Seychelles tours
Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and the private islands. Choose the island by season and sea, then the hotel and trips between the islands, and save your wishes for a tour proposal.
The DAMAX guide to the Seychelles
How to choose an island and hotel in the Seychelles
The Seychelles are 115 granite and coral islands in the Indian Ocean near the equator. The three main islands differ: Mahé has the airport, the capital and the bays of the south, Praslin the long beaches and the Vallée de Mai, La Digue the boulders of Anse Source d’Argent and bicycles, as there are few cars; beyond them lie private islands with a single hotel. So choose the holiday style and season first, then the island, the shore and the hotel.
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Chapter 1 of 6Your holiday style
A Seychelles holiday: beaches, islands, two of you, family or the sea
Start with the holiday style: a week on a boulder-framed beach, two or three islands in one trip, a honeymoon on a private island, a holiday with children, snorkelling and diving, or nature and tortoises. You will pick the island and hotel next.
Boulder beaches
Granite boulders, white sand and turquoise water. Shores differ in the waves of the trade-wind months and the way in: choose the shore first.
Two or three islands per trip
Mahé, then Praslin and La Digue: a ferry or a short flight between them, and each island is different: mountains, long beaches, boulders.
Holiday for two
A honeymoon or quiet time for two: villas with pools, dinners by the water, one-hotel islands. The quiet depends on the island and neighbours.
Holiday with children
Children need calm water in your season, a gentle sandy way in, a pool and a kids’ club; on private islands check the minimum age.
Snorkelling and diving
Marine parks, reefs by the boulders and turtles in the water. Waves depend on the season and the shore: pick the months and island first.
Nature and tortoises
Giant tortoises, coco de mer in the Vallée de Mai, bird islands and Mahé’s mountain trails: the Seychelles are more than a beach.
Chapter 2 of 6Where to stay
Where to stay: Mahé, Praslin, La Digue or a private island
Choose the island first: Mahé with the airport, Beau Vallon and the southern bays, Praslin with Côte d’Or and Anse Lazio, La Digue with Anse Source d’Argent, the private islands nearby or the far outer islands. Open a card to compare the shores: they differ in the waves of the trade-wind months, the way into the water, the beach and the journey.
Below are the islands, their shores and villages, grouped by island. The tour search knows eight islands without splitting them into shores, so you choose the shore through the hotel; saving a wish does not change the search settings.
The villages, beaches and islands inside a card show neighbouring options to compare, not administrative boundaries.
Mahé: Beau Vallon, Victoria and the southern bays
Home to the airport and capital, below Morne Seychellois; in the trade-wind months the sea is calmer in the north-west, by Beau Vallon.
Beau Vallon
A lively beach in northern Mahé: a gentle slope into calm water, swimmable all year and easy for children; water sports along the sand.
Lifeguards on duty at peak hours; a bus stop near the beach, plus showers and toilets.
Victoria
One of the world’s smallest capitals: the Clock Tower on the main street and a botanical garden whose star is its giant tortoises.
The nearest beach base is Beau Vallon; the Eden Island marina is 5 km away.
Beaches, villages and islands nearby
Eden Island
A man-made island off Mahé of over 40 hectares: almost 600 homes with moorings and the Eden Plaza quarter with restaurants, a supermarket and boutiques.
Very close to the airport: handy for dinner by the marina on arrival or departure day.
Anse Royale
A south-east shore sheltered by a coral reef: calm water, snorkelling off the beach and small restaurants along the sand; quieter than Beau Vallon.
Trade-wind months bring seaweed.
Baie Lazare
A historic bay in Mahé’s south-west; the resort between the mountain and the ocean hosts couples, families and conferences.
The bay has snorkelling spots and a dive centre.
Beaches, villages and islands nearby
Anse Louis
A secluded white-sand beach on the west coast with a single resort: 30 villas on the shore and on the hill above it.
Beach villas suit families, hilltop villas have the panorama; diving is arranged through a nearby dive centre.
Anse à la Mouche
A bay in southern Mahé with turquoise water for kayaking and snorkelling; next door, Anse aux Poules Bleues is a calm bay with shallow, clear water.
The shallows suit swimming with small children.
Petite Anse (Mahé)
A secluded white-sand cove in the Baie Lazare area, with a single resort on a wooded hillside.
A choice for couples and seclusion: on the sand you hear only palms and waves.
Anse Intendance
Pale sand, palms and granite boulders on Mahé’s south coast, with one resort. No reef: waves hit hard and currents peak in the trade-wind months.
No lifeguards here, only warning signs on the beach: watch the waves and currents.
Port Glaud
The west below Morne Seychellois. Baie Ternay marine park has no road: boats only, from Beau Vallon or Port Launay; yachts shelter here in the trade-wind months.
From Victoria take the road via La Misère; only Cap Matoopa separates the neighbouring Baie Ternay park.
Beaches, villages and islands nearby
Port Launay
A marine park with eight beaches: takamaka-shaded sand, snorkelling reefs on both sides of the bay and whale sharks in season.
The only marine park you can drive to rather than reach by boat alone.
Sainte Anne Marine Park islands
Six islets facing the capital; the sea around them has been a marine national park since 1973, with clear shallow water for snorkelling.
