Paradise beaches, incredible viewpoints, these are the Seychelles! This blog post includes useful travel tips you need to know before booking your vacation and the ultimate Seychelles itinerary for the perfect stay!
Best time to visit:
Seychelles is a great travel destination with lots of sunshine and blue water throughout the whole year so the best time to visit depends on your personal preferences:
If you want to skip the peak season when most tourists are on the islands? Then book your stay from January to April to avoid the high season during the summer months May-August. This is also the right season if you want to experience the hatching of the endangered Hawksbill sea turtles at the beaches (Jan – March). April is one of the best months since the weather is warm and mild.
How many days
The right amount of days you’re planning to spend in Seychelles depends on how many islands you’re planning to visit.
Mahé is the biggest Seychelles island and I would suggest you at least five days. If you want to spend a few more days relaxing & doing nothing, then I would suggest even more.
Praslin is smaller than Mahé but has many beautiful beaches and must-see places.
La Digue is tiny so we only planned 5 nights there but we loved it so much that when we traveled back in 2022 and we stayed 10 nights in an Airbnb
Ferry
How to get around
If you’re planning island hopping during your Seychelles trip, I can highly recommend it.
You will need to transfer between the islands by ferry or by plane:
Mahé – Praslin:
Ferry ride: 1 – 1,5 hrs for around 50,- EUR per person
plane ride: 15 mins for around 200,- EUR per person
Praslin – La Digue:
Ferry ride: 20 mins for around 14,- EUR per person
If you want to travel between La Digue and Mahé you will have a short stop in Praslin since there is no direct ferry connection. But you can still book it with one ticket and can stay on the same boat as well.
How to get around on the Islands
There are public buses on Mahé and Praslin but I can highly recommend you book a rental car for your stay which makes it a lot easier to get around the island and reach places off the beaten path. Additionally, a car will save you a lot of your precious holiday time cause not all bus stops are located close to the best beaches and attractions. This means that you would often have to walk for quite a distance in the heat on streets leading up and down.
La Digue is so small that you won’t find rental cars on it. Locals and tourists simply get around the island by bicycle which can be rented at the ferry station or directly in the hotels.
Wich Budget should I plan
Many people think that Seychelles is a high-end luxury destination and not suitable for budget travelers. But that’s not 100% true: Yes, Seychelles has amazing luxury resorts and the prices for a stay have no limit to the top. But at the same time, you can plan a budget-friendly trip to Seychelles. A big saving trick is to book self-catering apartments. Even basic restaurants in Seychelles are quite expensive and main courses are usually between 25 – 30 EUR per person. That’s why you can save a lot of money if you cook your meals and breakfast. The groceries in the supermarkets are still a bit more expensive than back home, especially if the products have been imported, but you will still save a lot of money! We also did a lot of takeaway food which you can find everywhere around the islands.
We decided on a mix of budget-friendly apartments, some nice mid-priced hotels, and a few days in a luxury resort
Accommodation: Nice apartment at the beach with kitchen 100,- per night
Food: 10-15 EUR per day/person when cooking your meals or taking away food
Transfer between islands = 100,- EUR per person
Rental Car 35/40EUR per day
Best Beaches in Seychelles
If you want to experience postcard-worthy beaches with blue water, soft & white sand, framed by palm trees, and dark granite rocks, then you will fall in love with Seychelles. Some of the beaches we visited belong to the most beautiful ones I’ve ever seen during all our travels!
Endless white sandy beaches, surrounded by palm trees and black granite rocks with turquoise waters. This is what most people have in mind when they think about the beaches in Seychelles. But not all of them are like this, they are all unique in their way. In this post I’ll show you my personal best beaches in Seychelles and what you should keep in mind before visiting each of them:
Ferry
Before I’ll start I want to point out, that in my opinion, it is super important to rent a car when you’re planning to explore Mahé and Praslin. While there are public buses, not all stops are close to the most beautiful beaches and often you have to plan an extra walking time of 30-50 min per direction to reach them. Additionally, it is often strenuous to walk in Seychelles due to the heat and the fact that many roads change between going up and down due to the mountains and are steep. So renting a car will cost you a bit of extra money but it will save you tons of time during your vacation and make your experience way more relaxing.
