Discover the best things to do in Seychelles, from stunning beaches and wildlife to island adventures, local food, and culture.
I won‘t beat around the bush: I was almost going to not visit Seychelles at all.
A few years ago I was getting ready to make a trip around the Indian Ocean, and no matter who I mentioned the Seychelles to, I‘d receive the exact same reply.1 Slow tilt of the head, a berating “oh, that‘s supposed to be gorgeous”, and no useful information whatsoever. Ah, but alas, I knew nobody who had been. It was one of those places you think of when you look at screensavers.
And that is just the issue. People get this idea that Seychelles is all about lying around on the beach, without a care in the world, and yes while the beaches are really some of the best in the world, it is a shame that that‘s the only reason to visit here. To visit Tokyo and to only go to the airport lounge!
So if you find yourself sitting where I was, contemplating the actual activities available in Seychelles other than lounging around admiring the turquoise waters (which, ok, is a valid activity), here‘s the scoop on everything I wish I had been told before I booked my flights.
Here you have your definitive list of best things to do in Seychelles beaches, wildlife, culture and more,The Ultimate Guide to Stunning Oahu Beaches.
A Quick Word on Seychelles Before We Dive In
Seychelles is not one single island – 115 of them spread out across the Indian Ocean as if someone had thrown a handful of green glitter across the water. The majority of tourists head to the trio of main islands that make up ‘the Seychelles’, namely, Mahe which is the largest and has the capital and Airport on, Praslin which is famed for its unique beaches and singular clumps of palm trees, and last but not least, La Digue, small, quiet, and not many cars.
Individual islands have an entirely different vibe. Mahe is where you arrive and where you‘ll likely spend your first few days. Praslin seems like nature threw out the balance and cranked the saturation up to eleven. And La Digue La Digue was where time just sort of ceased to matter. I checked my watch on my second day there and noticed I hadn‘t looked at it once since I got there. That‘s the feeling.
Time to dive right in, beginning with the category that most people will look for first – beaches.
Beaches That Will Ruin Every Other Beach For You
1. Anse Source d‘Argent, La Digue
Reining in the expectations that you have of every beach photo you have ever seen, because this one is blowing them out of the water. Massive pink granite rocks border uncommonly clear, gentle waters, and somehow it all looks like a beach set from a film that everyone else has already removed the gear from and left behind. Avoid the daytime crush (it is, after all, the iconic image) and go embarrassingly early if you plan on being the only one there with the tripod.
2. Anse Georgette, Praslin
Whatever you do, this one is a little bit more difficult to get to and that‘s just the reason why it remains a lot more peaceful. You will have to cross the golf course of the Constance Lemuria hotel on foot or on a boat but in the end, you will have a beach that is entirely your own and perhaps 6 other people.
3. Anse Lazio, Praslin
Consistently rated one of the top beaches in the world and, frankly, they were right. Powdery white sand and placid, pale teal water set off by granite monoliths and a natural two-tiered set of parentheses.
4. Beau Vallon, Mahé
Less postcard perfect, more actually livable. This is where the locals spend their time, this is where the umbrella business on the beach is, this is where you can rent water sports equipment and enjoy a drink and a social circle. Sometimes you need and want the paradise beach untouched with inhabitants and sometimes you want the paradise beach in which you can have a Seybrew (local beer) and watch the sun go down in and the human players surround you. Beau Vallon is the latter.
Nature and Wildlife: The Part Nobody Warns You About
For me, here‘s what I found most surprising about Seychelles: food options are arguably ridiculously accessible and that‘s not something almost anyone mentions.
5. Vallee de Mai, Praslin
It is one of just two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Seychelles and is overseen by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the coco de mer palm which bears the biggest and, in fact, most suggestively shaped seed in the plant kingdom (you really will see one – the guides are ever so proud of bringing it to your attention, as I was – like a high schooler with an unhealthy perversion for fossilized genitalia). The tropical rainforest really does seem like it‘s straight out of Jurassic park – take two to three hours, hire a guide and you‘ll see and hear a lot that you‘d never pick up on your own.
6. Meet the Giant Tortoises on Curieuse Island
On Curieuse, there are hundreds of free-ranging Aldabra giant tortoises, some of which are over a hundred years old. I sat next to one for about ten minutes while it calmly and methodically chewed a leaf, unconcerned by my proximity, and it was strangely hypnotic in a ‘watching a very old, very cranky grandfather eat lunch’ sort of way.