For lunch, Moyenne and Cerf have restaurants.
Beaches, villages and islands nearby
Sainte Anne
A green, hilly island in the marine park with a single resort, a short boat ride from Mahé: white beaches edged with rocks.
Trips to nearby islands, hikes and local culture and food are resort excursions at extra cost.
Cerf
An islet about a mile long with several sandy beaches, a handful of residents and no roads; above the sea sits a resort of 24 villas.
Snorkelling in clear shallow water: the fish do not fear people, as fishing has been banned for decades.
Round Island
An islet occupied by a hotel, next to Moyenne; access is restricted.
For a walk, nearby Moyenne is a popular stop in the marine park.
Praslin: Côte d’Or, Anse Lazio and Anse Kerlan
On Praslin the wind sets the season: in the trade-wind months seas are rough on south-east shores, calmer in the north-west monsoon season.
Côte d’Or
The beach of Anse Volbert village: two kilometres of white sand; the Le Duc de Praslin hotel says the water is shallow, calm and good for children.
Local tour operators run boats from here to Curieuse.
Beaches, villages and islands nearby
Anse Takamaka (Praslin)
A bay on Praslin’s north shore, home to the Raffles resort.
For couples and families who would rather stay in a bay of their own than in a village.
Anse Lazio
A wide beach of powdery white sand between granite rocks: clear turquoise water, a gentle slope into the sea and snorkelling over coral reefs.
Lifeguards are on duty here; ask them about the sea before you swim.
Grand Anse (Praslin)
The village with Praslin's small airport, where Air Seychelles flights arrive from Mahé.
A short flight from Mahé, for those who would rather not take the ferry.
Beaches, villages and islands nearby
Anse Kerlan
The beach by the Lemuria resort, where green and hawksbill turtles come ashore to lay eggs; the resort's team has rescued and guarded nests here.
If you see a fenced nest, walk around it; at night, no lights or noise near a turtle.
Anse Georgette
A beach beyond the Lemuria resort's grounds: the trail crosses private land, and the government has worked with the resort on open access for all.
The trail is not maintained by the state: wear sturdy shoes and do not go alone.
Baie Sainte Anne
Praslin's ferry port: from the passenger terminal ferries sail to Mahé and to La Digue, with taxis, car hire, food outlets and money exchange on the spot.
A handy base for trips to La Digue: Cat Cocos has ticket offices on both jetties.
La Digue: Anse Source d’Argent and the wild east
A calm, laid-back island of walking, cycling and ox-carts, with motor vehicles capped by quota; new hotels may only be small boutique properties.
La Passe
The village at the jetty where Cat Cocos ferries from Mahé and Praslin come in; the company's office is right on the jetty.
Boats go from here to the Coco islands marine park for snorkelling.
Beaches, villages and islands nearby
Anse Réunion
The island's west coast: here on the plateau lies the Veuve reserve, where visitors walk a nature trail to watch for the paradise flycatcher.
This flycatcher is the rarest bird in the Seychelles, and its largest remaining population lives on La Digue.
Anse Sévère
The beach by Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie; the resort's excursions include a catamaran trip to the Sisters, Coco and Félicité.
Here you can snorkel straight from the shore, no boat needed.
Anse Source d’Argent
Golden sand, turquoise water and granite boulders; the beach lies within L’Union Estate, with its plantation house, vanilla plantation and copra mill.
The estate is state-owned and charges admission: a ticket is needed for each visitor.
Grand Anse (La Digue)
An open shore on the island's south-east side with strong currents; in the trade-wind months the surf here is even bigger.
Not for swimming; with a guide you can walk the south coast from here to Anse Marron.
Beaches, villages and islands nearby
Petite Anse and Anse Cocos
Two neighbouring bays beyond Grand Anse, both with strong currents.
Before swimming, ask your hotel about the sea and look for a warning sign or flag.
Private islands: one island, one hotel
Silhouette, Félicité, Frégate, North, Denis and Cousine have one resort each; a Zil Air helicopter flies from the airport, and some resorts bring guests by boat.
Silhouette
A granite island 20 km from Mahé with 740 m Mount Dauban; a national park covers 93% of the land, a marine park rings it, one resort only.
You arrive by boat from Bel Ombre jetty on Mahé or by helicopter; there are no cars.
Félicité
A granite island of the inner group with a single resort; the Zil Air helicopter flies here from Mahé.
Helicopter transfers here are booked through the resort: Zil Air does not take them directly.
Frégate
An island of giant Aldabra tortoises and rare birds with a single 17-villa resort that is being rebuilt; the conservation team keeps working during construction.
Access is for resort guests only, so there are no day trips here.
North Island
An island with one 11-villa resort; over 130 Aldabra tortoises live here, and its beaches have the highest density of nesting green turtles on the inner islands.
The helicopter from the airport is quickest; a boat takes longer and depends on the weather and sea.
Denis
A coral islet of about 150 ha in the archipelago’s north; the waters around it are a protected no-fishing zone full of turtles; no mobile signal.
Just 23 cottages and villas; stays with children under 12 are booked directly with the resort.
