Ile au Cerf, or Cerf Island, is a small Seychelles island that’s just about 20 minutes by boat from Eden Island and is part of the Ste Anne Marine National Park. I personally planned our stay here for the first 4 days of our vacation, and I would happily choose it for the end of the vacation too.
It’s an ideal destination for acclimatizing after a long flight from Europe, or as relaxation during the last days before flying home. In today’s article, I’ve prepared a basic guide to the island. We’ll discuss a bit about accommodation options on Ile au Cerf and I’ll also give you several tips for trips we took here and places we enjoyed during our stay. And I’ll take you on this circular tour of Cerf Island in retrospect with us:
MY OTHER ARTICLES FROM SEYCHELLES:
- 7 Trip Tips for Mahé + Accommodation Tips
- Praslin: 9 Things to Do + Accommodation Tips
- Essential Information for a Vacation in Seychelles
Ile au Cerf
Cerf Island (Ile au Cerf) is a picturesque island covering approximately 1.31 km², located just 4 km northeast of Mahé, the main island of Seychelles. It’s part of the Saint Anne Marine National Park, which ensures rich underwater life and pristine nature. The island is perfect for snorkeling enthusiasts, as the surrounding coral reefs are home to over 150 species of fish and other marine life. Our accommodation’s reception had many of these marine creatures on posters, so I recommend studying them to know what you might encounter underwater.
On Cerf Island, you won’t find wide roads or bustling nightlife, which contributes to its peaceful atmosphere. Instead, you can enjoy walks on sandy beaches, relaxation at resorts like Cerf Island Resort, and discovering local fauna and flora during any of your trips, which I’ll describe below. Thanks to its location and natural wealth, Cerf Island is an ideal refuge for vacationers seeking rest in harmony with nature.
Accommodation on Ile au Cerf
On Ile au Cerf, you’ll find only a few accommodation options, which helps maintain its peaceful atmosphere, even though it’s just a short distance from the main island of Mahé. I chose accommodation at VILLA DE CERF, where the owner was very accommodating regarding my gluten-free diet, and for three evenings, she and the cook created traditional Creole dishes that were naturally gluten-free. We discovered that the experience at this accommodation depends on who you share the Villa with.
We were lucky because until the last day, we shared this boutique accommodation with just one other couple who were there for a few nights before flying home to recharge before returning to Europe. The owner also gave us plenty of privacy by accommodating them upstairs and us on the ground floor. At first, I was sad we didn’t have the balcony view, but from the first day, I started to see our ground floor room as an advantage. Direct access to the pool, sun loungers, and just a few steps to the beach without having to go up and down stairs, past the bar.
VILLA DE CERF 4*
Another affordable accommodation option is L’Habitation Cerf Island. We personally had the opportunity to go there in the evening hours to observe and feed baby sharks from the pier, which was a similarly beautiful experience as in the Maldives. During low tide, you can walk through here to the back. The hotel is built higher up from the beach, so you need to walk a few hundred meters to the back sandy beach.
Another, luxury option is Cerf Island Resort, which has recently undergone a successful renovation of its restaurant, pool, and several villas. Like other accommodations on the island, this resort also provides kayak rentals. Additionally, there’s an option to hike to a private viewpoint – heliport.
There are several other accommodation options on the island. However, we haven’t visited and verified them yet. You can browse the complete selection yourself and maybe you’ll find accommodation that excites you.
Transportation to Cerf Island
To Ile au Cerf (Cerf Island) there’s no regular public transport, but each accommodation operates its own private ferry boat. Usually, hotels have 3 fixed departure and arrival times during the day when transportation costs just a symbolic few euros. If you need (want) to travel to Eden or Cerf Island at a different time, there’s typically a surcharge for private transport.
As I wrote in the introduction, we headed to Cerf Island right after arrival, when an arranged taxi driver was waiting for us in the arrival hall and took us to our booked boat at Eden Island. We’d been to Eden several times before, so we appreciated the one-hour window during which we could shop at the local supermarket. Primarily for gluten-free items for me.
There’s no shop on Cerf Island, so I recommend buying drinks and snacks for trips. Everything is naturally overpriced on Cerf Island. It’s definitely worth booking accommodation with at least half board.
Our boat departs shortly after 10, and we’re lucky that the sky is clearing in our direction to the island, allowing us to admire the almost unreal turquoise color of the sea, which contrasts even more under the sun rays and black clouds behind us.
