For a long time, the Seychelles were my home. I’m Seychellois, ninth-generation on my father’s side, and I spent much of my youth in this small island nation out in the Indian Ocean, about a thousand miles off the coast of Kenya.
So when people ask me how to spend a week in the Seychelles, the answer comes from having actually lived it. Here’s the short version: take seven nights, split them across three islands, and you’ll see the best of the country without spending the trip in transit. Four nights on Mahé, two on Praslin and one on La Digue, with that last night back on Mahé before you fly home. That’s the itinerary in this guide, and it’s the one I’d recommend to almost any first-time visitor.
I’ve since been back with my wife Jess, who had never been to the islands. Showing her my favourite beaches and the Creole food I grew up eating, and revisiting the sights as an adult, is where a lot of the detail here comes from. Between that trip and the years I spent living in the Seychelles, this is the guide I wish more first-time visitors had.
This guide covers the full day-by-day itinerary, plus when to visit, how to get around and between the islands, where to stay on each one, and the practical things worth sorting before you go.
Table of Contents:
The 1 Week Seychelles Itinerary at a Glance
Here’s how the week breaks down. Four nights on Mahé, the largest and most varied island and the one you fly into. Two nights on Praslin for the Vallée de Mai and a day out among the inner islands. One night on La Digue, the slowest and, for my money, the prettiest of the three. Then you return to Mahé for the final night, so you’re not racing a ferry on the morning of your flight home.
Is a week enough? Yes. Seven nights is the realistic minimum I’d suggest for a first trip, and it’s also a comfortable amount of time for three islands at a relaxed pace. You could add days, but you don’t need to in order to have a proper trip. If you do have longer, see our 2-week Seychelles itinerary for some more ideas.
Here’s the week, day by day:
- Day 1: Mahé. Arrive, pick up your hire car, settle in and find a beach.
- Day 2: Mahé. Victoria, the Sans Souci mountain road and the west-coast beaches.
- Day 3: Mahé. The quieter south of the island and its far-flung beaches.
- Day 4: Praslin. Morning ferry from Mahé, then the Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio.
- Day 5: Praslin. A boat day around the inner islands, including Curieuse.
- Day 6: La Digue. Cycle the island, starting early at Anse Source d’Argent.
- Day 7: La Digue to Mahé. Ferry back, with a final night on Mahé.
How long do you need in the Seychelles?
A week is my standard answer, and the itinerary in this guide is built around seven nights. But the right length for you depends on what you want from the trip, so here’s how I’d think about it.
I always tell first-time visitors to split their time across a few islands rather than basing themselves on one. The three main islands look similar in photos but feel completely different in person, and seeing all three is what makes a Seychelles trip feel like a real exploration rather than a beach stay. Mahé is the big, busy one with the mountains and the capital. Praslin is quieter and greener. La Digue is the slow, almost car-free one.
Every island move costs you part of a day, though, so there’s a balance to strike. Four nights on Mahé, two on Praslin and one on La Digue is the split I’d recommend for most first trips, and it’s the one the rest of this guide follows. If your plans look a bit different, here’s how I’d adjust it:
| Your trip | How I’d split a week | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First time in the Seychelles | 4 nights Mahé, 2 Praslin, 1 La Digue | The balanced introduction, and the itinerary in this guide |
| You’ve been before | 2 nights Mahé, 2 Praslin, 3 La Digue | Skip some of Mahé’s sightseeing and slow right down on La Digue |
| Mostly here for the beaches | 2 nights Mahé, 2 Praslin, 3 La Digue | La Digue and Praslin have the most famous sand |
| Mostly here for nature and wildlife | 3 nights Mahé, 3 Praslin, 1 La Digue | More time for the Vallée de Mai and a second day on the water |
| Travelling with young children | 4 to 5 nights Mahé, 2 Praslin | Fewer ferry transfers, with calm Beau Vallon as a base |
Whatever you choose, I’d keep your last night on Mahé. The international airport is there, and you don’t want to be relying on a ferry connection running to schedule on the morning of a long-haul flight.
Your 1 Week Seychelles Itinerary, Day by Day
A couple of things before the day-by-day. This itinerary assumes you have a hire car on Mahé and Praslin, but you can follow most of it by bus, taxi or organised tour instead, covered in the getting-around section below. And if your idea of a perfect trip is mostly beaches, treat the sightseeing as optional and swap in beach time wherever you like.
Day 1: Mahé
How much you do on your first day really depends on what time you land. International flights all arrive on Mahé, the largest and most populated island, so this is where the trip begins. Getting from the airport to your accommodation takes anywhere from about 20 to 45 minutes, depending on which part of the island you’re staying on.
Mahé is the biggest of the granitic islands, and the Seychelles are the only granitic islands sitting in the middle of an ocean anywhere in the world. The islands you see today are the tops of ancient granite mountains. The granite itself is hundreds of millions of years old, and it was left isolated in the ocean some 65 to 75 million years ago, when the Seychelles broke away from the landmass they were once part of. Around 100,000 people live on Mahé, the large majority of the country’s population.
My advice for day one is not to try to do too much. The heat and humidity take a day to adjust to, so pick up your hire car if you’ve booked one, head to your accommodation, and ease into the trip with a first beach.
Which beach depends on where you’re based. If you’re on the south of the island, Anse Intendance or Anse Louis are lovely. If you’re up north, Beau Vallon is the obvious choice, and it’s also a good sunset beach and the calmest water for swimming if you have children with you.
Day 2: Mahé
Day two is your big sightseeing day on Mahé, and it flows best as one loop: the capital first, then up over the mountains, then down to the west-coast beaches. Start around 9am to let the worst of the Victoria rush-hour traffic clear first.
Begin in Victoria, the capital. It’s one of the smallest capital cities in the world, so you won’t need long. The colourful central market and the clock tower are the landmarks to find, and there’s a small but interesting natural history museum if you want to understand how the islands formed and what lives on them.
From Victoria, take the mountain road known as Sans Souci, which climbs up and over the island and gives you a completely different view of Mahé. There are several stops along it. If you like hiking, the Copolia trail is a fairly strenuous 90 minutes to two hours up onto the granite boulders behind Victoria, rewarded with views over the east coast and the St Anne Marine National Park, and across to Praslin on a clear day. Do this one in the morning before the midday heat, and don’t leave valuables in your car at the trailhead.
Further along is the Mission Lodge, once a school for the children of liberated slaves. There’s not much of the school left, but the setting and the views are beautiful.
Further down, the road passes the SeyTé Tea Factory, set among the tea bushes on the Sans Souci hillside. It’s open to visitors, with guided tours through how the tea is made and a Tea Tavern café on site for a cup and a view. It tends to keep weekday-morning hours, so aim to come through before early afternoon.
By the time you come off the Sans Souci road you’ll be on the west coast, and ready for a beach. Grand Anse, Port Launay and Baie Ternay are all worth your time along this stretch. Baie Ternay needs a short ten-minute walk, and the drive down also passes a few secluded little spots you might get to yourself.
Day 3: Mahé
Day three is for the south of Mahé, which is my favourite part of the island. It’s further from the capital, a little less developed, and the drive is a relaxed loop with plenty of beach stops. Roughly speaking, the south is anything below the airport.
The first stop is the Craft Village, set on a former plantation, with the old plantation house open to look around for free. Local craftspeople make and sell all sorts here, from carved pieces to candles to t-shirts, all very reasonably priced. It’s a good place to pick up a souvenir you can be sure was actually made on the islands, with the money going straight to the maker, and a good chance to chat to local people about life here.
Two minutes down the road, on another old plantation at La Plaine St André, is the Takamaka Rum Distillery. Takamaka is the island’s own rum, made with locally grown sugar cane, and by day three you’ll have seen plenty of it advertised. The distillery runs free guided tours through the week, usually at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Monday to Friday and a little less often on Saturday, ending with a tasting of the different rums. It’s closed on Sundays. There’s also a small museum, a medicinal garden, the old plantation ruins and a couple of resident giant tortoises, and you can buy a bottle or two to take home.
From there, head further south. I’d go right down the Grand Police road, past Anse Intendance, to the trio of beaches at the bottom of the island: Anse Bazarca, Anse Petit Police and Anse Grand Police. Their distance from anywhere means they get very few visitors, except for locals at the weekend, and you can have a whole stretch of white sand to yourself. Do pay attention to the warning signs about currents here, as the swimming can be dangerous at certain times of year.
You can also wind around the south to other beaches like Anse Soleil and Petite Anse. Petite Anse is now home to the Four Seasons, but the beach itself stays open to non-guests. You sign in at the security gate, pick up a wristband and park before walking down to the sand. There’s no charge for the beach, though the bar and loungers are for hotel guests, so bring your own water and snacks.
Other pretty beaches around here include Anse Takamaka, Baie Lazare and Anse Louis. For food in the south, two places worth knowing are Surfers Beach Restaurant over at Takamaka and the Anchor Café at Anse à la Mouche.
Day 4: Praslin
Day four is a travel day, and it works best if you’re up early. The plan is to cross to Praslin on the morning ferry, which leaves you a full day on the island for its two big draws: the Vallée de Mai and one of the world’s best-known beaches.