Cousine
A granite islet 8 km from Praslin: four villas and a Presidential Villa, 12 guests at most; seabirds nest here. Do not confuse it with Cousin Island.
By helicopter or boat; in the trade-wind months the resort advises against sea transfers due to swell.
The outer islands and atolls
Coral islands hundreds of kilometres from Mahé, served by small IDC aircraft. Aldabra is a remote UNESCO atoll with no hotel, reached only by ship.
Alphonse
An atoll 400 km from Mahé: 174 ha of land, a 540 ha lagoon and one hotel; on the neighbouring St. François atoll guests fly-fish.
The lodge also welcomes families: beach villas sleep two adults and two children.
Desroches
The largest Amirantes island, nearest to the granite group, 230 km from Victoria: a sand cay over 5 km long with the Four Seasons resort.
The kids club takes children aged 4 to 12; Aldabra giant tortoises live on the island.
Platte
A 54 ha island 140 km south of Victoria with its own airstrip; hawksbill turtles nest on its beaches and the resort is a Waldorf Astoria.
The resort’s kids and teens clubs suit families with children of different ages.
Those words are not in this guide yet. Try a place name or clear the search to see every option.
The airport and the road to your base
International flights land at Seychelles airport (SEZ) on Mahé near Victoria. What comes next depends on your base: by car on Mahé, by plane or ferry to Praslin, by ferry to La Digue, and by helicopter, boat or small aircraft to the private and outer islands.
From the airport to your base
Each diagram shows a typical route from the airport to your base. Times are a guide from the carrier’s or resort’s official page: boats and helicopters depend on the weather, and small aircraft have strict luggage limits.
Beau Vallon
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
- By car
- Beau Vallon
Beau Vallon lies on Mahé’s north-west coast, about 30 minutes by car from the airport.
The bays of south Mahé
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
- By car
- Baie Lazare, Petite Anse
The south-west bays of Petite Anse and Baie Lazare are about 35 minutes by car from the airport, roughly 18 km.
Islands off Victoria
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
- By car to the jetty
- By boat
- Sainte Anne, Cerf, Round
Cerf, an island in the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, is reached only by boat, about 15 minutes from Mahé.
Praslin by plane
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
- Air Seychelles flight
- Praslin
Air Seychelles flies daily from Mahé to Praslin, about 15 minutes in the air, from the same Seychelles airport where international flights land.
Praslin and La Digue by ferry
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
- By car to Victoria port
- Cat Cocos ferry
- Praslin or La Digue
Cat Cocos ferries take about 1 hour 15 minutes from Mahé to Praslin, 1 hour 10 minutes direct from Mahé to La Digue and 15 minutes from Praslin to La Digue.
A private island by helicopter
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
- Zil Air helicopter
- Private island
The Zil Air helicopter flies in daylight only, from a base by the airport: about 15 minutes to the inner islands; 4 seats, with people and luggage up to 325 kg in total.
The outer islands on IDC flights
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
- IDC flight
- Desroches, Alphonse, Platte
IDC flights leave from the domestic terminal: about 20 minutes to Platte, 35 to Desroches, about an hour to Alphonse; luggage: 30 kg for Desroches, 15 kg plus 5 kg hand luggage for Alphonse.
Denis by the resort’s plane
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
- Resort plane
- Denis
The resort’s own flight takes about 30 minutes from Mahé; one 15 kg bag plus 7 kg hand luggage that is not a trolley bag; passenger weights are needed before booking is confirmed.
Chapter 3 of 6Hotels
Hotels on every island
Luxury resorts with villas and pools on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, and islands where the hotel is the whole island. Each card says who the hotel suits and what to know before booking. This is a selection for comparison, not a ranking or a promise of available rooms.
Mahé: from Beau Vallon to the southern bays
Beau Vallon: two 5-star resorts with kids’ clubs; north: chalets with pools; south-west: pool villas above the bays and an LVMH resort.
STORY Seychelles
A 5-star resort on the sand of Beau Vallon: 100 rooms, including beach villas with private pools and a family suite for six.
The kids’ club (ages 3-12) is closed on Wednesdays; motorised water sports cost extra.
Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa
A 5-star hotel by Beau Vallon beach: 163 rooms from 51 m² with balcony or terrace, a 700 m² pool, restaurants, bars and a kids’ club for under-12s.
Children under 5 may use the club only with a parent; babysitting is available on request.
Carana Beach Hotel
A boutique hotel on Carana Beach in the north of Mahé: 40 sea-view chalets steps from white sand and granite boulders, 12 with a private plunge pool.
Each chalet takes 2 adults and 1 child up to 17; a larger family needs two.
Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas
A villa resort with an Anantara spa on a peninsula above Anse Louis bay: every villa has its own pool, ocean views and a dedicated villa host.
Guided snorkelling and workshops with WiseOceans marine biologists; wellness programmes last 3-5 nights.
Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts
A Hilton LXR boutique resort in a photographer’s former home on Anse aux Poules Bleues bay: 41 rooms, including suites and villas, all with ocean views.
Big families can book Cliff House: 13 rooms with its own pool; kids have the Mango Pips programme.
Kempinski Seychelles Resort Baie Lazare
A 5-star resort on long Baie Lazare beach: hillside to beachfront rooms, adjoining family rooms, a 50-metre pool, a PADI dive centre and Aldabra tortoises on site.
