The 7 Best Day Trips From La Digue, Seychelles
Giant-tortoise islands, the world's best beaches, and snorkeling stops you can reach by short boat from La Digue's car-free shores.
Last updated June 25, 2026
Idyllic tropical beach on La Digue, Seychelles, featuring granite rocks, palm trees, and turquoise waters. · Holger Wulschlaeger
La Digue is tiny, slow, and gloriously car-free, which makes it the perfect base for exploring the heart of the Seychelles. With ox-carts and bicycles as the main transport on the island itself, you reach the real adventures by boat: short fast-ferry hops and full-day catamaran excursions to neighboring granite islands ringed with coral.
Most of these trips leave from La Passe jetty, La Digue's only port, and the inner-island distances are short (Praslin is barely 15 minutes away). That means you can be snorkeling over a reef or photographing giant tortoises within an hour of breakfast and back for sunset at Anse Source d'Argent.
Below are the seven best day trips from La Digue, ranked best-first, each with how to get there, what makes it worth the boat ride, and who it suits. Book the boat-based tours a day or two ahead in high season (roughly December to April and July to August), as the small operators fill up.
Planning a trip to La Digue?
| Place | Location | Getting there | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Praslin (Vallee de Mai & Anse Lazio) | About 15 minutes by fast ferry west of La Digue | Cat Rose or Cat Cocos fast ferry from La Passe jetty, about 15 minutes, roughly $18-20 each way; book in advance | First-timers and nature lovers wanting the headline sights |
| Curieuse Island | Off Praslin's north coast, reached via Praslin, roughly an hour total from La Digue | Ferry to Praslin, then a boat excursion to Curieuse; easiest as a combined catamaran day tour, often bundled with St Pierre and Coco Island | Families and wildlife fans |
| Coco, Sister & Felicite Islands (Snorkeling) | A cluster of small islands just northeast of La Digue | Boat departs directly from La Passe jetty, La Digue; a half-day guided excursion is the simplest way to do it | Snorkelers and anyone short on time |
| Anse Marron (Southern La Digue Trek) | The wild south tip of La Digue | Starts on La Digue itself, typically by bike or short transfer to the trailhead; go with a licensed local guide | Active travelers and adventurous photographers |
| Mahe | The main island, about 1 hour 15 minutes by fast ferry south of La Digue | Cat Cocos fast ferry from La Digue to Mahe, about 1 hour 15 minutes, from roughly $87; depart early to maximize the day | Travelers wanting a capital, markets, and shopping |
| Cousin Island | Off Praslin's southwest coast, reached via Praslin | Ferry to Praslin, then an authorized boat tour to Cousin; visits are weekday mornings only and capped, so book ahead | Birders and conservation-minded travelers |
| St Pierre Islet | A tiny rock between Praslin and Curieuse | Reached on a Praslin-based catamaran tour after the short ferry from La Digue; not a standalone trip | Snorkelers and photographers |
1
Praslin (Vallee de Mai & Anse Lazio)About 15 minutes by fast ferry west of La Digue Google
Opening hours
- Monday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Thursday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Praslin is the obvious and most rewarding day trip, home to two world-class sights you can pair in a single day. The Vallee de Mai is a UNESCO-listed primeval palm forest where the famous coco de mer palm grows its enormous double-lobed nut, and the rare black parrot calls from the canopy. Afterwards, head to Anse Lazio on the north coast, regularly ranked among the best beaches on earth, for pale sand framed by sculpted granite and clear swimming water. Rent a car or take a taxi on Praslin to link the two, since the island is bigger and hillier than La Digue.
- Vallee de Mai UNESCO palm forest and the coco de mer
- Anse Lazio for swimming and snorkeling
- Spotting the endemic Seychelles black parrot
- Anse Georgette (access via Constance Lemuria, ask ahead)
Best for: First-timers and nature lovers wanting the headline sights
Getting there: Cat Rose or Cat Cocos fast ferry from La Passe jetty, about 15 minutes, roughly $18-20 each way; book in advance
2
Curieuse IslandOff Praslin's north coast, reached via Praslin, roughly an hour total from La Digue Google
Curieuse is a free-roaming sanctuary for Aldabra giant tortoises, hundreds of them lumbering across red-earth paths and mangrove boardwalks. The island was once a leper colony, and you can still see the old Doctor's House, now a small museum, near the ranger station at Baie Laraie. A short trail crosses to Anse St Jose past one of the largest mangrove forests in the inner islands, and most boat tours include a barbecue lunch on the beach. Bring water and reef shoes, as the sun is fierce and there is little shade on the open sections.
- Free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises
- Mangrove boardwalk to Anse St Jose
- The historic Doctor's House museum
- Beach barbecue lunch on most excursions
Best for: Families and wildlife fans
Getting there: Ferry to Praslin, then a boat excursion to Curieuse; easiest as a combined catamaran day tour, often bundled with St Pierre and Coco Island
3
Coco, Sister & Felicite Islands (Snorkeling)A cluster of small islands just northeast of La Digue Google
This trio makes the classic half-day snorkeling run straight from La Digue, no Praslin transfer needed. Coco Island is a marine park with some of the clearest water in the area, where you drift over coral with parrotfish, angelfish and the occasional hawksbill turtle. Grande Soeur and Petite Soeur (the Sister Islands) add powder-white beaches for a swim and a rest, while Felicite's reefs round out the day. Conditions are best in calm season, so check the swell with your operator before booking.
