Ultimate Travel Guide to Seychelles: Best Things To Do, Where To Go & Itinerary Ideas
Everything you need to know including the best beaches, hikes & activities, which islands to visit, 1-2 week itineraries and where to stay in Seychelles | Hi! We're Alex & Victoria - a digital nomad couple from Copenhagen escaping 9-5 to chase adventures in our beautiful world. Learn more about us here. |
A dream come true
For many people, visiting Seychelles is a lifelong dream.
After seeing images of the breathtakingly clear waters, white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and unique boulder formations online, it’s hard to get them out of your head.
The paradisical islands have long been known as a place full of luxury; out of reach for most of us.
And yes, Seychelles is not the cheapest place to visit in the world. But it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think, either. And it just might be the most beautiful.
In this travel guide to Seychelles, we hope to inspire you to visit the islands for yourself – no matter your budget. We’ll guide you to the best things to do, which islands to visit, how long to stay and so much more.
Search for the best value accommodation in Seychelles here (adlink).
Table of contents
- Why visit Seychelles
- Quick facts about Seychelles
- How long to stay in Seychelles?
- Seychelles itinerary suggestions
- Where to stay in Seychelles
- What to do on Mahé
- What to do on Praslin
- What to do on La Digue
- Where to eat in Seychelles
- How to get to Seychelles
- How to get around in Seychelles
- Seychelles on a budget
- When to visit Seychelles
- Tips for visiting Seychelles
- What to bring to Seychelles
- Minimise your impact
Why visit Seychelles
After having dreamed of visiting Seychelles ourselves for many years, we can tell you with confidence that the tropical islands are exactly what you hope they’ll be.
We have been to a lot of beautiful beaches, but there’s no doubt that the beaches of Seychelles are some of the world’s most stunning.
The water really is that turquoise. The sand really is soft. And the photogenic granite boulders actually are everywhere.
Seychelles is teeming with life.
Under the surface of those inviting waves, you’ll find amazing snorkelling with colourful fish and healthy reefs.
And between the palm trees on land, you’ll find a Garden of Eden full of exotic plants and animals – including our personal favourite, the Aldabra giant tortoise.
Hiking here is also surprisingly good with plenty of marked trails leading you to exciting viewpoints and remote beaches.
The reason to visit Seychelles is as clear as its warm waters. It’s simply a holiday destination like no other – full of adventure and unmistakably beauty.
Quick facts about Seychelles
- Seychelles is a country consisting of 115 small remote islands located in the Indian Ocean more than 1,000 kilometres east of mainland Africa.
- Seychelles is home to about 100,000 people.
- Mahé is the biggest island. It’s the main island where around 90% of the population lives.
- Praslin is the next-biggest island.
- Silhouette island is the third-biggest island, but the fourth-biggest island of La Digue is more populous.
- ~99% of people in Seychelles live on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
- Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are also the islands the majority of tourists visit in Seychelles.
- Seychelles is the richest African nation per capita. The living standard is high.
- It is also a very safe country to visit.
- Both English, French and the creole language of Seychellois are official languages.
How long to stay in Seychelles?
We spent 15 full days in the Seychelles Islands and we’re so glad we did.
It gave us enough time to spend time on the three main islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and discover the best of what each island has to offer – including taking a boat trip to Curieuse Island and its free-roaming giant tortoises.
Two weeks should be enough to see the highlights, but it’s definitely also possible to get a lot out of both shorter and longer trips to Seychelles.
With one week in Seychelles, you’re going to have to make some compromises.
You can probably go to two islands, but you might feel a little rushed.
If you wish to see all of the best beaches on each of the three islands, we think about 10 days should be the minimum.
14 days would surely feel more relaxed and offer more chances for day trips (like to Curieuse Island) and downtime/pool time/bad weather days.
Seychelles itinerary suggestions
While you can easily choose one island or even one resort/hotel to spend your whole vacation at, we would argue that you’ll get the best of Seychelles if you visit both Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
No matter what, you’ll visit Mahé as this is where you’ll arrive on your international flight.
And when visiting La Digue, you’ll also kind of get a “free” visit to Praslin as this is where the ferry to La Digue leaves from.
So even if you only wish to visit La Digue, you’ll step foot on Mahé and also at least quickly stop at the ferry port at Praslin. That of course doesn’t mean you have to get off.