The kids’ club is free for ages 3-12, with a children’s pool; evening babysitting on request.
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles
67 villas and residences on the hillside above Petite Anse bay, each with its own infinity pool; spa at the top; residences with kitchens suit families and friends.
The kids’ club for ages 4 and over runs on weekends and holidays.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles
An LVMH resort on Anse Intendance beach: 52 ocean-view villas set in greenery, five restaurants and a Guerlain spa; open since December 2024.
The villas were designed by Jean-Michel Gathy; each holds a textile artwork in its own shade.
Praslin and La Digue: pool villas and beaches
Private-pool villas, hotels on Côte d’Or beach, a small hotel above the ocean and boutique hotels on La Digue.
Raffles Seychelles
An all-villa resort: 87 villas with private pools and butlers on the hillside and by Anse Takamaka beach, plus its own helipad for flights from Mahé.
The Sugar Palm Kids Club is complimentary, with separate programmes for toddlers, children and teenagers.
Constance Lemuria
A resort at Anse Kerlan with an 18-hole golf course; the villas have private pools and direct beach access, and the kids’ club takes ages 4-11.
A shuttle runs to Anse Georgette; a pool villa sleeps 4 adults and 2 children.
Le Château de Feuilles
A boutique hotel of seven rooms and suites on Pointe Cabris hill, a short walk from the beach; the family villa has a pool, and children must be over 7.
A paid weekend trip to the hotel’s own island runs if a group forms and the sea allows.
Le Duc de Praslin
A hotel on Côte d’Or beach: Ocean rooms by the sea and three villas with 3-4 bedrooms; Villa 270° has its own plunge pool with a separate kids’ pool.
Villa 360° Luxe on the ridge: four bedrooms, an infinity pool, up to 8 guests, car included.
Coco de Mer Hotel & Black Parrot Suites
A hotel on over 80 hectares in south-west Praslin (Anse Bois de Rose); the Black Parrot wing of 12 junior suites has its own pool, minimum age 14.
Seaweed can gather in the trade-wind months; a free shuttle goes to Anse Lazio several times weekly.
Hotel L’Archipel
Open for over 30 years at the end of Côte d’Or bay: rooms and suites in a garden above the beach, an infinity pool and two restaurants, one beachside.
Family Suites with two bathrooms are on the top floor of the main building; two Senior Suites interconnect.
Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort & Spa
A boutique resort on a former coconut plantation near Anse Sévère: hillside villas, Élégance Supérieure villas with private pools and a 485 m² Presidential Villa with a butler.
Families get the 100 m² Garden Suite Residences; neighbouring Villas de Charme can be connected on request.
Le Nautique Luxury Waterfront Hotel
A boutique hotel on the La Passe waterfront: King Garden, Seafront and Deluxe Seafront rooms, a pool and a waterfront restaurant; guests explore the island on the hotel’s bicycles.
A complimentary hotel buggy meets guests at the jetty or helipad; bicycle hire is charged.
Private islands: one island, one resort
From pool villas on North Island and Cousine to family resorts on Silhouette and Sainte Anne; Fregate is preparing to reopen.
North Island
Ten villas with gardens opening onto East Beach, plunge pools and a study that can be set up for children; Villa North sits on the hillside.
The whole island can be booked; meals can be served anywhere on it, menus planned with the chef.
Fregate Island
The resort will reopen with villas and estates of 5-10 rooms with kitchens; each villa will have a 24-hour butler.
There will be a kids’ club and separate nanny quarters.
Niva Labriz Seychelles
A resort on Silhouette: beachfront and jungle villas; the two-bedroom family pool villa is 25 m from the sea, and the kids’ club is free from age 4.
Not every villa has a pool, so book a pool villa if you want one.
Denis Private Island
Every cottage has direct beach access, an open-air bathroom and a courtyard; spa cottages add a massage pavilion, and the family villa has a plunge pool.
The island’s flight from Mahé runs five days a week, so plan your dates around it.
Cousine Island
Beach villas with private infinity pools and a two-bedroom Presidential Villa with a study and gym; all meals are included in the stay.
A beach villa sleeps two adults; one child can join only on request.
Club Med Seychelles
Some rooms and suites have private pools and interconnecting rooms suit families; kids’ clubs cover ages 4-17, and the Zen pool is for over-18s only.
All-inclusive, but the Petit Club for ages 2-3 costs extra and places are limited.
Outer islands: Alphonse, Desroches and Platte
Three resorts reached by flight from Mahé: the all-inclusive lodge on Alphonse, private-pool rooms on Desroches and seafront villas on Platte.
Alphonse Island Lodge
The lodge on Alphonse: five beach villas with plunge pools, 22 bungalows metres from the beach and two large Beach Retreats on opposite sides of the island.
Rates are all-inclusive: meals, non-motorised sports, snorkelling gear and fly-fishing rods on loan.
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island
The only resort on Desroches Island: 72 rooms and suites, each with its own pool, garden, direct beach access and outdoor shower.
The five-bedroom Royal Villa hosts up to 10 guests; bicycles are waiting at your villa on arrival.
Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island
A resort on Platte Island with seafront villas, from one-to-three-bedroom villas to a grand five-bedroom villa with gardens.
Six restaurants and bars blend international and local flavours; every villa has personal concierge service.
Chapter 4 of 6Experiences and trips
What to see and where to set off from
Ferries and catamarans between the islands, the beaches of Praslin and La Digue, Curieuse with its tortoises, snorkelling in the marine parks and diving, the Vallée de Mai with the coco de mer, the bird islands, bicycles on La Digue and the trails of Mahé, Victoria, Creole food and rum. Each card says where to set off from, what to book ahead and, where it matters, how long to allow.
The tag above a card shows how long the trip or activity itself lasts according to its organiser or the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority; add the journey from your hotel and back separately.
Between the islands: ferry, catamaran and tortoises
La Digue in a day from Mahé, Curieuse and its tortoises, Coco and Sainte Anne by snorkel, Moyenne and a catamaran: all depend on the sea.
La Digue in a day from Mahé
The Cat Cocos ferry runs from Mahé to Praslin and La Digue; in one day you can cycle to L’Union Estate and Anse Source d’Argent beach.
Be at the jetty half an hour before departure; seasickness is not accepted as a reason for a refund.
Curieuse: tortoises and mangroves
A marine park off Praslin’s north-east coast: hundreds of free-roaming Aldabra tortoises, a boardwalk through the mangroves and cross-island trails; an entry fee applies.
Day trips run with licensed operators from Praslin and La Digue, with a Creole barbecue; divers head for Pointe Rouge.
Coco, Félicité and the Sisters from La Digue
Coco Marine Park: three islets 7 km north of La Digue, with turtles over the reef and, in season, the odd whale shark; an entry fee applies.
A day catamaran from Praslin or La Digue: snorkelling at the Sisters, then at Coco or Félicité.
Sainte Anne Marine Park off Victoria
The Indian Ocean’s first marine park: daily trips, some by glass-bottom boat, coral reefs for snorkelling and seagrass meadows grazed by green turtles.
On a catamaran tour the park fees are included, but bring your own mask, snorkel and water.
Moyenne: tortoises and an island loop trail
A private islet in the Sainte Anne park under half a kilometre long, a national park itself: free-roaming giant tortoises, a chapel, restaurant and loop trail.
From the catamaran: a short walk among the tortoises and a Creole lunch on board; no infants under 2.
Sunset catamaran and private charter
An evening catamaran from Mahé cruises along the coast into Baie Ternay Marine Park for the sunset and returns past Beau Vallon bay.
For your own route, a private motorboat for a half or full day: island hopping, fishing or a sundowner.
Snorkelling, diving and big fish
Baie Ternay and Port Launay by snorkel, the islet of St. Pierre, granite banks for divers, seasonal whale sharks and turtles that nest by day.
Baie Ternay and Port Launay by snorkel
Two marine parks on north-west Mahé: at Baie Ternay green and hawksbill turtles graze the seagrass beds; Port Launay has a snorkelling trail.
Licensed operators in Beau Vallon run the boats, often with a barbecue.
St. Pierre islet off Praslin
An islet in the channel between Praslin and Curieuse, inside the Curieuse marine park; a day catamaran from Praslin stops here for 45-60 minutes of snorkelling.
Easily combined with Curieuse in one barbecue tour; the swim at Anse Georgette depends on the weather.
Diving: granite banks and wrecks
From Beau Vallon, boulder swim-throughs and sunken barges lie within 15 minutes by boat; in calm seas Shark Bank and Brissare are 20-45 minutes away.
Turtles, eagle rays and, in season, whale sharks frequent the boulders; the Aldebaran wreck lies at 40 m.
Whale sharks off Mahé
In season, whale sharks gather along Mahé’s west coast, mostly young males feeding on plankton-rich water; trips to look for them leave from Beau Vallon bay.
Under the Seychelles encounter code, nobody touches the shark, uses flash or swims across its path.
Turtles that nest by day
Hawksbills here come ashore to nest by day, unusual for sea turtles; nests are found on south Mahé, Curieuse and Sainte Anne, and Cousin receives hundreds of females.
If you see a turtle on the sand, freeze and stay behind her, out of her sight; photograph from afar.
Active holidays
Cycling on La Digue, the Morne Seychellois trails: Anse Major, Copolia and Morne Blanc; Nid d’Aigle above La Passe and fly fishing on Alphonse.
La Digue by bicycle
The island is small and flat enough to get around easily on two wheels: hotels keep bikes for guests, and La Passe has rental shops.
Taxis are few and expensive, so it pays to rent a bike for your whole stay.
The Anse Major coastal trail
A coastal trail from Bel Ombre via Danzil to Anse Major bay: 2.4 km of easy walking among granite boulders, with Silhouette Island in view.
Buy tickets online: SCR 150 for visitors over 12; in the north-west monsoon season the sea can be rough.
Copolia: a granite summit above Victoria
From the Sans Souci road, 1.2 km through forest with a 180 m climb to a granite plateau overlooking the capital and the Sainte Anne park.
Tickets (SCR 100 for visitors over 12) are sold at the trailhead office; take the final steep climb slowly.
