When you think of Seychelles, you’ll likely think of sun-drenched beaches, palm trees and absolute paradise. However, Seychelles has so much more to offer than beaches alone and is an absolute adventure lover’s dream.
We spent two weeks on three of the main islands exploring some of the adventurous things to do in Seychelles. After returning, we feel incredibly passionate about showing you that there can be so much more to your trip.
The things to do in the Seychelles are so varied, this is a great destination where you can have the best of both worlds.
Whether you’re planning a trip and looking for some inspiration or are already on one of the islands and are wondering what else you can do with your time. We’ve got some incredible ideas for things to do in the Seychelles islands to help you see a different side of these ultimate destinations.
We feel strongly after spending time in Seychelles that the luxury tourism it is well known for is certainly here, but there is so much more on offer. Spending time in nature, with warm people and connecting and learning are so accessible and right at your fingertips!
As we stayed between the three main islands Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, we’ve divided our guide up based on these below. We’re incredibly excited to show you some of the best things to do in the Seychelles from our personal experiences for a trip you won’t forget in a hurry!
We worked in collaboration with Seychelles Tourism on this trip. All experiences and opinions are our own.
Should I Visit All 3 Main Islands?
Seychelles is made up of a staggering 115 islands which stretch over the Indian Ocean. Whilst it’s possible to take boat trips out to a wide range of islands (one such being Carieuse, where we had some of our favourite experiences), the three main, or public islands are Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.
We’d been told before we visited that each island feels really different, each having some of the top things to do in Seychelles unique to that island.
However, it wasn’t until we visited all three that we realised just how different things were. Mahe is the biggest and likely where you’ll fly into. Then Praslin is smaller, and La Digue totally different with very little by way of roads or cars (which we loved).
We think if you have the option of time, then visit all three, with some planned day trips out to other islands. We think the ideal timeframe for each island is five days on Mahe, four on Praslin and three on La Digue.
How to Get to Seychelles
There’s no doubt about it, for most of us, getting to Seychelles is a long journey. So, finding the best way of how to get to Seychelles islands will mostly depend on where you’re coming from.
Due to its location, you are 99% likely to need to fly to Seychelles. The majority of time, you will either fly to Dubai or Doha with a connecting flight from there. Whether you’re looking for how to get to Seychelles from US, UK or Europe, this will likely be the same.
From our experience, if you plan to visit all three main islands, we would recommend starting off with Mahe. You’ll very likely fly to Mahe (we did from Dubai), and it means you don’t have to get straight on a boat to another island right after a long flight.
Flights to Seychelles can be expensive, one of our favourite sites is Trip.com to find some of the best deals for flights when we travel. This allows you to compare prices from various airlines over selected dates to get the best deals.
When is the Best Time to Visit Seychelles?
Most information will say that between March and April or October and November are the best time to visit Seychelles. However, from speaking to various local guides on our trip, we realised this isn’t entirely the case.
The general thought was that the idea of Seychelles being hot and endlessly sunny all the time isn’t actually entirely true. It’s worth keeping in mind that there is a very real chance that you may see some cloud and rain on your trip.
This is just the reality, and this happening more and more due to climate change. On our trip, we did experience some cloudy parts and also some pretty heavy rain at times, but we also experienced a lot of sunshine and warmth.
In fact, the slightly cloudier and wetter days are great opportunities to get out hiking as it takes the edge of the heat. Some of these conditions are perfect for adventures. In fact, one of our guides told us that any time of year you visit will give you a unique experience.
We think it’s important not to get too hung up on the time of year you visit, and it’s worth thinking about the kind of things you want to do whilst in Seychelles. When is the best time to visit Seychelles for you may be completely different to someone else.
In terms of tourism numbers, November when we visited felt pretty much perfect. It was never too crowded. We were told that April and October can be particularly busy.
Adventurous Things to do in Seychelles
One question we were asked quite a lot by friends before visiting was ‘is Seychelles good for adventure?’ After spending time checking out some of the best things to do in the Seychelles, we realised that there is so much on offer! More than you’ll have time for in fact.
Each Seychelles island is different and offers a unique set of activities. However, each one offers the opportunity to time spent in the jungle, amongst incredible rock structures, on unusual coastlines and in unexpected environments.
We’ve both said repeatedly since returning that the adventurous things to do in Seychelles left such an imprint on us. It’s unlike anywhere we’d really visited before, and when you combine so much natural beauty with the warmth of the people you’ll meet, you won’t forget your time either.
Below, we’ve divided up our guide into three main sections for the best things to do in the Seychelles. We’ve focused on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue (as that’s the order we visited). Within are various things to consider to get you inspired.
We felt this was a nice way to do things. La Digue is much more chilled out than Mahe and Praslin, so we really enjoyed having some slightly more relaxed time at the end of our trip here after the adventure fuelled time we had before it!
The Best Adventure Based Things to do on Mahe Island
Mahe had a special place for us – it is the biggest of the three main islands and we truly loved our time here. We were astounded by just how much there was – there are so many things to do on Mahe Island!
From spending time in Morne Seychellois National Park, to kayaking in mangroves and hiking to unimaginable viewpoints and beaches, we’re confident to say that Mahe has something to offer everyone. It’s simply stunning.
Our guide below goes through some of our favourite experiences and things to do on Mahe that we’d recommend. Of course, this only scratches the surface and there are so many things we didn’t get a chance to do like diving, biking and many more.