On La Digue rental cars are not allowed and therefore you’ll find countless bicycle renting points!
MAHÉ
Since Mahé is the biggest island in Seychelles with many countless beaches it makes it hard to visit them all.
Petite Anse Four Seasons
By Seychellois law, all beaches have to be accessible to the public. This means that you can also visit beaches, which are surrounded by a resort. The Petite Anse which is the main beach of the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is one of them and worth a visit. Located on the West Coast of Mahé, Petite Anse is one of the best beaches to watch the sunset.
Anse Intendance
Anse Intendance it’s also a great beach to relax at during the day. The beach is just perfect and the water is blue with the ideal size of small waves to swim in the water even for kids. It is definitely not a „secret beach“ but thanks to its size also not crowded: You’ll easily find a nice spot for yourself without sitting right next to someone else. The further you walk from the entrance to the right side of the beach, the fewer people you’ll meet.
Anse Soleil beach
Anse Soleil is a beautiful, bright bay with gorgeous golden sand and the turquoise-blue water. Thanks in part to its proximity to some accommodations, Anse Soleil is relatively popular amongst tourists, and there are usually at least a few people here enjoying the sand and the scenery. This is by no means a bad thing, however, and there is always enough space on the beach for everyone to find their little spot to enjoy.
Anse Royale beach
Anse Royale is one of the most popular beaches on Mahé, located on the southeast coast of the island. The small town that lies next to the beach shares the name “Anse Royale”, and contains numerous different facilities, including a petrol station, hospital, banks, the Seychelles university, and several different accommodations. Getting to the beach is simple, thanks to the nearby public parking and bus stop. The beach is also close to numerous different accommodations
Anse Takamaka beach
Anse Takamaka is often described using words such as ‘picturesque’, ‘stunning’, and ‘breathtaking’. Once you arrive here, it’s very easy to see why. The beautiful scenery, crystal-clear water, and gorgeous sandy surface combine to create an incredible beach location southwest of Mahé, the largest of the Seychelles islands.
PRASLIN
If you plan your visit to Seychelles and want to see the most beautiful beaches of this island paradise, then Praslin should be on your list! There are two beaches battling to be the Number one of the most beautiful beaches on Praslin and even in Seychelles
Anse Georgette
My absolute favorite beach in Seychelles and even one of the most beautiful beaches in the world I’ve ever seen is Anse Georgette. It looks exactly like you would imagine a beach in Seychelles, soft sand surrounded by granite boulder rocks on both ends of the beach, lush greenery, and of course blue water with soft waves. It is the perfect spot on the island to watch the sunset so make sure to come in the afternoon and stay until the sun has been going down.
Important: Anse Georgette is surrounded by the resort Constance Ephelia and daily access is limited. That’s why you have to register before your visit. Your hotel will do that for you or you can make an appointment by yourself by calling the resort to put your name on the list for the security.
Anse Lazio
There is one beach that is competing with Anse Georgette about being the most beautiful beach in Praslin and this is Anse Lazio. For me, it is clearly in the second position but some people prefer this one. So definitely visit both and see which one is your personal favorite. Compared to Anse Georgette, Anse Lazio is a lot bigger and super easy to access. You can park your rental car just a few steps away from the beach. Due to this fact, Anse Lazio also has a lot more visitors but thanks to the size you’ll most likely still find a nice spot for yourself.
Petite Anse Lazio
If you’re in the mood for a little adventure after relaxing at Anse Lazio you should check out the Petite Anse Lazio, also known as Lovers Bay, nearby. It is a very small but picturesque bay that will let you feel like you’re on a lonely island and makes a beautiful photo opportunity. Additionally, you will most likely have this bay all to yourself, just like us, since it is not easy to access at all.