The main ferry is the Cat Cocos catamaran, which leaves from the inter-island terminal in Victoria and takes about an hour and a quarter to reach Praslin. There are several sailings a day, but catching an earlier one is what makes the day work, so book ahead and check the current timetable on the Cat Cocos site. If you’d rather not rush, you could take an afternoon ferry on day three instead and spend an extra night on Praslin. You could also fly, the Air Seychelles hop from Mahé takes about 15 minutes, or charter a helicopter. And if you’d prefer to be based on Mahé the whole time, you can visit Praslin on a day trip from Mahé instead.
With one full day on Praslin, I’d take in the Vallée de Mai and one of the island’s best beaches. A hire car makes getting around easier, though the public bus also serves the main stops. You could also do the day as a guided full-day tour like this one.
Start with the Vallée de Mai. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed back in 1983, and at under 20 hectares it’s one of the smallest natural sites on the UNESCO list. It’s looked after by the Seychelles Islands Foundation, and adult entry is SCR 450. This is the home of the giant Coco de Mer palm, one of the most unusual endemic plants in the islands.
The Coco de Mer grows as either a male or a female tree, and produces the largest nut in the plant kingdom. Inside that nut is the largest seed of any plant in the world. The fruit takes six to seven years just to mature on the tree, and then a couple more years to germinate after it falls.
The name translates as “coconut of the sea”. For years these nuts washed up on far-off shores with nobody knowing where they came from, so it was assumed they grew somewhere beneath the waves. When the source was finally traced to the Seychelles, the name had already stuck. The nuts are fully protected today, so don’t try to take one home without going through the official paperwork. Keep an eye out for the Seychelles black parrot while you walk the valley, too.
Once you’re done at the Vallée de Mai, it’s time for a beach, and Anse Lazio is the famous one, regularly near the top of the world’s-best-beaches lists. It’s as good as its reputation. I’ll say, though, that the Seychelles has dozens of beautiful beaches, plenty of them just as good without the crowds, and our guide to the best beaches in the Seychelles has more ideas. Anse Lazio is still well worth your time, and you’ll find places to eat near the beach. You can stay there for the rest of the day, or loop back around Praslin’s other beaches.
Day 5: Praslin
Day five is the boat day, and it’s one of my favourite parts of the whole itinerary. The Seychelles archipelago has more than 100 islands, each one a little different, and getting out among the smaller ones by boat is something I think every visitor should do.
A handful of operators run boat trips from Praslin, and the itineraries vary, but most are a full day, running roughly 9am to 4:30pm, with lunch, soft drinks, and hotel pickup and transfer to the jetty at Baie Sainte Anne included. Once it’s booked, the day is sorted for you.
Most trips take in two or three islands from a list that usually includes Curieuse, Cousin, Félicité, Coco, Sister, and the little granite outcrop of St Pierre, which you snorkel around rather than land on.
The island most people are keenest to visit is Curieuse, the best spot on this itinerary to meet the Aldabra giant tortoise. This is a huge tortoise, endemic to the region and a real Seychelles icon. Big males can weigh well over 250 kg, that’s more than 550 lb, and they’re remarkably long-lived: plenty pass 100 years, and some individuals are thought to be older than 200. On Curieuse they aren’t fenced in, so they roam freely.
If you love wildlife, and birds in particular, it’s worth getting onto a trip that calls at Cousin, one of the best places to see Seychelles birdlife, including the Seychelles magpie robin, fairy terns and white-tailed tropicbirds.
There are a few ways to do the day. This island-hopping trip and this speedboat option are both good starting points. Whichever operator you go with, pack swimwear, sunscreen and plenty of insect repellent.
Day 6: La Digue
Day six is La Digue, reached on a short morning ferry from Praslin. The crossing is only about 15 minutes, and two operators run it through the day: Cat Cocos and Cat Rose, the Inter Island Ferry. La Digue has a different rhythm to the other islands, with far fewer cars and most people on bicycles, and it’s small enough to cycle from one end to the other in about half an hour. The one piece of timing that matters here: get to Anse Source d’Argent early, before the day-trip crowds build.
At the top of most visitors’ lists is Anse Source d’Argent, a beach at the south of the island with its smooth granite boulders, palm trees, turquoise water and pale sand. It really does have to be seen to be believed, and it’s a lovely spot for sunset too. You reach it through L’Union Estate, which is privately owned, so there’s an entrance fee, around SCR 150, which covers you for the day.
Since you’re paying to cross the estate, it’s worth a look around. L’Union Estate is a former plantation, still growing vanilla and other crops, and you can see the old plantation house and the La Digue cemetery, where some of the island’s earliest settlers are buried.
If you don’t mind a bit of a cycle, take the road to the east side of the island to Grand Anse, another beautiful beach. It can get busy, but you can escape the crowds by heading one cove along to Petit Anse. Alternatively, follow the road around the north end of the island, which passes a string of beaches, one of which is sure to take your fancy.
While you’re on La Digue, try to catch a glimpse of the Seychelles paradise flycatcher. This endemic bird is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, an improvement on its once critically endangered status after conservationists established new populations on other islands. The best place to look for one is the Veuve Reserve, a patch of wilderness set aside to protect it.
If you’d prefer to stay based on Praslin, you can visit La Digue as a day trip instead, taking the ferry over and back in a day.
Day 7: La Digue and Back to Mahé
Day seven is mostly about getting back to Mahé in good time for your flight home. From La Digue you take the ferry to Praslin and connect onto the Mahé service, around an hour and a half of travel in total across the two legs.
Whether you go in the morning or the afternoon is up to you, and depends on your flight and how much more of La Digue you want to see. My strong suggestion is to get back to Mahé and stay the final night there. It means that whatever time your flight leaves, you’re not depending on a ferry running to schedule to make it. Spend whatever’s left of the day on a last beach, a bit of souvenir shopping, a museum or garden, or doing very little by the pool.
When is the best time to visit the Seychelles?
The Seychelles are a year-round destination. They sit a few degrees south of the equator, so it’s warm whenever you go, and there are no four seasons to plan around. What changes is the wind, and the Seychelles really has two seasons, each named after the direction the wind blows from.
The northwest season runs from around late November to March. This is the hotter, more humid part of the year, and the wettest, with December to February most likely to bring rain. The rain tends to come in short afternoon showers rather than settling in for days, and the winds are light, so the sea stays calm.
The southeast season runs from around May to September. It’s drier, a little cooler thanks to a steadier breeze, and the peak dry months are July and August. The trade-off is that the same breeze churns up the sea, so the water is choppier and snorkelling visibility drops.
April and October sit between the two seasons and are often the calmest, clearest weeks of the year. April in particular has long been the classic time to visit, though with shifting weather patterns it’s less of a guarantee than it once was. Whichever month you choose, the bigger decision is usually which beaches to base yourself near, which brings us to seaweed.
Seaweed in the Seychelles
One of the most common questions I get from readers is which Seychelles beaches get seaweed, and where to stay to avoid it. The short answer: it changes with the season, and with which way a beach faces.
Seaweed washes up on whichever coast the wind is blowing onto, and that coast changes with the season. During the northwest season, roughly November to March, it’s the north- and west-facing beaches that collect seaweed and get the rougher water. Praslin tends to see this more than Mahé, so on Praslin between November and March I’d head for the south and east coasts. Mahé is less affected overall, but its north coast, including Beau Vallon, can pick up seaweed and chop at this time.
During the southeast season, roughly May to September, it flips. Now the south- and east-facing beaches on both Mahé and Praslin are the ones more likely to have seaweed, so you want to be on the north and west sides.
So there’s no single seaweed season to avoid. Whatever month you visit, look for a beach on the sheltered side of the island for that season, and you’ll mostly be on clear sand. Your hotel can usually tell you how their nearest beach is looking, as it does change week to week.
How to Get Around the Seychelles
There are two things to think about: how to get around each island, and how to get between them. I’ll start with getting around.
Getting Around Each Island
On the bigger islands, Mahé and Praslin, life is much easier with a hire car. There are plenty of car hire companies, with small cars starting from around €50 a day, and a car lets you reach every beach and sight at your own pace. You can book in advance, pick one up at the airport, or arrange it through many hotels and guesthouses.
Both Mahé and Praslin also have a public bus network that runs all over the island and reaches most places you’ll want to go. A single ride is a flat SCR 12 in cash, or SCR 10 with a travel card, however far you travel. It’s easily the cheapest way to get around, though it’s slower and you’re tied to the timetable, and the most out-of-the-way beaches can be hard to reach by bus. If you expect to use the bus a fair bit, the SPTC Visitors Travel Card is a good buy: unlimited travel for SCR 100 for one day, SCR 198 for four days, or SCR 363 for eight days.
Taxis are available too, from taxi stands or booked through your accommodation, and you can hire a private driver for a half or full day, which can work out reasonably if you’re a family or group. A driver is usually the most expensive option, but it’s convenient if you’d rather not drive yourself.
There are also organised tours if you’d prefer to leave the driving to someone else, for example:
- A small-group full-day tour of Mahé
- A fully customisable private tour of Mahé with a driver
- A full-day tour of Praslin taking in the Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio beach
On La Digue there are very few cars, and most visitors get around by bike. You can hire one at the jetty when you arrive, or through your guesthouse or hotel. Expect to pay somewhere around SCR 100 to 150 a day. Some hotels also run golf-cart transfers.
Getting Between the Islands
You have three ways to get between the islands: ferry, plane or helicopter.