See Mahe in motion: Watch our video below to see some of our highlights and favourite experiences on Mahe:
Go Deep into the Jungle in a 4×4
We spent one of our days on Mahe with White Sands Adventures. We immediately knew we were going to love this as Franky, the founder, was exactly our kind of guy. We’d say without a doubt that this is one of the best things to do on Mahe Island and Seychelles altogether!
Being passionately focused on the idea of connecting with the environments you spend time, being in nature and exploring are some of Franky’s passions, but also showing that Seychelles is more than sand and beaches is probably his most important goal. And did he show us just that.
Collecting us from our hotel, Franky took us in a 4×4 to Morne Seychellois National Park on a number of designated 4×4 trails. We would highly recommend this eco friendly tour as it gives you the direct opportunity to spend time in the jungle with a highly knowledgeable guide – so you can focus on enjoying.
White Sands 4×4 tours take you to several locations where you can get out for a number of short or longer hikes (customised to your wants and needs) to see some utterly amazing views that very few people likely get to see.
This will give you a brilliant chance to get Morne Seychellois National Park photos too. What’s more, one of the things we loved the most about the time we spent out in this vast, beautiful area of wilderness was the local knowledge Franky gave us.
At various points he pulled leaves from trees and chipped away small pieces of bark to allow our senses to be heightened with naturally growing quatre épices (four spice), cinnamon and lemongrass. This was a real highlight of the trip!
White Sands are honestly one of the best guiding companies we’ve experienced and spending time with Franky feels like spending time with a friend. He’s able to put together custom tours and experiences based on your interests including longer treks, kayaking, biking and hiking.
Insider tip: Apple Maps don’t seem to work so well on any of Seychelles islands. It’s best to use Google Maps to locate places you want to visit. Also try to download a Google Maps base map for each island before you set off for the day as cell service is patchy on the island!
Go Kayaking on a Freshwater Mangrove Next to the Ocean
When you think of kayaking in Seychelles, there’s a good chance you automatically assume it would be on the ocean. However, Mahe is home to a unique freshwater mangrove.
The mangrove presents an incredibly diverse habitat and is one of only a few like it in the world due to its proximity to the ocean as a self contained system. What’s more, it’s a unique experience and without a doubt one of the best things to do on Mahe island.
Kayaking through this calm, serene landscape with such still waters allowed us to see mirror like reflections of palm trees on the water which made for some great photo opportunities. All whilst being able to hear the waves of the ocean gently rolling in and out in the background.
This ultimately relaxing experience can be found at the entrance to the mangrove at Police Bay on the south of the island. However, we would recommend you go with a guide for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the road to get a kayak down is actually private. It’s also not advised to take an inflatable on the water as there are lots of potential snag points underneath the surface that could puncture your boat. It’s also fairly featureless in places, so it could be easily to lose orientation.
We enjoyed our three hour kayak experience on the mangrove with White Sands again. Franky, our guide and the founder made this a really incredible experience for us that we’ll never forget.
He offers kayaking experiences in combination with some of his other packages too, such as 4×4. We’d really recommend chatting to him on this to find something right for you to maximise your time!
Visit Sauzier Waterfall
Sauzier Waterfall runs on the Rivière L’Isletta on the west of Mahe. It’s the perfect spot for cooling off in the waterfall pools water and the trail is a pretty quick 5-10 minute hike from the parking area.
The Sauzier Waterfall on Mahe, which water comes from Morne Seychellois National Park, was one of our favourite places to spend some time, and the trail was extremely easy to navigate from the parking. You’ll know you’re close when you can hear the sound of flowing water.
Taking a dip here is so much fun, and you’ll often see people jumping off from the rocks to the side. We weren’t quite this brave and just walked in. The fresh, cooler water was so welcome after the humidity of the day we visited.
You can also explore a little further down the trail off to the left where you’ll find other smaller pools. We found some great rock hopping around here which was loads of fun (and a lot quieter than the main areas).
You’ll get the best Sauzier Waterfall photos from the rocks that you come to at the end of the trail that look straight into the falls. A wider lens is also a good bet too, as it allows you to get the full waterfall in shot.
At the time of writing, entrance to Sauzier Waterfall Seychelles is 50 Rupees per person. You will need cash for this, so keep this in mind before you visit! We had a hire car, so this was easy to get to.
We’d recommend this for a couple of days to get the most out of all you can explore – we always recommend booking in advance through Rentalcars.com for the best deals. This, in our opinion is a much better way and allows you to maximise your time.
Insider tip: We would recommend that you get an eSIM for your trip to Seychelles. Your usual phone provider likely won’t cover Seychelles with your normal roaming package, so this offers a cheap way to pay for the ability to be able to use your data whilst out and about. We recommend Saily when it comes to eSIM packages. They’re fast and easy to use and give reliable coverage! If you’re not sure how to use them, we’d recommend reading our article on how to use eSIMs while traveling.
Go Rock Hunting and Exploring at Incredible Beaches
We’re not for one second trying to suggest that you don’t get your fill of the amazing beaches that Seychelles has to offer. Of course, any trip is about balance.
However, there are so many more things you can do when you visit the beach. Something that Mahe does exceptionally well is provide rocks to scramble over to get to hidden and sheltered beach sections away from everyone else.
This gives you the opportunity to explore some more. We had some amazing experiences scrambling over rocks and discovering rock pools filled with crabs, or ‘secret’ areas and rock formations that were out of this world. They make for some great photo ops!
Do keep in mind tide times though, as when the water comes in, it can cut off paths and areas through rocks that were otherwise visible. We always check tide times in advance to see when is a good point between high and low tide.