(Travelling from Mahé to Praslin by ferry takes around an hour. Add 15-30 minutes to go to La Digue)
1 week – a mix of everything
- Mahé: 2 days (first and last day)
- Praslin: 2 days
- La Digue: 3 days
If you fly into Mahé in the morning, you can go directly to your hotel and either spend the day at the beach there, go to one of Mahé’s best beaches or consider going on a hike to a spectacular viewpoint.
Travel to Praslin the next day. Here you can spend two days exploring the beaches of Anse Lazio Beach and Anse Georgette Beach, visit either Vallée de Mai or Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve as well as take a half-day boat trip to Curieuse Island to visit the giant tortoises.
With three days on La Digue, you can easily spend a day on the famous Anse Source d’Argent Beach, one on discovering the beaches of the southeast and one bicycling between the beaches of the north and northeast.
1 week – ultimate La Digue
If you arrive in Seychelles on Mahé early in the day, travel directly to La Digue and spend all of your time here before you have to go back to catch the return flight.
Why? La Digue is for sure the most relaxing island we visited.
If you don’t need to see “it all” and basically just want to soak up the relaxing tropical vibes and see some of the world’s most fantastic beaches, this is the itinerary for you.
2 weeks – a relaxing mix
- Mahé: 4 days
- Praslin: 4 days
- La Digue: 6 days
With two weeks in Seychelles, your itinerary has plenty of room to see the main islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue in a relaxing way.
You can basically do everything we did – and perhaps even more if the weather is with you and you rent a car on both Mahé and Praslin.
Three-four days on Mahé is great as you can arrive comfortably after a long flight and also leave one or two days in the end for an unexpected change of plans/weather. See the capital Victoria, a few beaches and go on a hike or two.
With four days on Praslin, you can easily see the top attractions of the island as well as visit Curieuse Island on a day trip.
Spending the rest of your time on La Digue means you’ll be able to find your favourite beach of the island (it’s a tough choice!) and go there several times as well as do a few hikes. You’ll also be able to go on a beautiful snorkelling trip from La Digue that most people miss as they don’t have enough time.
Why not spend more time on Mahé?
Even with two weeks, we think many travellers will get more of the feeling they’re seeking from Seychelles by visiting Praslin and/or La Digue.
Mahé is a wonderful island, and we loved our time there.
But unless you stay directly by the beach and spend most of your time there or at your resort (which is surely a great but not necessarily cheap idea!), your experience will be a little more hectic than if you spend your time on Praslin or La Digue instead.
Mahé is not hectic in absolute terms…
It’s just a little less relaxed than the super-relaxed island of Praslin and the super-duper-relaxed island of La Digue.
What to do in Seychelles with more time?
If you have a lot of time in Seychelles, we can only imagine how cool it must be to visit some of the other, less-visited islands of the archipelago.
You could also discover every nook and cranny of Mahé and Praslin and experience every single beach and trail on the islands. It’s definitely doable if you have the stamina and will!
Where to stay in Seychelles
After you’ve figured out how long you want to stay in Seychelles and which islands you plan to visit, it’s time to book some accommodation.
Booking your guesthouse, hotel or resort well before your travel dates easily pays for itself in Seychelles.
The accommodation options are relatively limited meaning the best ones often book out months in advance.
It especially makes sense to book as early as possible if you travel in the high season and/or wish to visit La Digue (as there aren’t that many accommodation options on the small island).
In our travel guides about where to stay on each island, we have written about every hotel in detail (including the ones we stayed at) and share photos of each:
- Read all about where to stay on Mahé.
- Read all about where to stay on Praslin.
- Read all about where to stay on La Digue.
Search for the best value accommodation in Seychelles here (adlink).
Mahé
As the biggest and most populous island in Seychelles, Mahé is also where you’ll find the largest range of accommodation options in the country.
Read all about where to stay on Mahé in our travel guide here.
Best luxury hotels on Mahé:
- Eden Island Luxury Accommodation – Private apartments with private beaches.
- Four Seasons Resort – Direct access to the Petite Anse Beach, one of Mahé’s finest.
- Constance Ephelia Resort – Huge resort with value for money.
- Savoy Seychelles Resort – Big 5-star resort in Beau Vallon.
- Anantara Maia – Small luxury resort with unique villas.
Best budget hotels on Mahé:
- Chez Batista Villas – Uniquely direct access to Anse Takamaka.
- La Nature Apartments Au Cap – Big apartments with private kitchens on Mahé’s eastern side.
- Tropical Garden Self Catering – Secluded yet centrally located apartments with your own kitchen.
- Villa Kayola – Self-catering apartments close to the airport.
- Anse Soleil Beachcomber – Value for money by one of Mahé’s best beaches.
