Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide – 7 Days in the Land of Perpetual Summer

  • 06.02.2023 19:15
  • Bruno Arcos

Check out our Seychelles 1-week travel guide and discover the best islands to visit in the country and how to get around between them, what hotels and restaurants to book and a complete 7-day itinerary with everything you must see and do in the Seychelles.

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Formed by more than 100 different islands, and an idyllic destination with crystal clear waters smacked right in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is one of Africa’s main tourist destinations, which is quite meaningful when we look at its tiny size and population. In fact, the tourist sector is the most important for the country’s steady economy, and a decisive factor on why the Seychelles are considered one of the richest and best-developed nations in the continent.

It’s definitely not hard to understand what attracts so many visitors, as very few other countries fit the stereotypical image of “paradise” as well as the Seychelles. With some of the best beaches in the world, fabulous mountain trails and a vast array of endemic species of plants and wildlife you won’t be able to find anywhere else, this is – without a shadow of a doubt – a must-visit destination for nature lovers!

In case you’re already picturing yourself lying down at the most beautiful stretch of sand one can possibly imagine, then this post will be right up your alley! Check out our Seychelles 1-week travel guide and discover the best islands to visit in the country and how to get around between them, what hotels and restaurants to book and a complete 7-day itinerary with everything you must see and do in the Seychelles!

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide

How to get to the Seychelles – Flights from Ireland

Despite the huge number of islands in the archipelago, the truth is that most of them are uninhabited and little more than giant floating rocks, which is why the Seychelles are only served by a single international airport: the Aéroport de la Pointe Larue.

As one might expect, there are no direct flights between Ireland and the Seychelles, which is why most visitors coming from the country usually stop over in Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), Abu Dhabi (Etihad) or even Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines).

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Best time to visit the country

Although the Seychelles are a consistently warm destination all-year-round, there are other meteorological aspects one should keep in mind before deciding when to visit the country. For example, the period between January-February is one you’ll probably want to avoid. Despite being officially Summer in the Seychelles (southern hemisphere), this is also monsoon season, which means your chances of getting rainy days are substantially higher than usual.

On the other hand, and throughout most of the year, the Seychelles are affected by trade winds as well. This phenomenon leads to windier weather, stronger sea currents and, occasionally, to seaweed being washed up onto the shore. In this case, it is important pay attention to which direction the trade winds blow from. Between May and August, for example, the trade winds blow from the southeast, which means you must choose to visit beaches located on the western coast. On the contrary, between November and December, winds blow from the northwest, so you should spend most of your time on the eastern coast. This doesn’t necessarily mean these are bad months to visit the island-nation, but it is important to know this before-hand in order to avoid being disappointed.

All things considered, and if you really want to play it safe, the best time to visit the Seychelles is around March-April and between September-October, when the weather is the most stable, without the effects of the monsoon season or the trade winds. In the specific case of the former, it is also a perfect time to watch the local turtle species hatch and start their legendary run towards the Indian Ocean.

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Documents needed for your trip

Considering the Seychelles is not a part of the EU and doesn’t hold any kind of agreement to facilitate entry to its citizens, you must be in possession of your passport in order to visit the country. Plus, the document must be valid for the entirety of your planned stay.

Upon landing, you’ll be issued a free visitor’s permit that will allow you to remain in the country for the maximum consecutive period of 90 days. In order to be granted this permit, you must have a hotel booking confirmation and proof of your onward travel plans (like a return-flight confirmation).

Regarding pandemic restrictions, and although it is no longer mandatory to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test, it is still necessary to fill out a Travel Authorization Form. This document costs 10€ and can be submitted up to 10 days before departure, taking about 12 hours to be processed. As soon as your form is validated, you’ll receive a QR code you must show before boarding the aircraft and upon landing in the country.

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Roaming costs and sim card

Since there is no special agreement in place regarding international communications and roaming fees, using your regular phone plan in the Seychelles is a big no-no! Therefore, our recommendation is that you either buy an Esim before leaving the homeland or get a physical SIM card upon landing in your destination.

In the case of the Seychelles, you should actually by a local SIM card before departing. How? While filling out the Travel Authorization Form, you’ll have the option to buy a 5GB SIM Card from Airtel for 20€. You may then collect your physical card directly from the provider’s kiosk at the arrivals’ terminal.

This is definitely a better deal than buying a similar card in person from the same company. For example, buying a SIM card with a 3GB package directly from Airtel would cost you 38€ (6,50€ for the card + 31,50€ for the package)! And even if you look towards competition – Cable & Wireless Seychelles – things don’t get any better, as that same 5GB package will cost you 54€!

