# Seychelles: map, what to do and when to go

Three granite islands, beaches between boulders and the coco de mer forest, linked by ferry

Canonical: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/
Language: en. Extended author commentary and itinerary notes may remain in Portuguese. Dates below belong to individual sources; this is not live availability.

## Direct answer
- **Seychelles: how do I get from the airport to Victoria?** Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) is on the east coast of Mahé, south of Victoria, and is the country's only international gateway.
- **Seychelles: what do I need to enter the country?** Before flying to the country, every foreign visitor needs the Travel Authorisation, applied for online on the government's official portal (seychelles.govtas.com), and proof of accommodation and onward ticket.
- **Seychelles: how many days should I plan, and how should I split them between the islands?** I'd book five full days for the three islands, not counting arrival day: two on Mahé, one on Praslin and two on La Digue, with a night on the island between them.

## Victoria and Beau Vallon
Start early at the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market and walk through the center: the clock tower and the Hindu temple are a few blocks away.
- Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
- Beau Vallon

## Mahé's mountains and the south
Set out early for a trail before the heat: Anse Major, from Bel Ombre (45 minutes to an hour and a half each way), or Copolia, on the Sans Souci road (about two hours round trip, with a view over Victoria and Sainte Anne).
- Anse Major
- Anse Soleil
- Domaine de Val des Prés

## Praslin: the Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio
Take a morning Cat Cocos ferry from the Victoria jetty to Baie Sainte Anne (about 1 hour 15 minutes), arriving at the jetty 30 minutes early with your passport.
- Vallée de Mai
- Anse Lazio
- Grand Anse

## La Digue: L'Union Estate and Anse Source d'Argent
Take a ferry from Baie Sainte Anne to La Passe (15 minutes) and leave your luggage at the guesthouse.
- Anse Source d'Argent
- L'Union Estate
- Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve
- Veuve Nature Reserve

## La Digue's east coast and the return
Very early, climb Nid d'Aigle (333 m), about 4 km with little shade, to see the island and its neighbors.
- Anse Cocos
- Nid d'Aigle

## Anse Source d'Argent
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-anse-source-d-argent
La Digue · One to two hours
The most photographed beach in the Seychelles lies on the southwest coast of La Digue: white sand, shallow water sheltered by a reef and huge granite boulders, smoothed by time, that divide small coves. Access is through the former plantation of L'Union Estate, with an entrance fee. The tide rules the visit: at low tide the water is too shallow for swimming and it is time to walk between the coves; at high tide the lagoon is good for swimming and beginner snorkeling. It is busiest around midday.
Check access

## Vallée de Mai
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-vallee-de-mai
One to two hours
A nature reserve on Praslin and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, with 19.5 hectares of forest of endemic palms. The star is the coco de mer, which bears the largest seed in the plant kingdom, but the forest shelters five other endemic palms and animals found only there and on a few neighboring islands, such as the Seychelles black parrot. The trails run from about 1.5 km to 4 km. It is open every day from 08:30 to 16:30, with last entry at 15:30, and closes on Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is SCR 450, payable in rupees, euros, dollars or pounds; the ticket can be bought online on the Seychelles Islands Foundation website. Flash photography is not allowed.
Check access

## L'Union Estate
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-l-union-estate
La Digue · Up to half an hour
A former coconut and vanilla plantation on La Digue, now a park and the obligatory way to Anse Source d'Argent. It has a traditional copra mill, a farmhouse in French colonial style, a vanilla plantation and an enclosure with Aldabra giant tortoises. Entry is paid and the ticket is valid for the whole day, with free entry and exit; in September 2026, it cost SCR 150 per non-resident adult.
Check access

## Morne Seychellois National Park
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-morne-seychellois-national-park
Half a day or more
The park covers about a fifth of Mahé with forest, granite boulders and the Morne Seychellois, at 905 m the highest point in the country. Above 600 m there are patches of primary forest with rare plants, such as the jellyfish tree and the pitcher plant Nepenthes pervillei. For those short on time, the Copolia trail takes about two hours round trip to a plateau with a view over Victoria and the Sainte Anne marine park. By car, the Sans Souci road crosses the park from Victoria to Port Glaud.
Check access

## Anse Lazio
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-anse-lazio
Praslin · One to two hours
A beach at the far northwest of Praslin, with clear water, good for swimming and snorkeling, granite boulders at the ends and vegetation reaching the sand. It is far from the ferry port and calls for a car, taxi or bus.
Check access

## Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-sir-selwyn-selwyn-clarke-market
Victoria · Up to half an hour
Victoria's central market sells fresh fish, tropical fruit and spices grown on the islands. It is worth going early, when there is more fish and more activity.
Check access

## National Museum of History
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-national-museum-of-history
Up to half an hour
A museum in Victoria that tells of the settlement of the islands, slavery, plantation life and independence. It holds the Stone of Possession set up by the French in 1756, the oldest monument in the country. Check the opening hours before going.
Check access

## Sri Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-sri-navasakthi-vinayagar-temple
Up to half an hour
A Hindu temple in Victoria, dedicated to Vinayagar (Ganesha) and attended by the Indo-Seychellois community, the second-largest religious community in the country. It is a few blocks from the market and the clock tower, and fits well into the same walk through the center.
Check access

