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Story Seychelles, Seychelles

Things to do guide

The best things to do in the Seychelles

Updated 1 October 2026 · 13 things to do

Pictured: Story Seychelles

The Seychelles has the beaches you've seen on every screensaver: enormous pink-grey granite boulders, powder-white sand and water in three shades of turquoise. The surprise is how much else is packed onto these granite islands. There are mountain forests, palms that grow the biggest seed on earth, giant tortoises ambling through reserves and a Creole kitchen that deserves its own trip.

Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are the three islands most visitors share, and the logistics are easy. Short flights and fast ferries link them, so you can hop from a mountain walk to a beach in a day. The trick is to leave the sunbed now and again.

Don't miss

  1. 1Anse Source d'Argent
  2. 2Vallée de Mai
  3. 3Anse Lazio
  4. 4Curieuse Island
  5. 5La Digue by bicycle

Beaches

Granite boulders and a lot of sand.

  1. Anse Source d'Argent

    Beach

    Granite boulders and shallow turquoise water at Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue
    Photo: NorbertNagel, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The beach that sells the Seychelles. On La Digue, huge sculpted granite boulders frame a shallow lagoon of glassy water, with palms leaning over soft sand. It's among the most photographed beaches in the world, and it lives up to the pictures, especially in the soft light of early morning or late afternoon.

    Tip: Enter through the L'Union Estate and arrive early, before the day trippers get off the ferry.

  2. Anse Lazio

    Beach

    The curve of white sand at Anse Lazio on Praslin
    Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Praslin's best beach is a long, gently curved swathe of fine sand at the island's north-west tip, backed by green hills and punctuated by boulders. The water is clear and good for a swim and a snorkel, and there are beach restaurants for lunch.

    Tip: Take care when swimming. Waves and currents here can be strong at times of the year.

  3. Beau Vallon

    Beach

    The beach at Beau Vallon on Mahé
    Photo: Hansueli Krapf This file was uploaded with Commonist., CC BY-SA 3.0

    Mahé's busiest and most social beach, a wide, curving bay on the north-west coast with plenty of cafés, dive centres, water sports and an evening scene. It's the most convenient base for visitors who like some life around them, and the sunsets are good.

  4. Anse Intendance

    Beach

    The open white-sand bay of Anse Intendance on Mahé
    Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY-SA 4.0

    On the wilder south coast of Mahé, this big, open bay of white sand is backed by trees, without a crowd. The swell can be strong, which makes it better for walking and watching the waves than for relaxed swimming. Come for the scenery and the wildness.

    Tip: Check conditions and any red flags before going into the water.

Nature and wildlife

  1. Vallée de Mai

    Nature

    Coco de mer nuts in the Vallée de Mai on Praslin
    Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl

    On Praslin, this UNESCO World Heritage palm forest is home to the coco de mer, a palm with a seed of astonishing size and shape that grows nowhere else in the wild. Shady paths wind between the towering palms and past rare birds, including the Seychelles black parrot.

    Tip: Visit in the morning when it is cooler, and bring insect repellent.

  2. Curieuse Island

    Wildlife

    An Aldabra giant tortoise on Curieuse Island
    Photo: NorbertNagel, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A short boat trip from Praslin brings you to Curieuse, a national marine park where giant Aldabra tortoises roam freely around the beach and a boardwalk crosses a mangrove. It's a gentle, wildlife-filled day out for the whole family.

  3. Morne Seychellois National Park

    Nature

    Rainforest in Morne Seychellois National Park on Mahé
    Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Mahé's mountainous interior is clothed in misty forest, with trails that climb to viewpoints looking out over the coast. It's a cool, green break from the beach, with orchids, pitcher plants and endemic birds if you're lucky.

    Tip: Trails can be steep and slippery. Wear proper shoes and take water.

  4. Cousin Island Special Reserve

    Wildlife

    Cousin Island, a small nature reserve in the Seychelles
    Photo: Dreizung, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A tiny conservation island, run as a nature reserve, where sea birds nest in their thousands and hawksbill turtles lay eggs on the beach in the right season. Visits are guided and limited, so it feels more like a field trip than a tourist stop.

    Tip: Visits are arranged through Praslin resorts and boat operators. Book ahead.

Island days

  1. La Digue by bicycle

    Activity

    A cyclist on a road on La Digue
    Photo: Didier Baertschiger from Genève, Suisse, CC BY-SA 2.0

    La Digue is small and almost car-free, and the best way to see it's on a hired bike. Pedal from the harbour past ox carts, the old plantation house, coconut palms and tiny beach cafés, and swim whenever the mood takes you. There's nowhere else quite like it.

    Tip: Pick up a bike at the jetty as soon as you land, and carry water and sun cream.

  2. Sainte Anne Marine National Park

    Nature

    A cluster of small islands just off Victoria, protected as a marine park, where boats take you to snorkel over coral gardens full of reef fish. It's one of the easiest ways to see the Seychelles' underwater world on a short day trip from Mahé.

  3. Victoria

    Neighbourhood

    The clock tower in the centre of Victoria on Mahé
    Photo: NorbertNagel, CC BY-SA 4.0

    One of the smallest capital cities in the world is a tidy little port of colonial buildings, temples, a clock tower modelled on London's Little Ben and a colourful market. The botanical garden is a pleasant walk, and the market is the place to buy spices and tropical fruit.

    Tip: Go in the morning, when the market is liveliest.

Eat and drink

  1. Creole curries

    Food

    Seychellois cooking blends African, Indian, French and Chinese flavours. Look for fish or octopus curry simmered with coconut milk, grilled fish with Creole sauce and fresh breadfruit chips. Small beachside restaurants and family-run takeaways are often better than the big hotel menus.

  2. Takamaka rum

    Food

    Mahé has its own distillery, Takamaka Bay Rum, on the old La Plaine St André plantation on the east coast. You can tour the estate and taste the spiced and coconut rums, and the setting alone is worth the detour.

Where to stay in Seychelles

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in the Seychelles →

Getting around

Fast ferries link Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, and short domestic flights connect Mahé and Praslin. On Mahé a hire car or taxi is best, though roads are narrow and winding. On La Digue, you cycle. Sea conditions can affect ferry timings, so leave a little slack before an international flight.

When to go

The Seychelles is warm all year. Roughly April–May and October–November are calmer and often best for swimming and snorkelling. From around June to September the south-east trade winds make some beaches choppier, while December to February brings the north-west monsoon with more rain.

Questions about visiting Seychelles

What is the Seychelles best known for?
Beaches framed by granite boulders, such as Anse Source d'Argent, plus clear water, rare wildlife like giant tortoises and the coco de mer palm, and luxury island resorts.
Is the Seychelles worth visiting?
Yes, if you love beaches and wildlife. It combines some of the most beautiful beaches in the world with national parks, marine reserves and Creole food.
What is there to do in the Seychelles besides the beach?
Walk in Vallée de Mai, take a boat to Curieuse to see giant tortoises, snorkel in Sainte Anne Marine Park, hike in Morne Seychellois National Park and cycle round La Digue.
Which Seychelles island is best?
Mahé has the most choice and is the main gateway. Praslin offers Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio, while La Digue is the most laid-back, with Anse Source d'Argent. Many visitors combine two or all three.

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