La Digue Island Travel Guide: 15 Best Beaches & Things To Do
Everything you need to know about La Digue Island in Seychelles including what to do, when to visit, where to eat and where to stay | 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. |
Calling all wild beach lovers!
Wild beach lovers, La Digue is for you.
Not only are the beaches of La Digue barely commercially developed. They’re also absolutely gorgeous.
And some of them are filled with the legendary granite rocks that make Seychelles so darn photogenic.
The super famous beach Anse Source d’Argent is the natural highlight for most visitors. But this is only where the adventures on La Digue begins.
We can’t wait to guide you to the best beaches of La Digue (there are a lot of them!) – and everything else you need to know to have an amazing time on the Seychellois island.
Scroll through our travel guide to La Digue to learn about the best things to see and do, how much time you should spend on the island, where to eat, how to travel on a budget, when to visit, how to get there and where to stay on La Digue.
Where to stay on La Digue:
- Budget: Villa Des Flots – A great budget option.
- Value for money: Le Repaire Boutique Hotel – Where we stayed on La Digue.
- Luxury: Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort and Spa – The best hotel on the island.
- Ultra luxury: Six Senses Zil Pasyon – One of the world’s best (and most expensive) resorts.
Search for the best value accommodation on La Digue Island.
Table of contents
Why visit La Digue
As alluded to in the intro above, La Digue Island is heaven for beach lovers.
But the beaches only account for some of La Digue’s mysterious charm.
First of all, La Digue is a very small island. Much smaller than Praslin and Mahé, where most other tourists go when they visit Seychelles.
It’s so small that you can walk everywhere.
Bicycles are the main mode of transport, though, and renting one is easily recommended. Cars are few and far between and largely irrelevant to tourists.
If your dream of Seychelles is visiting a relaxed tropical island with magnificent beaches, unique granite formations, swaying palm trees and first-class turquoise water, this is it.
La Digue is where you want to go. And perhaps you’ll never want to leave.
Map and geography
La Digue is the fourth largest island in Seychelles at around 10 km² in size (so very small compared to Mahé’s 157 km² and Praslin’s 38.5 km²).
The length of La Digue is around 5 kilometres and the width is just over 3 kilometres. The highest point of the island is 333 metres above sea level.
There is only one town on the island (known as La Passe), situated on the western side. This is also where all ferries arrive.
What to do on La Digue
While La Digue is a small island, that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty of unique experiences.
Beach-hopping and lazing in the sun are surely the most popular things to do, but there are also many other activities to fill your days with if you wish to do so.
Here are the 15 best things to do on La Digue Island:
- 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
1. Enjoy paradise at Anse Source d’Argent Beach
Congratulations, you’ve found paradise!
Chances are that seeing a photo of the splendid beach called Anse Source d’Argent is what made you want to visit Seychelles in the first place.
It sure was one of the main reasons we wanted to go here in the first place. And we’re glad to say that Anse Source d’Argent lives up to the expectations and then some!
Anse Source d’Argent is a true gem.
In our opinion, it’s the best beach in the Seychelles Islands and one of the most unique beaches in the world.
Entrance to the beach is through the L’Union Estate, a former coconut plantation interesting in its own right to visit. It’s easy to walk or bicycle to the estate from the main town and the price of admission is 150 SCR (about 11 EUR/11 USD) per person.
Anse Source d’Argent is located about 1 kilometre south of the entrance.
While the beach is justifiably popular, it’s easy to find your own spot in the white, powdery sand. And as Anse Source d’Argent is protected by a reef, swimming here is pretty calm.
Our best tip is to arrive early as most people start showing up around 10-11 am.
And then to also stay until sunset when everyone has left, giving you complete privacy to enjoy one of the best beaches in the world in total tranquillity.
2. Go on a tour with Crystal Water Kayaks
There are more ways than one to enjoy the splendour of Anse Source d’Argent, and what could be better than seeing the huge granite boulders from the water?
Crystal Water Kayaks is located just before you enter the beach, and from here you can go on what they call a 3-hour educational adventure tour in one of the see-through kayaks.
