Seychelles 7-Day — Mahé, Praslin & La Digue in Depth

Activities

1. 10:00 Arrive at Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) + transfer 1h30

   After immigration (free Visitor's Permit; have your Travel Authorisation, return ticket, and accommodation booking ready) and baggage, take a hotel transfer or taxi. The airport is about 20 minutes from Victoria and Beau Vallon.

   Cost: Taxi/transfer ~€25-40 TIP: Confirm the taxi fare before getting in — there's no Uber and fares are high. A hotel transfer is often the easiest after a long-haul flight. Buy a local SIM (Airtel/Cable & Wireless) at the airport for cheap data.
2. 12:00 Check in + lunch in Victoria 1h30

   Drop bags at a Beau Vallon or Victoria-area base, then lunch in the capital — a cheap Creole takeaway plate near the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke market (curry and rice, SCR 80-180).

   Cost: Lunch SCR 80-200 TIP: The market and surrounding takeaway counters are the budget-friendly way to eat. Pick up vanilla, cinnamon, and Creole spice mixes here. Mornings are freshest; it winds down in the afternoon.
3. 13:30 Victoria capital walk — Clock Tower & market 1h30

   Wander compact Victoria, one of the world's smallest capitals: the 1903 Clock Tower (a small replica of London's Vauxhall tower), the colourful covered market, and the small botanical gardens with giant tortoises nearby.

   Cost: Market free; gardens small fee TIP: Victoria is walkable in a couple of hours. Dress modestly in town. The botanical gardens are an easy place to see giant tortoises without a boat trip.
4. 15:30 Morne Seychellois viewpoint (Copolia or scenic drive) 2h

   Drive or hike into Morne Seychellois National Park, which covers over 20% of Mahé. The Copolia Trail (about 1.4 km, moderate) climbs to a granite plateau with views over Victoria, Eden Island, and the Sainte Anne marine park.

   Cost: Trail small fee TIP: Copolia is short but steep in parts — proper shoes and water needed, and it's slippery after rain. Tight on time? The cross-island Sans Souci road gives mountain views from the car. Start before late afternoon for light and to avoid the heat.
5. 18:00 Beau Vallon beach + sunset 1h30

   Head to Beau Vallon, Mahé's main beach — a long sweep of sand on the sheltered northwest coast, good for swimming in the calmer season, with watersports and a string of bars facing the sunset.

   Cost: Free; drinks extra TIP: Beau Vallon faces northwest, so it's the better swimming beach in the windy May-Sep season — but it can get surf and current; ask locally. A SeyBrew or Takamaka cocktail at a beach bar for sunset is the classic move.
6. 19:30 Dinner — Creole buffet at Beau Vallon 1h30

   Dinner at The Boat House or La Plage on Beau Vallon — a Creole buffet of curries, grilled fish, and breadfruit chips, or à la carte seafood by the beach.

   Cost: €30-60 per person TIP: The Boat House buffet is good for trying many dishes at once; book ahead in season. Octopus curry and grilled fish are the things to order. Beachfront prices are high — a local takeaway is the budget alternative.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Morne Seychellois hike — Copolia or Anse Major 3h

   A proper morning hike in Morne Seychellois National Park: Copolia (~1.4 km, moderate, granite-plateau views over Victoria and Eden Island) or the longer Anse Major coastal trail to a secluded beach reachable only on foot.

   Cost: Copolia small fee; Anse Major free TIP: Start early to beat the heat; both are slippery after rain. Proper shoes, water, and sunscreen. Anse Major rewards you with a quiet beach — bring swim gear. A guide is optional but helps on lesser-marked trails.
2. 12:00 West-coast drive + lunch 3h

   Drive the scenic west coast of Mahé — quieter beaches like Anse Soleil and Port Launay — with lunch at a seaside spot such as Del Place near Port Glaud.