Some of our favourite beaches to explore and in our opinion some of the best beaches on Mahe Seychelles were:
- Anse Major (this beautiful hike we’ve covered below)
- Fairyland Beach
- Anse Al A Mouche
- Sunset Beach
- Police Bay
Experience World Class Snorkelling
Seychelles snorkelling is something else! We’ve snorkelled in a number of locations around the world and the underwater habitats in Seychelles are second to none.
On some of our snorkelling time, we saw stingrays, lobster, small reef sharks, endless different types of fish and so much more. Not every beach on Mahe is great for snorkelling, and especially when the ocean is less calm as this picks up a lot of sand.
However, look a little more and you’ll see lots of rocky areas that are perfect for snorkelling. Some of these do need a little bit of a walk along from the main area. However, it’s well worth the effort.
Here are some of our favourite Mahe Seychelles snorkelling site locations (click the link to load a Google Map with the best location for each that we found):
- Anse Bernik (Eden Island)
- Anse Major
- Anse Soleil
Drive Through the Mountains at Morne Seychellois National Park
We were staggered when we found out that the National Park occupies the whole northwest of the island and accounts for about 22% of Mahé. Quite a lot of that is very inaccessible.
There are very few trails and there are plenty of areas that haven’t been explored very much. These require extensive bush skills and local landmarking knowledge.
However, there are numerous hikes you can do that get you exploring Morne Seychellois National Park which we’ve covered below. But this isn’t the only way you can explore.
If you have a hire car, we’d recommend driving through the National Park at least once on the mountain roads to get a real feel for what’s on offer and experience some of the wonderful views along the way.
This is also a perfect way to see more of Mahe when combined with another activity and can be a perfect thing to add on to the end of your day. Especially if visiting Sauzier Waterfall first.
The route we really enjoyed driving was along San Soucis Road from Anse L’Islette to Victoria. The views were spectacular! Here’s the route we took mapped out for you:
Hike the Anse Major Trail
The Anse Major Trail is a great 3.4km hike that will get your blood pumping and give you ultimate rewards along the way. The views are simply stunning, and it isn’t just about the beach at the end.
We’d rate the Anse Major hike as moderate – due to heat and ups and downs. It’s also important to keep in mind that it’s mostly uphill on the way back from the beach.
Our Anse Major Trail map covers you all the way to the beach, however, if you did want to make the hike shorter, there is a viewpoint off the trail to the right (marked on trail as viewpoint) which is a great place to go spend some time too.
The trail takes you past jungle areas along the cliff edge as you look out to the ocean and all the rock formations below. Eventually you reach the beach, which is absolutely gorgeous.
This is also one of the best snorkelling spots we found on the island (off to the left side on the rocky areas if you’re looking out to the ocean). If you only do one hike whilst on Mahe, we’d recommend this one.
Take plenty of water, suncream and a hat as there is little shade and it can be extremely humid. For this reason, doing the hike either at the beginning or toward the end of the day when the heat shaves off a little are what we’d advise.
There is a fee to hike the trail – it is 150 rupees per person, and you need to pay this by card. There is a booth at the start of the trail (just on from where you park) which is operated until 4pm each day (when you’ll need to enter by, but you can finish when you like).
Hike the Morne Blanc Trail
The Morne Blanc Trail is a must do hike on Mahe. In many ways, it’s one of the National Park’s name sake peaks and offers pretty next level views out from the top. Our Morne Blanc Trail map above covers the most direct route to follow.
At 1.5km there and back, with 267m of ascent and descent, we mark this route as moderate to hard. Bring plenty of water, light clothes (not cotton – tech fabrics and sportswear are best), snacks and plenty of insect repellent!
The trail itself is pretty beautiful on the way up – heading through the jungle to get to the peak. Just before the peak, you’ll have views out over Morne Seychelles and also Morne Seychellois National Park. Then the views out from the top are stunning.
Whilst it is very possible to hike this trail on your own, guides can make a big difference to your comfort and experience. Plus, they have knowledge about fascinating flora and fauna and the natural biodiversity that you don’t get otherwise.
We’d recommend looking at this guided hike of Morne Blanc on GetYourGuide that is run by a local company. The guides are all residents from Le Morne so have intimate knowledge of the land and historical stories to tell.
Hike Some of the Other Best Hikes Mahe, Seychelles has to Offer
Of course, Mahe has so much more to offer than the few hikes we had the chance to do whilst there. Some of them are more accessible than others and some of them absolutely require a guide.
The decision on this ultimately needs to come down to your personal hiking experience. The Morne Seychellois National Park trails can be wild and not very well kept in places, indistinct at times and in many ways, featureless with turns that can happen quickly.
Whilst we very frequently don’t hike with guides, we actually found the hiking activities where we had guides in Seychelles was improved by a guide’s knowledge. They allow you to focus on enjoying the hike.
There are plenty of hikes to take on in Mahe, and we’ve listed some of the guided hikes we had heavily bookmarked but didn’t get chance to go on below for you:
- Trois Freres Guided Hike
- Customisable Hiking Tour: This one looked great for doing any specific trails of interest as the guide is more than happy to cater to your needs.
Visit the Victoria Botanical Gardens to Meet Giant Tortoises
A visit to the Victoria Botanical Gardens is a must do. Whilst the gardens themselves are relatively manicured (though that doesn’t stop them being beautiful) the main attraction for us was the group of giant tortoises that live here.