- Snorkeling the Coco Island marine park
- Sea turtles and reef fish over the coral
- Beach time on Grande Soeur (Sister Islands)
- Calm-water swimming off Felicite
Best for: Snorkelers and anyone short on time
Getting there: Boat departs directly from La Passe jetty, La Digue; a half-day guided excursion is the simplest way to do it
4
Anse Marron (Southern La Digue Trek)The wild south tip of La Digue Google
Opening hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
You cannot reach Anse Marron on a bicycle, which is exactly why it is special: this hidden cove on La Digue's southern tip is reached only on a guided scramble over giant granite boulders and through forest. The reward is a natural rock pool sheltered by boulders, where you can float in calm, protected water while the open sea crashes just beyond. A knowledgeable local guide is essential here, both for safety on the rocks and to find the route, and most trips pass empty beaches like Anse Songe and Anse aux Cedres along the way. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as this is a sweaty half- to full-day effort rather than a beach lounge.
- The sheltered natural rock pool at Anse Marron
- Boulder-scrambling guided route through the south
- Empty beaches: Anse Songe and Anse aux Cedres
- Dramatic granite scenery away from the crowds
Best for: Active travelers and adventurous photographers
Getting there: Starts on La Digue itself, typically by bike or short transfer to the trailhead; go with a licensed local guide
5
MaheThe main island, about 1 hour 15 minutes by fast ferry south of La Digue Google
Mahe is the Seychelles' largest and most developed island, worth the longer ferry for a change of pace from sleepy La Digue. The capital Victoria is one of the smallest capitals in the world, with the colorful Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, the Hindu temple, and the little clock tower at its center. Beach-hunters head for Beau Vallon's long arc or the postcard granite of Anse Intendance on the wilder south coast. It is a full, early-start day, so consider it only if you want the city, shopping, or a specific Mahe beach rather than more pristine wilderness.
- Victoria's market and the Little Ben clock tower
- Beau Vallon beach for swimming and water sports
- Anse Intendance on the rugged south coast
- Botanical gardens and Creole cuisine in town
Best for: Travelers wanting a capital, markets, and shopping
Getting there: Cat Cocos fast ferry from La Digue to Mahe, about 1 hour 15 minutes, from roughly $87; depart early to maximize the day
Plan it on MagicTrips
6
Cousin IslandOff Praslin's southwest coast, reached via Praslin Google
Cousin Island is a strictly managed nature reserve and one of the great conservation success stories of the Indian Ocean, brought back from near collapse to host thousands of nesting seabirds. Guided walks (the only way to visit) get you remarkably close to fairy terns, white-tailed tropicbirds and the rare Seychelles warbler, and from roughly October to April nesting hawksbill turtles come ashore. Numbers and visiting hours are tightly limited to protect the wildlife, and the island is closed at weekends, so this trip needs planning and a licensed operator. Expect a wet landing through the surf rather than a jetty.
- Dense seabird colonies on a guided walk
- The endemic Seychelles warbler
- Nesting hawksbill turtles in season
- One of the best-protected reserves in the region
Best for: Birders and conservation-minded travelers
Getting there: Ferry to Praslin, then an authorized boat tour to Cousin; visits are weekday mornings only and capped, so book ahead
7
St Pierre IsletA tiny rock between Praslin and Curieuse Google
St Pierre is barely more than a clump of granite boulders crowned with palms, but the snorkeling around it is some of the most photogenic in the inner islands. The shallow, sheltered water teems with reef fish and the occasional turtle, and the iconic boulder-and-palm silhouette is one of the most photographed scenes in the Seychelles. It is almost always paired with a Curieuse and Coco Island catamaran day from Praslin rather than visited alone. Stay aware of boat traffic and currents, and follow your guide's snorkeling line.
- Snapshot-perfect granite islet and palms
- Easy, fish-rich snorkeling in shallow water
- Frequent green and hawksbill turtle sightings
- A natural pairing with Curieuse on a day tour
Best for: Snorkelers and photographers
Getting there: Reached on a Praslin-based catamaran tour after the short ferry from La Digue; not a standalone trip
Good to Know
Getting around La Digue has almost no cars: rent a bike at La Passe for getting to the jetty and around the island. All boat trips leave from La Passe, so stay within easy reach of the port on excursion mornings.
When to go Calmest seas and best snorkeling visibility are usually April-May and October-November, between the two monsoon shifts. The southeast trade winds (May-September) can make some boat crossings choppy.
Book ahead Fast ferries (Cat Cocos and Cat Rose) and the small island-tour operators sell out in high season (Dec-Apr, Jul-Aug). Reserve ferries and any Cousin or Curieuse tour at least a day or two in advance.
What to bring Reef-safe sunscreen, a rash vest, reef shoes for boulder beaches like Anse Marron, and cash in Seychelles rupees for park fees and local lunches. Shade is limited on many islands, so pack a hat and water.
Park fees Several reserves charge separate entry fees not always included in tour prices, including the Vallee de Mai, Curieuse, and Cousin. Confirm what is covered when you book.
From the coco de mer forests of Praslin to the tortoise paths of Curieuse and the glassy reefs around Coco Island, La Digue sits at the center of the Seychelles' most beautiful day trips. Pick one wild island and one easy beach day, build in the boat times, and you will see why this car-free speck makes such a perfect base. Book your ferries and tours early, and the rest of the trip runs at island pace.