Search for the best value accommodation on Mahé here.
Praslin
Some of Seychelles’ most luxurious resorts are located here, but it’s also possible to stay on a budget on Praslin.
Read all about where to stay on Praslin in our travel guide here.
Best value for money hotels on Praslin:
- Acajou Beach Resort – Lovely resort on Anse Volbert beach.
- Coco de Mer Hotel – Secluded resort with a beautiful location and very popular.
- Black Parrot Suites – Coco de Mer’s luxury sibling.
- Le Chevalier Bay Guesthouse – Amazing location on Anse Lazio.
- Les Lauriers Eco Hotel – Eco-friendly luxury without being too expensive.
Best 5-star luxury resorts on Praslin:
- Constance Lemuria – Direct access to Anse Georgette and a huge golf course.
- Raffles Seychelles – Big villas for the price close to Anse Lazio and Curieuse Island.
- Le Château de feuilles – Just 10 rooms, luxury boho vibes and a stunning location.
Best budget hotels on Praslin:
- Exotic Guest House – Spectacular views over the bay.
- Hotel Plein Soleil – Budget-friendly pool.
- La Residence D’Almee Guesthouse – Comfortable apartment with a private kitchen.
Search for the best value accommodation on Praslin here.
La Digue
Staying waterfront on La Digue is optimal, but you can save some money by choosing a hotel or guesthouse in the backstreets.
Read all about where to stay on La Digue in our travel guide here.
Best romantic hotels on La Digue:
- Le Repaire Boutique Hotel – Boutique feel with a pool and direct beach access.
- Le Nautique Waterfront Hotel La Digue – Pool, water access and high standards.
- Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort and Spa – The most luxurious resort on the island.
Best budget hotels on La Digue:
- Hotel L’Ocean – Great budget option on La Digue’s northernmost tip.
- Villa Des Flots – Secluded location right next to the beach.
- Zanboza Guesthouse – Budget option just outside of town.
Search for the best value accommodation on La Digue here.
Best ultra-luxury resorts on private islands in Seychelles
Don’t feel bad if this short section doesn’t feel that relevant to you… You’re not alone! But we can always dream, right?
- Six Senses Zil Pasyon – Located on the private Félicité Island close to La Digue. Extremely expensive.
- North Island – A Luxury Collection Resort on a private island north of Mahé. Extremely expensive.
- JA Enchanted Island Resort – Located on the very small Round Island inside Mahé’s St. Anne National Marine Park.
- Chauve Souris Relais – A small private island in a bay on Praslin.
What to do on Mahé
Our top tip for exploring Mahé is to rent a car and drive around discovering the myriad of beaches on offer.
The west coast generally has the most stunning stretches of sand and the further south you go, the less crowded it gets.
Mahé is also great for hiking as there is a lot of untouched nature here. The mountains are incredible and so are the viewpoints.
The capital Victoria is also fun to see for a few hours.
The best beaches on Mahé
The best beaches of Mahé are generally located on the western side, although there are lovely beaches all the way around the island.
We didn’t have too much luck with the weather while on Mahé, but our favourite beaches were probably Anse Intendance Beach or Petite Anse Beach.
Beau Vallon Beach is also a crowd-favourite and very family-friendly.
Although Mahé is the most populous island of Seychelles, many of its beaches aren’t too crowded. Especially not in the south.
The best hikes on Mahé
We loved hiking the Copolia Trail on Mahé. It’s a relatively short route that provides absolutely jaw-dropping views of Mahé’s east coast and mountains.
Catching the views from the Morne Blanc Viewpoint is also recommended.
Another hike to consider is the hike to Anse Major Beach near Beau Vallon which you can only get to on foot.
The capital of Victoria
Seychelles’ capital Victoria is super small and easily seen in half a day.
Being the cultural, political and financial heart of the country, Victoria is the best place to understand the Seychellois culture.
The Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke market is a great place to start.
It’s also amazing to see both a Hindu temple, a Christian church, a Chinese Pagoda and a mosque so close to each other.
In addition, consider visiting the Victoria Botanical Gardens where you can see the Coco de Mer palm trees.
The best day trips from Mahé
If you don’t have time to overnight on Praslin and/or La Digue, it’s possible to visit both islands on day trips from Mahé.
It’s going to be a long day visiting either of the islands with limited time, but surely a memorable one.
For a shorter day trip, consider going on a snorkelling boat tour to the wonderfully biodiverse St. Anne National Marine Park.