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – withdrawing money and bank card fees

With the Seychelles Rupee (SCR) as the country’s official currency, any withdrawal using an Irish bank card might incur in the payment of several different fees. Besides the percentual fee referring to the currency conversion, some Irish banks may also charge a flat commission for withdrawals made outside of Ireland. In some instances, you may well end up paying 5%-6% of your original withdrawal in banking fees.

On the other hand, exchanging money before your trip is not a viable solution either. Besides not being any cheaper, it’s also not safe or wise to carry so much money on you during your trip. As such, we recommend using the services of online banking fintech companies such as Revolut, N26 or Monzo.

By using the bank’s online app, you will have immediate access to your balance, as well as all your expenses, allowing you to check in real time whether you’ve been charged any fees for your withdrawals or not. Besides, you may just load your card with the exact daily amount you want to spend on your trip, helping you to avoid overspending and going over your budget. Plus, if you find yourself in a situation where your card got lost or stolen, the only money you stand to lose is amount you had loaded your card with. Sign up for Revolut for free >> to get 3 months of Premium.

However, and in the specific case of the Seychelles, keep in mind there is nothing Revolut can do regarding fees charged by local banks for withdrawals made with foreign cards. For each withdrawal, expect to pay a flat fee of 100 SCR, so try to take out as much money as possible at a time. On the other hand, be careful not to withdraw a bigger amount than the one you’re expecting to spend, otherwise you’ll have to exchange it back to your home currency and double the costs. There are online reports stating some local banks, such as MCB or Nouvobanq, do not charge any fees for foreign withdrawals, unlike Absa Bank, which you must avoid.

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Safety and travel scams

We’re happy to inform you that the Seychelles are a perfectly safe destination for any visitor. After all, the country’s economy is highly dependent on tourism to run, so no one is really interested in messing that up.  Just use common sense and you’ll be fine. In fact, if you’re careful enough not to flash big amounts of cash or valuables around crowded areas, I’d say you’ve just ruled out most chances of getting in trouble.

However, it’s important to remind visitors that the main hazards/risks when visiting the Seychelles do not come from locals but from Mother-Nature herself. In a territory with so many beaches, national parks, exotic species and monsoon seasons, it’s important not to take unnecessary risks when you’re not 100% sure of what you’re doing. That being said, take special precautions regarding strong currents and do not venture outside marked trails when visiting the national parks.

On a more preventive note, make sure to always wear sunscreen and insect repellent. A sunburn or bug bite may not kill you (well, not on the short term), but they’ll still nag you.

Where to sleep in the Seychelles – Hotels and Accommodation

If you’re looking out for a place to stay on our Seychelles 1-week travel guide then we got your covered!

But first, time for an inconvenient truth: the Seychelles are expensive! When accounting for flights, accommodation and meals, visiting the island-nation certainly doesn’t come cheap. That is especially true for hotel prices, as the average room night in the Seychelles might set you back around 150€.

However, and if you’ll have to splurge anyway, you might as well be happy with what you’re getting! As such, we would like to list some recommendations for each of the islands you’ll visit on our 7-day itinerary of the Seychelles.

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Hotels in Mahé

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Hotels in Praslin

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Hotels in La Digue

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Transportation between the airport and the capital Victoria

The cheapest way to travel between the airport and the capital city of Victoria is to use the public bus. Unfortunately, there are no direct connections to other areas of Mahé, the island where both the airport and capital are located.

That means you always have to commute in Victoria in order to get to your first destination upon arriving. If you wish to head to the islands of La Digue or Praslin right away, then you can hop on one of the ferries at Port Victoria. On the other hand, if you need to get to a different town in Mahé, you’ll have to change to a different bus once you get to the city center.

Bus tickets are bought directly from the driver and cost 12 SCR, with the trip between the airport and Victoria taking about 30 minutes. The bus stop can be found right outside the airport, on the opposite side of the street.

Alternatively, you can get a cab directly to the port or to your place of accommodation in Mahé. It will definitely be a much smoother ride, especially if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage. However, the cost is undeniably higher (between 425 SCR and 700 SCR, depending on your destination).

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – How to get around inside and between the islands

Transportation between islands in the Seychelles – Ferries

Considering we are talking about an archipelago and that our itinerary includes no less than 3 different islands, it’s only natural that part of your week will be spent overwater.

The ferry connections between the main islands in the Seychelles are mostly run by a single company: Cat Cocos. You can buy your ferry tickets in advance on their website.

