Seychelles is an island nation off the African continent, known for its granite islands, nature reserves, pristine beaches and turquoise waters.
The Seychelles is located slightly off the popular travel routes and with such an abundance of stunning islands to explore, it is exactly our type of place. Our plan was to find the most special islands in an already exclusive travel destination.
You can find all our travel tips in this Seychelles Travel Guide.
For more Seychelles travel tips, be sure to read our list of the best things to do in Seychelles.
Where is Seychelles?
Seychelles is a 115-island archipelago, located around 3 hours’ flight off the Eastern coast of Africa. Seychelles is the smallest country of Africa and it sits fairly isolated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, North of Madagascar and Mauritius.
You can reach the main island of Mahe via flights from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. We chose to fly from Dubai, and this was around 4.5 hours flying time.
How to See Seychelles
The largest island of Seychelles is Mahe and this is where you will arrive on your international flight to Seychelles International Airport. Mahe island is lush and very mountainous, and is also home to 90% of the population of Seychelles.
There are plenty of places to stay on Mahe and from here you will be able to reach all the other islands of Seychelles.
The popular tourist destinations of Praslin Island and it’s cousin island of La Digue are reached by a 1 to 1.5 hour ferry from Mahe (though Praslin has an airport too). Silhouette Island is a 30 minute ferry ride. Meanwhile the smaller islands and more remote islands like Desroches can only be reached by small plane.
The ferry rides are one way to get around, but there are also tour options including boat tours and helicopter tours (more expensive) to do some Seychelles island hopping.
With so many islands to see, I suggest choosing a few spots and spending some quality time at each island. Some of the islands are rocky and mountainous with granite boulders, while others are flat and sandy with coral reefs.
We chose to see both types and absolutely loved every landscape we witnessed. There’s so much more to see, we will have to come back to Seychelles soon!
Best Time to Visit Seychelles
The shoulder months of April and October are the best months to visit Seychelles. December to February is considered the wet season and the stronger trade winds occur in the middle of the year. We travelled in October and had great warm and sunny weather.
Other Seychelles Travel Tips
Many places will take credit cards, but some do not. Seychelles rupees are the local currency, but some places, especially the more touristy spots, prefer US dollars or Euros if you have them.
The best way to get around each island is going to be specific to that island. On Mahe and Pralin, you’ll find fairly reliable bus service. A car rental is also an option to explore these islands on your own. However, on La Digue, bikes are the best way to explore.
The official languages of Seychelles are Seychellois Creole, English, and French. While Seychellois Creole is the most widely used of the three, you will be able to still communicate easily if you speak English.
The Seychelles has several national parks and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The national parks include Morne Seychellois National Park, Praslin National Park, and Veuve Reserve on La Digue. One UNESCO World Heritage Site is Aldabra Atoll with over 150,000 giant tortoises, and the other is Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve.
Where to Go in Seychelles
We wanted to travel to a few islands across Seychelles to see different landscapes and experience the full array of culture. We visited La Digue, Felicite, Desroches, Praslin and Mahe on our Seychelles trip, although Praslin and Mahe ended up being transit stops for us as we had to fly home unexpectedly.
Six Senses Zil Pasyon (Felicite Island)
If you are looking for the ultimate luxury accommodation with iconic granite landscapes, look no further then Six Senses Zil Pasyon.
The Six Senses resort is set completely among nature on the otherwise untouched granite island of Felicite. As we approached the island, it was difficult to even see the luxury villas that are perched above the ocean and surrounded by jungle. Luxury and raw nature go hand in hand here at Six Senses.
There are plenty of places within the property to enjoy the natural elements and iconic boulder landscapes. You can have a breakfast picnic on the beach against a backdrop of giant rock boulders, or enjoy sundowners on the highest point of the island.
Then there’s the Six Senses Spa. This spa is literally built into the boulders, completely secluded and overlooking the turquoise ocean. Bliss!
By far our favourite part of Six Senses Zil Pasyon is the even smaller island of Coco Island. The island is reached by a short paddle using the complimentary kayaks. This place was completely empty and untouched.
Picture a dreamy Seychelles landscape and then imagine pulling your kayak ashore to enjoy all to yourself. We also got to visit Coco Island on a sunset cruise with a glass of champagne, watching the sky turn purple and red.
Four Seasons Desroches (Desroches Island)
The island of Desroches is a lush palm filled coral island surrounded by clear water and white sand beaches. “Wild luxury” is the term we kept using throughout our stay.
We were constantly reminded of the natural beauty and remoteness of this island. You reach Desroches via a 35 minute flight from the main island of Mahe.
Arriving in the small jet plane on the Four Seasons runway has a very luxe feel. The Four Seasons Desroches resort is essentially the only thing on this island, which also adds to the exclusivity of your stay.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that Desroches is home to giant tortoises! I honestly couldn’t get over seeing the massive tortoises cruising around the island. Some of them are over 100 years old and they beautifully coexist with the people on Desroches.
One of the highlights of Four Seasons Desroches is the surfing options right off the island. We loved our afternoon surf trip with Tropicsurf, continuing the vibe of experiencing untouched places in the comfort of Four Seasons luxury.
Desroches island is so large that you can get lost exploring secret beaches and riding your bike down completely empty jungle paths. With no wifi and complete privacy, this was a completely indulgent stay for us in Seychelles!
La Digue Island
La Digue island is a short ferry trip from Mahe or Praslin. It is home to the iconic beach Anse Source d’Argent.
La Digue feels very authentic and has a great mix of locals and tourists. There’s some barefoot and relaxed vibes on the island thanks to the absence of cars. You’ll find only bikes and golf cart taxis to get around.
I’d definitely recommend getting bikes as there is surprisingly more to see then just the famous beach. Especially if you’re like me and want to reach the good food spots and see the more private beaches.
The beach of Anse Source d’Argent is 100% worth visiting. After paying a small entry fee you will cycle through to one of the most famous beaches in the world.
There are several little coves to explore, hugged with those iconic ribbed granite boulders and palm trees. When the sun is out, it’s honestly breathtaking.
The further you walk, the less crowded it gets. I recommend visiting at different times of the day to experience a variety of lighting and crowd conditions. It’s worth it!
Pro Tip – make sure to visit during high tide. Low tide is not nearly as nice to photograph and swim.
Our experience was that – possibly due to the remoteness and expense – the Seychelles islands were relatively untouched by tourism for how beautiful they are.
I’d recommend visiting for anyone that is looking to experience a unique tropical destination that is a little further off the beaten track. There’s budget and luxury options for all travellers too – so enjoy!
Looking for more tropical travel guides?
Seychelles Itinerary
Exumas Travel Guide
Best Maldives Resorts
Most Beautiful Beaches in the World
Like this post? Pin it for later and share it with others!
The comments +