The fully-guided group tours are dependent on the tides and can start anywhere between 09:00 and 16:00.
Apart from delightful views, the tour includes beach time on Anse Pierrot (one of the harder-to-reach beaches) a coconut survival competition, a cave visit and more.
3. Stroll through L’Union Estate
As mentioned above, you have to go through L’Union Estate to get to Anse Source d’Argent.
While you can certainly get a good impression of the estate from walking or biking through it, we recommend you spend a little more time here and this is also one of the best things to do on La Digue Island.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the estate is the 700 million-year-old Granite Monolith, taking up a whopping 4,000 m².
Around it lives a big group of Aldabra giant tortoises, sadly enclosed – in contrast to their free-roaming counterparts on Curieuse Island.
Right next to the enclosure you can check out the vanilla plantation which is still in use.
The estate is also home to the cemetery of the original settlers of La Digue. Don’t miss The Plantation House in L’Union Estate for a prime example of the French colonial architecture on the island.
Admission to L’Union Estate is 150 SCR (about 11 EUR/11 USD) per person.
4. Rent bicycles
Renting bicycles on La Digue is not only about getting around the island quickly, it’s also an experience in itself.
Wind in your hair, the sun baking down, your instincts pointing you to the best beach possible…
Biking clockwise around the island from the town heading north you’ll constantly have the ocean on your left side. Where one beach ends the next begins shortly after, so stop at your leisure to enjoy the powdery sands and shade under the palm trees.
Almost everyone on La Digue either rents out bicycles or knows someone who does.
We recommend renting directly from your accommodation for maximum comfort.
Usually, the price is lower for multi-day rentals.
5. Beach-hop the northeastern beaches
Beach-hopping on La Digue was one of our very favourite things to do on the island, and there’s no better place to do it than in the northeast.
The road is easily bikable (except perhaps for a few small hills) and you can safely park your bicycle anywhere along the side of the road.
Anse Severe Beach
Travel north from town and you’ll first encounter Anse Severe.
We understand if you don’t travel any further as this is one of the best beaches on La Digue to go for a swim and relax under the palm trees.
A few fruit/juice bars are located on Anse Severe, but apart from that, there’s no commercial development.
It seemed to be the most popular of the beaches for families as it’s safe for swimming.
Anse Patates Beach
Anse Patates is super small and not very swimmable, but it’s definitely stunning.
Depending on the tides, you might not be able to find a dry spot in the sand here.
Instead, simply enjoy the views.
The budget-friendly Hotel L’Ocean (adlink) is located in-between Anse Severe and Anse Patates.
Anse Gaulettes Beach
Continuing southeast, the next beach is Anse Gaulettes.
Swimming here is very dangerous because of the strong currents.
It’s great for sunbathing, though (unless the tide is very high), and very much worth a look no matter what.
Anse Grosse Roche Beach
Although not many people go here, Anse Grosse Roche is worth a visit for the huge granite boulder on the northern end.
Anse Banane Beach
Stopping at Anse Banane is usually in conjunction with visiting the famous restaurant Chez Jules.
Even though the beach gets quite narrow at high tide, it’s possible to find a nice spot in the sand from where you can enjoy the view of La Digue’s neighbouring islands.
Anse Fourmis Beach
Anse Fourmis marks the end of the road heading southeast.
The takamaka trees help shade you from the sun, and even though swimming here isn’t really possible, it’s still a nice beach for sunbathing (and photos)
6. Beach-hop the southeastern beaches (Anse Caiman Nature Trail)
The southeastern beaches of La Digue are more remote than their northeastern counterparts.
First of all, it’s a little further away from the town.
For comparison’s sake, Anse Severe is located just around 1 kilometres away from the town while Grand Anse is more like 3 or 4 kilometres away.
Bike or no bike, getting to Grand Anse is still rather easy. The road that cuts through the interior of the island is beautiful, too!
Secondly, there are almost no places to stay near the southeastern beaches.
And thirdly, only a walking path (called the Anse Caiman Nature Trail) connects them.
Tip: Bring plenty of water!