For the islands in this itinerary, the fast catamaran ferry is the one most people use, and the one I’d book. Cat Cocos runs the main route between Mahé and Praslin, a crossing of about an hour and a quarter, with several sailings a day in each direction. The same company, along with Cat Rose (the Inter Island Ferry), also covers the short 15-minute hop between Praslin and La Digue, where there are sailings throughout the day. Check timetables and book ahead on the Cat Cocos site, especially in the busier months and for the early-morning departures.
If you want to save time, Air Seychelles operates frequent flights between Mahé and Praslin that take only about 15 minutes in the air. You can see schedules and book on the Air Seychelles domestic site. It’s a lovely short hop on a small Twin Otter plane, though it costs more than the ferry.
The third option is a helicopter transfer with ZilAir, which flies between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. It’s the most expensive way to travel, but it doubles as a spectacular scenic flight over the islands.
For most itineraries, including this one, the ferry is the sensible choice. It’s the cheapest, the timetable is frequent enough to plan around, and unless you’re in a real hurry it does the job perfectly well.
Practicalities for the Seychelles
A few practical things worth knowing before and during your trip.
Currency
The currency is the Seychelles rupee, in notes and coins. You can withdraw rupees from ATMs around the country, and cards are accepted in most places. Higher-end hotels often list prices in euros or US dollars and will take payment in those currencies too.
Travel Authorisation and Entry Requirements
The Seychelles is visa-free, which is one less thing to organise. But there’s now one step you must complete before you travel: every visitor needs a Travel Authorisation. You apply for it online through the Seychelles Electronic Border System, ideally a couple of weeks before you fly and no more than 30 days ahead. You upload your flight booking and accommodation details, pay a small fee, around €11 at the time of writing, and receive your authorisation by email. You can apply on the official Seychelles travel authorisation site.
Airlines check for it before you board, so don’t leave it until you arrive. This is a fairly new requirement, so if you’re working from an older guide, this is the one thing to make sure you add to your list.
Electricity and Plugs
Seychelles uses a 240V supply, with the same three-pin plug you find in the UK. If you’re coming from continental Europe, the US or anywhere that uses a different plug, you’ll need an adapter. We have a full guide to choosing a travel adapter, and this one is the model we travel with.
Visitors from 110V countries like the US should also check that each appliance can handle 240V. Camera chargers and laptops almost always can; high-power items like hair dryers and travel kettles often can’t, and will be damaged if you plug them straight in. The supported voltage is printed on the plug or charger, and you’re looking for either 220-240V or 110-240V.
Internet and SIM Cards
Most hotels and guesthouses include Wi-Fi, and on our trips it ranged from slow to perfectly fast. For data on the move, the simplest option these days is an eSIM you set up before you fly. We use Airalo, and our Airalo review explains how it works and whether it’s right for your phone. You can also buy a local SIM on arrival if your phone is unlocked.
Safety
The Seychelles is a relatively safe place to visit, and violent crime is uncommon. Petty theft has risen in recent years, though, so it pays to be careful with your belongings. That’s most true on the beach and around parked cars. Don’t leave valuables visible in a car or unattended on the sand, and if you’re renting an apartment or house, lock up when you go out.
Several popular Mahé beaches have police on patrol, and we were often advised not to leave bags alone while swimming. The simplest approach is to leave anything valuable in your accommodation, ideally in the room safe.
Drinking Water
The tap water on the three islands in this itinerary, Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, is treated and safe to drink. We drank it throughout our stay with no trouble. On La Digue it has a noticeably hard taste, so if you’re not keen, bottled water is easy to find. On many of the smaller islands the water isn’t drinkable, but tour operators generally supply drinking water and soft drinks, or you can bring your own.
Health and Vaccinations
Unlike many countries in the region, the Seychelles has no malaria or yellow fever. You only need to show proof of yellow fever vaccination if you’re arriving from, or have recently travelled through, a country where the disease is present.
The real risks for most visitors are dehydration and sunburn. This close to the equator the sun is strong, and it catches a lot of people out. Drink plenty of water, and it’s worth reading up on the signs of dehydration so you can spot them. We always travel with a packet of oral rehydration tablets and take one a day to keep salt levels up, since you lose a lot through sweat.
For sunburn, pack the highest-factor sunscreen you can find, apply it generously before you go out and again after swimming, wear a hat, and try to stay out of the strongest sun between about 11am and 2pm.
Food
Food in the Seychelles deserves a guide of its own, which is why we wrote one. Our guide to the traditional Creole food of the Seychelles includes restaurant recommendations as well. In short, the food is a mix of Creole and Indian flavours, heavy on fresh seafood alongside chicken and pork, with lots of tropical fruit and fresh juices depending on the season. If you can, try the bananas, mangoes and papayas, and the fresh lime juice.
Driving
Vehicles drive on the left, and most hire cars are manual, though you can request an automatic. Speed limits are low and distances are short, so you won’t spend long getting anywhere. The exception is rush hour, roughly 7am to 9am and 3:30pm to 5:30pm, mainly on Mahé, when traffic around Victoria and the airport slows to a crawl. Most roads are single-lane each way with few places to overtake, so try to avoid driving around Victoria and the airport at those times.
Where to Stay in the Seychelles
There’s a wide range of accommodation in the Seychelles, though it skews from mid-range up to luxury. Camping is illegal and there are no hostels, so there’s little at the true budget end. There’s still value to be found, particularly in self-catering guesthouses, alongside some excellent high-end properties.
Here are some options for the three islands in this itinerary, grouped by budget. We usually book through booking.com, as we find it has the best choice and prices, covering everything from guesthouses to apartments to resorts. You can browse all their Seychelles options here and filter by style and price.
One thing to know: the government has been clamping down on unlicensed holiday rentals, and you’ll be asked for your accommodation address, sometimes a phone number, when you arrive at the airport. Make sure anything you book is a licensed property. You can usually confirm this in the listing description, or by messaging the property directly.
Where to Stay on Mahé
Mahé is the largest island, and there’s a lot of choice, from guesthouses through to mid-range and luxury hotels.
Budget
- Maison D’Aaryan is a well-reviewed budget guesthouse a few minutes from the airport and around 550 yards from Anse aux Pins beach, with en-suite family rooms and apartments.
Mid-range
- Villa Vanilla is a good-value mid-range option near Port Glaud, 650 yards from the beach, with en-suite rooms and some sea views.
- Coral Strand is a solid mid-range choice right on the popular Beau Vallon beach.
Luxury
- Constance Ephelia is a luxury property with two beaches of its own, plus a range of pools, bars and restaurants.
- Four Seasons sits on the south of the island above Petite Anse, one of my favourite beaches anywhere on Mahé.
- Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas is the splurge: each all-inclusive villa comes with its own butler, private infinity pool and kitchenette.
Where to Stay on Praslin
Praslin is the second-largest island, but with a population of only around 9,000, against roughly 100,000 on Mahé, there are far fewer hotels to choose from.
Budget
- Pirogue Lodge sits on Côte d’Or beach and has superb reviews, with en-suite rooms and an on-site restaurant.
- Le Chevalier Bay Guesthouse is on Anse Lazio, one of the best beaches in the country, with en-suite rooms and a restaurant on site.
Mid-range
- Bliss Hotel is a popular mid-range choice on Grand Anse beach near the airport, with garden-view en-suite rooms.
- Acajou Beach Resort is a well-rated four-star resort on Côte d’Or, with two restaurants, a pool, and apartments as well as rooms.
Luxury
- Raffles Seychelles is a five-star property near Anse Lazio, with private-pool villas, a spa and several restaurants.
- Constance Lemuria offers five-star villas and suites, its own golf course, a spa and a string of beaches.
Where to Stay on La Digue
La Digue is small, but it’s a hugely popular place to stay, and there’s plenty of choice, mostly guesthouses and self-catering in the budget to mid-range bracket, with a few higher-end properties too.
Budget
- Villa Hortensia is a well-reviewed option up in the hills, with air-conditioned en-suite rooms.
- Chez Marston is a good-value adults-only hotel with en-suite rooms.
Mid-range
- Patatran Village Hotel sits moments from a beautiful beach at the north of the island, with sea-view en-suite rooms and breakfast included.
- Hotel Chateau St Cloud is a peaceful mid-range hotel in the island’s foothills, with a restaurant and pool.
- La Digue Island Lodge is a real island institution. I remember coming here when I visited La Digue as a teenager, and it has aged well, still one of the better mid-range stays on the island, with its own dive centre, a pool with a swim-up bar and a range of chalets.
Luxury
- Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort and Spa is the standout higher-end option, a four-star with villa-style rooms, two restaurants, a spa and a pool, two minutes from Anse Severe beach.
Where We Stayed in the Seychelles
Across our visits we’ve stayed in a mix of hotels and self-catering places. On the trip Jess and I took together, we stayed at three properties, one per island.
On Mahé we spent a week at Villa Kordia, a comfortable self-catering place at Pointe Au Sel, about ten minutes from the airport and fifty metres from the beach. They helped us sort our hire car and also cooked meals, which is a lovely way to try Seychellois home cooking.
On Praslin we stayed at the Palm Beach Hotel, right on the beach with great sunset views, and only a five-minute drive from the Vallée de Mai.
On La Digue we stayed at Oceane Self Catering, five minutes’ walk from the jetty, with a big self-catering room. They served evening meals too, and the Creole food was good value and authentic.