We were excited as we’d been promised giant tortoises, so when we arrived at their pen, we were overjoyed to see it was possible to spend time with them. To feed them and stroke them (we realised they act pretty much like cats, enjoying head and chin rubs).
We think a visit to the Botanical Gardens is well worth the entry fee (150 rupees per person) just to spend time with these wonderful creatures. We actually felt a little emotional when we had to leave as they’re extremely easy to bond with and have such wonderful personalities. Without a doubt a highlight of our time on Mahe.
After spending time with the tortoises, it’s worth checking out the rest of the park too. There are some wonderful forested and jungle based walks which take you through picturesque trails that are very photo worthy.
Explore Victoria
Victoria is the capital city of Mahe (and Seychelles) and it’s unique in that it’s the smallest capital in the world. What’s great about this is you can explore it in a matter of hours and can easily be added onto something else that day.
In fact, Victoria is a great place to visit after you’ve been to the Botanical Gardens. It’s so close by that it means you could very easily do these two activities in a morning and head to Beau Vallon or even hike the Anse Major Trail later in the afternoon.
We’d recommend going to check out the main market (Victoria Market) if you’re a foody like us. We found some incredible stalls selling Creole cooking sauces, chilli sauces and some of the spices we’d experienced earlier on in our 4×4 adventure. So naturally we got lots of things to bring home.
Other than that, we’d recommend taking a little time to walk around the backstreets and watch life go by. You’ll also be amazed by the Arul Mihi Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, which you can also look around.
There’s So Much More to Explore
It was really clear to us from our time here that we barely even scratched the surface of all the things to do on Mahe island. This was exciting – the idea that you go away wanting more!
There are so many unique experiences to be had on Mahe, from mountain biking and longer treks to unique island hopping day trips, jet ski and so much more.
If you’re looking for some further things to consider, here are some activities and tours we wish we’d had time for and had heavily bookmarked:
Important Information to Make the Most of Mahe
Mahe Hotels – Where to Stay
There are a lot of options when it comes to where to stay on Mahe and Mahe hotels. The decision here will really be based on your budget. The great news is that there are options to suit every budget, from self catered options to luxury resorts.
In terms of the best areas to stay, we stayed in Anse Royale which put us south on the island. We found the laïla Resort wonderful for our stay. It put us in a perfect position for everything we wanted to do and was never more than a 30 minute drive from anything plus the design is stunning.
What we loved about laïla Seychelles when it came to Mahe hotels is that it felt very much connected with nature. This was really evident by the design (using lots of natural surfaces and wood). There was also a feeling that there was no true inside or outside. It also has a very small, boutique feel and is very intimate.
We personally loved this as it made us feel like we had the perfect setting to experience the best nature based experiences Mahe had to offer. The staff were also extremely friendly and being right next to stunning beaches was fantastic to unwind at the end of the day.
We think that Anse Royale puts you in a great position to explore all that Mahe has to offer. But another area you might look at would be around Grand Anse Village as this will put you directly near Morne Seychellois National Park.
You can look directly at prices for the laïla Resort here on Booking.com. Likewise, we’d suggest looking on Booking.com, Vrbo and Agoda to find other options based on your budget.
How to Get Around Mahe
There are a few ways you can get around Mahe and to get the best of the outdoors from your trip. If you book a guide, there is a good chance they will pick you up from your hotel, so this does help here.
However, we do think that if you plan to do a couple of experiences, then the best option is to get a hire car. This gives you the option to go where you want and when. The driving is super chilled on Mahe and we found this very easy.
The great thing is that a lot of the car rental companies will drop you a car off at your hotel, so you can be flexible here. This means you can just get a car for the days you need it.
We always recommend booking your car in advance and using a company like Rentalcars.com to find the best deals. Likewise, there are also smaller companies dotted around the island and your hotel will be able to help you out too if needed.
It is possible to travel around some areas of the island by bus, though this is more limited. However, you can find bus timetables here through the SPTC website.
One of the other main options is to take a taxi. Most drivers are more than happy to collect you again and work through WhatsApp, so you can connect with them when you’re ready to come back.
Where to Eat and Restaurants on Mahe
Mahe has so much to offer when it comes to food! Of course there are restaurants offering all types of world cuisine, but we always love to try the local food as much as we can.
Mahe and Seychelles offers so much here, and vibrant Creole food can be found in plentiful amounts. Think rich curries that get a good balance similar to things like Sri Lankan, Thai and Vietnamese curries, spiced and grilled fish, meat and veg and so much more.
When eating out on Mahe, we ate a lot of curry with rice and papaya chutney. One thing we loved was that every single restaurant or take away we ate at had a completely different take.
Our absolute favourite restaurant on Mahe near Victoria was Marie Antoinette. This was a traditional Creole restaurant, and they offer a set menu which is very reasonably priced. It is essentially a tapas of different small plates and there is a vegetarian version or a meaty version.
The flavours and interesting tastes and textures we experienced when the food was in front of us was honestly one of the best meals we’ve ever had. So, we’d really recommend trying there! We also really enjoyed eating at Bravo Restaurant on Eden Island.
There is also a really big take away culture on the island and if you want to eat on more of a budget, you can generally get a box meal of a daily curry, rice, lentils and pickles for around 100 rupees or so per person. These can usually be found in towns or by some beaches.
The Best Adventure Based Things to do on Praslin Island
We visited Praslin next after Mahe. After the time we’d spent there, we didn’t think it could get any better. Personally, for us, Praslin was actually our favourite island.