7. Snorkel or Dive the Marine Parks
Sainte Anne Marine National Park and Baie Ternay waters are overrun with coral gardens, reef sharks, turtles and rays. No special license is needed to walk under the water here, just a snorkel and fins will let you see 80% of the action (I‘m a terrible swimmer yet I spent half a day lying face-down watching a hawksbill grazing as if she were in a hurry).
8. Bird Island
Yes, that is the actual name of this remote island and yes it is exactly what it sounds like. It is a remote island and is loaded to the gills with huge colonies of sooty terns. Sooty Terns are loaded onto this remote island by the hundreds of thousands during the breeding season. It is remote, it is a bit of a mission to reach and it is well worth the journey if you love wildlife.
Places to Go and Things to Do for the Restless Adventure Seekers
If beaches and animals just aren‘t enough activity for you, then the next set of things to do in Seychelles should definitely satisfy your cravings.
9. Hike the Morne Seychellois National Park
The only national park on Mahe, covering about 20%, the trails range from a “pleasant afternoon walk” to “I‘d rather be roasted alive in hell.” Copolia trail, situated between ‘easy’ and ‘hard’ in terms of difficulty, rewards you with breathtaking views over the island.
10. Kayak Through the Mangroves
Surprisingly one of my most enjoyable mornings of the whole trip. Moving quietly through the mangrove channels watching the herons find their food in the shallows you get an entirely different view of the islands than the beaches ever give you
11. Go Island Hopping
This is actually one of the most amazing things about Seychelles: you can island hop with the ferry or small boat. Each island has such a different vibe and scenery. One morning you can be on one and by afternoon you‘ll be on another. It‘s like a tasting menu, only with ecosystems.
12. Try Deep-Sea Fishing
Seychelles is a top target for serious fishermen sailfish, marlin, and tuna are all possible depending on the season. If you‘re not a fisherman, there are half-day charters, which you don‘t even have to fish to enjoy (though I didn‘t catch anything, to be honest, the boat ride alone is worth it).
13. Zipline or Quad Bike Through Mahe‘s Interior
If you are craving your rush of adrenaline but not willing to leave the main island there are numerous companies offering zip lining and quad biking tours through the lush interior hills, great fun to while away a morning between days on the beach.
Culture, Food, and the Human Side of Seychelles
Beaches and wildlife get all the attention, but the culture is worth its own price of admission- I‘d wager most tourists completely overlook it.
14. Wander Victoria Market
Mahe‘s capital, Victoria, has a lively market (Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market) that‘s a feast for the senses: spices, tropical fruit stalls, fresh fish on beds of ice, sellers calling out prices. Small as capitals go, you can walk around it in a couple of hours, but it‘s a good antidote if you‘ve been island hopping for a while and want to get your head back into somewhere where humans are going about their business.
15. Eat Actual Creole Food
Seychellois food is a mixture of African, French, Indian, and Chinese influences and can be sampled in dishes such as grilled fish with tamarind sauce, octopus curry, and breadfruit which is prepared around twenty different ways. I missed the hotel buffet at least three or four times, and went to a small restaurant. The best meal I had on the whole trip was at a restaurant without a menu, which had about five tables in it and just brought out whatever the owner‘s mom had cooked that day.
16. Visit a Vanilla Plantation
Vanilla is produced on La Digue‘s Plantation House and a few locations on Mahe, and visiting one will introduce you to the sheer effort that a vanilla bean requires that every single flower has to be pollinated by hand, which accounts for the high cost.
17. Check Out the Colonial and Creole Architecture
The clocktower (another fun British icon stand alone, surprisingly), the National Museum, and the remaining colonial buildings give you a taste of what a country that has switched back and forth between the French and the British, then combined those influences with African and Asian aspects along the way, has to offer. It‘s not a full day trip, but it certainly rounds out everything else you see.
Slower, Quieter Things That Somehow Became My Favorite Memories
Using this definition of “activity” provided in the checklist does not mean that everything has to be one. The best bits are often the in-between moments in Seychelles.