If you’re after a bit of luxury, on Mahé consider the Four Seasons at Petite Anse; on Praslin the Raffles; and on La Digue Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie.
Tours in the Seychelles
Apart from the day trip out to the islands around Praslin, everything in this itinerary can be planned and done on your own. But if you’d rather hand the driving and planning to someone else, here are a few tours that line up well with the route. They include hotel pickup and generally run a full day.
- A full-day boat tour of the islands around Praslin, usually taking in Curieuse and St Pierre, with hotel pickup and lunch
- A small-group full-day tour of Mahé
- A fully customisable private tour of Mahé with a driver
- A full-day tour of Praslin covering the Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio beach
Tours like these do need booking in advance.
What We’d Tell a First-Time Visitor to the Seychelless
After growing up here and coming back with Jess, here are the things we always end up telling friends before their first trip.
Give the islands time to be slow. The Seychelles reward an unhurried pace, and the itinerary above deliberately leaves room to sit on a beach and do nothing. If you find yourself trying to add a fourth island or a packed list of sights, you’ve probably overfilled it.
Book your ferries ahead and take the early sailings. The fast catamarans between the islands fill up, especially in the busier months, and the morning departures give you the most of your day on the other end. Booking online a few days ahead is easy and saves a stressful morning at the terminal.
Build a buffer before your flight home. This is why the itinerary returns to Mahé for the final night. Connecting ferries on the morning of a long-haul flight is the one bit of stress worth designing out completely.
Pick your beach to suit the season. There’s no bad time to visit, but the wind moves the seaweed from one coast to the other through the year. A little planning, covered in the seaweed section above, means you spend the trip on clear, sheltered sand.
And sort the small admin early. The Travel Authorisation, a high-factor sunscreen, a packet of rehydration tablets and a card that works abroad will all make the trip smoother. None of it is difficult, it just wants doing before you go rather than once you’ve landed.
Seychelles Itinerary FAQ
How many days do you need in the Seychelles?
A week is the sweet spot, and I’d treat it as the realistic minimum for a first trip. Seven nights let you settle into three islands, Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, without spending half your holiday packing and unpacking.
You can do a rushed version in four or five days across two islands, and you could happily fill ten days or two weeks. But a week sees the best of the country at a sensible pace.
What is the best time of year to visit the Seychelles?
The Seychelles are good year-round, but April and October are the calmest months, sitting between the two wind seasons with warm, still weather and clear water.
The northwest season runs roughly November to March, hotter and wetter. The southeast season runs roughly May to September, drier but breezier, with livelier seas. Which you prefer partly depends on which beaches you want, since the wind decides where seaweed washes up.
Is the Seychelles expensive to visit?
Yes, the Seychelles is one of the pricier places I’ve travelled, and it’s fair to go in expecting that. Accommodation is the big cost, and there’s very little at the true budget end, since camping is illegal and there are no hostels.
You can bring the cost down a lot by staying in self-catering guesthouses, eating Creole food at local takeaways rather than resort restaurants, and using the public buses, which cost a flat SCR 12 a ride.
Do you need to hire a car in the Seychelles?
On Mahé and Praslin a hire car makes life much easier, and it’s how I’d get around both. The public bus network is cheap and reaches most places, so you can manage without one, it just takes longer.
On La Digue you don’t need a car at all. Almost everyone gets around by bicycle, and the island is small enough to cycle end to end in about half an hour.
Which Seychelles beaches get seaweed?
It changes with the season and which way a beach faces. Seaweed collects on whichever coast the wind is blowing onto.
From May to September the southeast wind pushes it onto south- and east-facing beaches. From November to March the northwest wind moves it to north- and west-facing beaches. So you don’t avoid seaweed by picking a month, you avoid it by picking a beach on the sheltered side for that season.
Do you need a visa to visit the Seychelles?
The Seychelles is visa-free for all visitors, but you do now need a Travel Authorisation before you fly.
You apply online through the Seychelles Electronic Border System up to 30 days before travel, upload your flight and accommodation details, and pay a small fee, around €11 at the time of writing. Sort it before you leave, as you’ll need it to board your flight.
How do you get between the islands in the Seychelles?
There are three ways: ferry, plane or helicopter. The fast catamaran ferries are the cheapest and most popular, with Cat Cocos running Mahé to Praslin in about an hour and a quarter, and a 15-minute hop between Praslin and La Digue.
Air Seychelles flies Mahé to Praslin in around 15 minutes, and ZilAir runs helicopter transfers. For most itineraries the ferry is the one to book.
Can you drink the tap water in the Seychelles?
Yes, the tap water is treated and safe to drink on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, the three islands in this itinerary. We drank it for our whole trip with no problems.
On La Digue it tastes quite hard, so if you don’t like it, bottled water is easy to find. On the smaller, uninhabited islands the water generally isn’t drinkable, so take your own.
Further Reading for Visiting the Seychelles
That’s our guide to spending one week in the Seychelles. We hope it helps you plan your trip. A few other guides you might find useful:
- Our guide to the traditional Creole food of the Seychelles
- Our guide to the best beaches in the Seychelles
- Our guide to spending 2 weeks in the Seychelles
- How to recognise and avoid dehydration when travelling
- A Seychelles travel guide if you’d like a book to take with you
If you have any questions about visiting the Seychelles, or feedback on this guide, let us know in the comments below.
Beverly says
What an Amazing blog! So detailed and informative. Keep up the good work Laurence and Jessica
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Beverly! I hope you have a great trip to the Seychelles, and do let me knoow if you have any questions 🙂
Dumisane Sibeko says
Hi Laurence,wow what a blog. answered all the questions we had about visiting Seychelles. we are a group of 6,ie 3 couples and we planning a trip to the country in October and we loved your blog. We have agreed to go as per your itenerary,thats how good we found it to be.Great job.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Dumisane,
Glad to be of help! Have a wonderful time in the Seychelles, and if you have any questions just let me know 🙂
Laurence
Dumisane Sibeko says
Great,regarding the car rental based on our itenerary,how can we plan that since we will be moving around the islands? The plan is to rent in Mahe and Praslin.Would we also need a rental on our last day from La Digue?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Dumisane,
So you will need a seperate rental car for Mahe and Praslin. There aren’t any car rentals on La Digue (you can rent bikes and many of the accommodation options provide them for guests), but for your last day on Mahe you might want a car depending on what you plan to do. It might work out to be cheaper to hire a car for the day than to take taxis around, so I would compare prices for that..
Have a great trip, let me know if I can help any more!
Laurence
Dumisane Sibeko says
👌
Saurabh says
very well explained! great detailing, my sincere compliments to you. we will be visiting from 28/10 till 3/11 this year for our 25th wedding anniversary. 2n in praslin at acajou hotel, 1 night at LA digue Island Lodge and 3 nights at savoy at Mahe and will try to cover as per your itinerary. in Praslin and Mahe we will take car on rent but
wanted to check what is the best way to transfer at La digue ferry point to LA digue Island Lodge as we will be having luggage.
further are credit cards acceptable at eateries or we need to have euro in cash.
any other suggestion to make the trip more enjoyable will be helpful.
thanks
Laurence Norah says
Hi Saurabh,
Thanks very much!
So La Digue Island Lodge should be able to provide luggage transport services, I would reach out to them to ask. There are golf carts and similar modes of transport which should be able to meet you at the ferry for sure.
For payment, it is definitely worth having some cash on you, but the majority of establishments should accept credit cards now. It’s only the smaller locations where credit cards might not be accepted.
Have a great trip and let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
Laurence
Lidiya says
Excellent write-up! I would like to know about wedding photograph idea if you know
Laurence Norah says
Hi Lidiya
So this is not a personal area of expertise, but if it was me I’d pick one of the beaches. There are some stunning beaches in the Seychelles, (I list my favourite Seychelles beaches here), so that would probably be a starting point personally.
Have a great time in the Seychelles!
Laurence
Marla says
I’m planning a trip for January for 7 nights leaving on the eighth day in the evening.. and your trip seems nearly perfect except people are mentioning different islands and I’m starting to get curious. My question is if I rented a car would I only rent it for the few days I am on Mahe? Is there a trip coordinator that you know that could drive me and coordinate all of these comings and going’s? I am alone. Thank you for any suggestions.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Maria
Thanks for your comment! So obviously there are many islands in the Seychelles, although not all of them can be visited. With 7 or 8 days though our recommendation is not to spread the trip too thin as you will spend more time jumping between the islands rather than seeing them. So of course you could switch out some of the islands, but I think seeing more than 3 islands in a week might be stretching things a bit. For car rental, yes, you would need to do seperate rentals for the different islands. Only Mahe and Praslin really need a car though, most people get around La Digue by bicycle and the other islands like Denis are too small to need anything other than feet!
In terms of trip co-ordination, there are various tour operators that will likely be able to help, but honestly it is likely just going to be as easy to do it yourself if you are planning a custom itinerary.
Have a great time, let me know if you have any more questions!
Best
Laurence
Sagar says
hey thanks for the detailed information.
just a quick question though , can you share any information regarding the new year celebration in seychelles.
I happen to be visiting seychelles along with my wife during this year end , i understand from your write up that it might rain , however just wanted to know are there any parties etc that happen during new year
regards
Laurence Norah says
Hi Sagar,
So New Years Eve is definitely celebrated in the Seychelles, there are a lot of parties to choose from. Most hotels will have some sort of party or event that you can go to and then there are also others to choose from. I don’t have a specific one to recommend but I am sure you will find something!
