Travel in the Seychelles: when to go, places and advice

115 islands set on a turquoise ocean, and probably the most beautiful beaches in the world: the pink granite boulders of Anse Source d'Argent, the perfect curve of Anse Lazio, the coco de mer palms of the UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai and giant tortoises roaming free. Mahé, Praslin and La Digue link up by ferry, between jungle hikes, snorkelling on the reefs and lilting Creole. A paradise that is less hard-won than you would think: the low season makes the archipelago surprisingly accessible.

Capital: Victoria
Currency: Seychellois rupee (SCR)
Language: Creole, English, French
Direct flight: ≈ 10 hr from Paris
Time difference: +3 hr in winter, +2 hr in summer

Itineraries

Our trip ideas in the Seychelles

The itineraries in the Seychelles are in the works: the day-by-day programme, named hotels, tickets to book flagged in advance. Leave your address to be notified when they come out.

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The right season

When to go in the Seychelles?

It is sunny and 28 °C all year round: the Seychelles have no bad season, only two winds. The shoulder seasons (April-May, October-November) offer glassy seas, perfect snorkelling visibility and ideal light. From December to March, the north-west trade wind brings brief showers; from June to September, the south-east one cools things down and stirs the swell on the exposed coasts.

January : Pleasant
February : Pleasant
March : Pleasant
April : Ideal
May : Ideal
June : Pleasant
July : Pleasant
August : Pleasant
September : Pleasant
October : Ideal
November : Ideal
December : Pleasant

Ideal
Pleasant
In-between
Avoid

Quick guide

Understanding the Seychelles

Getting around

The Cat Cocos ferries link Mahé, Praslin and La Digue; on La Digue, everything is done by bike. On Mahé and Praslin, a rental car is the smart move, the SPTC buses help out for three rupees.

Money

The Seychellois rupee (SCR). Hotels and excursions are often paid in euros, daily life in rupees. Cards work well, keep cash for the Creole takeaways.

Language

Seychellois Creole day to day, English and French official: everyone will answer you in fluent English or French. Zero barrier.

Useful apps

The Cat Cocos and Inter Island ferry timetables, a marine weather app to pick the side of the island by the swell, and SeyLoc for private rentals.

Accommodation

Creole guesthouses and self-caterings cut the bill to a third of the resorts: that is the secret of an affordable stay. La Digue books out months ahead.

Etiquette

Greet with a bonzour, touch neither corals nor tortoises, and take no coco de mer without a certificate: the archipelago protects its treasure seriously.

The iconic places

Anse Source d'Argent

La Digue

The most photographed beach in the world: sculpted granite, powdery sand and a shallow lagoon, in the golden late-afternoon light.

Vallée de Mai

Praslin

The primeval forest of the coco de mer, endemic palms with legendary fruit, UNESCO sanctuary of the black parrot.

Anse Lazio

Praslin

The perfect curve: translucent water, pink granite and leaning takamaka trees. The snorkelling at the foot of the rocks is superb.

Victoria

Mahé

One of the smallest capitals in the world: a colourful Creole market, a Tamil temple and a clock tower inherited from London.

Morne Seychellois

Mahé

The summit of the archipelago (905 m) and its trails through the cloud forest, tea plantations and ocean panoramas.

Curieuse Island

Praslin

The island of free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, mangroves and a Creole picnic on the beach, ten minutes by boat from Praslin.

Tap a dot, or browse the list below the map.

Anse Source d'Argent : The beach of legendary granite
Vallée de Mai : The coco de mer palms, UNESCO
Anse Lazio : The perfect curve of Praslin
Curieuse Island : Giant tortoises roaming free
Victoria : The pocket-sized Creole capital
Beau Vallon : Mahé's big lively beach
Morne Seychellois : Hikes in the cloud forest
Anse Intendance : Rollers and immaculate sand in the south