We loved the slightly more relaxed, back to nature feel that we got from Praslin. Everything felt a little less developed and there was just something special about it that we really loved.
It’s a personal thing that it’s hard to put your finger on – and you will of course have your own opinion on which island is your favourite. There are also so many great things to do on Praslin.
Praslin is much smaller than Mahe, but still offers a lot of stunning coast experiences, ultimate adventures, island hopping and one of the main highlights, the Vallée de Mai to see Coco de Mer in Praslin National Park.
These are just some of the things you can do on Praslin and this list is based on our experiences. Of course, this only scratches the surface and there are a wealth of activities such as cycling, mountain biking, kite surfing, diving and others you can do too.
Read on to find some of our highlights of the best adventure based things to do on Praslin Island. You will not be disappointed with any of these!
See Praslin in motion: Watch our video below to see some of our highlights and favourite experiences on Praslin:
Hike the Vallée de Mai Trail
This short and sweet trail (1.9km) is one of best hikes we’d done in a while. This hike is doable by most people (though accessibility makes this not suitable for wheelchair users). It involves 40m of ascent and descent on staircases.
What makes the Vallée de Mai so special is that it is one of the most saturated reserves to hold native Coco de Mer palms. The park is well worth the entry fee of (currently) 450 rupees per person. It’s open between 8am – 5:30pm.
What we loved about this trail is it puts your right under a dense tree canopy from giant palms, Coco de Mer and so much more. The sunlight that dapples in through the trees is amazing and the sound the trees make in the breeze is so soothing.
When we visited, it was exceptionally humid, which did make it more tiring. But the great thing was it was mostly under shade, so this makes a big difference and means it’s the perfect trail to do whatever the weather.
If you want to learn more about the trail, lots of useful information about Coco de Mer and their significance, we’d recommend you book onto a guided hike. There are plenty on offer through GetYourGuide, like this one with a knowledgeable local guide.
Head on a Boat Tour to Curieuse Island
This was without a doubt one of the unexpected highlights of our trip. Yes, we know it’s technically off Praslin, but it is an utterly spectacular experience to visit Curieuse Island.
We weren’t prepared for just how stunningly beautiful our boat tour and time on Curieuse Island would be. We headed out on a boat with Geoli Charters and firstly stopped off around St Pierre for some snorkelling.
We then landed not long after at Curieuse Island where we could just tell how magical this place was. We we’re really excited for the nature walk, which started at Anse Jose and finished at Baie Lare.
Our guide took us along a pretty short trail, but it packed in an awful lot. It is pretty amazing in fact what just under 2km can include. Along our way, we passed mangroves growing straight in the ocean shoreline, giant tortoises in the wild, giant land crabs, and some of the most stunning beaches we’d seen until this point (if that’s even possible).
When we reached the other side, we were overjoyed when we saw the giant tortoises waiting at the BBQ site. Whilst a traditional Creole BBQ was being prepared for us, we both spent time with these wonderful creatures again and got some great selfies with them!
We think that this tour is a must do when visiting Praslin. Whether you take advantage of the snorkelling or not, the time you get to spend on Curieuse Island is utterly breathtaking.
Go Snorkelling
There are plenty of incredible places to go snorkelling on Praslin. But some of the best sites we found were actually a short distance by boat from our hotel over at St Pierre.
If you head out on a boat tour like we’ve outlined above to Curieuse Island then you’ll get plenty of opportunity. But even if not, we’d recommend you get a boat out from Anse Volbert as there are plenty of options and it’s a short distance.
We experienced some of the most stunning snorkelling we’ve ever had here – the water was exceptionally clear, very deep and we got to see endless types of fish, reef sharks and stingrays. It was utterly magical.
If you don’t have gear with you, we’d recommend you go on a guided snorkelling tour like this one or this one to make the most of it – as all gear is provided. This is also a good opportunity if you’re not as confident in deeper water as your guides will help you.
You can also find some good snorkelling when waters are calm around Anse Lazio and Anse Boudin. Though please be mindful that particularly Anse Lazio can experience big waves.
Hike to the Highpoint for Breathtaking Views at Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve
A place we really don’t think you should miss is the Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve, which is often overshadowed or not as widely visited as Valée de Mai. This is often due in part to its UNESCO status, but also its accessibility.
However, a visit here offers you a lot in terms of what you’ll get to experience. The views are stunning, there is a lot to take in when it comes to the parks biodiversity, and you’ll also get to experience the Coco de Mer palm again here.
Something that made this park really special for us was the views from the peak of the hiking trail we did. The trail is steep, with a lot of steps but well worth the effort. It’s also really clear when here just what efforts are being taken for conservation.
This 2.5km hike with 137m of ascent and descent will get your blood pumping. Entrance is open 7 days a week and currently costs 300 rupees per person.
There’s So Much More to Explore on Praslin
Of course, the adventurous things to do on Praslin we’ve covered only scratch the surface. There is so much more to explore.
We’ve not even included any of the stunning beaches, such as Anse Lazio or Côte d’Or. Then there is diving, more hiking, exploring by bike, mountain biking and so much more!
If you need more inspiration, your hotel will have lots of information about different tours available or will be able to book you access to things like bikes, diving etc. We only wish we’d had more time to explore Praslin!
Important Information to Make the Most of Praslin
How to Get to Praslin, Seychelles
It is possible to take a very short airplane ride to Praslin from Mahe. We really feel that this is overkill and due to the fact that there is such a reliable and quick ferry network running, we’d say this is your best and cheapest option.
