Destination guide · Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue)
Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue) Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and When to Go
A practical Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue) travel guide: best neighbourhoods to stay in, top things to do, getting around, food, costs and the best time to visit.
Updated 2026-07-01
Why visit Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue)
Seychelles has the world's most photographed beaches (Anse Source d'Argent, Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette), no cyclones, no visa required, and the highest concentration of private-island resorts on Earth.
Seychelles is a 115-island archipelago 1,600 km east of Kenya — granite-boulder beaches (Anse Source d'Argent, Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette), Vallée de Mai UNESCO coco-de-mer forest, Aldabra giant tortoises, and the world's most photographed private-island resorts. Three main islands (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue) linked by ferry + inter-island Air Seychelles hops. Pure barefoot luxury or honeymoon dream — no mass-tourism footprint.
115-island archipelago — Mahé (hub) + Praslin (Vallée de Mai) + La Digue (bike-only) + private islands.
Cat Cocos ferry Mahé ↔ Praslin 1h US$70; inter-island flights 15 min US$130.
No visa required for anyone — but mandatory Travel Authorization US$10 at seychelles.govtas.com 3 days ahead.
Apr–May + Oct–Nov shoulder ideal; Jun–Sep cooler + windier; Dec–Mar hot + humid; no cyclones.
Currency SCR (EUR widely accepted); Type G 240V plugs; tap water safe at resorts.
Best time to visit Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue)
April–May + October–November are the shoulder sweet spots — calm seas, dry, 26–30°C. June–September is southeast monsoon — cooler, windier, best for surf + diving off Praslin. December–March is northwest monsoon — hot humid, occasional storms, best diving Mahé south. No cyclones — Seychelles sits outside the belt.
Where to stay in Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue)
Choosing the right neighbourhood matters more than the hotel itself in Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue). These are the areas travelers book most.
Mahé — Beau Vallon / Northwest
Main beach strip, snorkelling — Hilton Northolme, Constance Ephélia, Story Seychelles.
Mahé — South (Anse Intendance / Anse Takamaka)
Wild south, best beaches — Banyan Tree, Four Seasons Petite Anse, Kempinski Baie Lazare.
Praslin — Côte d'Or
Vallée de Mai gateway + Anse Georgette — Constance Lémuria, Raffles Praslin, Paradise Sun.
La Digue
Car-free island — Anse Source d'Argent (world's most photographed) — Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie, Le Repaire, Le Nautique.
Private islands
North Island (Beyoncé + Wills honeymoon), Frégate Island, Denis Private Island, Bird Island, Six Senses Zil Pasyon (Félicité).
Victoria (Mahé capital)
Smallest capital in Africa — Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke market, Hindu temple, Clock Tower — half-day cultural stop.
Top things to do in Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue)
Anse Source d'Argent (La Digue)
World's most photographed beach — granite boulders + turquoise; L'Union Estate entry SCR150.
Vallée de Mai UNESCO (Praslin)
Endemic coco-de-mer palm forest — 2h loop SCR450, guides available.
Anse Lazio + Anse Georgette (Praslin)
Consistently top-10 world beaches — Anse Georgette requires Constance Lémuria access US$40.
Sainte Anne Marine Park (Mahé)
Half-day snorkel + glass-bottom to 6 islands off Victoria — US$80.
Curieuse Island + Aldabra tortoises
Day trip from Praslin — free-roaming giant tortoises + BBQ lunch US$100.
Getting around Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue)
Cat Cocos catamaran Mahé ↔ Praslin 1h US$70; Cat Rose Praslin ↔ La Digue 15 min US$20. Inter-island flights (Air Seychelles) Mahé ↔ Praslin 15 min US$130. On Mahé + Praslin rent a car US$60–80/day (left-hand). La Digue is car-free — bike US$10/day. Buses SCR12 on Mahé + Praslin. Private-island resorts (North, Frégate, Denis, Bird) include seaplane transfer.
Cat Cocos + Cat Rose ferries
Mahé ↔ Praslin 1h US$70; Praslin ↔ La Digue 15 min US$20. Book ahead in peak season.
Inter-island flights (Air Seychelles)
Mahé ↔ Praslin 15 min US$130 — faster + drier than ferry.