Grand Anse Beach
After you’ve parked your bike, walk through that last bit of jungle and you’ll stand directly in the middle of Grand Anse – arguably one of the most phenomenal beaches of La Digue.
The huge crescent-shaped beach is lined with granite boulders at each end, and except for a lonely restaurant, there’s nothing here. Not even that many people!
Unfortunately, swimming here is very dangerous because of the currents.
Natural shade is hard to come by, but the views more than make up for it.
Petite Anse Beach
Continuing along the footpath from Grand Anse for about 15 minutes, you’ll find yourself at Petite Anse.
Grand Anse literally means big beach and Petite Anse means small beach. And yes, Petite Anse is smaller, but not much, and otherwise also shares a lot of similarities with its sibling.
Swimming here is very dangerous.
But again, the views are remarkable.
We loved the granite boulders, the perfect sand and the fact that there’s nothing but raw nature in all directions – except for a small shack with snacks and drinks.
Anse Cocos Beach
The natural pool at Anse Cocos is where most people walking along the footpath end up as this is the best place to go for a swim along the southeast.
It’s also possible to find a nice place in the shade here.
The amount of dry sand changes a lot with the tide, so be careful with your belongings. Ours almost got swept out to sea by a particularly large wave!
Anse Caiman Beach
If you decide to hike on from Anse Cocos, you’ll reach Anse Caiman.
This is the end of the trail.
Even though you can easily see Anse Fourmis and the end of the “northeastern” road from here, it’s not advisable to try to go all the way around.
Anse Caiman is a special spot. You’ll most likely find at most a handful of people; perhaps even no one. The wild coast views are spectacular and the natural pool is the perfect reward for making it all the way out here.
7. Go on a boat trip to Curieuse Island
We visited Curieuse Island from Praslin ourselves, but it should also be possible to go on boat tours there from La Digue although it’s a bit farther away.
Most tours to Curieuse Island include some kind of snorkelling, a visit to the spot where most of the free-roaming giant tortoises hang out and a BBQ lunch on the beach.
Curieuse Island is home to hundreds of giant tortoises, making it one of the absolute best ways to meet them in Seychelles.
The tortoises are some of the longest-lived animals on earth. They can live to be over 200 years old and their average weight is around 250 kilos. Most of them just chill out in the sun.
Weatherwise, we didn’t have much luck on our Curieuse Island trip, but we can imagine both the snorkelling and beach to be amazing if the sun is out.
We can highly recommend taking the hiking path between the beach/lunch spot and the tortoises. It’s not too strenuous and a part of it takes you through the mangroves on a lovely boardwalk.
Another curiosity of Curieuse Island is the fact that the legendary Coco de Mer palm trees grow here naturally – making it the only place along with Praslin in the world to house them.
Remember to check out our travel guide to Praslin with the 11 best beaches and things to do.
8. Meet the giant tortoises on La Digue
If you don’t get to go to Curieuse Island to meet the free-roaming giant tortoises, don’t worry – there are also some on La Digue!
We don’t know how many tortoises there are in total, but we saw one around the beach shacks at Anse Severe and one who tried to get into the Chez Jules restaurant.
Seeing the wild giant tortoises made us incredibly happy. These gentle creatures are so fascinating. And so slow!
Be careful around them, don’t feed them “human” food and don’t scratch their sensitive shells.
9. Visit the Veuve Nature Reserve
We, unfortunately, didn’t get to visit the Veuve Nature Reserve on La Digue, but if you’re interested in getting up close with the local flora and fauna on the island, this is a great place to go.
The 21-hectare reserve protects important wildlife and plant habitat and is one of the best places to spot the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher.
Not many tourists venture here as the beaches of La Digue (understandably) are a bigger draw for most.
There’s an entry fee to the Veuve Nature Reserve and both guided and unguided visits are possible.
10. Catch the sunset from the panoramic viewpoints
There are two main viewpoints on La Digue: Belle Vue (“beautiful view”) and Nid d’Aigle (“eagle’s nest”).
Getting to Belle Vue is pretty straightforward as you just have to follow the road upwards from Rey & Josh Cafe Takeaway towards the Belle Vue restaurant.
