, you may spot turtles and dolphins in their natural habitat, though sightings are not guaranteed.

What happens on Curieuse Island?

Curieuse Island is a nature reserve where BBQ lunch is prepared and served. The island was once a leper colony and is now home to hundreds of free-roaming giant land tortoises that you'll see moving across the sand and grass. After eating, you have time to walk the island or rest on the beach before the boat continues.

How do I get around La Digue once the boat arrives?

Transport on La Digue is your choice at checkout: you can explore on foot, rent a bicycle, or take a taxi. The guide will help you decide based on how much time you want to spend and what you want to see.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the private boat, a live guide in English or French, BBQ lunch on Curieuse Island, snorkeling gear, bottled water and soda, and all national park fees. You'll need to arrange your own beach towel.

How long is the full day, and when do we return to Mahé?

The tour runs 6 to 9 hours depending on the departure time and how the day unfolds. You depart from Mahé Marina in the morning and return by late afternoon or early evening, giving you time to rest or explore Mahé afterward.