Things to do in Seychelles

Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, just south of the equator. Most tours in Seychelles use three of them: Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. The rest are a boat ride away.

The islands that matter

• Mahé. The largest island, with the capital, the international airport and most of the population.
• Praslin. The second island. The Vallée de Mai palm forest, where the coco de mer grows, is a UNESCO site, and Anse Lazio is a beach on the north coast.
• La Digue. Small, with few cars and many bicycles. The granite boulders of Anse Source d'Argent are the draw.
• Curieuse and Sainte Anne. Curieuse holds Aldabra giant tortoises. Sainte Anne is a marine park a short boat ride from Victoria.

Crossing between them

Scheduled ferries and small planes link the main islands. A private boat from Eden Island, off Mahé, reaches Praslin or La Digue in about an hour. Rough seas can cancel any crossing.

What people book

• Island days. Praslin and La Digue in one day by private boat, or Curieuse with La Digue. The boat is priced whole, not per seat.
• Snorkelling. The Sainte Anne and Baie Ternay marine parks, in group or private trips of four to eight hours.
• Mahé by land. A car and a driver-guide for the day, priced per car.
• Hiking. The Copolia and Morne Blanc trails, half a day of forest ending at a viewpoint.
• Fishing. A chartered boat with crew, after tuna, wahoo and giant trevally.

Practical

• Weather. Highs stay between 28C and 32C all year, and the sea is near 28C. Mahé takes over two metres of rain a year, mostly from December to February.
• Seas. The southeast trades blow from May to September and roughen exposed coasts. The changeover months, April and October to November, are the calmer ones.
• Sun. The sun is close to overhead. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a shirt for snorkelling.
• Fees on the spot. Entry to Anse Source d'Argent is charged per person, and Praslin has a small port fee. Neither is always in the tour price.
• Money. The Seychelles rupee is the currency, though operators quote in euros. Cards work in tourist areas.