The Seychelles are an Indian Ocean archipelago of 115 islands where jungle-coated peaks drop into turquoise lagoons. Once a pirate hideout, the islands were colonized by the French and British and gained independence in 1976—today blending Creole, African, Asian, and European heritage. You’ll notice it in the food: octopus curry, coconut-laced ladob, and smoky fish grills eaten with toes in the sand.

Nature here is rare and ancient. Seychelles’ granite islands are among the oldest on earth, and its flora includes the coco de mer—the world’s heaviest seed—thriving in the UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai. Giant Aldabra tortoises roam on Curieuse; neon reef fish school around Sainte Anne Marine National Park; and La Digue’s boulder-studded beaches define the word idyllic.

Practical notes: the local currency is the Seychelles rupee (SCR); English, French, and Seychellois Creole are widely spoken. Driving is on the left on Mahé and Praslin; buses are cheap, taxis and private drivers are common, and ferries connect the main islands. For flights to Seychelles (SEZ), compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; typical one-stop routings connect via Dubai, Doha, Addis Ababa, or Nairobi.

Mahé (Victoria & Beau Vallon)

Mahé is the largest island and home to the capital, Victoria—one of the world’s tiniest capitals, crowned by a silver clocktower modeled on London’s Vauxhall clock. From bustling markets to hidden jungle pools and broad beaches like Beau Vallon and Anse Intendance, Mahé is your gateway to Seychelles culture and cuisine.

Top sights include the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, Seychelles National Botanical Gardens (meet giant tortoises), tea plantations in the misty hills, and the calm reefs of Sainte Anne Marine National Park. Food-wise, expect fresh grilled red snapper, pumpkin chutney, coconut curries, and roadside rotis perfuming the air with curry leaves.

• Stay near Beau Vallon for swimmable beaches and sunset dining; consider Victoria for easy market mornings and ferry access.
• Where to stay: browse stays on VRBO Mahé or compare hotels on Hotels.com Mahé.
• Getting in: Fly to SEZ (Mahé). Check fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Highly rated experiences on Mahé:

• Reef Safari - Snorkeling, Fish Feeding & Lunch (Shared Day Trip) to Sainte Anne Marine National Park.

• Semi Submarine Tour in Saint Anne Marine National Park for reef viewing without getting wet.

• Rock Pool, dreamlike & unique experience | Mahé | Private hike to a natural tide pool hidden by jungle and granite.

Day 1: Land in Mahé, set your island pace

Afternoon: Arrive at SEZ and transfer to Beau Vallon or Victoria (25–35 minutes by car). Settle in and stroll the beach—the water is usually calm enough for a dip after a long flight. Coffee and gelato pick-me-up at La Dolce Vita in Victoria; try passionfruit sorbet or an espresso granita.

Evening: Sunset dinner on the sand at La Plage (grilled red snapper, pumpkin chutney) or The Boat House (Creole buffet: octopus curry, breadfruit chips). Nightcap at Eden Island’s Boardwalk Bar & Grill overlooking the marina.

Day 2: Victoria, market flavors and Beau Vallon blue

Morning: Explore the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market for vanilla pods, cinnamon bark, and chutneys; snack on coconut nougat. See the Victoria Clocktower and stop at the Botanical Gardens to meet giant tortoises and see spice trees.

Afternoon: Beach time at Beau Vallon—rent a paddleboard or snorkel near the reef. Lunch at Baobab Pizzeria (paper-thin pies with local tuna) or the Boat House Café for grilled fish and salads.

Evening: Head to Del Place in Port Glaud for sunset over mangroves; order octopus bourgeoise and banana flambe. If you prefer fine-dining Creole, book Marie Antoinette in Victoria, serving a heritage menu since the 1970s.

Day 3: South Mahé beaches and spice garden

Morning: Drive the coastal road to Anse Intendance for sweeping surf and photo-friendly granite. Continue to Anse Royale’s Kafe Kreol for brunch—mango pancakes, smoked fish salad, fresh lime juice.

Afternoon: Visit the Jardin du Roi spice garden above Anse Royale for nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon trails; the small museum tells the island’s spice story. Swim at Baie Lazare or Anse Soleil (usually calmer).

Evening: Back near Eden Island for dinner at Bravo! (Seychellois tuna tartare, wood-oven pizza) or The Maharajas if you’re craving spice-laden Indian curries.

Day 4: Sainte Anne Marine Park—reef day

Day tour (no need to split): Join the Reef Safari - Snorkeling, Fish Feeding & Lunch to Sainte Anne Marine National Park—expect coral gardens, schools of sergeant majors, and a Creole BBQ onboard or beachside. Families or non-swimmers can add the Semi Submarine Tour for below-the-surface views without getting wet.

Evening: Easy dinner near Beau Vallon—Casual grills at Boat House or tapas and rum cocktails back at Eden Island.

Praslin

Praslin is quieter, scalloped with silky coves and home to the UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai. Here, the legendary coco de mer—with its double-lobed seed—thrives beneath whispering palms. The island’s north, Côte d’Or, is perfect for swimming, while Grand Anse offers long empty walks at low tide.

Don’t miss Anse Lazio—often ranked among the world’s best beaches—for jade water and classic Seychelles granite formations. Offshore, Curieuse Island shelters giant Aldabra tortoises and mangroves; St Pierre is a postcard-perfect snorkeling stop ringed by palms.

• Where to stay: see VRBO Praslin and Hotels.com Praslin.
• Tastiest tables: Les Rochers (seaside Creole, book for sunset), Café des Arts (fine dining by the beach), Pirogue Restaurant & Bar (grilled fish and bat curry for the adventurous), and casual Coco Rouge Takeaway for generous plates at local prices.