Morne Blanc: cloud forest above west Mahé
From the tea factory on Sans Souci, 1 km of continuous climbing through cloud forest to a 667 m summit; the platform looks over south and west Mahé.
Cloud may hide the view: start early; keep to the path on the steep, slippery parts, hidden drops lie alongside.
Nid d’Aigle: La Digue’s highest point
From the Belle Vue café above La Passe, a kilometre-long loop climbs to 319 m with views of Praslin, Curieuse, Félicité and the Sisters; mostly gradual ascent.
Steep road to the café, so take a taxi; slippery summit rocks, and some steep parts are hard for children.
Fly fishing and offshore fishing on Alphonse
Alphonse, a flight from Mahé: white-sand flats for fly fishing bonefish, triggerfish, permit and giant trevally; the season runs all year, on dedicated or shared skiffs.
Beyond the reef, sheer drop-offs draw sailfish and wahoo; a couples package has one guest fishing.
Coco de mer forests and the paradise flycatcher
The UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai and quieter Fond Ferdinand, Praslin’s coco de mer palm forests, plus La Digue’s paradise flycatcher reserve.
Vallée de Mai coco de mer forest
Praslin’s UNESCO forest: coco de mer, the plant kingdom’s largest seed, and the black parrot. Entry SCR 450; closed 25 December and 1 January.
Children under 12 enter free with ID; after buying a ticket, an app gives you an English audio guide.
Fond Ferdinand, a quieter coco de mer forest
Coco de mer reserve on Praslin, state-owned since 1895 to protect the palm; SIF has run it since 2020. Far fewer visitors than Vallée de Mai.
SIF’s combination ticket covers both forests within 10 days, handy if you stay on Praslin for several days.
Veuve Reserve: La Digue’s paradise flycatcher
A 21-hectare woodland on La Digue’s western plateau kept for the Seychelles black paradise flycatcher; staff at the centre help you find the birds. Closed on Sundays.
Over-12s pay SCR 150, or SCR 200 with a guide; no cash.
Bird islands: Cousin, Aride and Bird
Seabird colonies: Cousin and Aride are reserves off Praslin reached by boat, while Bird Island means a flight from Mahé and an overnight stay.
Cousin Island seabirds and turtles
A Nature Seychelles reserve off Praslin: seven seabird species nest here and in season hawksbills lay eggs. Open weekday mornings; reserve boats land you.
A reserve warden leads the walk; entry SCR 600, free under 12; no shops, so bring water and repellent.
Aride Island, half a million seabirds
Reserve 9 km north of Praslin: half a million seabirds of up to ten species, a frigatebird roost and endemic Wright’s gardenia. Only the island’s boats land visitors.
Entry SCR 650 per adult; in the trade-wind months surf often closes the island: keep a spare day.
Bird Island and its sooty tern colony
Islet 105 km from Mahé, half an hour by plane: millions of sooty terns in nesting season, over 20 Aldabra giant tortoises roam free. Plan to stay overnight.
Simple villas without air conditioning; the flight allows 15 kg of luggage per person and is booked with the stay.
Victoria and Creole culture
In and around Victoria: the market, botanical garden and mission ruins in the Sans Souci mountains; a craft village in an estate on Mahé’s east coast.
Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, Victoria
The capital’s historic market, known as Victoria Market: fruit, vegetables and souvenirs. The building closed for major renovation; trading moved temporarily to the former STC supermarket.
Before you travel, ask your manager whether trading has returned to the renovated market hall.
Victoria’s botanical garden: tortoises and palms
National monument from 1901 beside the capital: over 280 plant species, Aldabra giant tortoises and coco de mer palms, one planted by the Duke of Edinburgh.
Entry SCR 250, open every day; the garden has a cafeteria.
Mission Lodge: Venn’s Town ruins and viewpoint
Venn’s Town in the mountains at Sans Souci: ruins of a school where missionaries taught liberated slaves’ children after 1861, and a viewpoint kiosk restored after a fire.
A reminder of the fight against the slave trade, not only a view: spend time at the ruins.
Domaine de Val des Près craft village
A recreated Creole village at Au Cap, 16 km from Victoria: a planter’s house from around 1870, twelve craft kiosks and a restaurant serving traditional dishes.
Also at Au Cap is La Plaine St André with the Takamaka distillery, so both fit into one outing.
Creole cooking and rum
Coconut-milk curries, grilled fish, fruit chutneys and ladob for dessert; on Mahé’s east coast, Takamaka rum in an old plantation estate.
Creole curries: fish, octopus and ladob
Fresh fish, coconut milk, breadfruit and spices are the base: fish curry, octopus kari zourit, tomato-based rougaille. Indian, African, French and Chinese influences.
For dessert, ladob: plantains and breadfruit simmered in coconut milk; there is also a savoury version with salted fish.
Grilled fish by the beach
Pwason griye: fish on an open grill with chilli, garlic and ginger, served with rice and chutneys. A beach-day dish, popular with locals and visitors alike.
Beyond restaurants, Creole dishes are sold as quick takeaways at local fairs and night bazaars.
Fruit, chutneys and spices
Fruit doubles as vegetables here: mango, papaya and golden apple become chutneys served with fish. Fresh spices such as vanilla, nutmeg and turmeric are sold at the markets.
