The 8 Best Small Towns and Island Villages Near La Digue
Sleepy fishing villages, granite-fringed island settlements, and the Seychelles' tiny capital, all an easy hop from La Digue.
Last updated June 25, 2026
Breathtaking view of La Digue's granite rock formations and turquoise water under a clear blue sky. · Holger Wulschlaeger
La Digue is barely 10 square kilometers of granite boulders, ox-carts, and bicycle paths, so "small town" is relative here. The real reward is how easy it is to island-hop from La Digue's jetty at La Passe to the villages and settlements scattered across the inner Seychelles, each with its own pace and personality.
This list ranges from Praslin's laid-back coastal villages, a 15-minute ferry away, to the Seychelles' pint-sized capital on Mahe and a handful of near-empty islands you reach by boat for a single perfect day. None of them is big, and that is the point: you come for quiet beaches, fresh grilled fish, and the sense that you have the place mostly to yourself.
Use it to plan day trips and overnights around La Digue. Each entry tells you what makes it worth the trip, what to eat and see, who it suits, and how to get there from La Digue by ferry or boat.
Planning a trip to La Digue?
| Place | Location | Getting there | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baie Sainte Anne (Praslin) | Praslin, ~15 min by fast ferry from La Digue | Cat Rose or Cat Cocos fast ferry from La Digue, about 15 minutes | a quick island-hop and the Vallee de Mai |
| Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), Praslin | North coast of Praslin, ~30 min from La Digue jetty | Ferry to Baie Sainte Anne, then a short bus or taxi ride across Praslin | swimming, snorkeling, and an easygoing beach day |
| Grand Anse (Praslin) | Southeast Praslin, ~25 min from La Digue plus a short transfer | Fast ferry to Baie Sainte Anne, then bus or taxi across the island | wind-sports fans and travelers wanting a quieter Praslin |
| Victoria (Mahe) | Mahe, ~1 hr 15 min by fast ferry from La Digue | Cat Cocos fast ferry from La Digue, about 1 hour 15 minutes | culture, markets, and a city fix |
| Beau Vallon (Mahe) | Northwest Mahe, reached via the Cat Cocos ferry to Mahe | Cat Cocos ferry to Victoria, then about 20 minutes by bus or taxi | an overnight on Mahe with dining and diving |
| La Passe (La Digue) | La Digue's main village, at the ferry jetty | You are already here; the ferry jetty is in the village | a car-free base and easy cycling |
| Felicite Island | ~10 min by boat northeast of La Digue | Short boat trip from La Digue, usually part of an island-hopping tour | snorkelers and a half-day boat escape |
| Sister Islands (Grande Soeur) | ~40 min by boat northeast of La Digue | By organized boat tour from La Digue, about 40 minutes each way | a castaway snorkeling day |
1
Baie Sainte Anne (Praslin)Praslin, ~15 min by fast ferry from La Digue Google
Praslin's main settlement is a strung-out village wrapped around a working harbor, and it is your gateway to the island and the famous Vallee de Mai. The pace is unhurried: a few shops, a fish market, takeaways selling fresh tuna steaks, and not much else, which is exactly the appeal. From here you can rent a bike or grab a bus to reach the rest of Praslin's beaches in minutes. It makes an easy half-day or a base for exploring the larger island.
- Vallee de Mai UNESCO reserve and its coco de mer palms
- Fresh fish at the harborside market
- Bus or bike rides to Praslin's beaches
Best for: a quick island-hop and the Vallee de Mai
Getting there: Cat Rose or Cat Cocos fast ferry from La Digue, about 15 minutes
2
Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), PraslinNorth coast of Praslin, ~30 min from La Digue jetty Google
Anse Volbert, often called Cote d'Or, is the closest thing Praslin has to a resort village, but it stays low-key: a long, shallow bay of pale sand backed by a handful of hotels, dive shops, and beach restaurants. The water is calm and clear, ideal for swimming and for kayaking out to little Chauve Souris islet just offshore. Boats leave from here for Curieuse and St Pierre, making it a natural launch point for snorkeling trips. Come sunset, the beachfront cafes fill with people ordering rum punch and grilled job fish.
- Calm swimming and kayaking to Chauve Souris islet
- Snorkeling boats to St Pierre and Curieuse
- Sunset drinks at beachfront restaurants
Best for: swimming, snorkeling, and an easygoing beach day
Getting there: Ferry to Baie Sainte Anne, then a short bus or taxi ride across Praslin
3
Grand Anse (Praslin)Southeast Praslin, ~25 min from La Digue plus a short transfer Google
On Praslin's wilder southeast coast, Grand Anse is a wide, breezy beach village where the trade winds keep things cooler and the crowds thinner than the north. The shallow lagoon turns into a kite-surfing playground in the windy season, and the long arc of sand is good for walking at low tide. It feels more residential and local than the resort strips, with small guesthouses and a couple of casual eateries. Pair it with neighboring Anse Kerlan or Anse Lazio if you want to chase the island's best beaches.