There are the three trips you can book:

  • Mahé – Praslin – from 50€/one-way, 1 hour
  • Praslin – La Digue – from 14€/one-way, 15 minutes
  • La Digue – Mahé – from 60€/one-way, 90 minutes

Transportation between islands in the Seychelles – Internal Flights

If you’re a complete lunatic and aren’t yet tired of sitting inside a metal can by the time you make it to the Seychelles, you may also fly between the islands of Mahé and Praslin.

These flights are operated by Air Seychelles and take only 20 minutes. Tickets for non-residents start at 1000 SCR.

Intra-Island transportation in the Seychelles – Bus

As mentioned earlier, the bus is by far the most affordable way to get around in the Seychelles, and probably one of the very few things in the country than can actually be labeled as “cheap”. However, and just like everywhere else, buses aren’t exactly known for their flexibility or reliability. Furthermore, local SPTC buses only run between 05h30 and 19h00.

Bus services are only available in the islands of Mahé and Praslin, with single ticket prices costing 12 SCR. You may check the timetable for a specific route right here.

Intra-Island transportation in the Seychelles – Taxi

As an alternative to the bus, you may choose to get around by taxi. Once again, these services are only available in Mahé and Praslin.

Unfortunately, there are no online platforms or apps such as Uber or Cabify where you can request trips/rides, so you’re pretty much at the mercy of local drivers and their demands. However, keep in mind that, on average, they will charge you around 35 SCR per km.

Intra-Island transportation in the Seychelles – Car Rental

If you’re looking for maximum flexibility and autonomy, then you can go ahead and rent your very own car in Mahé or Praslin. As for La Digue, there are no rental companies in the island.

In the case of Mahé, the largest island in the nation, you can collect your car directly from the airport as soon as you land. To confirm prices and availability, check Rentalcars.com!

As for Praslin, the most popular international rental companies have no facilities or shared agreements in the island, which means you’ll have to book directly with small, local companies, such as Papa Rental, Elite Car Hire or Bliss Car Hire.

Intra-Island transportation in the Seychelles – Renting a bike

Last, but certainly not least, you’re left with the most pleasant of alternatives, and an especially relevant option within the tiny island of La Digue.

Since La Digue is considerable smaller than its two sisters, with the main road along the island stretching for about 7/8km, renting a bike is actually the best way to move around (the second best would be walking), as there are no cab services or car rental companies. Aware of that condition, locals started integrating bike rental services within their existing businesses. In La Digue, it is possible to rent a bike from 8€/day.

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Local food and dishes you must try

The Seychelles is a real definition of a melting pot. After all, no one is inherently native to the country, as the archipelago was completely uninhabited when the Europeans first set foot in the 18th century. This means that, officially, all Seychellois come originally from somewhere else, with most people descending from African slaves (especially from East Africa), French colonizers and long-term immigrant families who came from India and East Asia many generations ago.

Naturally, this diversity also reflects on the country’s cuisine, which ends up taking the very best of African, Creole, Tamil and even Chinese flavors. Besides, given its deep-rooted links to the sea (err… it’s an archipelago!), fish is also one of the key ingredients.

That being said, if you’re visiting the Seychelles soon, do not miss out on the opportunity of trying their local fish, usually stuffed with a mix of garlic, chili pepper and ginger, and grilled over coconut-scented charcoal – just for that extra exotic kick! However, no other dish is as appreciated in the Seychelles as the Curry. Whether it’s made with vegetables, fish or chicken, there at least two things you can take for granted: the first is that it’s going to be delicious; the second is that, for a local, the concept of “too spicy” simply does not exist! If you have to try only one of these dishes, make it your mission to delight your taste buds with a fantastic Octopus Curry.

Other traditional dishes include the Sosis Rougay, a local sausage cooked in tomato sauce, or the Satini, a salad composed of unripe fruits, spices, chili peppers and – brace yourself – shark meat (relax, there are also vegetarian versions or made with white fish). From savory to sweet, make sure to try as many different foods as you can containing banana or breadfruit, two of the most common and beloved fruits in the country. Besides the super-common breadfruit chips, it is also mandatory to try the Ladobe, a local dessert made with banana cooked in coconut milk, sugar and vanilla extract.

As a final note, it’s also worth mentioning that restaurants in the Seychelles can be quite expensive, especially in the resort areas, which is precisely where you’ll spend about 99% of your time as a tourist. As such, many locals choose to eat at takeout restaurants, which are nothing but hole-in-the-wall booths where you can order an individual portion of food for about 70-120 SCR.

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – Hidden Treasures

As usual, we also want to help you explore off-the-beaten-path places when you travel, which is why we are also adding a few hidden gems to our Seychelles 1-week travel guide.