Best
Laurence
Shania says
Hi Laurence,
Thank you for such a helpful article. We are booked to stay in Mahe for 6 nights in July. We have also booked flights to Praslin and back on the same day – do you think it will be too rushed to visit Praslin and La Digue on the same day and get back to Praslin airport for our 6.15pm flight back to Mahe?
Thanks for your help.
Shania
Laurence Norah says
Hi Shania,
My pleasure! So I would say that yes, a day is going to be a bit rushed to see both Praslin and La Digue. You have to consider that to get from Praslin to La Digue you first have to drive from the airport on Praslin to the ferry terminal, which is a 20 – 30 minute drive. Then there’s a 15-20 minute ferry ride from Praslin to La Digue. So that’s over an hour of your time just transferring. I’d suggest focusing on Praslin, or considering an overnight stay on La Digue, rather than trying to fit it all in. Of course, it is possible, but you probably won’t see as much as you would like.
Have a great trip whatever you decide to do!
Shania says
Thank you for such a prompt reply Laurence! I’ll start looking for accommodation on Praslin or La Digue.
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure! Let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
Oliver Dollard says
Hi Laurence!
Superb work on all of your blogs I’ve learned so so much and you made it all very clear for us, a huge thank you!
I am flying tonight to Mahe, my girlfriend and I are staying for one month in total, with a week on Silhouette island. Of course we plan to visit all the main islands and do the typical activities and beaches.
But we are looking for a very chilled and remote stay, we are more interested in the small shack type bars or a man cooking fish on the side of the beach than the resorts or restaurants. Do you have any advice on spots or how to avoid busy areas?
And a few other questions, sorry!
I would like to do some fishing, but preferably not paying for a boat to take me out. Do you need a rod license? Can you just cast off on the rocks?
Do you have any recommendations on who to use for scuba diving? Also, I would like to try and see a whale shark if possible, I read they are around for a couple more weeks. Can you share any more wisdom?
Any help at all would be brilliant. Thank you so much. Where do your two live now btw? Or do you just travel!?
Thanks again, can’t wait to get there and explore.
Oliver
Laurence Norah says
Hi Oliver!
Thanks very much 😀 Sounds like you have an amazing trip planned! So to be honest, the Seychelles islands as you will quickly discover are not that huge, so the sort of setup you are describing is harder to find. That said, honestly the islands generally aren’t that busy anyway! So some of the beaches are definitely a bit busier than others, say Beau Vallon on Mahe is going to busier than some of the beaches around the south like Anse Intendance. And La Digue tends to be busier in general as it has more budget accommodation options. But it’s still possible to find quieter beaches, the key really is just to go a bit further than others are willing to go, and avoid the most popular options. But I think you’ll quickly see that even a “busy” beach in the Seychelles is quite a distance from a busy beach anywhere else in the world.
For fishing, as far as I know you don’t need a license for recreational fishing from the beach. So as long as you have a rod and some bait, you’re good to go!
For whale sharks, I’ll be honest, I’ve never seen one. I don’t dive, so it’s not really an area of expertise.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more specific help for some of your questions, but I hope you have an amazing month in the Seychelles and do let me know if you have any more questions! Enjoy!
Laurence
Neil says
What is the situation with the seaweed in August? We’re heading to Mahe in a week and we are staying near Anse Royal. Never heard of that issue for Seychelles. We had a really bad experience with the seaweeds in Mexico a few years ago.
We plan to rent a car and browse most of the beaches you recommended here.
Also which are the best places to exchange money?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Neil,
So the south east would be when the beaches on the south and east of the island are more affected by seaweed, which will include Anse Royale. Unfortunately I can’t tell you exactly how it will be, because it varies each year, but certainly there is a good chance that there will be some seaweed. However, if you have a car then it is a short drive to the other side of the island which should be seaweed free.
I’ve also reached out to my family members who live near Anse Royale for an up to date report, if they get back to me I’ll let you know!
Best
Laurence
Laurence Norah says
Hi Neil,
Just to update my previous comment, my cousin drove past Anse Royale beach a few minutes ago and said there currently isn’t any seaweed. However, it’s worth being aware that with the wind on that side of the island the water will be a bit choppy.
Enjoy your holiday!
Laurence
ETI BITON says
HII Laurence,
thank you so much for your great 1-week itenerary.
It was very helpful to us in planning our week in the Seychelles.
– I would like to consult with you.
My husband and I plan to travel at the end of September for a week.
And I would like to know which side of Mahe and La Digue better in terms of clean beaches without seaweed and calm water on the end of September.
Thank you,
Eti
Laurence Norah says
Hi Eti,
My pleasure. So September is the South-East, which means the wind blows from the south east, and beaches on the south east of the islands will be more affected. So on Mahe you would want to stay in the north west or west side. La Digue does not get too affected, and the hotels are mostly on the west anyway 🙂
I hope this helps – have a great trip and let me know if you have any more questions!
Laurence
ETI says
Hi Laurence,
Thank you very much.
It was very helpful to me.
Eti.
ETI BITON says
Hi Laurence,
Asks for your opinion on the division of days based on your recommendation for one week in the Seychelles.
We land in Maha and from there fly straight to Praslin. Landing in Praslin at 19:00.
We would like to get straight to La Digue that evening, but do not think there will be a ferry there at such an hour.
Is it possible to find a cruise to La Digue from Praslin in the evening?
Option number one – to spend the first night in Praslin near the port and at the next morning to sail to La Digue for two days.
Return to Praslin for another two days and on the third day morning we have a flight at 10:40 to Mahe.
Disadvantage – 3 hotels in a short time – one night in Praslin + 2 nights in La Digue + and again Praslin for 2 nights.
Option number two – stay in Praslin after landing for another 2 days and then sail to La Digue for two days.
On the third day early in the morning, sail from La Digue to Praslin, to get the fligh to Maha at 10:40.
Disadvantage – afraid that we will not be able to get to the flight at 10:40 in the morning when we have to get there from La Digue.
In Maha we will be 3 days.
Which of the two options do you think is better?
I would love to have your opinion.
Thank’s, ETI
Laurence Norah says
Hi Eti,
You are correct – the last ferry currently from Praslin to la Digue is at around 2.30pm. So getting straight to La Digue on your arrival day isn’t going to be possible. I’m not aware of any other transport options either, so you would be better off staying on Praslin and then going to La Digue. My suggestion would be to spend two nights on Praslin, then go to La Digue. You shouldn’t have a problem making the 10.40 flight from Praslin as you can get a ferry from La Digue at 7.30 which gets you to Praslin at 7.45, more than enough time to get across the island. My only query is that it would probably be easier and faster to just get the ferry from Praslin to Mahe. It only takes 75 minutes, and connects with the La Digue ferry.
Of course, if you already have the flight tickets booked and can’t cancel them that would still work. I’d definitely go with Option two though 🙂
Best
Laurence
Elan says
Laurence,
What about the other side of the Island—near Anse Royale? Given the season, would the sea be calmer and more clear on that side? Though I note there are not many hotels on that side. Thank you again!
Elan
Laurence Norah says
Hi Elan,
So there are two main types of beach in Seychelles – those behind a reef, and those that are clear water. The Anse Royale side of the island is mostly behind a large reef, which means the water can be very shallow and full of coral. It’s not good for swimming and this is why there aren’t many hotels on that side of the island. If you are looking for good swimming in clear water then I wouldn’t recommend it,
Best
Laurence
Elan says
Hi Laurence,
Sorry to bother you again, but you are the most knowledgeable person I have found about this issue. You mentioned the seaweed issue, but what about strong currents in North of Mahe vs. South in January? Someone mentioned that in the north ( Northholme area) of the island it could be very strong currents and almost on swimmable. Is that accurate? Thank you for your help. And would it be the same in south west side?
Thank you again
Elan
Laurence Norah says
Hi Elan,
No worries. So some beaches in Seychelles can have currents. I’m not familiar with the Northholme beach – it’s very small and not one most people would visit unless staying in the hotel. However from there you are very close to the Beau Vallon beach which is regarded as one of the safest beaches for swimming. So maybe you might instead consider a hotel on Beau Vallon. Port Launay is also a safe beach for swimming 🙂
Laurence
elan zivotofsky says
Laurence,
thank you so much for your great 1-week itenerary. I wanted to ask your views on a couple of things. Your answers will be most appreciated and helpful.
My wife and I are planning a 1 week trip in early January. I am aware it is the rainy season, but it is okay with us. We are considering doing the first 3 nights on Denis Island, which looks amazing. We are focused on outdoors (beaches, snorkeling, water sports, etc). But, that will limit the time we have for other islands. We would then only have 4 days left, which I was thinking of staying on Mahe, and maybe a 1-day quick trip to La Digue? Is this a mistake? Should I do La Digue instead of Denis? would love any thoughts you have.
Regarding Mahe-I was considering The Northolme Hilton which looks really nice and I have heard good things about. BUT, in January, would you suggest not staying up on that part of the island? Is Constance Ephelia a little better from that perspective. And, in the south, anywhere high end you would reccomend other then Four Seasons (which is pricey)? thank you So much for your help.