More about Mahé and the 14 best things to do
For specific things to do, check out our full guide to Mahé or jump directly to more info and photos about the best things to do here:
- Beau Vallon Beach
- Anse Royale Beach
- Police Bay
- Anse Intendance Beach
- Anse Takamaka Beach
- Petite Anse Beach
- Visit the capital Victoria
- Shop at the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke market
- Hike the Copolia Trail
- Catch the views from the Morne Blanc Viewpoint
- Take a tour at the Takamaka Rum Distillery
- Check out Eden Island
- Go on a daytrip to La Digue
- Bonus: Other things to do on Mahé
What to do on Praslin
Praslin is all about relaxation.
It feels like a kind of honeymoon island as it’s very romantic and you don’t see that many people around.
Renting a car here for a day or two makes sense to see the top beaches and do a few hikes.
The rest of the time we’d simply stay at the beach/resort and enjoy life at its finest!
The best beaches on Praslin
Two beaches compete for the title “Best beach on Praslin”: Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio.
Both are located in the north and both are incredibly gorgeous with granite boulders in each end of the beaches.
Anse Lazio is longer and more accessible to locals and tourists alike, while Anse Georgette is smaller and requires a bit of a walk to get to from the entrance of the resort Constance Lemuria (adlink).
If we’re hard-pressed, we’d probably say that Anse Georgette is the most magical beach on Praslin – but it may have something to do with the fact that we saw dolphins playing in the water at sunset here while being all alone on the beach.
Tip: There is a limit to how many people can visit Anse Georgette at a time, so it’s a good idea to call the resort a day or two in advance and reserve a spot. There is no restriction on Anse Lazio.
Anse Volbert Beach (Cote D’Or) isn’t as striking or unique as the top two contestants, but it’s a very long and very beautiful beach that’s great for walks, swimming and chilling in the sun.
The best hikes on Praslin
With so much nature and so few people and commercial development, Praslin is a hiker’s paradise.
The best hikes on Praslin are generally considered to be the hike to the Zimbabwe Viewpoint and the hike to the viewpoint inside the Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve.
With a map and some experience, it’s possible to go on lots of other outdoor adventures here.
The most popular hikes on Praslin are surely the short, marked hikes inside the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve where you can get up close with the mysterious Coco de Mer and the other endemic palm trees in the primaeval forest.
The best day trips from Praslin
Taking a boat trip to Curieuse Island to meet the giant tortoises who live there was one of the best things we did on our trip to Seychelles.
Hundreds of giant tortoises roam freely on the island, and the majority congregate in an area close to the beach where it is easy to see them. Some of the turtles walk determined towards the tourists in the hope of a fresh leaf or a gentle pet on the neck.
The ride over there from Praslin’s northeastern shores is quite short and most tours also include BBQ lunch, beach time and snorkelling.
The perfect day, in other words!
It’s also possible to go on a day trip from Praslin to nearby Cocos Island where you’ll snorkel in crystal-clear waters as well as spend some time on the secluded beaches of Félicité Island.
More about Praslin and the 11 best things to do
For specific things to do, check out our full guide to Praslin or jump directly to more info and photos about the best things to do here:
- Anse Lazio Beach
- Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
- Boat trip to Curieuse Island
- Anse Georgette Beach
- Zimbabwe Viewpoint
- Anse Volbert Beach (Cote D’Or)
- Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve
- Daytrip to La Digue Island
- Go on an island hopping and snorkelling boat tour
- Enjoy a fresh coconut on the beach
- Catch a colourful sunset
What to do on La Digue
Despite its small size, La Digue has a lot of things to do.
You don’t have to see all of the beaches, but we can definitely recommend going to as many as possible as they’re all unique in their own way.
There are more granite boulders here than on Praslin and it makes for some striking images.
As you might have gathered by now, La Digue was our favourite island in Seychelles.
Walking or bicycling around is just an amazing feeling. Stress just melts away on La Digue.
The best beaches on La Digue
If you only see one beach on La Digue, make sure it’s Anse Source d’Argent. This is the picture of Seychelles and it’s not to be missed.
There are beaches all the way around the island and we can also wholeheartedly recommend hiking the Anse Caiman Nature Trail and experiencing the southeastern beaches. Only swim at the natural pool at Anse Cocos.
The beaches of the north and northeast are more easily accessible either by walking or biking from the one town on La Digue. Anse Severe is the first beach you’ll get to and it’s also the best one for swimming and relaxing.
The best hikes on La Digue
For great views over La Digue, consider hiking to Belle Vue (“beautiful view”) and Nid d’Aigle (“eagle’s nest”) even higher up. They’re especially great at sunset.
