SEYCHELLES
Three weeks, three islands. Postcard beaches, barely any tourists, and not a lot to do besides swim, snorkel and hike, which is exactly the point. The underwater is something else too: whale sharks, turtles, rays, sharks.
Quick Itinerary Overview
Praslin · 7 days · 6 nights
La Digue · 6 days · 5 nights
Mahé · 6 days · 5 nights
Getting Between Islands
Two ways to move between islands : ferry or small plane. The ferry is cheaper but can get rough at sea. The plane is quicker and more scenic, worth it at least one way.
Note that La Digue has no airport, so the ferry is your only option to get there and back.
Mahé to Praslin → around 1 hour by ferry, 15 minutes by plane
Praslin to La Digue → around 15 minutes by ferry
La Digue to Mahé → around 2 hours by ferry
Tips Before You Go
eSIM: pick one up at the airport on arrival or get a Holafly eSIM before you leave. It’s not cheap for three weeks but you’ll want data.
Seasons: August is peak European holiday season so it’s when most people go. Weather-wise it’s generally sunny with little rain, we had mostly good weather. That said, the south-east winds pick up from June to August and some beaches can get too rough to swim. For the flattest seas, April-May and October-November are better bets.
Accommodation: the Seychelles is expensive, and eating out every single day adds up fast. The best approach is to mix it up: a hotel for the full relax experience, and Airbnb the rest of the time so you can cook. Worth looking for Airbnbs inside larger complexes, you often get the same amenities as a hotel (pool, gym, padel) at a fraction of the price.
Praslin · 6 Nights
Arrived by small plane from Mahé. First thing: rent a car. It’s the only way to get around the island properly.
Things to Do
Cousin Island + St Pierre snorkeling
A boat excursion to Cousin Island for giant tortoises (you can feed them with leaves, they’re adorable) followed by snorkeling at St Pierre. We did see a lot of whale sharks, which was incredible in theory, but some boats get dangerously close, and we saw some with visible injuries. Really hard to witness. The Seychelles markets itself on its marine life, and the country needs to do better at protecting it.
Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve
A hike through the forest to learn about the famous coco de mer palms, with viewpoints over the island. Good way to break up the beach days.
Beaches
Anse Volbert
One of my favorite beaches in Seychelles. Long stretch of white sand, clear water, and if you’re lucky you’ll spot rays. It was almost empty, honestly breathtaking.
Anse Lazio + Petite Anse Lazio
Anse Lazio is postcard-perfect, with granite boulders and turquoise water. Walk to the end of the beach and you’ll find a small trail leading to Petite Anse Lazio. Barely anyone goes there. Totally worth it.
Tip: If you stop for lunch at the restaurant, you don’t need to pay the parking beach fee on arrival.
Anse Georgette + Petite Anse Kerlan
Located within a luxury hotel complex, but beaches in the Seychelles can’t be privatised, so you can walk straight in. Anse Georgette is one of my favourites also. Rays resting on the sand, crystal-clear water, and a dramatic rock setting. The viewpoints before your way down to the beach is also worth a stop.
Eat: The Nest restaurant for the view over the beach.
Anse La Blague A nice beach for a swim. Good for a stop if you’re passing by.
La Digue · 5 Nights
Arrived by ferry from Praslin. No car needed here. Your accommodation will almost always lend you a bike, and that’s the best way to explore the island.
Where I Stayed
Pension Michel · Villa Roche Bois A traditional Seychellois house, shared with very few other guests (we basically never saw anyone else). Huge garden, homemade breakfast every morning, perfectly located. The staff were so nice. Highly recommend.
Beaches
Anse Source d’Argent
The iconic and famous one. The photo you’ve seen on every Seychelles mood board, giant pink granite boulders, turquoise water, white sand. It’s paid entry for all the site (Union Estate) and yes it can get busy, but it’s genuinely as beautiful as it looks. Rent a transparent kayak here, it’s a really fun way to see the rock formations from the sea.
Anse Union ⭐ hidden favourite
Right next to Anse Source d’Argent, but completely empty because everyone walks past it. Normally you have to pay the Union Estate entrance fee to get there, but you can actually enter for free from the far end of the beach, you might get a little water up to your knees but worth it. The snorkeling here is excellent.
Anse Patate
Small and cute, but very tide-dependent. Check before you go.
Anse Sévère
Nice enough, not my favourite, the sea can be quite rough. But great views of Praslin’s island across the water. There are two giant tortoises that wander around freely, which is a fun surprise.
Grande Anse + Petite Anse
Grande Anse is a long, wild beach but the south-east winds make it too rough to swim from June to August. Not much shade either. Petite Anse is just around the corner, just after a little hike, same story with the current.
Anse Coco + Natural Swimming Pool
Accessible via a short hike from Grande Anse. Worth the walk, it’s quieter, there’s a little bar at the beginning, and at the far end of the beach there’s a natural rock pool protected from the waves with good shade from the trees. Get there early before it fills up.
Where to Eat on La Digue
- Le Nautique Waterfront Restaurant
- Combava Restaurant
- Rey and Josh Takeaway
- Le Repaire Boutique Hotel and Restaurant
Mahé · 5 Nights
Arrived by ferry. Car rental is essential, the island is much bigger than Praslin or La Digue.
Where I Stayed
Eden Island
A private marina island connected to Mahé by a short bridge. Large modern apartment on the waterfront with a golf cart to get around the complex, 4 pools, beach, gym, padel. Being able to cook occasionally was a real bonus.
Things to See
Victoria City Centre
The capital of the Seychelles and one of the smallest capital cities in the world. Worth a few hours for the Sir Selwyn Clarke Market and the Hindu temple.
Beaches
Anse Major A stunning small and wild beach only accessible by hiking. Multiple viewpoints along the trail. One of those places that feels earned.
Anse Forban + Anse Marie-Louise
Go for the photos, near-deserted and visually incredible but not ideal for swimming.
Port Launay Beach
Calm, clear water, good shade, excellent restaurant on the beach hotel complex. We saw rays here too.
Anse Royale
A decent beach but nothing too wild and next to the road.
Petite Anse
Genuinely one of the most beautiful beaches on Mahé with the dramatic cliffs. It sits within the Four Seasons resort but the beach is accessible to everyone. Unless you’re staying there (villas go for thousands per week), don’t expect to grab a drink at their bar.
Where to Eat on Mahé
- Del Place Restaurant → relaxed, great waterfront spot
- Port Launay Beach Restaurant → worth stopping for lunch
Honest Take
I loved it. It’s the kind of holiday where your brain genuinely switches off: beach, snorkel, eat, repeat. Not much else to do, worth knowing if you need more stimulation though.
The coral was a bit disappointing compared to other destinations, but the marine life more than makes up for it.
La Digue is my favourite island. Tiny, no cars, cycle everywhere. If you’re looking to truly switch off, you need to go there.
And the beaches, are they truly worth it? Yes, I think they really are some of the most beautiful in the world. I still think about Anse Volbert: white sand, no one around, rays gliding through the water. That kind of thing stays with you.
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