From the fork in the road, it’s around 1 kilometre and about 185 height metres to get to Belle Vue making it a steep but doable hike.
We would have loved to see the sunset from here!
The hike to Nid d’Aigle starts at Belle Vue.
It is almost double the height at around 330 metres and takes some more stamina. Also, the path to get there isn’t as obvious.
But the reward is the best panoramic view of La Digue.
11. Hike to Anse Marron with a guide
Anse Marron beach is the southernmost beach on La Digue.
Going here with a guide is strongly recommended as people, unfortunately, have been lost (and some never found) when they try to go alone.
The beach itself is protected by lots of stunning boulders and just looks jaw-dropping in every imaginable way.
12. Go on an island hopping and snorkelling boat tour
Had the weather permitted it, we would have loved to go island hopping from La Digue on a boat tour to Coco Island and Félicité Island.
Most tours include snorkelling as well as one or two beach stops.
Needless to say, you’ll be stopping at some of the most beautiful spots in the world. And the snorkelling is supposedly fantastic.
13. Check out the Notre Dame de L’Assomption Church
Notre Dame de L’Assomption Church is the first Catholic church on La Digue, built in 1854.
It’s still very much in use as the locals usually go to church on both Saturdays and Sundays.
14. Spot fruit bats in the air
During both the day and especially around sunset, you can see huge fruit bats flying around in the sky.
Don’t worry – they’re not vampires and mostly eat fruit!
The megabats or flying foxes – as they’re also called – are the largest of all bat species with a wingspan of up to 1.7 metres.
15. Enjoy a fresh coconut on the beach
A fresh coconut on a tropical beach.
Isn’t this the epitome of paradise?
We think so!
Many of the best beaches on La Digue feature small shacks that serve fruits and drinks, including fresh coconuts.
Prices are reasonable, and once you’re finished, you might even be able to get the coconut carved up so you can eat the delicious flesh inside.
How long to stay on La Digue
While “forever” is perhaps the right answer to the question of how long you should stay on La Digue, we understand that this might not be realistic for most people…
So instead, we’ll say that you should probably spend more time on La Digue than on Praslin or Mahé – at least if you’re looking for completely laid-back island vibes and picture-perfect beaches (as we were).
You basically can’t get to La Digue without first flying to Mahé and then taking a ferry or flight to Praslin (before continuing by boat to la Digue), so that cements Mahé and Praslin firmly in most tourist itineraries.
Just as it should be. Both Mahé and Praslin are amazing in their own right.
But we argue that you shouldn’t make La Digue an afterthought.
Don’t squeeze in La Digue “after” you’ve settled on a few days on Mahé and a few days on Praslin – sometimes meaning that you only get to spend a day or two on La Digue.
Instead, we think it makes sense to see La Digue as the main place to spend your time in Seychelles if you come for the beaches.
How many days on La Digue?
How much time to spend on La Digue is, of course, a very personal question that has to take in your needs, wants, budget and most importantly total time in Seychelles.
But we definitely think one day is not enough.
- With one day you can perhaps experience Anse Source d’Argent (and maybe even one other beach if you rush it) – but rushing it on La Digue kind of defeats the point.
- Two days on La Digue affords you to see a bit more. Still a little rushed, perhaps, but much better than one day.
- At three days you’re affording yourself to experience the main parts of the island as well as – crucially – also having enough time to actually relax and ease into the island vibe.
If you have the means and time for it, staying for more than three days is highly recommended.
Where to stay on La Digue
Where to stay on the island
As La Digue is so small, where you stay geographically on the island isn’t super important as you can easily go everywhere with a bike.
But there are small differences.
The main three places to stay on La Digue can broadly be categorized as staying by the town waterfront, on the town backstreets or by the northern beaches.
- La Passe: There is only one “town” on La Digue (it’s very small!), and this is where you’ll find almost all the shops, restaurants and hotels.
Staying waterfront here is perfect. While the beaches aren’t the best, you’re situated in the middle of the island and can go everywhere easily. And you have all amenities at your doorstep.