Trips on Cerf Island
Beach Walk
After arriving on Cerf Island and checking in, we immediately set out for a beach walk. It was low tide, which allowed us to walk to more distant beaches without having to enter the grounds of surrounding hotels. The beach right in front of our hotel was nice, but in my opinion, a nicer one awaits after a few hundred meters.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is excellent right from our hotel beach. Just swim to the reef, behind the pier, and in good weather, you can enjoy the rich underwater world. Hotels usually have basic snorkeling equipment for rent, but personally, we don’t rely on that and bring our own mask and fins.
Sea Kayak Rental
If there’s one trip you shouldn’t miss on Cerf Island, it’s renting a sea kayak. On the first day, we rent a two-person kayak just for a quick ride to the more distant beaches on our side of the island, which charm us so much that we immediately book the kayak for the entire next day. Our neighbors weren’t interested in renting the kayak, so we don’t have to rush back from the trip.
Trip to Surrounding Islands
Another trip you can take on Ile au Cerf is the mentioned, ideally full-day, circular trip around the island with stops at beaches near small islands on the other side of Cerf. So we pack two large waters and snacks, bought the day before at Interspar on Eden, into a waterproof backpack and set off for adventure. The weather is supposed to be good all day, so we also have sunscreen and head scarves.
During our trip, there was no problem “parking” our kayak on the sandy promontory of Long Island, but of course, verify this locally at the time. Between this sandy promontory, which is also a stunning beach, and the private island of La Enchanted Island Resort, where you can also stay, stretches a blue shallow lagoon where you’ll encounter stingrays. So watch where you step and consider water shoes essential equipment.
It’s one of the most luxurious private island resorts in Seychelles that doesn’t require lengthy travel to reach:
Another island easily accessible from Ile au Cerf is Ille Moyenne. It’s a nature park where you can pay an entrance fee and walk an educational trail, where among other things, you’ll find the popular rock you might have seen in some photos from Seychelles, the Clamshell Rock, which you can climb. The island is also home to many land tortoises, which you’ll encounter during the approximately 45-minute trail.
Entry to the island is from Jolly Roger Beach, where you can buy tickets at the bar of the same name. During our vacation, it was 200 SCR. Day trips are also organized to the island. So if you’re not staying on Ile au Cerf, you can book a trip here from Mahé. Similarly, if you don’t feel physically fit enough to circle the island by kayak on your own.
In Saint Anne Marine National Park bay, you’ll also find the namesake island, which houses the newly opened Club Med Seychelles resort. Day trips from Mahé are also organized to the island. Personally, we haven’t visited the renovated resort yet. You can let me know how you liked it if you plan your vacation here.
Warning: Before any kayak trip, be self-critical and consider your current physical fitness. Always carry a mobile phone – ideally in a waterproof case and at least one form of ID. Always check the condition of the rented kayak or boat. Keep all items well-secured on the kayak, preferably under netting. Travel insurance that would cover potential injuries during such sports should be a given.
Hike to the Viewpoint
Lunch on Ile au Cerf Beach
I consider lunch at the beach grill bar, just a few minutes along the beach from our accommodation, an experiential trip. They’re reportedly open almost daily, and if you don’t have half board, it’s one of the options where you can eat on the island. They open for just a few hours during lunch and charge a flat rate (during our vacation it was 25 EUR per person) and you can choose from currently prepared dishes.
The menu usually includes grilled fish and meat, rice, lentils, and some local desserts. So you’ll eat your fill. However, I recommend arriving right at the beginning. This beach bar is a stop for many tour boats that have beach lunch as part of their trip itinerary.
Boat Trip to Eden Island
As I wrote in the transportation section, one of the other trips you can take from Ile au Cerf is a ferry boat ride to Eden Island. Whether you just need to buy supplies at the supermarket, want to go to the Indian restaurant, or take a walk around Eden. At scheduled times, this trip will cost you just a symbolic few euros. Plus, it’s a great option in case you have a rainy day on the island.
Ile au Cerf, an island that exceeded all our expectations. After 4 amazing days, we said goodbye, and Kája with his local, four-legged friend who accompanied us on our walks. However, our stay on this island wouldn’t have been nearly as great if we hadn’t had free access to a double kayak, which we used to explore the marine park and reach secluded beaches. Therefore, if you’re planning to visit Cerf Island, I recommend checking in advance whether your accommodation provides kayaks.