Semi-ripe papaya jam with nutmeg and vanilla is a local dessert; vanilla grows at La Digue’s L’Union Estate.
Grandma’s Savoir Faire cooking workshop
Twice a week at Domaine de Val des Près, local grandmothers teach guests to cook traditional Creole dishes and weave the kapatya basket from coconut leaves.
Held at the craft village estate, so one trip to Au Cap covers the workshop, kiosks and restaurant.
Takamaka rum at La Plaine St André
Plantation estate from 1792, 7 km south of the airport: distillery, a museum in the old house, a bar and Aldabra giant tortoises. Free guided tours; closed Sundays.
Tastings cost extra; instead of the guided tour you can explore on your own, including the medicinal garden.
Chapter 5 of 6Seasons, entry and travel
When to go to the Seychelles, entry and travel
Rain and wind by month, entry with a Ukrainian passport and the electronic travel authorisation, the journey with a connection and between the islands, and the local rules. Rules checked on 7 November 2026; confirm them for your dates and route before paying.
Season: monsoon, trade winds and calm seas
Rainfall by month
best: July-September; possible: March-June, October, November; wettest: December-February
The main rainy season is October to March: the north-west monsoon usually sets in by mid to late November, and rain peaks from December to February. April to June is drier, and from July to September the south-east trade wind brings cooler, drier air.
Calm seas and the trade wind
best: April; possible: February, March, November, December
The sea is calmest in April and pleasant in February, March, November and December. From June to September the trade wind raises waves and washes seaweed onto south and south-east facing beaches; the west and north-west coasts are more sheltered.
Whale sharks
best: August-October; possible: November
Whale sharks gather off Mahé’s west coast usually from August to November; the MCSS monitoring season is August to October.
Turtle nesting
best: November-January; possible: February, March, October
Hawksbill turtles nest on the beaches from October to March, most actively from November to January.
Air temperature
Daytime 29-32 °C all year
At the airport station the mean daily maximum runs from 28.7 °C in July to 31.8 °C in April, with mean night minimums of 24-26 °C.
Cyclones
Cyclones rarely reach the islands
South-west Indian Ocean cyclones usually re-curve south; their season officially ends in April.
Entry with a Ukrainian passport
Visa and Visitor’s Permit
No visa, up to 3 months
No visa: if the entry conditions are met, a Visitor’s Permit is issued on arrival for up to 3 months, free. Extensions run up to 3 months each, 12 months in total, SCR 5,000 each.
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Authorisation fee: €10 per person
Every foreign visitor of any age needs one. Apply after booking flights and accommodation, at most 30 days before departure. 24-hour processing costs €10, 6-hour processing €30, plus bank charges. Without it you may be refused boarding; arriving without one costs a €30 penalty.
Cash at the border
Declare from SCR 50,000
Cash and bearer instruments worth SCR 50,000 or more, or the foreign-currency equivalent, must be declared: on arrival in the authorisation portal and the red channel, on departure at airport customs. Undeclared sums can be seized.
Alcohol, tobacco and purchases
Duty-free up to SCR 15,000
An adult may bring duty-free 2 litres of wine and 2 litres of spirits, 200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco, 200 ml perfume, goods worth SCR 15,000 and one phone, tablet or laptop. Under 18: goods worth SCR 8,000, no alcohol or tobacco.
Passport, ticket and funds Passport valid for the whole trip until you are home again; the border asks for a return ticket, a confirmed accommodation booking and at least USD 150 a day. A child’s exit from Ukraine, including the other parent’s consent, follows Ukrainian Border Guard rules.
Insurance and yellow fever Insurance is not required, but the authorisation portal recommends it. A yellow fever certificate is uploaded only by travellers aged 1-59 from countries where the disease occurs; a transit of under 12 hours through such an airport does not count. Ukraine is not among them.
Flights and onward travel
By air with a connection
- Overland to a neighbouring country’s airport
- Flight with a connection at a hub
- Seychelles airport (SEZ)
There are no direct flights from Ukraine, so the journey starts at an airport in a neighbouring country. Emirates flies from Warsaw via Dubai, about 10 hours in the air; Ethiopian Airlines connects via Addis Ababa, and Condor flies non-stop from Frankfurt to Mahé.
Arrival airport
At Seychelles International Airport (SEZ), licensed taxis wait outside the arrivals terminal, buses leave from a stop outside the airport, and car hire is on site, though booking ahead is recommended.
Inter-island ferries
On Cat Cocos a non-resident gets 25 kg of free luggage in Economy, 30 kg in Business, one suitcase up to 32 kg; bags are checked in an hour before departure. If bad weather cancels a crossing, tickets move free to a later one.
Helicopter baggage
Zil Air helicopters have one weight limit for passengers and bags; excess cannot be paid for, so extra weight needs a second helicopter at your cost. Check the Air Seychelles baggage allowance when booking.
SPTC buses
SPTC buses cover all of Mahé and Praslin on over a hundred routes. Visitors buy a travel card for 1, 4 or 8 consecutive days at the airport Airtel kiosk or the information desk and tap it on the reader when boarding; one card per passenger.