- Wide windswept beach good for long walks
- Kite-surfing in the windy months
- Quick trips to Anse Lazio, often rated among the world's best beaches
Best for: wind-sports fans and travelers wanting a quieter Praslin
Getting there: Fast ferry to Baie Sainte Anne, then bus or taxi across the island
4
Victoria (Mahe)Mahe, ~1 hr 15 min by fast ferry from La Digue Google
The Seychelles' capital is one of the smallest in the world and easily walked in an afternoon, which makes it a charming change of scene from the islands. The heart of it is the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, where vendors sell spices, vanilla pods, fish, and tropical fruit under a tin roof. Wander to the silver Clock Tower, the colorful Hindu temple, and the Botanical Gardens with its giant tortoises and coco de mer palms. It is the obvious stop if you want shopping, museums, and a stronger dose of Creole town life.
- Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
- The Victoria Clock Tower and Hindu temple
- Seychelles National Botanical Gardens
Best for: culture, markets, and a city fix
Getting there: Cat Cocos fast ferry from La Digue, about 1 hour 15 minutes
5
Beau Vallon (Mahe)Northwest Mahe, reached via the Cat Cocos ferry to Mahe Google
Beau Vallon is Mahe's most popular beach village, a long sweep of sand with safe swimming, dive centers, and a relaxed strip of bars and restaurants. The Wednesday-evening Bazar Labrin market brings out food stalls grilling fish and skewers, plus live sega music and local crafts. It is busier than anywhere on La Digue, but for an overnight on Mahe it has the best mix of beach, dining, and water sports. Divers use it as a base to explore the reefs and wrecks around the marine park.
- Long, swimmable beach with water sports
- Wednesday Bazar Labrin street-food market
- Diving around the Baie Ternay marine park
Best for: an overnight on Mahe with dining and diving
Getting there: Cat Cocos ferry to Victoria, then about 20 minutes by bus or taxi
6
La Passe (La Digue)La Digue's main village, at the ferry jetty Google
If you want a "small town" experience without leaving La Digue, La Passe is it, and it sets the tone for the whole island. There are almost no cars: people move by bicycle and ox-cart, and the lanes are lined with Creole houses, bike-rental stands, and small cafes. Stop at L'Union Estate to see the old copra mill, the giant tortoises, and the path to Anse Source d'Argent, one of the most photographed beaches on earth. Rent a bicycle here and the rest of the island opens up.
- Anse Source d'Argent and its granite boulders
- L'Union Estate copra mill and tortoise enclosure
- Cycling the car-free village lanes
Best for: a car-free base and easy cycling
Getting there: You are already here; the ferry jetty is in the village
7
Felicite Island~10 min by boat northeast of La Digue Google
Tiny Felicite rises just off La Digue's northeast coast, a granite-and-jungle island ringed by clear water and home to a single high-end retreat. Most visitors come on a boat trip for the snorkeling, where the reefs around Felicite and neighboring Coco and Sister Islands are some of the richest in the area, with turtles and reef fish in abundance. It is the kind of place where you swim, picnic, and watch the boulders glow at golden hour. Book a half-day boat tour from La Digue to do it properly.
- Snorkeling reefs with turtles and reef fish
- Granite scenery and quiet coves
- Boat picnics off the island's beaches
Best for: snorkelers and a half-day boat escape
Getting there: Short boat trip from La Digue, usually part of an island-hopping tour
8
Sister Islands (Grande Soeur)~40 min by boat northeast of La Digue Google
The two Sister Islands, with Grande Soeur the larger, are uninhabited granite outcrops ringed by some of the clearest water in the inner Seychelles. Day boats anchor off two pristine beaches where you can snorkel straight off the sand and, in season, share the bay with sea turtles. There are no facilities, just shade trees, soft sand, and a barbecue lunch laid on by tour operators. It is the classic castaway day out from La Digue, often combined with Coco and Felicite.
- Two empty white-sand beaches
- Snorkeling with turtles in season
- Barbecue lunch on a deserted island
Best for: a castaway snorkeling day
Getting there: By organized boat tour from La Digue, about 40 minutes each way
Good to Know
Getting around There are no rental cars on La Digue; rent a bicycle in La Passe and use the Cat Cocos and Cat Rose fast ferries to reach Praslin and Mahe. Book ferry seats in advance in high season.
When to go April-May and October-November bring the calmest seas and best snorkeling visibility. The southeast trade winds (June-September) make beaches like Grand Anse breezy and good for kite-surfing.
Island day trips Boat trips to Felicite, Coco, and the Sister Islands sell out, so reserve a day or two ahead through your guesthouse or a local operator, and bring reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes.
Money Carry some Seychellois rupees in cash for market stalls, bike rentals, and small takeaways, as card acceptance is patchy outside hotels and bigger restaurants.
Park fees Reserves like the Vallee de Mai on Praslin and Curieuse Marine National Park charge entry fees; have cash ready and start early to beat the midday heat and tour groups.
Few island bases make hopping between sleepy villages and empty beaches as effortless as La Digue. Set up in La Passe, rent a bike, and let the ferries and day boats carry you to Praslin's coastal villages, the tiny capital on Mahe, and islands where you may be the only footprints on the sand. Pin a few of these, book your ferries early, and build the kind of slow, beach-strung itinerary the Seychelles do best.