We really enjoyed the experience of getting to Praslin from Mahe, and there are numerous ferries each day from Mahe to Praslin. It took about an hour from boarding on a high speed ferry and we travelled with Cat Cocos who are one of the main ferry companies.
Likewise, it’s also very easy to get from La Digue to Praslin too. This is a much quicker journey – around 15 minutes or so and this can be done with Cat Cocos as well.
You can find the times of the ferries on the Sey Ferry website, which allows you to book in advance. We’d recommend you do this to have all of your plans in one place.
How to Get Around Praslin
If you do any tours, such as to Curieuse Island, your charter company will collect you and return you. Any tours you book should be the same. However, for other days you might like to explore, we think a car makes all the difference.
We’d recommend booking a car on somewhere like Rentalcars.com in advance to find some of the best deals. Most car rental companies can organise to drop your car off at your hotel making it easier if you just want a car for a couple of days.
Likewise, most car rental companies will drop off the car for you at the ferry terminal. You can also usually book car rental per day through your hotel. We found that having a car allowed us to really get around and explore areas we wouldn’t have otherwise.
Likewise, it’s also possible to get around Praslin by bus. There are a number of routes that run through the island, one particularly that heads to Valée de Mai and near Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve, so can take the stress out of driving if you don’t fancy it.
Another way to get around Praslin is by hiring a bicycle. Most hotels have these available for hire outside for a small cost and if you feel like it, the island isn’t too hilly, and this can make for a really cheap and easy way to get around.
Taxis are also another option, but you will need to be mindful that these aren’t always possible on return and signal is patchy to call anyone. So, these should only be arranged if you have certain plans for your return times.
Praslin Hotels – Where to Stay
The great news with Praslin is that there are plenty of options available to suit all budgets – from self catered apartments to luxury resorts. There really is something for everyone.
This gives the opportunity to get one of the best hotels Praslin has to offer within your budget. We always recommend looking at Booking.com, Agoda, Vrbo and Trip to find the best deals where you can directly compare.
We stayed at the Paradise Sun Hotel, which was located in the Cote D’Or/Anse Volbert area. We both felt that this put us in a perfect location to explore everything we wanted to see, with nothing being more than 20 minute’s drive away.
We would really recommend the Paradise Sun Hotel – as nature lovers, our beachfront cabin was incredible and really had us feeling back to nature. We could hear the sound of the ocean through the night which was incredibly calming.
The hotel felt like the ultimate oasis for us – the beach was utterly stunning right outside our room, and we also loved the incredible dining they had every evening. If you get a chance to visit on a Friday, do, as Creole night is incredible.
The views were truly breathtaking from our terrace, and we will not forget this place in a hurry! We think it’s one of the best hotels Praslin has to offer, and Seychelles too. You can book to stay at Paradise Sun through Booking.com or through Trip.com.
Where to Eat and Restaurants on Praslin
We did find the food options on Praslin a little bit more limited than on Mahe, but that said, the food we did eat was beautiful. We ate in the hotel restaurant every night we stayed at the Paradise Sun and the food here was exceptional, particularly Creole night which they have on Fridays.
One of our other favourite meals was at a roadside, family run Creole restaurant called La Goulue at Anse Volbert. We ate curry here that had such a depth of flavour and such interesting textures. Make sure you get some of the lime sauce to try too – it’s exceptional.
Likewise, there are plenty of take aways on Praslin too if you want to keep things cheaper. If you’re staying at a self catered apartment, it is worth keeping in mind that there aren’t really any large grocery stores.
Most are what we would refer to as smaller kind of convenience shops. However, they are usually fairly well stocked. Though you will generally pay a premium for these, and they do sometimes lack fresh vegetables (which you can usually find instead in the mornings from roadside market stalls).
The Best Adventure Based Things to do on La Digue
Ah, La Digue, what a wonderful place that feels far away from reality in many ways and completely down to earth the other. It’s just beautiful, the people are incredible (everyone knows each other) and you can have the utter chilled out paradise experience here.
However, that said, there is a massive opportunity to spend time outdoors and in nature here. In fact, it’s hard not to. La Digue doesn’t really have many roads, so cars are few and far between.
The best things to do on La Digue mostly revolve around taking a bike, but you can also walk, it’s a pretty small place. Something we loved about La Digue was we felt like because of cycling everywhere, we got to spend so much time outdoors.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite things to do on La Digue island. There isn’t as much, but what there is, is really fun.
See La Digue in motion: Watch our video below to see some of our highlights and favourite experiences on La Digue:
Enjoy a Bike Tour of La Digue
To give you a great taster of what La Digue has going on, a bike tour does just that. Most tours will take you up the coast and also to L’Union Estate.
However, something we loved about our tour was that our guide stopped quite often to tell us stories from his childhood about foraging and collecting the various fruits, nuts and coconuts that grow in abundance here.
We got to experience fruits we’d never heard of before with textures that were unlike anything we’d ever experienced. We got to learn about the different parts of a coconut, such as coconut pearls that tasted incredible.
Many of the guides on La Digue want to deliver really authentic experiences and have a really chilled vibe and connection to the land they spend their time. Plus, they’ll give you some really great tips on where to visit that most tourists don’t go.
To book a bike tour, you can either book directly with the guide we used through his Instagram page or get in touch with the tourist office. This is easily located right at the ferry port on La Digue. They have an expert knowledge on all things local and will put you in touch with a great guide.