18. Rent a Bike on La Digue
Because transportation is very limited on La Digue, bikes are the most popular way to get around, and one of the most pleasurable and uncomplicated things you can do is rent a bike for the day. There‘s just a real sense of liberation from riding down a deserted dirt road with the water on one side and a jungle of palm trees on the other.
19. Watch the Sunset from L‘Union Estate
For a great sunset view, consider the working coconut plantation on La Digue, since it offers one of the best-viewing spots on the island. Sit back with some drinks and enjoy the sunset.
20. Take a Sunset Cruise
There are also few operators offering evening cruises either around Mahe or for the neighboring islands, many of which include a land-based dinner with fresh seafood. It is quite touristy, yes, but what can I say, sometimes touristy is touristy for a reason and I can‘t think of anything better than watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean from the deck of a boat.
21. Visit a Spice Garden
The distinctive volcanic soil produces the herbs and spices too and there are a number of small spice gardens on Mahe. Here you can walk through and see (and smell) cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and pepper growing naturally. It‘s unpretentious, it‘s cheap and it‘s a pleasant break from all the beach-hopping.
For Couples, Families, and Everyone In Between
22. Honeymoon-Style Overwater Experiences
Although Seychelles isn‘t known for the traditional overwater bungalows common in the Maldives, there are several resorts with private coconut grove villas located directly on the beach with plunge pools and complete privacy perfect if you‘re celebrating something and seeking no disturbances.
23. Family-Friendly Beach Days at Beau Vallon or Anse Volbert
Less rough, more lightly traveled, and more accessible are positive factors for families with young children.
24. Turtle Nesting Season
If you hit it right, seeing a sea turtle come ashore to nest or getting to see those tiny hatchlings take their first big run for the ocean are experiences that you‘ll remember (and show off to your kids) for a lifetime.
25. Just… Do Less
This one isn‘t really an “activity,” and I wrestled with whether I should even include it, but it may be the most vital item on this list. Seychelles is a place that likes a bit of lazing. Several of my best hours there were spent with no goal in mind whatsoever, chairs under palm trees, watching bats swoop at sunset, letting my time slip by. Don‘t pack every moment to save time for idleness, it‘s an underrated luxury.
What is the minimum length of time you should spend in Seychelles?
How long do I need in order to do it all? (The most common question once people have looked at this full list of things to do in Seychelles) Do you only have a few days up your sleeve? If you wish to experience Seychelles properly (up to date list of things to do in Seychelles), 7-10 days on the islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue is almost perfect, although if you want to squeeze it all into only 4 or 5 days and do Praslin and La Digue only, take my word for it, you‘ll wish you‘d had more time.
The ghost town of Wajima or the lively town of Nanao.
Mahe is good for if you want options, a more lively atmosphere, and quick to the airport.
Praslin is excellent for beach lovers looking for the bliss of the Vallee de Mai/Anse Lazio mixture.
La Digue ¾ best for minimal time, easy travel, enjoying the island by cycle. Completely BAREBACK, and the most pristine of the three.
No joke? Three categories and even a handful of days for each is the way to go if it fits into your schedule.
Does residing in Seychelles make it a perfect honeymoon destination or is it only suitable for couples?
Absolutely – it is romantic in a subtle, authentic fashion. Forget expensive overwater bungalows – all you need is granite cliffs and deserted beaches to bring the romance alive.
Helpful Resources for Planning Your Trip
If you want to go directly to the source for planning info, opening times or formal conservation info, these are the best, most authoritative places I found and would recommend:
Seychelles Islands Foundation : The all-volunteer not-for-profit that operates both UNESCO sites in the country , provides visitor information, opening hours and conducts research into the conservation of the sites.
Lonely Planet: Seychelles : A highly regarded, impartial travel guide to Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, provides more detailed information.
Final Thoughts: Why I Was Wrong About Seychelles
Because I came into this trip assuming I would just be taking a pretty but fairly monotonous beach holiday, I did not expect to end up with quite such a broad picture of the country, one that offers some real biodiversity, a culture that is really different, and variety that seems to stretch well beyond a week.
So if you’re undecided like I was, let this be it. Book the flight, give yourself extra days than you think you need, and go for more than one island. Seychelles is not somewhere you come to visit, it’s somewhere you come to become unable to leave. And believe me, once you’re there, there will be even more things to do in Seychelles not covered on this list.
