Have you always wanted to paddle in a transparent kayak in the Seychelles? Then you can’t miss the Tour Crystal Kayak Seychelles on La Digue! Who hasn’t seen them before, the cool pictures of people paddling in transparent kayaks in the turquoise blue sea? After seeing the photos online, I really wanted to do that too. The idea of seeing what was happening underwater while kayaking was just exciting to me.
And where do you find these crystal kayaks? Guess right… on the island of La Digue in the Seychelles. And there on the most photographed beach in the world, the Anse Source D’Argent. We have compiled our experiences and the exact procedure of a Crystal Kayak Tour on La Digue for you in our travel report.
Hi Guys!
We are Sabrina and Andreas, two adventurous travelers who never miss an opportunity to discover the world. Whether by plane to distant countries or with our campervan Bruno, we just love to travel. We hope to give you helpful tips for your next trip on our blog.
Sabrina & Andreas Globetrotters, Travelers, Adventurers
Hotel Recommendation on La Digue
If you are looking for a hotel or apartment for your stay on La Digue, we can recommend the Bord Mer Luxury Apartment right next to the Jetty. Our beautiful little apartment was located super central at the harbor and was the perfect starting point to reach the most different corners of the island by bike.
We also had several supermarkets, restaurants and a great bakery nearby, so we could get enough provisions for our bike baskets and spend the day on the most beautiful beaches on La Digue. If you want to take a closer look at the hotel, just click on the button below and you will see the exact availability and current prices.
What is a Crystal Kayak anyway?
Crystal Kayaks are small boats that either have only a transparent bottom or are directly made completely of transparent material. This has the advantage that you can look through the boat into the water all the time and see what is going on underneath you. 
Through the transparent kayaks you can see the fish, corals and in clear water also the seabed. So it’s almost like snorkeling, only you are above water!
The boats are mostly made of PVC or similar materials and therefore not as stable as boats made of hard plastic. You have to be careful with sharp stones or branches that lie under the water surface. These can damage the thin outer skin of the Crystal kayak.
The Provider – Crystal Kayak Tour on La Digue
We booked the Robinson Crueso Tour with the provider Crystal Water Kayaks on La Digue quickly and easily via WhatsApp. Here are the most important points about the tour:
- Provider: Crystal Water Kayaks La Dugue
- WhatsApp number: +248 2 747 457
- Location: Anse Source D’Argent
- Tour: Robinson Crusoe
- Duration: 3 hours
- Price: 35 Euro pP
With the otherwise quite high prices in the Seychelles, I found this offer quite favorable and did not have to think long. Our tour started at 3 pm at Anse Source D’Argent and lasted until sunset.
Crystal Kayak Seychelles – Preparation for the Tour
Before starting, items like camera and cell phone were stowed in waterproof bags and there was a little introduction on safety and route. I had our own waterproof bag with us to stow our drone as well. After the introduction, we also went straight into the boats. You should be prepared to get very wet during the tour and choose your clothes accordingly.
A T-shirt or better a swimming shirt (which you can also use for snorkeling) is also highly recommended, since you will be exposed to the sun for quite a long time in good weather. You don’t need snorkeling equipment, because you can look through the bottom of the boats while paddling. Swimming shoes are also very advisable, since you will enter and later exit the boats in water that is about knee to waist high. This is because the boats are not allowed in shallow water, as the very thin outer skin of the boats could be scratched by the sand.
Start of the Crystal Kayak Tour
After the hurdle of getting into the transparent kayaks is overcome we finally start. After we have mainly done something for the legs while cycling across the island in the last few days, today our arms are being put to the test. The coordination between us – both have to paddle evenly – does not work so well at first… and even later, when we are already better coordinated with each other, we rather go in curves towards the individual destinations than that we really go straight.
But we arrive and can marvel at some of the few remaining corals in the bay of Anse Source D’Argent. There are larger formations of fire corals, finger corals, mushroom corals as well as a fish school where the still very small fish cavort around the corals and have the opportunity to quickly seek protection from predators.
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The corals are each some meters apart, so that one feels the effort slowly in the arms. The first participants already give up after the first coral stop and change to the VIP service. This means that the Crystal kayak is tied to the motorized dinghy behind and you can be pulled comfortably without having to paddle yourself. For the next section of the kayak route, this is not a bad idea.
The Panoramic Section of the Crystal Kayak Tour
The next section with the Crystal kayak is the Panorama section. This is all about seeing what makes up the most photographed beach in the world. The impressive formations of the granite rocks at Anse Source D’Argent. Only from the water you can really see the panorama of the beach and know why this beach is so popular.
The granite rocks at Anse Source D’Argent are several million years old and were originally, like the entire Seychelles, under water. The shifting of the tectonic plates brought the Seychelles to the surface. The characteristic grooves on the rocks were formed over time by the rain and make the panorama perfect.
The Robinson Crusoe Beach
After the panoramic stretch with the Crystal Kayak is done we continue to Anse Pierrot, the famous Robinson Crusoe beach. Scenes from the Robinson Crueso movie were filmed on this beach in 1980. To get ashore, we have to get out of the boats again in waist-deep water. Getting out of the boats works quite well, but the few meters to get to the beach are more difficult.
The waves slap you on the back and try to pull your feet out from under you in the next moment. But with a little help from the guides we still make it to the beach. Of course we are soaking wet!
The beach is only accessible from the sea. There is no way across the island to get here. But even in this untouched part of the island you can see that the garbage that people carry into the sea is washed up here. So, unfortunately, the paradise is not completely untouched.
Exploring the Robinson Crusoe Beach
Nevertheless, the beach offers great photo opportunities and you can also cool off in the sea for a while. After that, a small hike took us past the cave where Robinson Crueso was filmed and then a little further around the island. Because of the high waves we had to take the way through the cave, through which we walked half bent to the other side of the cave.
After that we went through the water for a bit, feeling the power of the water with every wave. On the next beach we see a high ledge of fossil coral brought to the surface by the shifting of tectonic plates millions of years ago. Also on the surrounding rocks you can see again and again the imprints of corals and marine animals in the rocks.
After visiting the beach we go to a group of granite rocks lying in the sea where we can go swimming in a kind of natural pool. However, I preferred to walk around a bit and take a few more photos with our drone. The views here are truly breathtaking.
The adventurous way back at high tide
The way back to Robinson Crueso beach turns out to be a real adventure. The water is literally up to our necks and the wetbags (our waterproof bags) are carried back to the beach above our heads. So that we know for the emergency like we survive on a lonely island, there is now still a small excursion in the coconut open. It is not so easy, but as a reward everyone gets to drink the delicious coconut water and then eat the white “meat”.
Yummy! For the way back over the water, we are brought in small groups to the Crystal Kayaks by dinghy due to the stronger waves and then, always towards the sunset, pulled along the wonderful panorama of Anse Source D’Argent. The excursion was really worth every penny and should definitely be booked when visiting Anse Source D’Argent.
Conclusion about the Crystal Kayak Tour on La Digue
The tour is a definite recommendation if you are on La Digue. The guides are super nice, the price is cheap by Seychelles standards (unfortunately, the Seychelles are extremely expensive) and you have a beautiful view of the rocks at Anse Source D’Argent. Also, the kayak tour brings a little sporty variety in the otherwise very relaxed everyday life on La Digue. And if you are not so sporty and worried not to make the whole trip. For that there is always the motorized dinghy!
Do you have any questions or have you already done the Crystal Kayak Tour on La Digue? If so, leave a comment below telling us how you liked it.