The Seychelles—an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean—has long lured explorers, spice traders, and modern-day beach seekers. Once a colonial crossroads, it’s now a leader in ocean conservation, where granite boulders cradle powder-white beaches and the rare coco de mer palm guards an ancient forest. English, French, and Creole weave through island life, and traditional moutay music spills from open-air bars at dusk.

Expect postcard-perfect coves, UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai, giant Aldabra tortoises, and water so clear you’ll swear the fish are floating in air. The main islands—Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue—are close enough for easy ferries, yet distinct in personality: Mahé brings markets and mountains, Praslin pairs rainforests with bays, and La Digue slows time to a gentle pedal.

Practical notes: most travelers need to complete the Seychelles Electronic Travel Authorization before arrival; drive on the left; the currency is the Seychellois rupee (SCR); and reef-safe sunscreen is essential. Fly into Mahé (SEZ) and pack for humidity, trade winds, and spontaneous swims.

Mahé (Victoria)

Mahé is the Seychelles in miniature—mountains and tea fields tumbling to beaches, a capital city with a British clocktower, and a coastline dotted with Creole grills. Base yourself near Beau Vallon for sunsets and swimming or Port Glaud for wild blue lagoons.

Arrive by air into SEZ. For international or domestic flight options, compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Taxis are plentiful, but a rental car (left-side driving) gives you beach-to-beach freedom.

Days 1–5: Markets, Marine Parks, and Mountain Views

Start in Victoria: browse the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market for vanilla, masala mixes, and ripe mangoes; snap the silver Clocktower; and visit the Botanical Gardens to meet giant tortoises and fruit bats. Then follow the Sans Souci Road to Mission Lodge for a balcony-of-the-world view over the misty interior.

Spend a day in the Sainte Anne Marine National Park—glass-clear snorkeling, sea turtles, and a sandy lunch on Moyenne Island—then unwind on Beau Vallon’s wide arc of beach. For a wilder south, head to Anse Intendance (watch currents) and La Plaine St. André for a Takamaka rum tasting.

• Unmissable tours from Mahé (book 1–3):
• Sainte Anne Marine Park and Moyenne Island

  

  Classic Seychelles: coral gardens, fish feeding, and island time on a protected islet.

• Semi Submarine Tour in Saint Anne Marine National Park

  

  See reef life without getting wet—perfect after a flight or with kids in tow.

• Explore Mare Aux Cochons Trail

  

  A lush valley hike past cinnamon and nutmeg—cool shade, river sounds, and panoramic lookouts.

• Beautiful island tour 5-6 hours | Mahé, Seychelles | Private Tour

  

  Tailor a coastal circuit—Bel Ombre to Port Glaud—stopping for viewpoints and hidden coves.

• Eat & drink (Mahé):
• Breakfast/coffee: La Dolce Vita (Victoria) for espresso and croissants; Chatterbox Café (Eden Plaza) for iced lattes and banana pancakes.
• Lunch: Del Place (Port Glaud) for octopus curry with lagoon views; Bravo! Restaurant (Eden Island) for wood-fired pizzas by the marina.
• Dinner: Marie Antoinette (heritage Creole set menu—grilled fish, aubergine chutney); La Perle Noire (Beau Vallon) for grilled red snapper; La Scala (Bel Ombre) for Italian-Seychellois seafood, a local date-night classic.

• Where to stay (search and compare): VRBO Mahé | Hotels.com Mahé
• Consider Beau Vallon (beach time: STORY Seychelles, Savoy), Port Glaud (nature: Constance Ephelia), or Baie Lazare (south-coast coves: Kempinski).

Travel to Praslin (Morning of Day 6)

Ferry: Cat Cocos from Mahé to Praslin, ~1 hour, from ~$65–$80 one-way. Morning departures are smoothest; seas can be choppy in trade-wind seasons. Book here:

Cat Cocos: Mahe to Praslin Island Fast Ferry

Optional flight: Mahé–Praslin (approx. 15 minutes) often from $110–$160 one-way—check Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Praslin Island

Praslin balances beach bliss with rainforest mystique. The UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai shelters the coco de mer palm and black parrots, while the north coast arcs from Cote d’Or’s gentle shallows to the cinematic granite of Anse Lazio.

Days 6–9: Vallée de Mai, Anse Lazio, and Tortoises of Curieuse

Dedicate a morning to the Vallée de Mai’s palm cathedral—sunbeams, birdsong, and prehistoric vibes. Follow with a lazy afternoon at Anse Lazio; snorkel along the rocks and lunch at Le Chevalier Bay Restaurant (try the grilled job fish and mango salad).