La Digue: rules for cyclists
La Digue has few cars and thousands of bicycles, which is how people get around. Government-approved rules limit e-bikes to 300 W and riders aged 16 or over, and children under 14 ride in helmets, which rental shops must provide.
If you drive
Driving on the left and licences Traffic keeps to the left, the law’s rule for all vehicles. A visitor may drive on a national or international driving permit for three months from the last entry; after that a local licence is needed.
Speed limits By law the speed limit is 80 km/h on Mahé, 65 on Praslin and 25 on La Digue; the transport commissioner sets lower limits on particular roads, so watch the signs.
Money, beaches and local rules
Currency and VAT on the bill
Currency: Seychelles rupee (SCR)
The Central Bank issues notes of SCR 25, 50, 100 and 500 and coins from 1 cent to SCR 10; a rupee has 100 cents. VAT of 15% is charged on most goods and services and shown as a separate line on the receipt.
Tourism environmental levy
Levy of SCR 100 a night
Hotels add it to the invoice per guest per night: SCR 100 in hotels with over 50 rooms, on yachts and island resorts, SCR 75 in hotels with 25-50 rooms, none in smaller ones. Children aged 12 and under are exempt.
Emergency services
Emergency number 999
The Seychelles Police takes all emergency calls, including fatal accidents, on 999; medical emergencies go to 151; reports of crime and service complaints go to the 133 Crime Stopper line. Police headquarters are in Victoria.
Beaches, currents and lifeguards
Lifeguards on 3 beaches only
Lifeguards work only at Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio and Côte d’Or; warning signs are not everywhere, so swim inside marked zones. In a current, swim across it. Sea urchins hide in corals, stonefish in the shallows: shuffle your feet, touch no ‘stones’.
Marine parks and tickets
Entry SCR 200-300 a day
Non-residents over 12 pay per park, per day: Curieuse SCR 300; Sainte Anne, Coco islands, Baie Ternay and Port Launay (one ticket) SCR 200 each. Card or online only; without a ticket, a SCR 600 fine. No collecting shells or corals in parks.
Coco de mer as a souvenir
The coco de mer is protected by law and CITES, so only certified nuts are legal souvenirs. The Vallée de Mai shop and SIF’s Victoria office sell them, though forest regeneration sometimes leaves none.
Turtles and whale sharks
Watch turtles at sea from a distance, without circling or blocking them, for 30 minutes at most. With a whale shark: at most eight people in the water, 3 m from head and body, 4 m from the tail, no touching or flash.
Drones and drugs
Drones Drones from 200 g are registered free with the Civil Aviation Authority before flying. Ceiling 250 feet; controlled airspace or restricted areas need authorisation 72 hours ahead and a Seychelles mobile number. No flights near airports and heliports, over people or private property, or at night.
Drugs Illicit drugs are a completely prohibited import; customs may search your luggage. Never carry items that are not yours.
Chapter 6 of 6Comfort and comparison
Comfort details: children, room, transfer
Mark the conditions you need for a comfortable holiday. These are preferences for planning, not a guaranteed service: the offer for your dates will show what is actually possible.
Quiet room
Away from the bar, the evening programme and the road. We will ask for the building, floor and side to be taken into account.
Room by the beach
A room or villa opening onto the beach, without long paths across the resort or down a hillside. Tick it and we will check its location.
Calm water and a gentle way in
Little ones need a gentle sandy way in without boulders and shelter from waves in your season. Tick it and we will pick the beach.
Step-free access
Many resorts stand on hillsides above the bays, so steps and distances matter. Tick it if anyone finds long walks hard.
Meal plan
Breakfast, half board, full board or all inclusive. Tick what you want and we will check what the price of your hotel or island actually includes.
Inter-island transfer
A ferry, short flight, boat or helicopter to your island: we will check the connection with your flight, the baggage and what is included.
Child seat in the transfer
Tell us the children’s ages and number so the car has the right seats.
Villa with a pool
A villa with its own pool instead of a room in a block. Tell us how many beds you need and whether a sea view matters.
Late check-out
If your flight home is in the evening, we will ask for a late check-out or a day room where the hotel offers one.
Questions before your request
Can we save several options while we decide?
Yes. Save, say, Praslin and La Digue with hotels on both while you choose dates. In your request, say what the choice depends on: calm seas in your season, the number of islands or the budget.
What should I put in a request?
Your dates and how flexible they are, who is travelling and the children’s ages, one island or several, the meal plan and what matters in a hotel. The wishes saved here go with it.
Wishes on your list: 0
Your Seychelles trip is taking shape
Your saved options will carry over to the request form. There you can add a budget and your own wishes, then enter dates and your group at the details step.
Your list is empty for now. You can go ahead with a request and describe the Seychelles holiday you need.
Wishes stay in this browser until you reset them or the form’s submission is confirmed.
Destination search: Seychelles
Search opens with your chosen country. You choose the dates, travellers, meals and transport.
Send an enquiry to discuss the trip and current terms with DAMAX. An enquiry does not reserve a tour or require payment.
Questions about your choice?
Tell us what matters for your trip in your preferred messaging app. A hotel name or offer link will help us discuss the actual details.