Expert Guide to Seychelles Islands And When to Visit

When planning a holiday to the Seychelles, it can feel a little unclear at first. Which island should you choose? How easy is it to travel between them? What is there to see and do? And when is the best time to visit?

Here’s a practical guide to help you understand how Seychelles works, based on first-hand experience from our team.

How to Choose the Right Seychelles Islands

The first decision is whether to stay on one island or combine a few.

The islands are very different from each other, so island-hopping is usually the best way to see that variety. Two islands is often enough, or three if you have more time. If your focus is purely relaxation, one island can work well.

In most cases, the right choice comes down to:

• How much time you have
• How much travelling you want to include
• Whether you want variety or simplicity

The Inner Islands vs Outer Islands

The Seychelles is broadly split into two types of islands.

The Inner Islands

These include Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette. They are granite, mountainous and form the cultural centre of the Seychelles, where most of the population lives.

They are also the easiest to travel between, using ferries or short flights.

The Outer Islands

The outer islands are mostly coral atolls. They are flatter, more remote and feel much more removed from everyday life.

Options such as Denis, Desroches and Alphonse are reached by light aircraft from Mahé and tend to offer a more private, self-contained island experience.

Getting Around the Seychelles

Mahé is the main hub for international flights, as well as most domestic flights and ferries.

If you are travelling between islands, you will usually pass back through Mahé unless you are using a private helicopter transfer.

Typical transfer times:

• Mahé to Praslin: 15 minutes by air or 1 hour by ferry
• Praslin to La Digue: 20 minutes by ferry
• Mahé to outer islands: 30–60 minutes by light aircraft

Which Seychelles Island is Best for You?

A few general patterns tend to work well.

• First-time visitors: Mahé and Praslin, often with a day trip to La Digue
• Couples: Private islands or quieter properties on Praslin or outer islands
• Families: Mahé, Praslin or Silhouette, where access and facilities are easier
• Seclusion: Outer islands such as Denis, Desroches or Alphonse

Mahé Island

Mahé is the main island and where most journeys begin. It is home to the international airport and the capital, Victoria.

If you are short on time, Mahé can work well on its own as it avoids additional transfers.

Things to include:

• time in Victoria
• the south west coast for quieter beaches and art galleries
• optional day trips to Praslin

Where to stay on Mahé

All hotels are within 30–45 minutes of the airport.

A few of the finest luxury resorts can be found on the quieter West coast:

• Four Seasons Seychelles
• Anantara Maia
• Mango House
• Kempinski Seychelles Resort
• Constance Ephelia

On the North coast:

• STORY Seychelles (on Beau Vallon Bay—the only bay where motorised water sports are allowed)
• Carana Beach

Praslin Island

Praslin is smaller and quieter than Mahé, with a slower pace and stunning beaches. It is best known for the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only place where the Coco de Mer palm grows.

Things to include:

• Vallée de Mai
• Anse Lazio beach on the north
• Cote d’Or beach on the east

The south and south-east coast can experience seaweed between May and September, although most hotels are not located here.

Where to stay on Praslin

• Raffles Seychelles
• Constance Lemuria (home to an 18-hole golf course)
• Hotel L’Archipel (divine sunsets and an authentic Seychellois feel)

La Digue Island

From Praslin, it's an easy 20-minute ferry ride to idyllic La Digue island and thoroughly recommended for a day trip if you are not lucky enough to be staying here. It's like stepping back in time to how ‘old Seychelles' used to be with a sleepy island way of life. There are few cars on La Digue, the main form of transport being bicycle, or the occasional oxcart! The main street of La Passe, the village where you disembark the ferry, is packed with bicycles for hire, as well as those of the locals.

Things to include:

• cycling around the island
• Anse Source d’Argent
• quieter beaches along the east coast

Where to stay on La Digue

• Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie on the west coast (the gorgeous suites are built into the hillside)

Private and Luxury Inner Islands

Some of the most exclusive properties in Seychelles are located on private islands within the inner group. These are typically reached by helicopter and work well for a dedicated stay or as part of a longer itinerary.

Options include:

• North Island (frequent haunt of the rich and famous with supreme levels of privacy)
• Fregate Island (strong eco-sustainability programmes)
• Felicite Island (stay at Six Senses Zil Pasyon and enjoy superb diving and snorkelling at nearby Coco and Sister islands)
• Enchanted Island Resort (ideal for couples wanting complete solitude)
• Niva Labriz (mountainous Silhouette Island with great diving. Ideal for families)

The Outer Islands

The outer islands offer a different style of stay... These coral atolls sit just above sea level with gorgeous coconut palls scattered across the never-ending white sand beaches. They are more remote and often feel more focused on ecology and sustainability.

The main options include Denis, Desroches and Alphonse, and they are reached by light aircraft from Mahé and are often combined with a stay on one of the inner islands.

Denis Island

Denis is a privately owned island around 30 minutes from Mahé by air. It is one of our favourites as it offers a rustic simplicity despite offering a luxury experience. The cuisine is out of this world and you can expect a strong focus on nature.

Things to include:

• Snorkelling and diving
• Fishing
• Exploring the island’s conservation work

Denis works well for honeymooners, couples, families or solo travellers looking to stay for around a week. We often recommend all of our clients conclude their stay at Denis.

Desroches Island

Desroches is home to Four Seasons Desroches. The renowned Four Seasons service prevails throughout this resort, including superb cuisine, an excellent spa, and first-class castaway activity centre.

You can explore the island at leisure, as well as enjoy strong diving and fishing in the surrounding waters.

Desroches is around 40 minutes from Mahé by air and works well either on its own or combined with Mahé.

What to Do in the Seychelles

There is a good range of activities across the islands, depending on where you stay.

Water-based:

• Snorkelling and diving
• Boat trips
• Fishing
• Clear kayak tours in crystal-clear waters

Nature and wildlife:

• Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
• Birding tours
• Tortoise conservation programmes

Land-based:

• Hiking trails
• Cycling on La Digue
• Exploring local towns and markets

When is the Best Time to Visit Seychelles?

Seychelles has a tropical climate with temperatures averaging around 28°C throughout the year.

There are two main seasonal patterns, driven by trade winds.

• December to March: Warmer with more rainfall
• April to October: Drier and often better for outdoor activities

Some activity highlights:

• Diving: February to May and September to early November
• Snorkelling: Year-round
• Fishing: October to April
• Walking and trekking: April to October
• Turtle nesting: October to February

Weather can vary between islands, and the outer islands tend to receive less rainfall overall.

Planning Your Seychelles Trip

Island-hopping gives you the best sense of the Seychelles, but it is important to keep the itinerary manageable. In most cases, we recommend staying for 7–10 nights and visiting two islands. Three islands can work if you have more time. If you prefer to stay in one place, that can work just as well with the right island choice. To learn even more about visiting the Seychelles, chat to a Travel Expert or explore our Trip Planner to start building your own itinerary. When you’re ready, our award-winning team will help you design a holiday that ticks all of your boxes.