Spend a full day by boat to Curieuse Island to walk among free-roaming giant tortoises, then snorkel St Pierre’s aquarium-like reef. Evenings are for Cote d’Or’s barefoot bars and a skyful of stars.

• Top tours on Praslin (pick 1–3):
• Curieuse,St Pierre &AnseLafarine fullday trip CreoleBBQ

  

  Classic combo: tortoises, snorkeling, and a beachside Creole barbecue.

• Full Day Discovery Tour of Vallee de Mai and Anse Lazio

  

  UNESCO forest plus Seychelles’ most beloved beach, all handled in one seamless day.

• Private Seychelles Islands Tour by Boat with snacks & drinks

  

  Set your own rhythm—sunken boulders, secret sandbars, and quiet coves.

• Eat & drink (Praslin):
• Breakfast/coffee: Café des Arts (Cote d’Or) for espresso and tropical fruit plates; Village Takeaway for samosas and fresh bakes to-go.
• Lunch: Le Chevalier Bay Restaurant (near Anse Lazio) for grilled fish and salads; Pirogue Restaurant & Bar (Cote d’Or) for octopus curry and passionfruit mojitos.
• Dinner: Les Lauriers (eco-hotel’s famed grill and salads); Le Duc de Praslin’s Café des Arts at night for refined Creole-meets-Mediterranean plates.

• Where to stay (search and compare): VRBO Praslin | Hotels.com Praslin
• Favorites: Constance Lemuria (gateway to Anse Georgette), Le Duc de Praslin (steps from Cote d’Or), Paradise Sun (palm-fringed bungalows).

Travel to La Digue (Morning of Day 10)

Ferry: From Praslin to La Digue on the inter-island ferry (often called Cat Rose), ~15 minutes, around ~$18–$25 one-way. Depart early to maximize beach time.

Alternative from Mahé: If you prefer to go direct on another trip, the Cat Cocos runs to La Digue (some services route via Praslin). Book here: Cat Cocos: Mahe to La Digue Island Fast Ferry.

La Digue

La Digue is bicycle island—no traffic, just breezes and birds, with vanilla-scented paths leading to boulder-strewn beaches. Here, time slows: you’ll measure the day in swims, coconut stops, and the angle of the sun across rose-gold granite.

Days 10–13: Bikes, Bays, and Boulders

Rent bikes and roll to L’Union Estate (historic copra mill and vanilla house; entry fee applies) before drifting onto Anse Source d’Argent, where pale sand slips between giant stones and lagoons shimmer turquoise. Aim for morning or late afternoon for softer light and fewer people.

Set aside a day for the Grand Anse–Petite Anse–Anse Cocos trio: hike along coastal tracks, swim in protected pools, and picnic in the shade of takamaka trees. For a sky-high view, climb partway up Nid d’Aigle near sunset.

• Great add-on by boat (start from nearby Praslin; easy with an early ferry over and back):
• Full Day Sister, Coco, Felicite and La Digue

  

  A multi-island snorkel day with glassy reefs and castaway sands—pairs perfectly with a La Digue stay.

• Eat & drink (La Digue):
• Breakfast/coffee: Réve Café & Restaurant (La Passe) for cappuccinos and crepes; Old Pier Café (inside L’Union Estate) for fruit bowls and sea breezes.
• Lunch: Chez Jules (Anse Banane) for grilled fish, fresh juices, and ocean views; Mi Mum’s Takeaway (La Passe) for heaping Creole plates at local prices.
• Dinner: Fish Trap Restaurant & Bar (sunset over the harbour; try the tuna steak with vanilla sauce); Le Nautique Waterfront Restaurant (refined island fare); Snack Bellevue up the hill for a rustic, starry-night feast.

• Where to stay (search and compare): VRBO La Digue | Hotels.com La Digue
• Top picks: Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie (tropical villas), Le Repaire Boutique Hotel (beachfront intimacy), La Digue Island Lodge (heritage chalets on a prime strip of sand).

Return to Mahé & Departure (Day 14)

Morning ferry La Digue → Praslin (~15 min) → Mahé (~1 hour). For the Praslin → Mahé leg, book: Cat Cocos: Praslin Island to Mahe Island Fast Ferry.

International flights depart from SEZ (Mahé). Compare fares and schedules on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Extra day ideas if you extend Mahé

Swap one beach day for a Copolia Trail sunrise (granite domes, blue horizons), or string together snorkel stops in Baie Ternay. Prefer sand-over-steps? Book this chilled private beach circuit:

Beaches, swimming & snorkeling | Mahe, Seychelles | Private Tour

Fourteen days in the Seychelles gives you the full sweep: market mornings in Victoria, forest whispers in Vallée de Mai, and bike-breeze afternoons on La Digue. You’ll leave with salt in your hair, the taste of cinnamon in your cooking, and a vow to return.