Therefore, and aside from the country’s most popular hotspots, we also recommend visiting the following:

  • Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
  • Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
  • Plaisance Ward
  • Mission Ruins of Venn’s Town
  • Aldabra Atoll
  • Aride Island

Seychelles 1-week travel guide – A 7-day itinerary

Considering you’ll be going through the hassle of flying half-way across the world just to visit the Seychelles, we’d say you should stay for at least a week.

With 7 days, you can explore the country’s 3 most popular islands at a relatively relaxed pace, enjoy their superb beaches, do some hiking along the national parks and even take a few hours to explore some secondary islets.

Relaxed – yes – ma non troppo!

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide: Day 1 – Mahé: Welcome to Paradise

As soon as you land in the Seychelles and complete your check-in at the resort, you’ll want to have an immediate taste of the idyllic scenario that brought you here in the first place. As such, you should start your adventure at Anse Intendance, one of the best beaches in the island, especially for surf lovers and other water sports enthusiasts. Besides, this is also a place where local turtles lay their eggs!

Afterwards, take a short walk to Baie Lazare, a small historic village where you can visit the San Francis of Assisi Church and enjoy the views of the surroundings. Still within the same village but by the coast, do not miss out on the opportunity of swimming at the Petit Anse, yet another example of the country’s pristine beaches. Unlike our previous suggestion, this one is actually perfect for bathing and snorkeling, one of the coolest activities you can do in the island.

Still regarding Petit Anse, it’s important to mention that the beach is actually a part of the Four Seasons Seychelles resort. While this could seem like a bit of a problem for those unwilling to pay 1000€/night for villa with a private pool, it’s important to note that every single beach in the Seychelles is public, even if they’re completely encircled by a private enterprise! In the specific case of the Petit Anse, where there is no alternative access, you can just park the car outside the resort and tell the security staff you want to go to the beach. They’ll just ask you for your name, tell you where to go and give you two bracelets, presumably so that you don’t get mistaken by a hotel guest. Other than that – it’s business as usual!

First day wrap-up:

  • Anse Intendance
  • Baie Lazare
  • San Francis of Assisi Church
  • Petit Anse

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide – Cheap restaurants in Mahé

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide: Day 2 – Mahé: Morne Seychellois National Park

Starting your very first full day in the Seychelles, you’ll want to steer away from the coast for a bit (although you’re never really far away from a beach) and visit the Morne Seychellois National Park, the biggest nature reserve in the country, occupying a fifth of Mahé’s landmass. Although there are several trails to trek and viewpoints to visit, we recommend completing the Morne Blanc Trail, which starts at the Sans Souci Road up until the top of this hill. On the way, you’ll find tea plantations and sections of tropical rainforest, until you’ll finally come face-to-face with one of the most breathtaking views this island-nation has to offer.

On your way down from the opposite side, towards the capital city of Victoria, discover the Mission Ruins of Venn’s Town, an abandoned 19th century city which used to serve as headquarters to a group of missionaries. After slavery was abolished, this little village, nowadays engulfed by the surrounding vegetation, used to host, feed and educate the children and orphans of former slaves. To this day, it remains one of the country’s best kept secrets.

Finally, and before descending for good back to civilization, make a quick detour and conquer the Copolia Trail, one of the easiest and most popular hikes in the Seychelles. Once again, the reward for completing the trek is an unbelievable panoramic view over the surrounding lush nature. After putting in so much effort, it’s time for a well-deserved rest and a refreshing dip in the waters of the Beau Vallon Anse, one of the liveliest beaches in Mahé.

Second day wrap-up:

  • Morne Seychellois National Park (Morne Blanc Trail)
  • Mission Ruins of Venn’s Town
  • Copolia Trail
  • Beau Vallon Anse

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide: Day 3 – Mahé: The Capital City of Victoria

For your final day in Mahé, you’ll take the morning to explore Victoria, the country’s overlooked capital city. Though it may not be the prettiest or most happening city in the world, Victoria still has a few cool spots worthy of a visit!

Let’s start with the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens (250 SCR), a gigantic park with almost 300 different species of plants and several themed gardens scattered across its 15 acres, such as the Guangzhou Chinese Garden, the Thai Garden or the Indian Diversity Garden. Oh, and there is also a whole section dedicated to the island’s endemic turtles, where you can actually feed some of these lovely animals.

Back in the city center, take a walk along Freedom Square – the unofficial heart of Victoria – and visit the Clock Tower and the St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. Once you start getting the munchies, swing by the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market and grab some local food to eat on-the-go.

In the afternoon, you’ll go to Port Victoria and look for a boat that can take you to the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, which is spread across 6 small different islets about 5km away from the shore of Mahé. Although it is possible to complete this trip independently, you will have to negotiate the price of the boat and pay a 250 SCR fee on the side for the boat to be able to dock in the national park. All things considered, you’ll be better off by hiring a tour where all the logistic costs and activities are already included in the final price.