## Victoria Clock Tower
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-victoria-clock-tower
Victoria · Up to half an hour
The small clock tower at Victoria's central intersection, inspired by London's Little Ben, is now a national monument. It serves as a landmark for getting your bearings in town; the visit is simply passing by.
Check access

## Seychelles National Botanical Gardens
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-seychelles-national-botanical
One to two hours
A garden in Mont Fleuri, on the southern edge of Victoria, and one of the oldest national monuments. It has native palms, including the coco de mer, an enclosure of giant tortoises and a colony of fruit bats. It is the easiest way to see a coco de mer on Mahé.
Check access

## Beau Vallon
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-beau-vallon
Beau Vallon · One to two hours
Mahé's most popular beach, on the northwest coast: a strip of about 2 km of white sand with dive centers, water sports, hotels and restaurants. It is the area with the most nightlife outside Victoria.
Check access

## Anse Major
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-anse-major
Half a day or more
A small, secluded beach in northwest Mahé, with no road: you reach it by a trail that leaves from Bel Ombre and passes through Morne Seychellois park, taking 45 minutes to an hour and a half each way, depending on pace, or by boat. Bring water and set out early, before the heat.
Check access

## Anse Soleil
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-anse-soleil
One to two hours
A small cove in southwest Mahé, sheltered and good for swimming, between boulders and vegetation. You reach it by car along a narrow road.
Check access

## Domaine de Val des Prés
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-domaine-de-val-des-pres
Up to half an hour
The crafts village of Anse aux Pins brings together Creole architecture and craftsmanship: the Gran Kaz farmhouse, built around 1870, the Kaz Rosa, a 20th-century workers' house, and the Maison de Coco, made from coconut-palm materials. There are workshops and shops selling coconut-fiber and straw work.
Check access

## Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-fond-ferdinand-nature-reserve
One to two hours
A reserve in southern Praslin, also managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation, with coco de mer and guided trails that cross streams and climb to viewpoints over Praslin and the neighboring islands. There is an entrance fee, and the foundation sells a combined ticket with the Vallée de Mai.
Check access

## Anse Volbert
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-anse-volbert
One to two hours
The beach of the Côte d'Or, on Praslin's north coast, is the island's main one: white sand, calm, shallow water, boulders at the western end and a line of hotels, restaurants and dive operators. The boats to Curieuse and St Pierre leave from here.
Check access

## Grand Anse
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-grand-anse
One to two hours
A wide beach on the east coast of La Digue, with white sand, boulders and woodland around. With no reef to protect it, it gets strong waves and seasonal currents, and swimming is not always safe; it is a beach for local surfers. The trail to Petite Anse and Anse Cocos starts here.
Check access

## Anse Cocos
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-anse-cocos
Half a day or more
A beach on La Digue's east coast, reached by a trail from Grand Anse, passing Petite Anse. The boulders form natural pools at one end, but the open sea calls for the same care as at Grand Anse.
Check access

## Veuve Nature Reserve
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-veuve-nature-reserve
La Digue · Up to half an hour
A small reserve in the center of La Digue that protects the Seychelles paradise flycatcher, called veuve (widow) by locals. It has short trails and an information center at the entrance, and admission is free. Bring insect repellent.
Check access

## Nid d'Aigle
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-nid-d-aigle
La Digue · Half a day or more
The highest point on La Digue, at 333 m, reached by a trail of about 4 km, with little shade and some tiring stretches. The view takes in the island and its neighbors, including Praslin.
Check access

## Anse Sévère
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seychelles/#g-lugar-anse-severe
One to two hours
A beach north of La Passe, a short ride from the jetty, good for snorkeling near the rocks, with reef fish and, at times, turtles and rays.
Check access

**Seychelles: how do I get from the airport to Victoria?**
Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) is on the east coast of Mahé, south of Victoria, and is the country's only international gateway. There are car rental counters at the arrivals exit, taxis and SPTC buses to Victoria; on the bus, bring rupees in small notes, because change for large notes is not guaranteed.

**Seychelles: what do I need to enter the country?**
Before flying to the country, every foreign visitor needs the Travel Authorisation, applied for online on the government's official portal (seychelles.govtas.com), and proof of accommodation and onward ticket. Immigration checks the accommodation booking for the whole stay, and if you arrive without one, you may have to book and pay at the airport counter before passing through.

**Seychelles: how many days should I plan, and how should I split them between the islands?**
I'd book five full days for the three islands, not counting arrival day: two on Mahé, one on Praslin and two on La Digue, with a night on the island between them. Each ferry crossing takes up part of the day, and the three islands are different enough that cutting one changes the trip. On Mahé, the first day is Victoria and Beau Vallon, and the second is for the mountains, with an early trail and the southern coves by car. Praslin fits in a day if it starts on the morning ferry: the Vallée de Mai until early afternoon and Anse Lazio until sunset. On La Digue, the night on the island lets you go to Anse Source d'Argent at high tide on one day and have the next morning for the east coast and Nid d'Aigle, before the ferry back. With six days, I'd add a boat day from Praslin, to Curieuse and St Pierre, for the giant tortoises and the snorkeling.

