Seychelles travel guide

SherryStay Destination Guide

Seychelles

Granite-boulder beaches and turquoise water — the Indian Ocean's most photogenic island trio.

Seychelles

About Seychelles

The Seychelles is a collection of 115 beautiful granite and coral islands in the Indian Ocean. The soft white sand, the bowed coconut palms and the sculpted boulders are everyone’s calling card — but the vibe and your day-to-day experience change completely depending on which island you set your suitcase down on. Mahé is the urban and wild heart: the largest island, home to the international airport and the capital, Victoria, and staying here suits anyone who wants the highest world standard of resorts — built on dramatic granite cliffs overlooking secluded bays — while keeping the freedom to rent a car, explore dozens of different beaches, visit the local markets and eat outside the hotel; a perfect blend of wild nature and convenience. Praslin and La Digue are the calm and the slowness: crossing to the neighbouring islands drops your pulse at once — Praslin is home to the primeval rainforests and the iconic national coconut, the Coco de Mer, and to beaches voted among the world’s best, and neighbouring La Digue takes it a step further: an almost car-free island where everyone gets around by bicycle among the famous giant boulders of Anse Source d’Argent — a base for anyone after a local pace, an immediate connection to nature and utterly untouched beaches. The private islands (such as Silhouette, Félicité or Frégate) are the isolated sanctuaries: tiny islands with a single resort, where the experience is extreme exclusivity, total isolation and zero contact with the outside world — the ultimate retreat for anyone who wants to wake up inside a protected nature reserve, with around-the-clock personal service and the feeling that the whole island is theirs alone. At SherryStay we have cracked the map of the Seychelles, showing you only the resorts and villas that give direct access to the best beaches on each island — no disappointments and no compromises on your line of turquoise water.

Sherry's Take

Split your stay across Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, and rent a bike on La Digue for Anse Source d'Argent. The April–May and October shoulder months are calm and cheaper.

Best For

HoneymoonBeachLuxuryNatureCouples
Go in
AprilMayOctoberNovember
Avoid if possible
JanuaryJuly

Where to Stay

Mahé

Main island, capital, airport, big beaches

Praslin

Vallée de Mai, Anse Lazio, relaxed

La Digue

Bikes and ox-carts, iconic beaches

Money-Saving Tips

  • 1Self-catering guesthouses and the Takamaka takeaways beat resort dining many-fold.
  • 2The Cat Cocos and inter-island ferries are far cheaper than island-hopping flights.

Getting Around

  • 1On Mahé hire a small car — buses are cheap but slow on the mountain roads.
  • 2Book the Mahé–Praslin–La Digue ferries ahead in high season; they sell out.

Most Common Mistake

Staying on one island the whole trip — each of the three has a completely different feel and the ferries are easy.

Ideal Stay

68 nights

Combine with
  • Praslin (1h ferry)
  • La Digue (15 min ferry from Praslin)
  • Bird Island (charter flight)

Hotels Sherry Recommends

Useful Local Hotel Phrases

Seychellois Creole (Kreol) / French
  • HelloBonzourbon-ZOOR
  • Thank youMersimair-SEE
  • PleaseSoupleSOO-pleh
  • Check-inEnregistremanon-rezh-ee-stroh-MON
  • Check-outDeparday-PAR
  • HotelLotelloh-TEL
  • ReceptionResepsyonray-sep-SYON
  • BreakfastPti dezennenpuh-TEE day-zhuh-NEN
  • Wi-FiWi-Fiwee-FEE
  • TaxiTaksitak-SEE
  • AirportEroporair-oh-POR
  • BeachLaplazla-PLAZH
  • HelpEd mwanED mwan
  • How much?Konmye?kon-mee-AY
  • Where is...?Kot...?KOT