It’s also possible to hike to the very pretty Anse Marron Beach in the south – but only with a guide.
The best day trips from La Digue
If you don’t visit Praslin and go from there, it’s also possible to visit Curieuse Island (and its wild giant tortoise inhabitants) on a day trip from La Digue.
This way, you’ll also get to see the legendary Coco de Mer palm trees and their record-breaking nuts without visiting Vallée de Mai on Praslin as they’re also found on Curieuse Island.
For more stunning beaches and colourful snorkelling, hop on a boat tour to La Digue’s neighbours Coco Island and Félicité Island.
More about La Digue and the 15 best things to do
For specific things to do, check out our full guide to La Digue or jump directly to more info and photos about the best things to do here:
- Enjoy paradise at Anse Source d’Argent Beach
- Go on a tour with Crystal Water Kayaks
- Stroll through L’Union Estate
- Rent bicycles
- Beach-hop the northeastern beaches
- Beach-hop the southeastern beaches (Anse Caiman Nature Trail)
- Go on a boat trip to Curieuse Island
- Meet the giant tortoises on La Digue
- Visit the Veuve Nature Reserve
- Catch the sunset from the panoramic viewpoints
- Hike to Anse Marron with a guide
- Go on an island hopping and snorkelling boat tour
- Check out the Notre Dame de L’Assomption Church
- Spot fruit bats in the air
- Enjoy a fresh coconut on the beach
Where to eat in Seychelles
Contrary to what one might think about the food on remote islands, the Seychellois cuisine is flavourful, fragrant and creative when it comes to the use of spices, herbs and vegetables.
We have written everything you need to know about the best restaurants, cafés and places to eat on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue in our Complete Vegan Eating Guide to Seychelles.
Even if you don’t follow a plant-based diet, we’re confident the guide can inspire you to find some amazing places to eat on the islands.
How to get to Seychelles
Unless you own a yacht, the best way to get into Seychelles is to fly to Victoria Seychelles International Airport on Mahé.
You can usually fly directly to Seychelles from London (UK), Paris (France), Frankfurt (Germany), Istanbul (Turkey), Tel Aviv (Israel), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Dubai (UAE), Doha (Qatar), Johannesburg (South Africa), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Nairobi (Kenya) and Saint-Denis (Réunion).
Find the best flight deals on Momondo (adlink).
How to get around in Seychelles
How to travel between the islands
Once you’re in Seychelles, there are two ways to travel between the islands: by air or by boat.
Flights leave to Praslin from Mahé with Air Seychelles several times a day, and it’s also possible to visit some of the smaller islands by plane or helicopter.
Search for flights between Mahé and Praslin on Momondo (adlink).
Boats are also scheduled for Praslin, La Digue and a few other islands from Mahé several times daily.
What did we do?
On our trip to Seychelles, we flew to Praslin, took the boat to La Digue and then also took the boat back to Mahé (after a very brief stop on Praslin).
While the boat is much more economic (and environmentally friendly), we wouldn’t blame anyone for splurging on the plane between Mahé and Praslin as the boat ride between the two was rough, to say the least.
We were a bit unlucky with the weather, but the water between the two islands is notoriously choppy most of the year.
If you’re prone to feeling seasick, taking a motion sickness pill before the ride can be a really good idea. They’re sold cheaply over-the-counter in local pharmacies.
Transport on the islands
Transport on the islands is quite different between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
Transport on Mahé and Praslin
On both Mahé and Praslin, we can easily recommend renting a car as four wheels make getting around so much easier and flexible.
Buses do run on Mahé and Praslin, but they’re not really meant for tourists.
Although they’re very cheap and punctual, we wouldn’t personally want to rely on them as the routes and timetables can be constricting. It’s a good way to save money, though.
Transport on La Digue
La Digue is a completely other story.
The small island barely has any cars apart from a few hotel shuttles and service vehicles, so all tourists either walk or bicycle around.
We rented bicycles on La Digue and enjoyed getting around in this relaxed way.
Seychelles on a budget
Seychelles is pretty expensive!
While travelling here will probably never be as cheap as it can be in some countries, it is possible to travel on a lower budget and still have once-in-a-lifetime experiences by following these tips and tricks.
Here are our best tips for visiting the Seychelles Islands on a budget:
- Travel outside of the high season. Travelling in the shoulder seasons is the best way to save money on accommodation.