**Seychelles: how do I get from one island to another?**
Cat Cocos links Mahé (Victoria jetty), Praslin (Baie Sainte Anne) and La Digue (La Passe). The crossing takes about 1 hour 15 minutes from Mahé to Praslin, 1 hour 45 minutes from Mahé to La Digue with a stop at Praslin and 1 hour 10 minutes on the direct route, which has few departures a week; between Praslin and La Digue it is 15 minutes. Schedules change by day of the week and are published by the company, and it is worth booking online in high season. You must arrive at the jetty 30 minutes early, with a passport or ID. Inter Island Ferry also runs the Praslin to La Digue leg. Air Seychelles flies between Mahé and Praslin's airport several times a day, on a short flight; it costs more than the ferry, but avoids the rough sea in the trade-wind months.

**Seychelles: is it worth sleeping on La Digue, or can I see Anse Source d'Argent on a day trip?**
I'd sleep at least one night on La Digue. From Mahé, the crossing, direct or via Praslin, eats up much of the day; from Praslin it's only 15 minutes, but if you sleep on the island you can pick your Anse Source d'Argent hour by the high tide and go before or after the midday crowds. At low tide the water is too shallow for swimming and it is time to walk between the coves; at high tide the lagoon is good for swimming and beginner snorkeling. Access to the beach is through the former plantation of L'Union Estate, with paid entry and a ticket valid for the whole day, with free entry and exit; in September 2026, it cost SCR 150 per non-resident adult.

**Seychelles: how do I get around La Digue?**
On La Digue there are no rental cars. The island is covered by bicycle, rented near the jetty or through your guesthouse; the west-coast road is flat. There are few taxis, and they are expensive, and the ox cart still makes short transfers near the jetty. Many guesthouses pick guests up at the ferry; confirm beforehand.

**Seychelles: when is the best time to go?**
April, October and November; these are the transition months between the two seasons, with variable winds and outside both the rain of the northwest monsoon (December to March) and the southeast trade wind (May to September). They are also the best for snorkeling and for combining the three islands. December and January, July and August and Easter are the busiest periods, with pricier accommodation that is harder to find.

**Seychelles: when is the Vallée de Mai open, and how much does it cost?**
The Vallée de Mai, on Praslin, is open every day from 08:30 to 16:30, with last entry at 15:30, and closes on Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is SCR 450, payable in rupees, euros, dollars or pounds; the ticket can be bought online on the Seychelles Islands Foundation website. Flash photography is not allowed. The foundation sells a ticket for the Vallée de Mai and Fond Ferdinand, with one entry to each reserve within ten days. Children under 12 do not pay, but must show ID.

**Seychelles: which boat trip is worth an extra day?**
Curieuse lies just off Praslin's north coast and is reached by boat from Anse Volbert, on the Côte d'Or, on an outing that usually combines the island with snorkeling at St Pierre, a nearby granite islet. The island and the surrounding sea form a national marine park, with hundreds of giant tortoises brought from Aldabra between 1978 and 1982, a mangrove trail between Anse José and Baie Laraie and the ruins of the old leper colony, with the Doctor's House, now a national monument. There is a park entrance fee, charged separately or included in the tour.

**Seychelles: is it better to pay in rupees or in euros?**
The currency is the Seychellois rupee (SCR). Foreigners can pay for hotels, ferries, car rental, tours and some entrance fees in euros or dollars, but change comes in rupees, and when the price tag shows both prices the exchange rate applied is usually unfavorable. Having rupees for the market, the bus and takeaway food avoids the conversion. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at almost every tourist business; banks and ATMs are mostly in Victoria, at the airport and near Beau Vallon, with branches also on Praslin and La Digue.

**Seychelles: do hotels charge a tourism levy?**
Since January 1, 2026, the tourism environmental levy is no longer charged at small accommodations (up to 24 rooms, as defined by the Seychelles Revenue Commission); at medium ones, up to 50 rooms, it is SCR 75 per person per night, and at those with 51 rooms or more, island resorts and yachts, SCR 100. Children up to 12 do not pay.

**Seychelles: what are the risks for visitors?**
The Seychelles are a peaceful destination, and the most concrete risks are the sea and opportunistic theft. Strong currents appear on beaches with no reef and in the season of the southeast trade wind: respect the warning signs and avoid swimming alone on isolated beaches. Do not leave a bag or phone alone on the sand or items in view in the car, and prefer lit streets at night. In Beau Vallon, the side road behind the beach has some suspicious activity at night, though those who are there tend to ignore passersby. Mosquitoes transmit dengue and chikungunya; use repellent, especially on forest trails and at the Veuve Nature Reserve. Outside Victoria, medical care is limited, and insurance with evacuation cover is prudent for anyone going to small islands.


## In the Nilo app
- Plan these 5 days on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/guide/seychelles/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-itinerary
- Mark your hotel on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/map/seychelles/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-stay

## Full editorial guide (Portuguese)
https://nilopelomundo.com/llm/seychelles.md