Rental car (Mahé + Praslin)
US$60–80/day, left-hand driving; La Digue has no rental cars.
Bike (La Digue)
US$10/day — the only real way to explore the car-free island.
What to eat in Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue)
Grilled fish + Creole sauce
Job fish, red snapper, parrotfish — Marie Antoinette (Mahé) SCR450, La Grande Maison (La Digue) SCR600.
Octopus curry + tec-tec (clam) soup
Del Place (Mahé), Chez Jules (La Digue) — SCR350–600.
Ladob (breadfruit + banana coconut dessert)
Local homes + Creole restaurants — SCR150.
Coco-de-mer + tropical fruit platter
Praslin's endemic double coconut — buy sealed at Vallée de Mai gift shop SCR3,000 (large export limits).
Practical tips for Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue)
Book Cat Cocos ferry (Mahé ↔ Praslin) 2+ days ahead in Dec–Feb + Jul–Aug — sells out.
Complete Travel Authorization (US$10) at seychelles.govtas.com 3 days before arrival — mandatory since 2023.
Reef shoes recommended for tide-pool walking on Anse Volbert + Beau Vallon.
How long to stay and what it costs
Most travelers spend 7–10 days in Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue). Compare live hotel rates for your exact dates before fixing the length of your trip — shoulder-season nights in Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue) are often materially cheaper than peak weeks.
Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue) FAQs
Do I need a visa for Seychelles?
No visa required for any nationality. All visitors receive a free Visitor's Permit on arrival valid up to 90 days. Requirements: passport valid full stay, return ticket, confirmed accommodation, sufficient funds. Complete the Travel Authorization at seychelles.govtas.com 3 days before arrival (US$10) — required for all visitors since 2023.
How do I combine Seychelles with Morocco?
Connect via Dubai (Emirates 8h + 4h), Doha (Qatar 8h + 5h), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian 14h). Marhaba's ultra-luxury Africa + Ocean itinerary: 5 nights Morocco (Amanjena Marrakech + Erg Chigaga camp) + 7 nights Seychelles (2 Mahé + 5 private island — North / Frégate / Six Senses). The apex honeymoon route.
Is Seychelles good for families?
Yes for older kids (6+) — snorkelling, giant tortoises on Curieuse + Cousin, glass-bottom boats, Sainte Anne Marine Park. Resorts with strong kids' clubs: Constance Ephélia, Kempinski, Four Seasons, Raffles Praslin. La Digue by bike is a hit. Not ideal for babies — long flight + limited baby facilities.
What's the best luxury stay in Seychelles?
North Island (13 villas — most-photographed private island), Six Senses Zil Pasyon (Félicité — most expensive per night), Four Seasons Mahé Petite Anse, Constance Lémuria (Praslin), Raffles Praslin, Frégate Island Private, Denis Private Island, Banyan Tree Mahé, Fregate Island, Hilton Labriz Silhouette.
Can I visit Seychelles on a budget?
More possible than reputation suggests — self-catering guesthouses (chambres d'hôtes) on Mahé + Praslin US$80–150/night, La Digue guesthouses US$100. Ferry cheaper than flights. Creole takeaways US$8–15. Beaches all free (best in world). Avoid Dec 20–Jan 5 peak — try May + Nov shoulders.
How do I get from SEZ airport to my hotel?
SEZ is on Mahé — most hotels arrange transfers US$50–150. Taxi flat rates: Victoria US$25, Beau Vallon US$40, south Mahé US$60. Praslin: Cat Cocos ferry pier is 10 min from airport by taxi + 1h ferry. Private-island resorts include seaplane / helicopter transfer.
Is Seychelles safe for tourists?
Very safe — one of Africa's most peaceful destinations. Petty theft at Beau Vallon beach possible — lock cars, no valuables on beach. No mosquito-borne endemic disease. No cyclones. Emergency 999 (police) / 151 (ambulance). Reef shoes recommended (sea urchins in tide pools).
When is the best time to visit Seychelles?
April–May + October–November for calm shoulder weather. June–September for southeast trade winds (cooler, windier, best surf + Praslin diving). December–March for hot humid (best Mahé south diving). Whale sharks August–October off Mahé.
Ready to book your Seychelles (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue) trip?
Everything in this guide is bookable through Marhaba's licensed partners.