- Staying in the backstreets is the budget option. This is where most of the cheaper guesthouses are found. You’ll be further from the action, but not much more than a few hundred metres.
- Staying near the northern beaches is an interesting option. You’ll be very near some of the loveliest beaches on La Digue, but you’ll also be (relatively) far away from the rest of the island.
We tried staying on both the town waterfront and in the backstreets and liked both options a lot. Next time around, we could easily see ourselves being based by the northern beaches.
Search for the best value accommodation on La Digue here (adlink).
The best romantic hotels on La Digue
La Digue is one of the most romantic islands in the world for couples, honeymooners and other people simply looking for a beautiful, relaxing stay.
Here are the best romantic places to stay on La Digue:
- Le Repaire Boutique Hotel – A top choice for a romantic hotel on La Digue. Where we stayed.
- Le Nautique Waterfront Hotel La Digue – Rather similar to Le Repaire but with a pool overlooking the ocean.
- Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort and Spa – The most luxurious place to stay on La Digue.
- Six Senses Zil Pasyon – One of the world’s best resorts (located very near La Digue on Felicite Island).
Le Repaire Boutique Hotel
We stayed our first two nights on La Digue at Le Repaire and absolutely loved our stay.
The hotel very much has a boutique feel to it. It’s small, cosy and there has been paid a lot of attention to detail in the rooms. The communal spaces also feel super relaxed.
There’s a pool as well as direct beach access to one of the best beaches on the western side of La Digue.
The beaches here aren’t as postcard pretty as their counterparts on the rest of the island, but the beach right in front of Le Repaire is great for relaxing in the sun and cooling off in the water.
Quality pizza is hard to come by in the tropics in general, but somehow Le Repaire manages to bake outstanding pies in their Italian restaurant.
Breakfast is served as a buffet and here again, the food quality is satisfyingly high. Our experience as vegans was great.
It’s possible to rent bicycles directly from Le Repaire.
All in all, there’s no way around the fact that Le Repaire Boutique Hotel is a top choice for a romantic stay on La Digue.
Check prices and availability at Le Repaire Boutique Hotel (adlink).
Le Nautique Waterfront Hotel La Digue
Le Nautique is located right next to Le Repaire and seems rather similar in several aspects.
Here the pool overlooks the ocean, and while there’s not much of a beach in front of the hotel (depending on the tide), the beautiful waters are still very swimmable.
The rooms look wonderful and the restaurant comes recommended.
We have no reason not to think staying here would be an incredible experience.
Check prices and availability at Le Nautique Waterfront Hotel La Digue (adlink).
Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort and Spa
While there are technically no 5-star resorts on La Digue, Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort and Spa probably comes the closest.
It’s expensive, naturally, but for all those Seychellois rupees you do get a lot of value.
The pool area is spacious, and so is the beach here (which is very unique for staying in the town).
The location of the hotel kind of marks the end point of the town, which is in many ways the perfect place to be. This way, you’re still close to the ferry, restaurants etc., but you’re also just a quick walk away from Anse Severe – perhaps the best all-around (family-friendly) beach on La Digue for swimming and relaxing.
Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie is a beautiful place to stay. A romantic holiday is almost guaranteed here.
Check prices and availability at Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort and Spa (adlink).
Six Senses Zil Pasyon
Six Senses Zil Pasyon is not located on La Digue, but rather a stone’s throw away at Felicite Island.
If you’re looking for a true 5-star (or 6-star? 7-star??) experience in Seychelles, this is it.
The resort is considered one of the best in the world (and also one of the most expensive).
Staying here for just one night costs more than most people make in a month – or even a year.
But if you have that kind of money to spend, this is where you would want to do so.
Check prices and availability at Six Senses Zil Pasyon (adlink).
The best budget hotels on La Digue
Thankfully, you don’t have to break the bank to stay on La Digue.
While it’s not cheap cheap, there are a few places on the island that cater to the budget traveller.
Best of all: All of the stunning beaches are public, so you won’t miss the very best of what La Digue has to offer!
Here are the best budget places to stay on La Digue:
- Hotel L’Ocean – Comfortable rooms with nice amenities right by the lovely northern beaches.