At the very end of Anse Lazio, on the right side, you have a Seychelles typical collection of boulder granite rocks which you will have to climb up and down again to reach Lovery Bay.
Take some steps behind the trees where you will see a tiny path leading up the rocks. We did this hike in flip-flops but to be on the safe side I would recommend you wear sneakers especially when the rocks are wet and slippery from the rain. Simply follow the path above the rocks, enjoy the views on the way, and after around 10 minutes the way will lead you down to the beach.
Depending on the tide access to the water can be tricky since there are quite a few rocks and sea urges in the water.
Cote D'Or Beach
Anse Volbert, also known as Praslin’s very own Cote d’Or, is probably the most popular beach on the island, and certainly the longest. It is so long that it passes by many different accommodations, ensuring that there is a steady stream of visitors on the beach, especially in front of these various establishments. Around this beach can also find the most restaurants and hotels
Bonus tip:
Vallee De Mai
One of the biggest landmarks in Seychelles is The Nature Reserve and UNESCO heritage site Vallée de Mai which is home to Coco de Mer the biggest coconut in the world! This palm forest in the green heart of Praslin has been isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years which led to the evolution of unique flora and fauna. Many species can only be found here! That’s why visiting Vallée de Mai feels like traveling back in time to the ancient palm forests of Seychelles.
The Coco de Mer palm is not only producing the biggest nut in the world but is also highly endangered. The nuts only grow on the female palm trees and it takes around seven-year for one nut to be fully ripe, fall to the ground and produce a new palm tree.
LA DIGUE
La Digue is one of the smallest islands in Seychelles and so tiny that there are not even cars on the island, just bicycles. Nevertheless, La Digue offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles which you can’t miss:
Grand Anse
One of the most famous beaches in Seychelles is Grand Anse with its endless appearing sand stripe, picturesque granite rocks, and incredibly blue water. The waves at Grand Anse are usually a bit higher but it makes so much fun to play in them when you’re a good swimmer and go too deep in the water. But the current might change at any time so watch out for warning signs.
Unfortunately, Grand Anse is not surrounded by many trees which means that you can barely find any places in the shadow. We saw some shelters constructed out of palm leaves from the locals which I’m pretty sure you have to pay a small fee for to use them. But look out for some lonely granite rocks which are located on the beach – they are a great natural shelter from the sun.
Petite Anse
If Grand Anse might be too packed or you simply want to see a less popular beach then you can follow the path which leads you from your bicycle to Grand Anse a bit further to climb over the Granite Rocks and reach Petite Anse. Even though the rocks are quite high, the hike itself is doable and completely in the shadow. We even met older people on the way. Just make sure to pack enough water to stay hydrated and after around 20-30 minutes you will already be at the beach. It is even possible to access the next beach, called Coconut Beach which is pretty nice to
Anse Source D Argent
We’ve probably all seen the famous drone shots of postcard-like beaches in Seychelles and 90% of them are taken at a! It is a famous beach in Seychelles and extremely picturesque.
The beach is located in the State Park „L’union estate“ so you have to pay an entrance fee of 115 SCR (around 8 EUR) per person but it is worth it! What we did is go in the afternoon after 16:30 and buy a ticket for the next day, so you can have access in the afternoon and also the next day for the same price. When you arrive at the beach, it will most likely be quite packed. But what many don’t know is that Source d’Argent consists of several beaches which are connected via a path so most tourists stop at the first one to take photos. But I would recommend you follow the way behind the trees a bit further until you find a nice spot for yourself.