- Find accommodation with a kitchen. Eating out in Seychelles isn’t always cheap, so cooking for yourself is a great way to cut down on costs.
- Eating at takeaway shops is much cheaper than dining in restaurants.
- Fill up on water. Bringing a water filter or buying 5-litre water bottles is much cheaper than buying small bottles all of the time.
- Drinking only water will also save you a lot when eating out or chilling at the beach. Please do drink at least one young fresh coconut, though!
- Almost all beaches are free to visit. A few require registration, but the vast majority are completely open to the public.
- Save on tours. Going on boat tours is awesome but it’s not cheap.
- Take the ferry between Mahé and Praslin instead of the plane.
- Use public transport to get around Mahé and Praslin. Be aware that big suitcases usually aren’t allowed on the buses.
- Walk around on La Digue. It’s rather cheap to rent a bicycle but it’s cheaper not to.
- Withdraw dollars or euros in your home country and then exchange them for Seychellois rupees when in Seychelles to save on ATM fees.
When to visit Seychelles
Seychelles is a year-round destination, but there are some seasonal weather variabilities which might be worth knowing about it.
The sun almost always shines and the temperatures consistently hover between 24°C and the low 30s (it very rarely gets hotter than 32°C).
The best time to visit is generally considered spring or autumn when tourism is at its lowest and the weather is at its best.
High season is the summer months of July and August and over Christmas and New Year in December and January. Autumn is also a popular time to visit.
The warmest months are February, March, April and May.
The sea breeze is at its strongest between May and October, which isn’t ideal for snorkelling or diving. The best visibility is found during April, May, October and November.
Honestly, the wind was stronger than we had expected when we visited in July. The locals also seemed to think it had arrived earlier than usual. But most of the time it wasn’t too bad as the breeze is actually quite nice during the day. And also, it’s not windy all the time.
It rains all year (it’s the tropics, after all), but often just in short bursts. The average humidity is 80%.
The southeast trade wind picks up between May and September, while the northwest trade wind blows between December and February. In-between there’s almost no wind.
Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Seychelles’ other islands very rarely get hit by tropical storms because of their lucky location.
The ocean temperature stays at around 26°C year-round.
Tips for visiting Seychelles
- There is free wifi in many hotels, but it’s usually not as fast as using 4G.
- We can easily recommend buying a sim card with data for internet access. We bought ours from Airtel. They have shops all over the country.
- Downloading or carrying an offline map is a good idea, especially for hiking.
- The standard electric plugs in Seychelles are type G (like in the UK). Many hotels have adapters, and some even have standard European plugs (type C) and/or USB chargers installed.
- Checking the tides is crucial for visiting many beaches and natural pools at their optimal times.
- The tap water is drinkable (on both Mahé, Praslin and La Digue as far as we could tell) but doesn’t taste good. Consider bringing a water filter or buying water in 5-litre containers to save money and plastic. A few hotels offer free water refills.
- Bring euros or dollars to easily exchange for Seychelles rupees once you’re in the country. There are many banks where you can exchange money but they might be closed at weekends, so check the opening hours.
- Credit cards are widely accepted in shops, hotels and restaurants but some smaller businesses prefer cash – like takeaway shops.
- Bring a flashlight or at least a phone with a flashlight. If you come back from a hike late or leave the beach after sunset, it can come in handy as there aren’t street lights everywhere.
What to bring to Seychelles
- Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
- A good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use.
- Sunscreen (adlink).
- Hiking shoes.
- Swimwear and a towel.
- Water and snacks.
Minimise your impact
To minimise your impact during your visit, follow these guidelines:
- Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle.
- Avoid single-use plastics, including straws.
- Dispose of waste properly. While putting your trash in a nearby trashcan is convenient, wrappers and other small items are prone to get taken by the wind and end up in the ocean.
- Check your sunscreen before going in the water. Many brands contain oxybenzone and other chemicals that are harmful.
- Take only photos, leave only footprints. Let everything stay in its natural place.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
- Respect wildlife.
Thanks for reading
Thanks for getting all the way to the end!
We hope this travel guide to Seychelles has been useful.
What do you think about the Seychelles Islands?
If you’ve been to Mahé, Praslin, La Digue or any other of the 115 islands, it would be awesome to hear your best tips in the comments.
If you haven’t been yet, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We’re glad to help.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for cheap hotels.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like World Nomads and True Traveller. All three compared here.
Our camera gear:
- Panasonic GH5. Used for all of our photos and videos.
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Best drone out there!
- Sirui Tripod. Lightweight and strong.
- See all of our camera gear here.
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