Elan
Laurence Norah says
Hi Elan,
It’s my pleasure and I am of course happy to help!
So in this itinerary as you’ll have noticed I didn’t include the islands like Bird or Denis, just for time reasons. However, they are definitely beautiful. I am a little biased as I lived on Bird Island for many years, but I believe the hotel is being renovated at the moment. It’s also quite a rustic experience, wheras I think Denis is a bit more up to date. That said, I’ve not actually visited Denis since the mid 90s, although my brother has been in the past few years and said it was lovely.
Personally I would pick Denis over La Digue. It’s going to be a much quieter and relaxing experience. La Digue is lovely, but it is quite a popular destination and also has many more budget accommodation options, so can become quite busy. Although that’s probably not the case at the moment.
I think your plan of Denis / Mahe + 1 day to La Digue is definitely do-able. For Mahe, the north side of the island tends to be more seaweed prone from November – March, which is during the “north-west” trade winds season. However Mahe doesn’t get so affected honestly at this time of year, it’s Praslin that has more issues. The seaweed on Mahe tends to be more in the South-East trade winds, and on the south side of the island. It is of course possible depending on the conditions that there will be some seaweed, but it shouldn’t be a lot. However, if you’d rather not risk it, then Constance Ephelia is nice. The beach there is also spectacular and great for snorkelling, and I also really love the drive over Sans Souci.
The Four Seasons is expensive but deservedly so, it’s on one of my favourite beaches and the resort is gorgeous. You might instead try the nearby Kempinski which I believe is more reasonably priced although the beach is not so spectacular in my opinion. I would probably go for the Constance if it was me. There was also the Banyan Tree on Anse Intendance, but it’s closed for a couple of years for renovations at the moment unfortuantely.
I hope this helps, happy to provide more information if required! Otherwise I hope you have a wonderful trip, I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts when you return 🙂
Laurence
elan zivotofsky says
Laurence,
Your answer is extremely helpful. I am considering the Four Seasons — just not sure I am ready to pay up that much. Constance Ephelia looks like a great location, but I am just a bit concerned as it is a very BIG resort with likely a lot of people as compared to the Northolme Hilton. Can you just compare those locations if you know the Hilton at all? thank you so much for your help!.
Also, I am happy to hear you think 1-day go and return to La Digue is doable. would likely fly over to Praslin and head to La Digue. Would be a long day, but sounds like you think it can be done.
Elan
Laurence Norah says
Hi Elan,
So it depends a little on what you want from a hotel in terms of location. I’ve not stayed at or visited the Hilton, but I do know based on its location that there isn’t really a great beach on site. There is a small beach, but it’s quite a cosy affair. Constance has access to two beaches, one of which (Port Launay) is regarded by many as one of the best beaches on the island.
I’d also add that I haven’t stayed at either resort so I can’t comment specifically on staying at them.
For La Digue, as well as flying I’d recommend investigating taking the Cat Cocos boat. Whilst the flight time from Mahe -> Praslin is quicker, once you factor in waiting at the airport, and then having to get to the other side of the island to the port where the Praslin -> La Digue boat goes from, you might find it’s easier to take the Cat Cocos from Mahe – Praslin (1 hour) and then directly transfer to the Praslin -> La Digue boat (the schedules are usually well aligned to make this easy).
Either way, you’ll want to confirm the timetables to make sure it’s all possible in a day.
Best
Laurence
Harris says
Hi Laurence,
It was an interesting and full of useful information blog, however, I’m confused with the stay on your 4th/5th/6th day. Did you stay at different island everyday? Could you please describe a little about the accommodation arrangement as well (booked online or can book once reach there)?
Also, I’m travelling with my wife next month. Which part of Seychelles you will suggest us to stay?
Thanks in advance!
Harris
Laurence Norah says
Hi Harris,
The itinerary has you spending three nights on Mahe, then two nights on Praslin and one or two on La Digue. So yes you have to change islands, and the instructions for how to do this are in the post. For the hotels, I generally recommend booking in advance so you know where you are going and can arrange transportation. We always book online in advance of our travels these days so we don’t have to worry about finding somewhere when we arrive, and also because places can book up in advance at busier times of year.
In terms of where to stay, the main concern visitors usually have is over the seaweed, which can affect different beaches at different times of year. January is the North West season, so the winds blows from the north west, meaning it’s best to avoid beaches and accommodation on the north west of the islands as they are more likely to have sea weed. So if you look at a map of the island, I’d suggest avoiding say Beau Vallon on the north west of Mahe, and instead heading to the south east.
Of course, this is just a suggestion, and the beaches are not always affected by seaweed 🙂
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Rizwana says
Excellent blog – to the point and so many invaluable tips. We are a young family of 5 based in Abu Dhabi – Boys aged 7, 5 and our princess aged one year old. Just one thing – is halal food available easily especially at decent hotels – we are planning:
1) March 27 to 30 (3 nights as per your suggestion)- Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove in Mahe – We have only taken breakfast option as I assume Mahe should have easy food options
2) March 30 to April 2 – (3 nights on half board – although having read your article maybe I need to reduce and no need to go half board): Constance Lemuria Hotel – I have been told its an excellent option although very expensive
3) April 2 to 4 – (2 nights as 1 night maybe too little with small kids) – Maybe stay at Oceane Self Catering – since the booking is non-refundable, just need to maybe wait a bit closer to date before booking it.
Many thanks again for your invaluable advice
Laurence Norah says
Hi Rizwana,
Thank you very much, I am delighted to have been able to help. It sounds like you have a wonderful plan.
I am often asked about hotels and where to stay in the Seychelles, so I have gone through and updated the accommodation section with some detailed recommendations.
In terms of your accommodation options I think you have made some great choices 🙂 For Mahe, you will definitely not have any problems finding places to eat, especially from the Fisherman’s Cove as Beau Vallon has quite a few options to choose from. Fun fact, my Dad actually used to be the assistant manager at the Fisherman’s Cove… but that was quite a long time ago!
Constance Lemuria is a fantastic property. We haven’t stayed there (we did just stay at a Constance property in Mauritius though which was lovely), but we have visited, and the beaches on the property are some of my favourite in the islands. I don’t think you will be disappointed. I will say that if you don’t plan on eating at the hotel you might want a hire car, as the hotel does not have a lot of restaurants nearby. So you might find half board an easier option.
We really enjoyed Oceane Self Catering, although it is obviously a bit more of a budget option that Lemuria! However the rooms were very nice and the staff were really friendly. This is a great place to try some local food. However, if you did want something a bit less budget focused, you might consider some of the other options I’ve added to the post. La Digue is very small and easy to get around, so you definitely don’t need full or half board here, and there are quite a few dining options.
Have an amazing trip!
Laurence
shailesh jani says
Hi,
We , friends are planning to visit Seychelles by January End or February start, Please guide how would be the weather there in this two months ? Looking forward your Reply on our mail id please.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Shailesh,
It’s hard to give precise weather information as the weather in Seychelles is variable. January / February is at the end of the rainy season, but this just means that it is more likely it will rain from time to time rather than rain all day. Traditionally February is one of the hotter times in Seychelles, so you should have good weather and calm seas, and it should be good for snorkelling as well. On the larger islands, it will rain most days, but in isolated locations and only for short periods.
I hope this helps!
Best
Laurence
SHAILESH JANI says
Dear Laurence
Thank you so much for the guidance. It looks from your Reply instead of January we should visit in Mid February right, so weather is clean and sea is calm as well and we can enjoy Sunset and Sunrise and cruising and boating also in Feb.
Thanks so much once again dear for your prompt reply. I will be in touch with you now and even after arriving at your beautiful Island.
With Warm Regards
Shailesh Jani
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure. Yes, I would say February would be an excellent month to visit 🙂 Have a wonderful trip!
Laurence
Jagadish says
Excellent write-up. Very useful. One stop solution capturing everything one needs to know before touring Seychelles!!!! Truly appreciate it.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks very much!
PRADEEP says
Hi Laurence,
Can you suggest me best boat tour service provider in praslin apart from the one you mentioned in this blog
Laurence Norah says
Hi Pradeep,
There are a number of companies out there, however we haven’t used them personally, so any recommendation would just be based on my Googling reviews from other traveller, so would not be a genuine personal recommendation. I wouldn’t want to recommend something that we don’t know personally, so the best option might be to take a look at what is available, and see if there are recent reviews from other travellers that might let you know if it’s a good company or not,
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Alan says
Wonderful article. Are there opportunities to sail, either chartered with a captain, or rented for us to pilot ourselves. Powerboat rentals would be interesting as well.
Thanks!!
Alan
Laurence Norah says
Hi Alan,
It is absolutely possible to hire a yacht in the Seychelles, either with a skipper or without. However, I have to be honest and say that I have not done this myself, and so I would not be able to personally recommend a service as we haven’t tried one. However, it is definitely possible. I’m not sure about power boat rentals however,
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Tammy says
Hi!
Thanks for great article, it is very helpful.
I noted several questions regarding the weather, so i won’t nudge again about it, though I’d love to get your opinion on a visit at early March.
I am though trying to understand the Trade wind issue. if I got it correct if affects the clear water and the algae. So, how is March? and if we plan to stay only in Mahe – is there optimal side/beaches that aren’t affected?
Thanks so much in advance!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Tammy!
