The Seychelles Luxury Holidays Ideas

The Seychelles are the ideal place to spend some time relaxing after the thrill of your safari. We recommend travelling to the Seychelles for the beach portion of your trip after safaris to Tanzania, Kenya or South Africa.

Because of its large variety islands and resorts catering to all types of travellers, the Seychelles makes an excellent addition to a honeymoon safari or a family safari.

Have a look at some of our holiday ideas to the Seychelles and then get in touch to start planning your dream beach break to the Seychelles….

Seychelles’ Best Islands and Where to Visit

Mahe Island

Mahe is the largest island of in the Seychelles and the main access point for everyone travelling through these spectacular granite islands. Despite being a layover point, there is so much to do here, and definitely should not be discounted from your luxury beach holiday.

Mahe is dominated by a mountainous interior that is covered in dense forest - forming a beautiful backdrop to some of the island’s best beaches. Mahe is easy to explore by vehicle, so we suggest hiring a car for a day or two and get out exploring on your own. With plenty of secluded coves, you’ll be sure to find a private beach where you can relax and enjoy your idyllic surroundings.

If you’re in search of famous Seychelles beaches, you’ll want to visit Beau Vallon in the north of the island and Anse Intendance in the south. Both beaches offer long stretches of white sand and clear waters, ideal for taking a dip. The south-east trade winds can stir up some waves on both beaches, so do some research before your trip to check the wind patterns for the time of year you’re travelling.

There is plenty of other activities to keep visitors busy on Mahe if you’ve had your fill of the beach. Hike through the Morne Seychellois National Park and keep your eyes out for carnivorous plants, or spend the day exploring the capital city of Victoria. The Victoria Market is especially interesting If you wish to to get a glimpse of what local life is like in this island nation.

Praslin Island

Praslin is the second largest island in the Seychelles and renowned as one of the most beautiful. Granite boulders and palm fringed beaches await you here. Praslin is a lot quieter that it’s big sister Mahe, and visitors can easily find a quiet cove where you may well have the beach all to yourself! We recommend a visit to Anse Lazio during your Praslin stay, the most famous beach on the island and one of the most beautiful.

What makes Praslin especially unique is that it is home to the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve – a UNESCO world heritage site, which home to the coco de mer, a palm tree that produces the world’s largest seed and can only be found in the Seychelles.

Getting around Praslin is easy, with taxi, bus and car hire options available. It is also possible to arrange boat excursions to some of the nearby islands, including La Digue.

La Digue

The smallest of the 3 main islands in the Seychelles, La Digue has retained its old world charm. Staying here feels like stepping back in time and experiencing the true meaning of “island life”. La Digue is so small that the best way to explore is by bicycle! Flat roads make is easy to cycle from beach to beach without breaking a sweat.

La Digue is home to Anse Source d’Argent, the most famous beach in the Seychelles and renowned as the most photographed beach on earth! This beach is what makes La Digue famous and we definitely recommend ticking it off your bucket list, but you may encounter crowds here because of its reputation. If that’s not for you don’t worry – there are plenty of other idyllic coves on the island that are much quieter, perfect for relaxing and losing track of time in picturesque surroundings!

North Island

About a 20 minute flight from Mahe, North Island is the epitome of private island luxury. This island feels like a forgotten world in the middle of the Indian Ocean, where guests can retreat from the crowds and experience true exclusivity. There is only one resort here that features 11 spacious villas, all nestled into the forests with prime access to the beach and the spectacular views on offer here.

North Island is also a conservation success story. Over the years, the island has been eradicated of all alien vegetation and animals, restoring it to its natural beauty. Biologists and researchers are resident on North Island, and are on hand to chat to guests about the work that has been done and is still ongoing, like the reintroduction of key species.

Denis Island

Denis Island is a small private island north of Mahe and is surrounded by coral reefs. The small flat island is surrounded by beautiful white beaches and calm waters, thanks to a reef which teems with colourful marine life. Denis island is a perfect destination for travellers wishing to go snorkelling and unplug from the outside world.

Desroches Island

One of the outer Seychelles islands, Desroches is a private oasis with just one luxury resort, meaning that a stay here guarantees you access to the entire 13 km shore line. With a pristine coral reef surrounding it, Desroches offers some of the best diving and snorkelling in the Seychelles.

Cousine Island

Cousine is close to Praslin and home to both giant tortoises and nesting turtles. This small private island and reserve offers a stunning beach which drops off to coral reefs and deeper channels. Guests staying at Cousine Island have the whole island to themselves, ensuring the utmost in exclusivity and privacy.

