Which island to choose in the Seychelles? This is the first question to ask yourself before booking accommodation. Indeed, if you’re planning to travel there for 8, 10 or 15 days, it’s highly likely that you’ll choose to stay on different islands. Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are clearly among the best places to stay in the Seychelles. Each of these islands offers a different experience.
Our article on accommodation in Seychelles will give you a better understanding of the differences between the main islands of the archipelago. This information will help you decide which island to choose in the Seychelles. This will depend not only on the length of your stay, but also on your budget for hotels or rentals.
Things you need to know
Before going into detail on each area to help you decide where to stay in Seychelles, here are some key things you need to know about the city. This’ll give you a better idea of the city.
Our favorite places to stay
If you’re in a hurry, here are our top places to stay in Seychelles:
- $ this affordable hotel, located right on the beach in Grand Anse.
- $$ this hotel, just a 5-minute walk from La Digue village center, offers rooms with private balconies.
- $$$ this upscale establishment, certainly the ideal place to stay in a paradise-like setting, typical of the Seychelles.
Map of different areas to stay in Seychelles
The map below shows the Seychelles accommodation recommendations shared in this guide. This map also enables you to locate the various Seychelles islands we have mentioned.
We’ve used the following color code: green for affordable budgets, blue for mid-range and red for luxury hotels.
The essentials of where to stay in Seychelles
To start with, we’ll share the key points to bear in mind before choosing your accommodation in Seychelles. Also, we’ll see that you first need to identify which island to choose in Seychelles before selecting your hotel or guesthouse.
Where to stay in Seychelles
After these brief explanations, you should know that the first thing to do is to choose the island or islands on which to stay in the Seychelles. This is the first step. Then you can choose one or more accommodations according to your choices.
In this section, we present the main islands of the Seychelles to guide you in your choice. We also share our recommendations for hotels and other accommodation.
Accommodation in Mahé: the archipelago's active, cultural and festive center
As the arrival point for a stay in the Seychelles, Mahé is rich in culture and hiking, as well as magnificent beaches and diving spots. There's so much to discover, it's hard to beat Mahé as a place to stay in the Seychelles.
There's a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes. But what is the best place to stay on the island? Here are a few clues:
The north, close to Victoria, is not only the most practical option, but also means staying close to Mahé's most beautiful beaches. The beaches of Anse Major and especially Anse Beau Vallon (just a 10-minute drive away) are among the most beautiful in the Seychelles. A must-see! What's more, Victoria and the surrounding area are within easy reach of the city's main attractions:
- the Sir Selwynn Clarke market with its fresh fish and spices
- the Natural History Museum and Botanical Gardens
- the Victoria Hindu Temple on Quincy Street, the city's most famous temple
From Victoria, it's a 40-minute drive to the south. Or to reach the Morne Seychellois National Park, for hiking enthusiasts.
To the west, in the vicinity of Port Glaud, you'll find peaceful, family-friendly spots, and the chance to contemplate magnificent sunsets. The Morne Seychellois National Park is just 10 minutes away. However, if you want to stay here, you'll be on the other side of Mahé's highest point. To reach other activities, such as Victoria or Beau Vallon, it takes around 40 minutes by car to cross the Sans Soucis Road, which runs around the peak in the middle of the rainforest.
In the south, you'll find yourself further away from the tourists. There are beaches here, some of which are surf spots, such as Anse Intendance, Anse Royale and Police Bay. But there's little to do here. Staying in the extreme south of Mahé means having to take the car every time you want to explore the island.
As the majority of places of interest are to be found in the northern half of Mahé, and the Morne Seychellois peak means you have to go all the way around, it's practical to stay close to Victoria. If you want to explore the surrounding area, it's easy to explore the rest of the island by car. However, if you've come to Mahé for a bit of seclusion, a family get-together or simply to surf the spots in the south, the western outskirts of Mahé are an attractive place to stay.