No worries on the weather question, I’m happy to try and help. The only problem is that the Seychelles, like the rest of the world, is experiencing different weather patterns to that which it has traditionally had. So whilst I can comment on what it *should* do, this seems to not always match up to the reality!
You are correct generally – the trade winds affect the clarity of the water, and then the seaweed (not the algae). The south east trade winds tend to blow from May to September. These are stronger winds than the opposite North West season, which means the seas are more agitated, which moves the sand and other debris around in the sea more, resulting in less clear waters. That is also the season when there is more sea weed on the beaches, particularly on the south and west coasts of the islands, as it is blown ashore.
The good news is that March doesn’t really get these issues. It’s also traditionally one of the warmer and drier months, although, I can’t guarantee that 😉
Hopefully this helps!
Have a great trip, and do report back on your experience once you’ve visited, we love to hear how people’s adventures went!
Laurence
T K Pradeep says
Hi Laurence,
I am planning visit Seychelles this November 2nd week. Is it a best time to visit.
Laurence Norah says
Hi T K,
November can be more rainy than other times of year because it is the rainy season, however, in my experience in the last 30 years or so, the weather is not that reliable so it can rain or not! Just because it is the rainy season doesn’t mean it will be wet all the time. I’ve had weeks of rain in the dry season, and weeks of dry weather in the rainy season.
Even if it does rain, it is usually isolated to parts of the island and there will usually be periods of sun and rain.
The driest and hottest time is traditionally in April, but again, this isn’t guaranteed.
Have a great trip
Laurence
T K Pradeep says
Hi wat exactly this self catering hotels means
Laurence Norah says
Hi,
Self catering means that the property features a kitchen you can use yourself, so you can “self cater”. They usually also have a living area and feel more like a house or apartment than a traditional hotel. Some of them do include a restaurant or the option to order meals, but this varies.
I hope this helps 🙂
Laurence
Vaibhav Kakkar says
Thanks Laurence. This article is excellent in all forms and contains everything that a person needs. Kudos to you!
I am planning a trip in December 19 for 7N/8D. I am thinking to spend 3 nights in Mahe, 2 nights in Praslin and 2 nights in La Digue. Now on the 8th Day, I have a early morning flight (5 AM) from Mahe. So, I am wondering if I can start my trip from La Digue (2 N) followed by Praslin (2 N) and then Mahe (3 N). This way I could easily roam around Mahe on the last day and leave for airport well in time. Would you recommend this?
Thanks!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Vaibhav!
It certainly will work in a different order, I see no reason why not. You will just go from quieter islands to busier islands, but you might enjoy that more as you can relax at the start of the trip and then do a bit more exploring as you go on 🙂
Have a great time!
Laurence
Uzo says
Hello Laurence,
I am so glad to have come across this blog post; I have been trying to figure out where to start on planning a vacay to Seychelles. I am planning to visit Seychelles for my birthday, in January 2020. I have some questions that I hope you may be able to answer. I am a person that likes interactive activities so I would like to know if the islands have access to zoos, museums and other attractions besides beaches. Next, I am vegan so I would like to know if there are any traditional dishes of the Seychelles that just happen to be vegan or if some restaurants on the islands offer vegan options? Lastly, I will be traveling from the US and I will most likely be traveling alone; how much money would you suggest I bring along with me to fund a full 5-day vacation stay at Seychelles? P.S I will be using a combination of public transportation and drivers to navigate around the islands. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thank you!
-Uzo 🙂
Laurence Norah says
Hi Uzo,
There are some museums in the Seychelles, but they are quite small and will not take up much of your time. There are no zoos exactly, but there are plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities. However, the Seychelles is definitely more geared towards relaxing on the beach rather than activities, so it might not be the best destination for you. In terms of vegan food, there are certainly vegan dishes like lentil curries, vegetable curries and banana dishes, however you would have to check with each restaurant you visit regarding their vegan options 🙂
For 5 days the cost will very much depend on your travel style, but I would budget $200 – $400 per day including meals accommodation and transport.
Have a great trip and let me know if you need anything else!
Laurence
Misty Montgomery says
Hi, this is a wonderful article! We are planning our honeymoon for June of next year and had thought it was a good time due to the dry season. However, I’ve been watching the weather and it’s been raining with thunderstorms all month! Do you think this is an unusual weather pattern? I know you’re not a weather expert but am hoping you might be able to provide some insight with your experience in living there.
Thank you so much!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Misty,
So the Seychelles weather is kind of hard to predict, but being an island nation most weather systems don’t tend to hang around very long. It’s quite common for it to have a bit of a thunderstorm on most afternoons, just as the heat builds up in the day it creates them. They don’t usually last very long and tend to be fairly localized. However, when you look at a forecast, they always pick the worst part of the weather to show. I would say that it shouldn’t be wet all the time – usually if it rains it would be for a short period and then clear again. Of course, you can always be unlucky, but it would be unlikely to have many days of rain set in, unless there’s a big weather system across the whole area.
I hope this helps – have a wonderful trip 😀
Laurence
Rebecca says
Hi. Thanks so much for the excellent article. My husband and I are planning a visit from the 20th of December for a week. I am a little concerned about the weather. Is the rain just for a few hours each day,, can we still do something each day? Will we be able to do walking and light hikes?
Thanks
Laurence Norah says
Hi Rebecca,
Usually it just rains for a brief period in the afternoons and is sunny the rest of the time. Of course, you can be unlucky, and the weather is hard to predict, but that is the normal pattern.
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Cheri says
Did you have the 2 week itinerary? I did not see a link.
Thank you!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Cheti,
No, it’s still on the to-do list! However, our advice if you have more time would be to add on another island, like Bird, Denis, Fregate, North or Cousine, depending on your budget.
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Vijay says
Hi Laurence,
Great post!
Me and my wife are planning to go for honeymoon in August for 6 days. So covering 3 islands isnt an option with hectic schedule.
I am in a switch on whether to leave Praslin or Mahe?
What would you suggest ?
Tentative itinerary for now is 3 days in Praslin , 1 day in Ladigue , 1 day in Mahe and return back from Mahe airport.
Awaiting your reply !
Laurence Norah says
Hi Vijay,
Thanks very much!
Well it depends on what you want to do 🙂 There is a lot more to do on Mahe in terms of beaches to choose from and restaurants and other sights to explore. Praslin has the Vallee du Mai and of course some nice beaches, but the island is a lot smaller. It’s also less busy and feel more laid back. So if you just want to relax on a beach and not stress about sight-seeing too much, Praslin is a great option.
I hope this helps – have a great trip 🙂
Laurence
Hana Chundelova Sulcova says
Hi Laurence,
Great article and very helpful as we fly there on the 1st of June for the first time. We have 14 nights in front of us with booked self-catering accommodation close to petite police beach. What beach would you recommend for snorkling this time of a year. Are there many mosquitos now?
Based on your comments I’m just planning to spend 1 or 2 nights on La Dique.
Many thanks.
Best regards
Hana
Laurence Norah says
Hi Hana,
That is a beautiful part of the island, you will have a lovely time. I’d suggest for snorkelling that you consider either Anse Royale or any of the beaches on the west coast, inclduding Anse Takamaka or Baie Lazare. Petite Anse is also nice.
The time you are visiting is during the south east trade winds, so there is more of a breeze and there should be less mosquitoes. However, there are always likely to be mosquitoes, especially around dawn and dusk, so I’d advise taking precautions at those times at least.
Have a fabulous time – we’d love to hear your thoughts on your experiences when you return!
Laurence
Hana says
Thanks a lot! Good news with the breeze. I will definitely get back with our experiences. Our car is booked as we plan to hike to those less accessible beaches.
Best regards Hana
Shuchita patni says
Hi Laurence,
Thanks for the details. It is really helpful. I am planning to go to Seychelles in August 2019. Will there be water sports on during that time?
Thanks
Laurence Norah says
Hi Shuchita,
It depends which watersports you are interested in – but the main stretches of beach like Beau Vallon usually have a variety of watersports options available year round 🙂
Enjoy your trip!
Laurence
shuchita patni says
Thanks Laurence. I want to do scuba diving or snorkeling.
Also pls let me know if Seychelles is safe for solo traveler as a woman.
Regards
Shuchita
Laurence Norah says
Hi Shuchita
Snorkelling and scuba diving will definitely both be possible 🙂
For the safety aspect, my general response is that yes, the Seychelles is safe for solo female travellers. However, I must of course add that this is not a personal area of expertise for me. Naturally I’d advise taking any precautions you normally would when travelling alone in a foreign country. That said, on the whole Seychelles is regarded as a safe country, violent crime is very low, and the main risks are petty theft of valuables (i.e. don’t leave any expensive items unattended on the beach whilst you go for a swim).
I hope this all helps,
Laurence
rohit nigam says
Hi Laurence,
Thanks for very intuitive and detailed post.
I am planning on honeymoon trip around Nov and December in 2019 for 6-7 days.
As per your post I find La Digue and Mahe more attractive amongst 3. I don’t want to travel much and to travel all 3 island might be hectic. Can you please let me know travel plan for these 2 islands or any additional suggestions you might want ?
Also please suggest some good hotels for honeymoon in both these places which might have private pool. and also some good budget hotels
Kindly give your valuable input alongside.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Rohit,
My pleasure, and thanks for your comment! So I would likely spend 4-5 days on Mahe and 2-3 days on La Digue in that case. There is a lot to do and see on Mahe if you want to get out, and a wide choice of beaches to explore.