Alphonse Island

Alphonse is located 400km south of Mahe, and is reachable by a quick 1 hour flight. It is a small outer island surrounded by the enormous Indian Ocean, and so guests immediately feel like they’ve set foot on an undiscovered beach when they arrive.

Surrounded by flat coral reefs, Alphonse Island offers incredible snorkelling and diving. Where the reefs drop off into the deep blue, you’ll find manta rays and sailfish and more. Alphonse is also a famous fishing location in the Seychelles, with deep sea fishing and salt water fly fishing on offer.

A stay at Alphonse will certainly never be boring, with a huge variety of activities on offer here. It’s also a great exclusive family destination, with lots to keep the kids busy so parents can also enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation.

Cosmoledo Atoll

Cosmoledo Atoll is pristine, untouched island surrounded by large sandflats, smaller islands as well as a beautiful lagoon. Located over 1,000km from Mahe, Cosmoledo is as far away from civilization that you can get. Being so far from anywhere else has made Cosmoledo a stopping off point and nesting site for marine bird species including red-footed Boobies. This isolation also means the coral reefs and other marine are unaffected by man, making this one of the best dive sites in the world. With just 1 small eco-camp on the island, guests here are truly experiencing something special and completely off the grid.

Astove Atoll

Like Cosmeledo Atoll, Astove Atoll is located over 1000km from Mahe and forms part of the outer Seychelles islands. The island forms a circle around a large inner lagoon, and is surrounded by pristine beaches. Astove is home to a myriad of birds and fish species, but the real wow factor here is the “Astove Wall” – a reef which drops off into the deep blue of the ocean beyond.

Here you’ll find giant Aldabra tortoises as well as nesting turtles on the beaches. Being so far from civilization, Astove’s pristine coral reefs are virtually untouched by man, making the diving here some of the best in the world.

La Digue Island – Home to the most photographed beach in the world

As far as the beaches of Seychelles are concerned, La Digue is where you want to be!

A 90 minute ferry ride from Mahe, La Digue is the third most populated island in the Seychelles archipelago, but retains an old world tropical island feel you won’t find anywhere else. This is largely because there is no airport here and very few cars, which means the best way to travel is via bicycle!

La Digue is blessed with some of the best beaches in the whole of the Seychelles (and some say in the world). With lush vegetation, crystal clear turquoise water, granite boulders and silky soft white sandy, the beaches here are all unmistakably beautiful while still being unique.

• Grande Anse is a large white sandy bay backed by palm trees and crystal blue waters. The water here is deeper and there can be waves depending on season.
• Anse Cocos is a quiet beach with clear shallow water. It’s a 30 minute walk to get here, but the effort is worth it.
• Anse Source D’Argent is world famous and renowned as the most photographed beach in the world. Surrounded by large granite boulders and swaying palm trees, the white sandy beach and shallow blue waters are perfect for swimming. There is a small entrance fee to get in and because of its popularity, Anse Source D’Argent can get busy, so our suggestion is to visit this beach early in the day, or late in the afternoon when the day visitors have left. It’s a stunning place to watch a sunset!

Aside from the stunning beaches, La Digue has a small nature reserve called Veuve Nature Reserve and is home to the rare black paradise flycatcher, of which there are only about 100 left in the wild. The highest peak on La Digue is Belle Vue or Eagle’s Nest Mountain and is in the center of the island, but only rises 300 meters above the sea.

Snorkeling off the beaches of La Digue is amazing, with vibrant coral reefs, angelfish, spotted eagle rays and turtles! Its easily accessible right from the beach. There are also several dive operators on the island who offer world class service for any level of diver, accessing some of the best dive sites around La Digue.

Seychelles Seasons and When to Visit

The best time to visit the Seychelles is between April and October. April is the calmest month of the year, with the north-western winds that bring rain coming to an end towards the end of March and the south-eastern breeze only beginning towards the end of April. This wind brings dry weather with it, and lasts until November when the north-western wind begins again.

Because of its close proximity to the equator, the Seychelles do not have defined seasons, and so all you need to worry about when visiting whether you’re going in the rainy season or not. The daytime temperatures of the Seychelles average between 24°C (75°F) and 31°C (88°F).

Sometimes the wind can bring some seaweed with it, but the great thing about the Seychelles is that with so many beaches to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find one without it if you wish.