- Villa Des Flots – One of La Digue’s more secluded locations.
- Zanboza Guesthouse – Easy access to all of La Digue’s beaches on a budget.
Hotel L’Ocean
Situated at La Digue’s northernmost tip, a long family-friendly beach is just metres away from Hotel L’Ocean – and so is the super small but very photogenic Anse Patates.
The rooms look comfortable, and like all the other hotels recommended here, there’s both free wifi, A/C and a private bathroom.
Check prices and availability at Hotel L’Ocean (adlink).
Villa Des Flots
With a secluded location in La Digue’s northeast right next to the beach, staying at Villa Des Flots is quite different from staying in one of the hotels in town – even though it’s just 2.5 kilometres away.
Up here, the tempo is as slow and relaxed as it gets.
The beaches are wild, untamed and stunning.
And if you just want to get away from it all and listen to the sounds of the ocean, this is the perfect place.
Check prices and availability at Villa Des Flots (adlink).
Zanboza Guesthouse
Located on the way to the island’s wild eastern coast just after the town, Zanboza Guesthouse is worth taking a look at if you want a no-frills stay close to nature.
Staying here means it’s easy to get to both sides of the island.
As the hotel is located on top of a (relatively small) hill, it’s perhaps not ideal if you easily feel out of breath. The upside is that the views are great.
Check prices and availability at Zanboza Guesthouse (adlink).
La Digue on a budget
Is La Digue expensive?
Well, yes and no…
Travelling to La Digue on a budget is definitely possible – but you have to take some precautions.
And it probably won’t be as cheap as it could be in other parts of the world…
But keep in mind that La Digue is not just any tropical island.
It’s a supremely beautiful tropical island where commercial development has been kept to a minimum, meaning you can enjoy the splendour of some of the world’s most stunning beaches in their natural state – even without that many other tourists.
That has a price.
With that said, you can save a lot by choosing carefully how you spend your money on La Digue.
How to save money on La Digue
A surefire way to save money is to either cook for yourself or primarily eat food from takeaway places. Meals here cost a fraction of what they do in the restaurants.
Needless to say, cutting down on alcohol consumption is an obvious way to save.
Walking instead of renting a bicycle can also save you some money. Biking around is a comfortable way to get around, but walking everywhere is also a very real (but slightly more time-consuming) possibility.
The biggest expense will most likely be your accommodation.
Staying on La Digue is simply more expensive in general than staying on Mahé or Praslin, but finding a place to stay that doesn’t break the bank needn’t be impossible. Travelling outside the high season is a great way to save here as is staying in a local guesthouse.
Doing paid activities can quickly add up, so saving here can also make sense if you’re travelling to La Digue on a lower budget.
Kayak tours, boat tours etc. are great, but simply being on La Digue is surely the best activity of all.
And luckily, all of the beaches on the island (except for Anse Source d’Argent) are free to visit.
Now, let’s get to all the amazing things to do and see on La Digue!
Where to eat on La Digue
We stayed for five nights in total on La Digue and dined at some of the island’s best restaurants, a few takeaway places as well as ate foods from the supermarkets at our self-catered accommodation.
Fish Trap Restaurant
Fish Trap Restaurant has a great location in the centre of the town with views of the beach and sunset.
Both the vegetable coconut curries and the sizzling vegetables with rice were really good and can easily be recommended.
Le Repaire Hotel
We loved our stay at the beautiful Le Repaire Hotel (adlink) and also enjoyed their Italian kitchen a lot.
The pizzas were wonderful and even without cheese we could really taste the quality of the dough, tomato sauce and oven. It was a huge surprise to find actual good pizza marinaras (with added veggies) this far away but a pleasant one at that!
Old Pier Café
The Old Pier Café is located inside the L’Union Estate that you go through to get to the famous Anse Source d’Argent Beach, making it a top spot to visit for lunch if you can get yourself to (momentarily) leave one of the world’s most beautiful tropical spots.
Thankfully, the view from Old Pier Café is still great.
We ordered two delicious vegetable curries and had a fresh mango juice.