Many hotels feature private pools, such as the Banyan Tree on Intendenance Beach or some of the hotel hotels mentioned in this post, like the Four Seasons. Certainly, hotels with private pools are generally not in the budget category though. I will be updating this post in the coming days with some more hotel recommendations as I have been asked for this, so stay tuned for an update 🙂
Laurence
Nunayon Ahisu says
Thank you so much for this education, i am travelling this may to Seychelles for 7days (surprise my wife), and will love to visit the three major islands, in the other you have advised, but i am confused about how to switch bookings on accomodation, so i could spend quality day & night on these Islands.
1). Considering the customs, and visa issues, i need to book online before arrival
a). Should I book for the first 3 nights in Mahe, and the others when arrive
b). Must I book all the seven days online before arrival
c). Are there other things i need to do online before arrival
d). I am actually at a loss on how to handle these bookings
Please advise.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Nunayon,
My pleasure, it sounds like you have a great trip coming up. I will answer your questions to help you with your trip of course 🙂
a – You definitely need to book your first nights before you arrive. When you arrive in Seychelles, you will be asked by the immigration officer where you are staying, and so you need to have the address or name of your hotel available.
b – I would personally advise booking all your hotels in advance of your arrival, so you can enjoy your trip rather than trying to find somewhere to stay.
c – I do not know where you are travelling from. Most countries I believe have a visa on arrival into the Seychelles, but it is always worth checking. If you are travelling from a nation with Yellow fever or other diseases, you may also need proof of vaccination. These are things you would need to check on the Seychelles immigration website.
d – our preferred website for online booking is booking.com – you can see all the hotels I recommend have links so you can book directly. You can also use the map feature to find properties where you want to be, and filter them by price and all sorts of other features.
I hope this helps – have a lovely trip!
Laurence
Dele says
Thank you for this write up. You have virtually made it so easy. I’m going in August for my honeymoon. Surprising my wife with this trip and this has really helped! Although we are there for 2 weeks. Do you mind recommending more hotels in the locations you listed?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Dele,
Our pleasure, and I hope you have a wonderful time! It’s hard to recommend hotels as there is so much variation in price, however I would suggest using the link in the post and refining by budget and location to help. I will also look to add some more suggestions to the post to help people out, across a range of budgets.
Best
Laurence
Raman says
Hi Lawrence. Excellent information.
I am planning a trip of 1 week to Seychelles in August 2019. Is August good time to visit?
Are there night clubs in plenty?
I had read somewhere about the transportation (especially bus) from the airport to the city which is not having frequent service. What about taxi service from airport? Is taxi negotiable or there is taxi mafia? Further is there any time limit for the ferries such as last ferry time in the eve so it will be easier to plan accordingly else I would be stuck on an island while my hotel would be on another island.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Raman,
August is a good month – it is the dry season so you are less likely to get rain, and there is usually a nice south east breeze meaning it won’t be too hot. The only downside is that there can be seaweed on some of the beaches, particularly Grand Anse on Praslin.
There are some nightclubs in the Seychelles, but I would not say plenty – it’s more of a beach destination than a party destination for sure.
There are plenty of buses and they are quite frequent. However, sometimes they won’t let you board with large bags. There are plenty of taxis and usually they are metered, however you can negotiate a fare in advance if you prefer.
There are regular ferries between the main islands, but they do run to a schedule and don’t run all night. However, it’s only really between the three main islands, Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. I think you would definitely want to plan your visit to the islands around the ferry times so as not to be stuck!
Enjoy your trip!
Laurence
Gidraph says
Hello Great write up and very informative.
Good job!. Never been in Seychelles and have been thinking of it for my honeymoon in early May for like a week.
I like the itinerary guide, sounds a great plan.
Where would you recommend for a hotel?
Which is the best airline from Nairobi?
Thanks
Laurence Norah says
Hi Gidraph,
So if you follow the itinerary you will see I have put hotel recommendations in. For flights, the only direct flights from Nairobi are with Kenya Airways, so I would recommend those,
have a great time!
Laurence
SUSANTA GHOSH. says
IT IS A VERY GOOD ISLAND , I AM AN INDIAN BUT I HAVE BEEN AT SEYCHELLES TOTAL THREE(03) YRS BUT NOT FOR TRAVEL IT WAS JOB AT SPDF.
NAME- SUSANTA GHOSH.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks for your comment Susanta 🙂
Kristianna says
Hi,
Thanks for putting this together, so useful! Have you released the two week guide?
Laurence Norah says
Hey Kristianna! It’s still on our to-do list. But if I had two weeks, I would probably add in some time visiting some of the other islands like Bird or Denis for a couple of days at least 🙂 If you subscribe to our newsletter you’ll be the first to know when that post goes live 🙂
Rohit says
Hi Laurence & Jessica,
You guys are amazing, nice write-up. You have given pretty much a proper travel plan, great job. Enjoy your travelling and keep writing.
Good Day!
Cheers
Rohit
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Rohit – have a great trip 😀
Gaurav says
Dear Laurence & Jessica,
Thanks for sharing such informational Blog!! I am planning to travel to Sechyelles in Feb. ’19 along with my wife and 1 yr kid. Have couple of questions
1). Do we get vegetarian food (preferably Indian Veg Food) in Seychelles?
2). Are there good medical facilities on Praslin and La Digue? This question is more from my kid’s perspective.
3). For renting a car, is International driving licence must ?
4). Is Visa on arrival facility available ?
5). Pls provide more information on other travel options like Bird Island or Denis Island..
Thanks!!
Gaurav
Laurence Norah says
Hi Gaurav,
Thanks very much. Sounds like you’ve got a great trip coming up. I’ll try to answer your questions 🙂
1 – Seychelles food is very similar to Indian food, with a lot of curries especially. The main dishes are fish based, but vegetable curries, rice and lentils are also very popular, so you should be fine.
2 – There’s a hospital on Praslin, and a small island hospital on La Digue. However I have never visited or used these facilities so I cannot comment on how good they are. Also, I am not really able to provide advice as to whether they would be suitable for your child
3 – For renting a car I believe you only need a license to be written in a Latin language like English, rather than something like Chinese or Russian characters. So generally an IDP should not be necessary. However you can always check with the car rental agency if you are not sure
4 – The visa system for Seychelles is generally issued on arrival. I will guess you have an Indian passport based on your food preference 🙂 So you do not need a visa – the tourist visa valid for 30 days will be issued on arrival. You just need proof of onward transportation, proof of booked accommodation, and proof of sufficient funds to support your stay. You can see more advice here: http://www.mfa.gov.sc/static.php?content_id=1
5 – There are lots more options depending on your interests and we plan to write more content about these, however we’ve not had time as yet unfortunately. Bird and Denis are both lovely islands, they are very quiet though, and more for lovers of nature who just want to relax, as there is not much to do other than enjoy nature and the beach.
I hope this helps – have a wonderful trip!
Laurence
Gaurav says
Hi Laurence,
Thanks for the quick revert. The information provided by you is really helpful!..Wish you all the best for your blogs..!!
Thanks
Gaurav
Rohit says
Lovely in depth article. My visit to Seychelles includes a Sunday in between. Is mahe shut on Sundays?
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Rohit! So the beaches and so on are all open (and popular!) on Sundays. However, many shops and attractions will be closed. It’s best to check individual attractions that you want to visit to see if their opening hours are different on a Sunday.
Have a wonderful trip, and let us know if you have any more questions!
Laurence
Archana says
Hi Lawrence ,
Excellent Information .
We will be visiting in January 2019 for one week . Plan is 3 nights Praslin 1 night La digue and 3 nights Mahe.
Please suggest good options for stay with self catering apartments/airbnb
Laurence Norah says
Hey Archana!
Thanks very much 🙂
Our suggestions for accommodation are in the post in the section under where to stay (https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/visiting-the-seychelles-a-1-week-seychelles-itinerary/#Where-to-Stay-in-the-Seychelles)
We haven’t personally stayed in a self-catering on Praslin so don’t have first hand experience to share, although there are lots of options to choose from. On Mahe, we recommend Villa Kordia, and on La Digue we stayed at Oceane Self Catering, both of which are self catering 🙂
Have a great trip!
Ajith Menon says
Excellent information. This was exactly what I was looking for my Seychelles holiday. Thanks much
Laurence Norah says
Our pleasure Ajith – have a lovely trip!
Ajith Menon says
Hi Lawrence,
If I need to do a 9 day or 10 day stay what would you recommend. For e.g. 4 days Mahe, 3 days Praslin and 2-3 days in La Digue. Thanks for your help.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Ajith!
To be honest, with 9 or 10 days I would add on one of the other islands, like Bird Island or Denis Island. These are worth a couple of days, and are quite different from the other islands, so are definitely worth considering 🙂
I hope this helps!
Have a great trip 🙂
Laurence
Lombok Wander says
Nice beach and nice view !
Laurence Norah says
thanks!
Scott says
Excellent write-up! And surprisingly, it doesn’t seem as expensive as I first thought it was.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks very much Scott! It can definitely be done on a reasonable budget, especially if you don’t go crazy with the high end hotels 😀
Solomon pindar maiva says
Very nice beach, and a place to be, I wish to leave there.
Laurence Norah says
I hope you do 🙂