Indian Ocean · Seychelles
Seychelles
Granite boulders, jungle, and beaches that look invented — with ferry hops between islands.
Best months
April–May and October–November (transitional, calmer seas)
Budget
$$$ Splurge
Getting around
A transfer or two
The snapshot
The inner islands — Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue — are the practical Seychelles trip. You get jungle, hiking, and beaches like Anse Source d'Argent without committing to a sealed resort atoll. It is expensive, the flights are long, and the payoff is scenery that does not look like anywhere else.
Northwest trade winds December–March; southeast trades June–September can make some beaches rough. Cyclones are rare compared with the Caribbean.
Pros
- Beaches with granite sculpture, jungle, and clear water on the same walk
- You can mix islands: Mahé for the airport and mountains, La Digue by bike
- Hiking that is actually good, not just a hotel gym trail
- Creole food and a more 'country' feeling than many Maldivian resorts
Cons
- Prices rival the Maldives once you add ferries and car hire
- Limited long-haul choice; most itineraries go through the Gulf, Europe, or East Africa
- Some famous beaches have strong currents — ask locally
- La Digue is not car-free because it is cute; it is car-free because the roads are tiny
Airports
Transit on the ground (and water)
Cat Cocos ferry
The workhorse between Mahé, Praslin, and (via connection) La Digue.
Book seats in high season. The crossing can be rough in southeast trades. Sit mid-ship if you get queasy.
Buses on Mahé and Praslin
Cheap, scenic, slower than a car, and used by everyone.
Great in daylight. Have a taxi plan for late arrivals at SEZ — the airport is not downtown.
Bikes and ox carts on La Digue
Bicycles are how the island moves. Ox carts still meet some ferries.
Anse Source d'Argent is a ride plus a reserve ticket, not a secret. Go early.
Rental car
Worth it on Mahé for mountains and scattered beaches.
Left-hand driving, steep roads, and serious drainage ditches. Not necessary on La Digue.
Visitor takes
Notes from travelers sit next to optional comments saved in this browser. They are for other readers, not a question for the site.
Inès
Lyon · October 2025
5Four nights Mahé, three La Digue. The bike-to-the-beach rhythm on La Digue is the trip I keep recommending.
Pro · Anse Source d'Argent at opening time
Con · Ferry spray on a windy afternoon
Chris
Johannesburg · June 2026
4Beau Vallon was windier than I wanted. We chased sheltered bays each day and it worked, but a car on Mahé was essential.
Pro · The variety of beaches
Con · Southeast trade wind on the wrong coast