Top Praslin boat days:

• Curieuse, St Pierre & Anse Lafarine Full-Day Trip with Creole BBQ—tortoises, mangroves, snorkeling, and lunch.

• Half Day Curieuse and St Pierre Island—a shorter option if you prefer a beachy afternoon back on Praslin.

Day 5: Ferry to Praslin, UNESCO palms and beach time

Morning: Travel from Mahé to Praslin by fast ferry (approx. 1 hour). Book the Cat Cocos: Mahé to Praslin Island Fast Ferry—expect about $65–$80 one-way, depending on class and season.

Afternoon: Check in near Côte d’Or. Visit Vallée de Mai (1.5–2 hours) to see coco de mer palms and black parrots if you’re lucky. Light late lunch at Pirogue—grilled jackfish, breadfruit salad.

Evening: Sunset cocktails and grilled lobster at Café des Arts, or go local at Coco Rouge Takeaway (curries, grilled fish, fresh juices). Stroll Côte d’Or beach under a sky full of southern stars.

Day 6: Curieuse tortoises and St Pierre snorkel

Day tour (no need to split): Join the Curieuse, St Pierre & Anse Lafarine Full-Day Trip with Creole BBQ. Hand-feed giant Aldabra tortoises on Curieuse, walk the mangrove boardwalk to Doctor’s House, then snorkel at St Pierre among butterflyfish and parrotfish before a beach BBQ.

Evening: Dinner at Les Rochers—octopus curry or smoked marlin carpaccio, with waves lapping the deck.

Day 7: Anse Lazio perfection and optional Anse Georgette

Morning: Head to Anse Lazio early for glassy water and easy snorkeling at the right-hand rocks. Coffee and croissants from a nearby beach kiosk, then swim and laze.

Afternoon: Lunch at Bonbon Plume just behind the sand (grilled fish, palm heart salad). If seas and tide allow, hike to Anse Georgette or arrange access via Constance Lemuria security—numbers are limited, so check a day ahead through your hotel.

Evening: Casual takeaways back on Côte d’Or or a celebratory dinner at Café des Arts with a vanilla-rum mojito.

La Digue

La Digue moves at bicycle speed. Ox-carts once ferried coconuts through L’Union Estate; today, nearly everyone cycles to pink-granite beaches. Anse Source d’Argent is the icon—powdery sand winding between house-large boulders—while the south coast hides wild coves and natural pools.

Days here start with bakery pastries and end with toes-in-sand grills. Expect fresh juices, coconut curries, papaya salads, and simple Creole plates served at friendly takeaways.

• Where to stay: search VRBO La Digue or compare on Hotels.com La Digue.
• Eat and drink: Fish Trap (grilled catch of the day, sundowners), Le Repaire (excellent Italian/Creole crossover), Rey & Josh Café Takeaway (rotis and curries), Lanbousier beach shack at Source d’Argent for fresh juices and grills.

Signature La Digue experience:

• Anse Marron Tour—a guided boulder-and-beach adventure to turquoise rock pools at the island’s wild south.

Day 8: Praslin to La Digue, bikes and Source d’Argent

Morning: Hop from Praslin to La Digue via the 15–20 minute fast ferry; book the Cat Rose: Praslin / La Digue Fast Ferry (about $20–$30 each way). On arrival, rent bicycles near the pier.

Afternoon: Cycle to L’Union Estate (coconuts, copra kiln) and on to Anse Source d’Argent. Wade between smooth boulders to find pocket coves with knee-deep, kid-friendly water.

Evening: Sundowners and grilled fish at Fish Trap. For dessert, coconut tart at Le Repaire or a scoop of soursop ice cream from a local stand.

Day 9: Guided Anse Marron adventure

Day tour (no need to split): Tackle the Anse Marron Tour—guides lead you along coastal paths and between granite corridors to natural swimming pools framed by the open ocean. Wear reef-safe sunscreen and sturdy water shoes.

Evening: Celebrate with Creole plates at Lanbousier or tuck into grilled octopus at Chez Jules up on Anse Banane. If you want a view-rich evening, book Belle Vue Snack for a simple, hearty dinner above the island (arrange transport via your guesthouse).

Day 10: Sunrise swim, ferry to Mahé, and departure

Morning: Sunrise at Grand Anse or the natural pools at Anse Cocos (check surf conditions; often rough). Return bikes, then board the ferry back to Mahé. Book the Cat Cocos: La Digue to Mahé Island Fast Ferry (typically 1h15–1h30, sometimes via Praslin; plan buffer time; from ~$75).

Afternoon: Fly out of SEZ. Check options on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. If you’ve extra time, grab a last Creole lunch at a Mahé beach café near the airport.

Optional/Alternative Experiences and Transfers

• Prefer a driver-guided overview on Mahé? Try the Mahe Island tour or Private Mahe island tours! for history, viewpoints, and hidden coves.

• Returning from Praslin to Mahé at the end instead? Book the Cat Cocos: Praslin to Mahé Fast Ferry (about 1 hour, from ~$65).

Local tips:

• Sun and sea: Reef-safe sunscreen is essential; waves on south coasts can be strong—ask lifeguards/hotel staff before swimming.
• Money: Cards are widely accepted; small takeaways and fruit stalls prefer cash. ATMs are in Victoria, Beau Vallon, Praslin’s Baie Ste Anne, and La Digue (near the jetty).
• Transport: Buses are reliable and inexpensive on Mahé/Praslin; car rental on Mahé runs roughly $45–$65/day. On La Digue, bicycles rule.

In 10 days you’ll thread three islands, from Mahé’s markets and marine park to Praslin’s UNESCO palms and La Digue’s painterly beaches. You’ll taste Creole cooking, swim over reefs, meet giant tortoises, and ferry across postcard channels—a classic Seychelles island-hopping journey, balanced and unforgettable.