Explore the Beaches on La Digue
One of the best things to do on La Digue is to head out to some of the beautiful beaches. In fact, that is one of the things that La Digue really is all about.
Of course, you have Anse Source D’Argent which is unimaginably beautiful and is classed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but there are so many other beaches on offer too (and without a fee to enter).
Some of our favourite beaches were on the north of the island and can be reached with some pretty quick bike rides along the coast (which is stunning in its own right). Below we’ve shared a Google Map where we’ve highlighted some of the best beaches.
Once you’ve reached Anse Fourmis, you will need to park up your bike and hike on for as long as you want at this point. The trails are pretty obvious, but they are up and down over uneven terrain.
However, these beaches are some of the best as they’re more secluded. We would advise you give yourself a whole day to go beach hopping and explore further up the coast for the best experience.
There are also plenty of opportunities to get in the water and snorkel when the conditions are right. A particularly good spot is around Anse Caiman. Though be careful of waves or rough ocean days.
Hike to Nid d'Aigle Viewpoint (Belle Vue)
There aren’t many high points on La Digue and one of the main ones is Nid d’Aigle/Belle Vue. This hike is pretty short but it’s very strenuous. It’s pretty much all uphill and unrelenting but it’s worth it for the views.
This 3.9km hike with 319m of ascent and descent will get you to a viewpoint over the entire island and out to the ocean. It’s breathtaking, but if you don’t want to make the full trip, there is a viewpoint about half the way that gives you stunning views too.
This is a great one to do first thing in the morning or toward sunset when the heat isn’t quite as intense. Be sure to take plenty of water, snacks, bug spray, sun cream and a hat!
Visit L’Union Estate
If you’re going to visit Anse Source D’Argent, then we’d really recommend you spend some time in L’Union Estate before you head down, as you have to pass through here anyway. L’Union Estate gives you a great opportunity to learn more about the colonial history of La Digue.
There are also very interesting vanilla plantations, lots to learn about coconuts and extremely pretty gardens. Plus, there are more giant tortoises to feed and pet!
We’d say it’s worth giving yourself an hour or so to look around. Entrance costs 150 rupees per person at the time of publishing and includes entry to the beach too.
Important Information to Make the Most of La Digue
How to Get to La Digue, Seychelles
The easiest way to get to La Digue is by boat, depending on how long you’re spending on La Digue will determine the best way for you. If you are doing a day trip or guided tour, you will likely get a smaller boat excursion.
If you’re going on your own either for the day or for longer, you can either catch the ferry from Mahe (1hr 15) or Praslin (15 min). This is usually done through Cat Cocos, and you can find prices and the schedule here.
The great thing is ferries run through the day, seven days a week so it makes hopping over to La Digue or staying for a few days ultimately possible. We’d recommend about 3 days on La Digue to make the most of it.
How to Get Around La Digue
Your only options for getting around La Digue really are by bike or by foot. The real exception to this is that some hotels offer a shuttle service on a kind of golf style buggy, which will allow you to porter between different places or take your luggage – handy if you’re staying somewhere more remote.
We found the best way was by bike and there are so many bike rental companies on the island – most of them in La Passe, the main area near the ferry port. You don’t really need to rent in advance, as most companies have so many on offer.
You usually just pay for how many days you want (about 100 rupees a day or so for a standard bike) and take it away. If you get a puncture, you can just return the bike and take a new one.
We found this such a lovely way to connect and spend time with each other are truly enjoyed our bike rides around La Digue. Because there aren’t so many cars, it’s a much more enjoyable experience and fun!
La Digue Hotels – Where to Stay
There is quite a lot on offer when it comes to La Digue hotels and self-catered apartments. Again, it is possible to work within a budget or go for something more luxury depending on how much you want to spend.
On the more modern or luxury end (where we spent some time) is La Nautique Waterfront Hotel which has a stunning pool and bar view right out to the ocean and is very well located near La Passe. You can book here through Booking.com.
Likewise, where we spent a little time too was the Orchid Self Catered Apartments. These were perfectly fine for a couple of days, especially as we were trying to keep things that bit cheaper toward the end of the trip and were out exploring all day!
Where to Eat and Restaurants on La Digue
La Digue has a slightly different offering when it comes to restaurants. There aren’t as many, as it’s a much smaller area and personally we found a lot of the restaurants overpriced for what they offered. The only one really enjoyed was the Old Pier Café, which did a fantastic curry.
La Digue has a very interesting takeaway scene though, one which we loved and really took advantage of because you can get a meal for about 100 rupees, which was extremely filling and tasty.
Some of our favourites were Julie’s Take Away, Gala Take Away and Rey and Josh. Most people raved about Rey and Josh before we visited. We’re not sure if we just went on a bad day, but we didn’t find the food as good as Julie’s, but it was still very nice. Julie’s was our favourite and the curries were stunning.
Word of warning, visit earlier in the day for Julie’s as they sell out very quickly! We tended to eat out at lunch on La Digue and do something simple in our apartment for dinner.
If you want to cook at your apartment, there aren’t many supermarkets, just a few little ones down the main road from La Passe. They don’t have so much in them, but enough to cobble together some simple meals.
We’d also recommend heading to Karim’s Fruit Bar at the north tip of the island. This was one of our favourite places to visit for reasonably priced, incredibly tasty fresh juices.
It’s a tiny beach bar with a chilled-out vibe, good music and a stunning view out to the ocean. There are plenty of seats and loungers to sit on and just relax, listen to the music and enjoy watching life go by.