Our recommended accommodations
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Located in Victoria, these spacious apartments are well situated in the town and offer a good alternative for accommodation in Mahé. Close to Beau Vallon beach, their location makes for easy access. A car rental service is also available.
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This luxury establishment offers accommodation on one of the archipelago's most beautiful beaches. Located in Beau Vallon, this hotel is a haven for those seeking calm and serenity. A ten-minute drive takes you to the center of Victoria. Some rooms offer ocean views. You can relax by the infinity pool, from which you can watch the sunset.
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Situated on a private white-sand beach and 5 minutes from the Morne Seychellois National Park, this hotel offers a seductive and luxurious stopover where to stay in the Seychelles. Staying in its suites and villas offers a place away from the crowds for couples and families alike. As for activities, its private beach offers a snorkeling spot. For sports enthusiasts, the resort offers a tennis court, squash court and 2 swimming pools.
Stay in Praslin, a must in the Seychelles
Baie Saint Anne is the point of arrival on the island of Praslin by boat from Mahé. But you don't normally stay there. If you want to stay close to Praslin's places of interest, there are three outstanding options:
- Anse Volbert (to the east), where you'll find Praslin's liveliest beach.
- the Grand'Anse area (west)
- near Anse Lazio, one of the most beautiful in the archipelago.
The first (Anse Volbert), with its long beach, is the “tourist” area of this Seychelles island. It offers easy access by boat to the pretty Curieuse Island, famous for its giant tortoises. You can also enjoy water sports (canoeing, windsurfing, diving, etc.). Anse Lazio beach is just a fifteen-minute drive away.
Staying in the Seychelles in the vicinity of the second one (Grand'Anse) offers a less touristy setting, with pleasant panoramic views. In particular, you'll be close to Anse Georgette, one of the archipelago's must-see beaches. And if you're looking for a variety of water sports and activities, the area offers accommodation close to the Kerlan surf spot and the Lemuria Golf Club.
Lodging close to the latter (Anse Lazio), on the other hand, means opting for a pleasant, peaceful setting. And if you arrive early in the morning, you'll be able to take in the beauty of the surroundings.
Whether you're staying at Anse Volbert or Grand'Anse, you're just ten minutes from the majestic Vallée de Mai. Right in the heart of Praslin, this nature reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you'll find the astonishing coco-de-mer, an endemic palm famous for its suggestively shaped seed that can weigh up to 20 kg! The beauty of this valley makes it a must-see, as it has remained in its original state for thousands of years.
Accommodation in this part of the archipelago is plentiful. It offers a diverse and varied choice of accommodation in Praslin, to suit all types of traveller.
Note that despite their geographical proximity, Anse Georgette is not easily reached by car from Anse Lazio (and vice versa). In fact, it takes around 40 minutes to drive all the way around the area. However, a steep footpath leads to both beaches.
Our recommended accommodations
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On the seafront, this colonial building in Grand Anse offers comfortable rooms, some with ocean views. Just a 10-minute walk from the Vallée de Mai, this hotel offers accommodation close to places of interest.
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Situated on the edge of a private beach, this establishment offers spacious rooms, suites and apartments. Just 10 minutes from Praslin Nature Reserve, the accommodation offers car and bicycle rentals.
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Set amidst greenery in a small cove halfway between Anse Lazio and Vallée de Mai, this hotel boasts a private beach, a swimming pool and a breathtaking view of the Curieuse Island National Park. It's a great place to stay in the Seychelles.
Accommodation in La Digue: a peaceful change of scenery
Just a 15-minute boat ride from Praslin takes you to La Digue, a 10 km² islet.
A must for any stay in the Seychelles, to stay here is to immerse yourself in an atmosphere of paradise, wilderness and relaxation. So it's only natural to consider La Digue as a place to stay for a few days. People come here for its magnificent beaches, and more specifically for Anse Source d'Argent. This sandy beach, hemmed in by immense granite boulders, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
A little further away from the tourists, you can cycle here. In other words, it doesn't take long to get the measure of La Digue. Staying here during your trip to the Seychelles means you're close to some extraordinary beaches and activities, such as Plage Anse Coco and Plage Grande Anse. Diving, snorkeling, kayaking and even surfing (at Petite Anse).
