Renowned for its stunning beaches, turquoise waters, and unique granite rock formations, the Seychelles is one of the most beautiful places in the world. In this blog post, I provide a detailed overview of our two-week itinerary in the Seychelles, visiting the three main islands: Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. I also share helpful travel tips and insights to help you make the most of your trip to the Seychelles.
How to Get to the Seychelles
Our journey to the Seychelles began with a flight from Dubai, a common route to the islands. We spent a couple of nights in Dubai to break up the journey, which is a great option if you have the time. We landed on Mahé at the small international airport and picked up our rental car from the terminal. Hiring a car is highly recommended to maximize your exploration of the island.
Best Time to Visit the Seychelles
We visited the Seychelles in early April, which is the transition period between the monsoon season and the southeast trade wind season. This time of year offers warm weather, calm winds, and fewer rainy days. The water is also calmer, making it ideal for snorkeling—a key activity on our agenda. Researching the best time to visit is crucial, as seaweed can be an issue at certain times of the year. April is a good month to avoid seaweed, ensuring picturesque beaches for your photos.
Exploring Mahé Island
Upon arrival, we drove to our accommodation in the south of Mahé, where we stayed for one night at a cost of 80 euros. The southern part of the island is serene, with numerous beautiful beaches and a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the north. During our short stay, we visited the stunning beaches of Anse Bai Lazare and Anse Royale.
Ferry from Mahé to Praslin
On our second day, we took a lunchtime ferry to Praslin. It’s important to book ferry tickets in advance, especially during peak season. The ferry ride takes about an hour and costs 68 euros per person one way. We experienced calm seas but took anti-sickness tablets as a precaution and chose seats on the upper outside deck for fresh air.
Discovering Praslin Island
After arriving at the Praslin ferry terminal, we rented a car for 160 euros for four days. We stayed on Praslin for four nights in self-catered accommodation costing 328 euros, conveniently located near the ferry terminal and supermarket.
Over the next few days, we explored Praslin and visited several beaches. The highlights were Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette. For Anse Georgette, booking ahead is necessary as access involves walking through private hotel property. Our accommodation management helped arrange this for us.
Having a rental car allowed us to explore lesser-known beaches along the south coast. We also enjoyed a full-day boat tour, which included a visit to Curieuse Island to see giant tortoises, a BBQ lunch, and snorkeling at various spots. This tour was a highlight of our trip, costing 90 euros per person.
Food on Praslin can be expensive and limited, so we mostly cooked our own meals. There are food trucks and restaurants available, but the quality doesn’t always match the price.
Experiencing La Digue Island
We took a short 20-minute ferry from Praslin to La Digue, costing 16 euros per person. Our accommodation was a 15-minute walk from the terminal. We opted for self-catered accommodation again, staying five nights for 500 euros.
Staying on La Digue was an incredible experience, allowing us to fully relax. The island gets busy with day visitors, but it was surprisingly quiet outside ferry times. The primary mode of transportation is by bicycle, which we rented for 10 euros per day. Cycling made it easy to explore the island and its beaches.
The beaches on La Digue are the most beautiful we’ve seen, especially Anse Source d’Argent. Often voted the world’s most beautiful beach, it was indeed spectacular. There’s a 10 euro entrance fee to access the beach, which includes good shower and changing facilities. To avoid crowds, visit early in the day.
Other favorite beaches were Grand Anse and Anse Patate. We also enjoyed a half-day kayak tour at Anse Source d’Argent, where we visited a secluded beach and learned to open coconuts.
Eating out was often cheaper than cooking ourselves, and there are several good food places on the island.
Returning to Mahé Island
We took a 1.5-hour ferry back to Mahé, costing 80 euros one way. Upon arrival, we rented a car for the remaining days of our trip (135 euros for three days). We stayed two nights in self-catered accommodation in the south (140 euros) and splurged on one night at the Hilton Northolme Resort in the north. The infinity pool was a major draw, and the 500 euros spent on this stay was worth it.
On our final day, we explored more beaches, including Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka.
Final Thoughts on Our Seychelles Itinerary
Reflecting on our itinerary, we felt it was perfectly planned. We had enough time on each island without getting bored and accomplished everything we wanted to do. La Digue was our favorite island for its beauty, relaxation, and ease of getting around. Praslin was quieter and had much to explore. We had mixed feelings about Mahé; the north was crowded, but the south was more relaxed and peaceful.
The friendly and welcoming people of the Seychelles added to our overall experience, making this trip unforgettable.
I hope you found this itinerary helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.