   Cost: Lunch €35-70 TIP: The west coast is calmer and more scenic than the busy north. A rental car makes this day; taxis add up. Anse Soleil and Anse Intendance are among Mahé's best beaches (Intendance can have big surf).
3. 15:30 Takamaka rum distillery (La Plaine St André) 1h30

   A tasting tour at the Takamaka rum distillery on the historic La Plaine St André estate — the local rum you'll see everywhere, with a Creole restaurant on the grounds.

   Cost: Tour/tasting €15-25 TIP: Book the tour ahead. A relaxed half-day-off-the-beach activity. A car or taxi is needed; don't drive after a tasting — plan a transfer.
4. 18:00 Sunset + dinner on the west coast 2h30

   Stay west for sunset and dinner — Del Place's over-water deck, or back toward Beau Vallon for a beach-bar evening.

   Cost: €30-70 per person TIP: The west coast faces the sunset — arrive before dusk. Reserve a waterside table in season. Octopus curry and the catch of the day are the orders.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Cat Cocos ferry — Mahé to Praslin 2h

   Check out and take the morning catamaran from Victoria to Praslin (~75 minutes). Pre-book tickets; crossings quote in EUR (~€56-77 one-way) and accept cards.

   Cost: Ferry ~€56-77 one-way TIP: Upper deck for air and views; motion-sickness precautions if needed. Dry bag for valuables. Small per-trip port fee. Check in to a Côte d'Or (Anse Volbert) base for the next two nights.
2. 10:30 Vallée de Mai UNESCO palm forest 2h

   The UNESCO palm forest where the giant Coco de Mer grows wild and the endemic black parrot lives. Entry SCR 450 (~€30) per adult; open roughly 8:00-17:30.

   Cost: Entry SCR 450 (~€30) TIP: Allow an hour-plus on the trails; the shade is welcome. Fee funds conservation including Aldabra. Fond Ferdinand nearby is a cheaper, quieter alternative.
3. 13:00 Lunch + Anse Lazio 3h

   Beachfront lunch at Bonbon Plume on Anse Lazio, then swimming at one of the world's best-rated beaches — clear water and granite headlands.

   Cost: Lunch €40-90; beach free TIP: Anse Lazio swims well in calm conditions. Little shade — sunscreen and water. Bonbon Plume serves mainly lunch. A taxi is the practical way there.
4. 17:00 Côte d'Or (Anse Volbert) evening 3h

   Return to Côte d'Or for a relaxed swim and sunset on the long, sheltered beach, then dinner at Café des Arts or Les Lauriers.

   Cost: Dinner €25-100 TIP: Café des Arts is a special-occasion beachfront dinner; Les Lauriers' Creole buffet is better value. Côte d'Or can collect seaweed in the Oct-Apr season — ask locally. Book ahead in season.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Boat trip to Curieuse Island 4h30

   A morning boat trip to Curieuse Island, a short hop off Praslin — home to free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, a mangrove boardwalk, and the turtle-nesting beach at Anse St José. Often combined with snorkelling at St Pierre islet.

   Cost: Tour ~€60-100 incl. park fee TIP: Book a small-group tour; many include a Creole BBQ lunch and snorkelling. Curieuse is where you'll realistically meet giant tortoises up close. There's a Curieuse Marine National Park fee. Reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes.
2. 14:00 Anse Georgette or Anse Volbert relaxing 3h

   Back on Praslin, an afternoon at Anse Georgette (a stunning, quieter beach behind the Constance Lemuria resort — access may need to be arranged) or simply Anse Volbert.

   Cost: Free; access varies TIP: Anse Georgette is gorgeous but access can be controlled via the resort — confirm in advance. Otherwise Anse Volbert is easy and pleasant. Match beach to wind season for the calmest water.
3. 18:30 Praslin dinner 2h

   A final Praslin dinner — Les Lauriers' Creole buffet, or a relaxed seafood meal on Côte d'Or.