You can also visit the Union Estate Park and its historic colonial mansion. Or stroll through its vanilla plantations and giant tortoises. In the center of La Digue, a short 2 km walk takes hikers to the Nid d'Aigle. Its 333-metre summit offers panoramic views of La Digue and the Seychelles archipelago.
Our recommended accommodations
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Located near the Union Estate and less than 2 km from Source d'Argent beach, this guesthouse offers tasteful family rooms. A restaurant, bar and communal garden are available to guests. It's a pleasant, family-friendly alternative to accommodation on La Digue.
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This hotel is just a 5-minute walk from La Digue town center. Overlooking the town, it offers a view of the island, making it a pleasant place to stay in La Digue. All rooms have private balconies, some with ocean views. An outdoor swimming pool is also available.
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A 5-minute walk from the ferry and just 2 km from Source d'Argent beach, this luxury hotel offers a host of facilities to ensure a relaxing stay when staying in La Digue. It features a spa, outdoor pool and a variety of restaurants. Sports activities are available on site.
Staying on a small island in the Seychelles: feeling alone in the world
When visiting the Seychelles, it's possible to stay on some of the archipelago's smaller islands. Staying on one of them is often a unique and immersive experience. It's like being alone in the world! The atmosphere is peaceful and time is almost meaningless. Sometimes fewer than 100 people live on site.
The main alternatives for accommodation on this type of island in the Seychelles are :
- Cerf Island, 5 km from Mahé, part of the Sainte-Anne Marine National Park. All you need is a mask and snorkel for snorkeling.
- Round Island, a small private islet of 3 hectares. It offers a chance to discover the marine fauna and lush local flora.
- Silhouette Island, about 20 km northwest of Mahé. Although the third largest island in the archipelago, it has a population of just 150.
To stay in Seychelles, it's also possible to stay in even smaller oases in the archipelago. Often more remote, they are only accessible by helicopter or private plane. Lodging on one of them offers an exclusive experience, aimed at a more affluent clientele. These are mainly private properties offering top-of-the-range accommodation for a secluded stay close to nature. Here, you can observe numerous aquatic species such as turtles, rays and even small, harmless sharks.
This kind of immersion can be found on Desroches Island, 230km south-west of Mahé. Or Denis Island to the north. A little closer is Cousine Island, a few kilometers west of Praslin.
All these experiences come at a price, and some are only available to the very wealthy.
Our recommended accommodations
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Located on Ile au Cerf, this accommodation offers an intimate villa, a haven of peace with a sea view. Scuba diving and hiking are available nearby.
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Located on Round Island, this small private island off the coast of Mahé offers luxurious and exclusive villas, each with its own terrace and infinity pool. The resort offers breathtaking ocean views, a spa and sports facilities. It's an excellent place to stay in the Seychelles, in the peace and quiet of a lush natural setting.
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On Silouhette Island, this establishment offers luxurious accommodation. Large, tastefully equipped villas are located on the edge of a private beach. Staying here allows you to recharge your batteries close to lush natural surroundings. You can also take advantage of the diving center, which offers excursions into the reef.
Summary
A trip to the Seychelles usually includes the 3 main islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. They offer a wide range of beach and landscape activities, water sports, hiking and cultural visits.
To diversify your experiences, we recommend that you stay in one of these accommodations on each island. Specifically, we recommend spending a maximum of 3 days on La Digue, because it’s small, and between 3 and 5 days on Praslin. And between 5 and 7 days, or even more, on the main island of Mahé, so you can also enjoy the surrounding islets.
If your budget allows, but also to complete your travel experience, you can spend a few extra days on one of the small islands of the archipelago that have accommodation. It’s the perfect opportunity to feel a little alone in the world, and to relax in this paradisiacal Indian Ocean destination!