What to Bring with You on Your Trip to the Seychelles
Of course, there are a lot of obvious items to bring with you for your trip to Seychelles. But if you’re planning to make the most of the outdoors and go on some adventures, then there’s several things that will make your time feel a whole lot more pleasurable.
Mapping or Mapping Software
Even if you’re hiking with a guide, it’s a smart move to carry a map so you can keep track of your progress, note locations for photos etc. If you are using a map app on your phone – like Outdoor Active or AllTrails – be sure you have your maps and routes downloaded for offline use.
For long hikes, put your phone in airplane mode to conserve battery and think about carrying a small power bank too.
Hiking Shoes or Boots
Whilst some trails in Seychelles follow well-maintained paths, others cross over less ever terrain, can involve scrambling and can be overgrown. Suitable hiking footwear is therefore a must and, unfortunately, you will not be able to hire hiking footwear on the islands.
Crossing small streams is required on some trails, so waterproof footwear is a smart move. Our guides to the best hiking boots, best hiking shoes and the best waterproof hiking shoes are all well-worth checking out for our top recommendations for hiking footwear.
Day Pack
A small daypack is essential for carrying layers, sunblock, hiking poles, snacks, water and any other accessories you may have. We have a comprehensive guide to the best hiking daypacks where we assess the various options on the market right now.
Tech Fabric Clothing
Seychelles is a warm, humid place. So, putting some thought whilst packing into what you’ll wear whilst hiking or exploring, is, one of the most important planning decisions you’ll make for your trip.
Cotton will quickly get wet-through and start to smell badly and will also restrict your mobility on more demanding terrain. We’d recommend choosing technical fabrics for hiking clothes. If you don’t have any specific hiking gear, gym or yoga clothes can make for a good substitute.
Insect Repellent
The humid Seychelles jungles are a haven for insects and whilst many of them are beautiful to observe, plenty of them also bite! We found that bug spray was therefore a smart addition to our pack.
Sun Block
You’ll need sunblock on any trip to Seychelles, but as you’ll likely work up a sweat whilst hiking, it’s extra-important to ensure you keep reapplying it through your days outdoors.
Sunglasses
We think sunglasses are an essential item when visiting Seychelles as the sunlight is bright and often not diffused by clouds. Whilst any UV blocking sunglasses will do, we’re big fans of the Julbo Explorer 2.0 – especially with the optional photochromic lenses.
Water
Water is essential on any hike, but in the hot, humid Seychelles it’s very important to carry plenty of water and to keep drinking it. 2l per adult should be considered a minimum a long day hike.
The classic Nalgene bottle is a great way to carry your water, and we also like hydration bladders for carrying larger amounts of water. In the heat, your water will warm up, so if you’d like to keep your drink cold, you could also look at an insulated bottle like a Hydro Flask.
If you’re going to be hiking a lot on your visit, you should also consider popping an electrolyte tablet in your water to better help prevent dehydration.
Snacks
It’s a good idea to bring snacks on any hike you do, and energy bars are a great option for many of the routes in the Seychelles. Alternatively, if you want a Seychellois option, the sweet Coconut Nougat (Nouga Koko Fannen) available in may shops, cafes and take aways is an absolutely ideal hiking snack – and delicious too!
Hiking Poles
Hiking poles are a great way to take the load off your knees, help you keep your balance and uneven trails and steep slopes and also to help steady you when crossing streams. Our guide to the best trekking poles runs through some of the best options out there at the moment.
Make sure you pack these in your checked luggage though as many airlines do not allow you to carry these in your hand luggage. For more information on this, you may want to read our guide in advance here.
Headtorch
It can get very dark, very quickly in the jungle, so if you’re planning on hiking late into the day, then a headtorch is an essential piece of kit. Unlike using the light on your phone, a headtorch keeps your hands free for other tasks.
Binoculars
You’ll spot some incredible wildlife on Seychelles’ trails and binoculars are a great way to view some of the smaller creatures up close. 8×42 is considered a good general-purpose magnification, whilst 10×42 offers slightly more magnification and is well suited for bird spotting.
eSIM for your phone
Mobile roaming in Seychelles can be really pricy, so a temporary local SIM is a great way to save money whilst you keep connected. We use Saily for all our eSIMs, as we find it really easy to use with reasonably priced packages.
It removes the need to physically change the SIM card in your phone and they can even be ordered and set up in advance of your visit, so they are ready to go when you arrive.
Enjoy the Adventurous Things to do in Seychelles
We hope we’ve managed to show you through this article just what incredible adventure based experiences there on offer in Seychelles. Because there are so many, and we wish we’d had more time to keep exploring more and more!
Of course, Seychelles is well known for its tropical beaches and paradise feel. Whilst it’s amazing to spend time at the beach (and we did plenty of that) there is a whole world waiting to be explored at your fingertips here. One which you won’t find anything quite like it elsewhere.
From kayaking in rare mangroves to world class snorkelling, hiking and so much more, there really is something for everyone. And each island is different.
We wouldn’t be lying when we said we were actually surprised just how much in terms of adventure there is on offer on all three main Seychelles islands. And they’re such an untapped resource.
So, whether you spend a few days exploring out from your hotel or dedicate a whole trip to the wilder side of these amazing islands, we know you will have an unforgettable experience.
Disclaimer: This article contains Affiliate Links. You won’t pay any more for buying through these links, but we may receive a commission from any purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to support us by buying through our links, we thank you as it helps us to continue providing the resources we do to help you enjoy the outdoors more!