Recommended Tours:

Third day wrap-up:

  • Seychelles National Botanical Gardens
  • Freedom Square
  • Victoria Clock Tower
  • Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
  • Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
  • Sainte Anne Marine National Park

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide: Day 4 – Praslin: Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

After completing the 1-hour ferry ride between Mahé and Praslin, it’s time for you to discover a new island! And there is no better starting point than one of the country’s only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve (350 SCR)

Once in the park, you can hike your way across several trails and viewpoints and get to know the island’s most important endemic plants, such as the palm tree which produces the coco de mer, the biggest seed in the world and one of the Seychelles most iconic symbols. In the afternoon, and so that your routine doesn’t shy away from the good, old dolce far niente, we suggest visiting the Côte d’Or and its fabulous Anse Volbert beach.

Fourth day wrap-up:

  • Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
  • Anse Volbert

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide – Cheap restaurants in Praslin

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide: Day 5 – Praslin: A Quick Detour to Cousin Island

For your special Praslin farewell, and before heading to La Digue by the end of the day, you’ll kick off your day with a tour of the neighboring Cousin Island. These visits are organized by official local authorities and cost 600 SCR, a price which includes transportation and a guided tour, led by a licensed conservationist who will show you around and explain the conservation efforts taking place inside this natural paradise. You can book your tour right here.

For the rest of the day, just relax until it’s time for your ferry at the idyllic Anse Lazio, one of the most picturesque beaches in all of the Seychelles. Completely surrounded by the granitic boulders that have become a trademark of the country, you’ll have to climb over a small hill in order to access its golden strand. A small price to pay to witness one of the heavenliest settings in the world.

Fifth day wrap-up:

  • Cousin Island
  • Anse Lazio

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide: Day 6 – La Digue: Between the bushes and the sand

As soon as you wake up in La Digue, we recommend renting a bike. Besides being the perfect way to move around in such a tiny island, the fact that everyone else does the same makes the setting look even more exotic. In order to get a first glimpse of what La Digue has in store for you, we suggest stopping by the Grand Anse. To get there, you’ll cross a trail that goes through swamp areas and stretches of rainforest, walking past colonial French buildings until the view finally opens up over the glorious beach in front of you. Due to the insanely high levels of humidity and uneven terrain, the course can be quite tiring, even if you’re riding a bike. Therefore, make sure to take plenty of water with you and carry your bike when necessary.

But it will be worth it once you’re finally swimming at the Grand Anse, a well-earned reward for all your effort! However, good things aren’t meant to last, which is why you’ll get back on the dense vegetation trails until you reach two other beaches in the southeastern coast of La Digue: Petit Anse and Anse Cocos. The latter even has a specific area where a beautiful natural pool is formed, ideal for swimming without having to worry with the strong currents that usually form in this side of the island.

As a final piece of advice, pay special attention to the signs along the trail, as these can sometimes be a little confusing. Furthermore, it’s also a good idea to take a pair of sneakers for the hike, since some areas aren’t exactly comfortable for someone wearing flipflops.

Sixth day wrap-up:

  • Grand Anse
  • Petite Anse
  • Anse Cocos

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide – Cheap restaurants in La Digue

Seychelles 1-Week Travel Guide: Day 7 – The Best Beach in the Seychelles

Finally, we have reached our final day in Seychellois lands… however, we have saved for last what we consider to be the undisputed best beach in the archipelago!

In order to visit, you’ll have to enter the L’Union State Park (150 SCR), the nature reserve where you’ll be able to feast your eyes upon the Anse Source d’Argent. In a country brimming with beaches that could fill an entire honeymoon catalogue, this is probably the best of the entire lot, as a results of its crystal-clear waters, granite boulders and natural pools. A true paradise! Still within the park limits, you may also visit the oldest cemetery in the island, an ancient vanilla plantation and a museum dedicated to the production of copra, housed inside an historic colonial building. And whenever you have a small break, take the time to feed the turtles who live inside the national park!

Lastly, and if you still have the energy, we recommend a short visit to the Veuve Nature Reserve (150 SCR), which serves as the natural habitat to plenty of local wildlife, including the Seychelles paradise flycatcher, currently listed as an endangered species.

Seventh day wrap-up:

  • L’Union State Park
  • Anse Source d’Argent
  • Veuve Nature Reserve

We have finally reached the end of our Seychelles 1-week travel guide! We can only hope it will come in handy once you’re visiting the Land of the Perpetual Summer soon.

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