Rey & Josh Cafe Takeaway
Rey & Josh Cafe Takeaway is a small takeaway joint by the road going to Grand Anse.
It’s very cheap compared to the more proper restaurants on La Digue.
We had the vegetable curries once again and paid 70 rupees (~ 5 EUR / 5 USD) per meal including rice and a little salad.
You can bring the food with you to the beach, your room or eat it at the tables.
Tarosa Takeaway
This small hole-in-the-wall joint serves takeaway boxes with daily changing content.
Although there weren’t any obvious vegetarian or vegan options on the menu, we asked if one was available – and the guy behind the counter turned out to be happy to make one for us.
At just 70 SCR (~ 5 EUR / 5 USD), we got a takeaway box full of rice with some added lentils on top as well as some grated pumpkin. On a separate day, we got a similar box for 65 SCR with grated papaya instead of pumpkin.
Flavour-wise, it wasn’t the most interesting meals we’ve ever had, but they were cheap and filling. Especially with some added samosas from Glorious Bakery.
There isn’t anywhere to sit at Tarosa Takeaway, so we just brought our boxes down to the small beach just a minute of walking south (just after Fish Trap Restaurant).
Glorious Bakery
Glorious Bakery is located right next to the pier on La Digue, a little hidden from the street. There’s a big sign though so it’s hard to miss.
As far as we could tell, the only vegan option was their vegetable samosas.
But at just 6 SCR a piece (~ 0.5 EUR / 0.5 USD), it’s a true steal. And they’re super tasty.
Tip: We bought a few samosas from Glorious Bakery and added them to the takeaway boxes we bought at Tarosa Takeaway to spice them up with more flavour and crunchiness.
Supermarkets on La Digue
There are a few supermarkets on La Digue, with the biggest and most well-stocked one called “La Digue Supermarket” (located next to the football field).
Here you can buy a wide variety of plant milks (mostly soy milk but we also saw almond milk as well as an almond + oat mix).
Of course, it’s also easy to buy coconut milk.
Vegetables and fruit are well-stocked and reasonably priced.
In the supermarkets, you can find many dry staples (rice, pasta…) as well as all kinds of canned foods (lentils, chickpeas, beans…)
We didn’t really see any tofu, tempeh or alternative proteins like veggie burgers or the like, but you can still cook some nice, cheap and filling vegan meals if you have access to a kitchen on La Digue.
How to get around La Digue
La Digue is so small that you can basically walk everywhere in less than an hour, but renting a bike is recommended if you’d like to see more of the island and/or want to get around quicker.
Cars are very few and far between, but many hotels and guesthouses offer pick-ups and drop-offs to and from the ferry.
How to get to La Digue
The main way to get to La Digue is by ferry from Praslin.
Two companies operate the route several times a day: Cat Rose and Cat Cocos.
The crossing takes just about 15 minutes and is usually not too rough.
If you’re prone to getting seasick, it’s rather the ride between Mahé and Praslin you should be nervous about!
When to visit La Digue
The weather on La Digue is very similar to the weather on Mahé and Praslin.
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.
It rains all year (it’s the tropics, after all), but often just in short bursts. The average humidity is 80%.
The south-east-trade wind picks up between May and September, while the north-west trade wind blows between December and February. In-between there’s almost no wind.
La Digue very rarely gets hit by tropical storms because of its lucky location.
The ocean temperature stays at around 26°C year-round.
Tips for visiting La Digue
- 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 (including on La Digue).
- Downloading or carrying an offline map is a good idea.
- 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 (even on La Digue) 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 for takeaway shops or bicycle rentals.
- 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. La Digue is especially dark after sunset.
What to bring to La Digue
- Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
- A good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use.
- Sunscreen (adlink).
- 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 to the ocean.
- 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 reading our complete travel guide to La Digue. We hope it has been useful!
Make sure to also check out our ultimate travel guide to Seychelles with the best things to do, where to go and itinerary ideas.
What do you think about the small island of La Digue in Seychelles?
If you’ve been to La Digue 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 happy 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.
Book cheap hotels 
Find the best flight deals 
Nomad insurance 
Our Camera Gear
Our Packing List