Anse Patates
Anse Patates is a small beach, located in the north of La Digue, right next to the Patatran hotel. Besides guests from this hotel, the beach itself is rarely visited, making it a peaceful, relaxing option in the north of the island. The water here deepens rather quickly due to the lack of coral reef protection, however, it is safe for swimming and snorkeling closer to shore. Access to the beach is via walking, by car, or by bike. The road runs adjacent to the beach, so there are plenty of places to leave your bicycle. In addition, the proximity to certain accommodations means that Anse Patates can be reached extremely quickly and easily by certain guests, and the majority of visitors will probably be guests of these hotels. Anse Patates offers a few activities, including swimming and snorkeling. As there is no coral reef protecting the bay, anyone swimming should be careful to remain close to the shore, as currents get stronger in deeper water. This is especially true of children, who should not swim unsupervised in the water.
Where to stay:
Mahe:
Villa Lima is settled on a hill looking out over Au Cap beach which is beautiful to look at from your room or balcony. The villa is brand new have a washing machine, wifi, bbq 2 bedrooms, and a kitchen. We booked here for 3 nights and traveled to another place. But I think Villa Lima gives the most value but you need a car and be careful as it is very steep driving up the hill. The host was very nice and friendly and give you wonderful tips for restaurants and beaches nearby
Shanaz Beachside Retreat is another great place and it's right on the beach, we found it only a bit overpriced if you compare it with villa limma or self-catering at La Digue. It has also a washing mache, kitchen, wifi, living room, and balcony but much older stuff inside
Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa where we stayed a few years ago, is a big hotel with a huge pool, and at night there is a night market by the beach with lots of food. The only thing here we didn't like was the staff they were extremely rude and lazy
Praslin
Le Duc Praslin is probably the best hotel at Praslin but it has a price. It's right on the Anse Volbert beach and has 3 restaurants. It has an older part in the tropical garden and a brand new building by the beach with huge rooms looking out over the ocean and the pool. We stayed here 3 nights and was included breakfast and dinner which was of great quality and some of the best food we had on the Island
Seashell Beach Villa was the cheapest stay and has a great value as it is right on the beach and the front rooms are spacious and have a beautiful view of the beach and ocean. Also, the host was very friendly and it is near Anse Georgette beach and the airport. The room comes with a kitchen, living room, balcony, and a beautiful beach in front
Les Villa D Or Nestled in the shade of tropical palms a few steps away from one of Praslin’s most beautiful beaches, you will find a little Creole gem bursting with warm hospitality. Les Villas D’Or welcomes you for a true island experience on Seychelles’ most beloved Isle of Praslin.
Here, you will find a self-catering Villa on Praslin to call home, a stunning beach only footsteps away, dining options in the vicinity to suit every budget, and service from a team that prides itself in taking care of your needs without intruding on your space or privacy.
La Digue
Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie Resort and Spa is probably the best hotel on the Island but also the most expensive, it has beautiful spacious rooms and a great infinity pool. Breakfast is served at the seafront which is great for a slow breakfast and enjoying the beautiful views
Chloe's Cottage Self-Catering here we stayed for 10 days and we definitely coming back here as it's central on the Island from here you can easily access all beaches around the island just a short ride on the bike away. The host was very nice and even gives us fruit and fish some days. The room is not that big but it has a kitchen, balcony, wifi, and always a smile from the host
Patatran Village Hotel is also a nice place as it is right on Anse Patates a very nice beach and just a few people visit this beach so you most of the time on your own. All rooms at Patatran Village Hotel feature a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, and a seating area. Some rooms offer sea views and a balcony.
There is a restaurant available on-site offering a variety of dishes and guests are able to enjoy a drink at the bar overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Travel Essentials what's in my bag: To help you get started on packing, here are my essential travel and photography gear
Flights: WayAway to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.
Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.
Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars all over the world.
Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an Esim-compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.
Day Trips & Tours: Viator, and GetYourGuide, are great platforms to search for activities to do
Tickets & Deals: Tiqets is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions
Klook to find the best deals for trips in Asia, somehow they are 30% cheaper than when you buy them at a local agency
Train, buses, and ferries 12Go to find your travel route for local buses, and ferries, we use them all the time as you can easily see the reviews, and the vouchers are everywhere accepted. tickets are sold for more than 5,000 destinations in 100+ countries worldwide.