   Cost: €25-60 per person TIP: Order octopus curry and grilled fish. Book ahead in season. A Takamaka rum nightcap to close the day.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Inter-island boat — Praslin to La Digue 1h30

   Short boat from Baie Sainte Anne to La Digue (~15 min). Check in near La Passe for two nights and rent a bicycle (~SCR 100/day).

   Cost: Boat ~€15-20; bike ~SCR 100/day TIP: Frequent crossings. SCR cash for La Digue. Small, flat island — bicycle is the way around.
2. 11:00 L'Union Estate + Anse Source d'Argent 3h

   Cycle to L'Union Estate (entry ~SCR 150) and Anse Source d'Argent — the granite-boulder beach, shallow and calm, one of the world's most photographed. Tortoises and an old copra mill on the estate.

   Cost: L'Union entry ~SCR 150 TIP: Great for photos and wading; tricky for swimming at low tide. Little shade; beach bars cash-only. Early or late for quieter light.
3. 15:00 Grande Anse / Petite Anse / Anse Cocos 3h

   Cycle south and walk the short trail to the wilder beaches — Grande Anse, Petite Anse, Anse Cocos — with stronger surf and dramatic scenery.

   Cost: Free TIP: Strong currents here — be cautious about swimming, especially in the windy season. Take water; few facilities. The ride plus walk is part of the experience.
4. 18:30 Sunset + dinner 2h30

   West-side sunset, then dinner at hilltop Belle Vue (arrange transport up) or casual Chez Jules.

   Cost: €20-45 per person TIP: Belle Vue's panorama is the island's best — book ahead. Bring a torch for the cycle back; lights are sparse.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 North-end beaches — Anse Severe / Anse Patates 3h

   Cycle to the northern beaches — Anse Severe and Anse Patates — calmer spots good for snorkelling over granite and reef, with fewer crowds than Anse Source d'Argent.

   Cost: Free; snorkel rental small fee TIP: These north-end beaches snorkel well in calm conditions. Bring or rent a mask. Match the side of the island to the wind for the calmest water and least seaweed.
2. 12:00 Lunch + relax 2h30

   A relaxed lunch in La Passe, then downtime — a hammock, the village, or a quiet beach. This is the day to slow down to island pace.

   Cost: Lunch SCR 200-450 TIP: La Digue is built for doing little. Fresh fruit juices and a slow lunch. Reapply sunscreen; the midday sun is fierce.
3. 15:00 Optional snorkel boat trip (Félicité / St Pierre) 3h

   An optional afternoon snorkel boat trip to nearby Félicité or the St Pierre granite islet — clear water, fish, and granite formations.

   Cost: Tour ~€50-80 TIP: Book through your guesthouse or a local operator. Reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, dry bag. Skip it for a pure beach day if you'd rather not spend more.
4. 19:00 Final La Digue dinner 2h

   A last La Digue dinner — Chez Jules, Belle Vue, or a guesthouse Creole meal — and a quiet evening.

   Cost: €20-45 per person TIP: Order octopus in coconut milk and a fresh juice. Service is unhurried — settle in. A Takamaka nightcap to close.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Final La Digue morning 2h30

   An early swim and breakfast, last photos around La Passe, and bike return before the ferry.

   Cost: Beaches free TIP: Mornings are calmest. Return the bike on time. Dry bag for the crossing.
2. 11:30 Ferry toward Mahé 3h30

   Inter-island boat to Praslin, then the Cat Cocos catamaran back to Mahé (~1h45 via Praslin plus connection). Pre-book.

   Cost: Ferry ~€68-89 (La Digue–Mahé) TIP: Buffer time for the connection. Upper deck, dry bag. Generous margin before an evening flight.
3. 16:00 Last Beau Vallon hours + airport transfer 3h

   A final Beau Vallon swim and an early dinner or sundowner, then the transfer to the airport for an evening departure.

   Cost: Transfer €25-40; dinner €30-60 TIP: Confirm flight and transfer timing — departures are often late evening. Use up remaining SCR. A relaxed beach close to the trip.

Meal Recommendations