Region
Mahé
Base on Mahé 3 nights: rent a car for the mountain roads, bus only for short hops, ferry out to Praslin or La Digue.
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Key facts · Seychelles
- Best months
- May–Jun, Oct
- Currency
- Seychelles rupee
- Language
- Seychellois Creole
- Plugs
- G · 240 V
- Time zone
- UTC+4 all year
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Seychelles ↗Seychelles requires a travel authorisation for visitors; apply only on the official government portal and check the rules for your passport before you fly.
- Seychelles ↗Check with a travel clinic whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from or through a country with yellow fever risk.
- Seychelles ↗Do not take shells, coral or coco de mer nuts without an export permit; the Vallée de Mai and Aldabra are protected sites.
Mahé is the country's hub: the international airport, the capital Victoria, the granite peaks of Morne Seychellois and the beach strip at Beau Vallon all sit on one 28 km island. Most first trips land here, sleep two or three nights, then take the ferry to Praslin or La Digue. A rental car is the difference between seeing the island and seeing your resort.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Beau VallonCity guide
2 km (1.2 mi) beach, dive shops, restaurants, easiest base without a car.1.2 mi (2 km) beach, dive shops, restaurants, easiest base without a car.
Best Apr–May, Oct–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Day trip
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Beau Vallon 3 nights, Victoria and Morne Seychellois as day trips, ferry out on day 4
- 2 nights
- One full beach day plus one mountain or Victoria day, then ferry to Praslin
- Mahé without a car means long waits and missed beaches; taxis are the most expensive option.
- Southeast trade winds (May–Sep) rough up east-coast beaches; northwest monsoon (Nov–Mar) hits the west.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Beau Vallon | 25 min | unknown | Bus runs to about 20:30; market is best before midday.Bus runs to about 8:30 PM; market is best before midday. |
| Morne Seychellois National Park | Victoria | 20 min | unknown | Trails run 1–2 hours; start early, cloud builds by afternoon. |
| Sainte Anne Marine Park | Victoria | 20 min | unknown | Boat trips from Victoria; park charges an entrance fee. |
Bags between cities
Ferries to Praslin and La Digue leave from Victoria Pier; take bags on board rather than shipping them.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beau Vallon | × | × | ok | go | go | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | ok |
| Victoria | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
| Seychelles (country-wide) | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahé coastBeau Vallon, west and east coasts | wet | wet | wet | ok | best | best | ok | ok | ok | best | wet | wet |
- Mahé coast
- Hot and humid all year, 24–31 °C (75–88 °F). Wettest Dec–Feb; coolest and windiest Jun–Aug. April–May and October–November are the calmest, clearest windows.Hot and humid all year, 75–88 °F (24–31 °C). Wettest Dec–Feb; coolest and windiest Jun–Aug. April–May and October–November are the calmest, clearest windows.
Wind decides which coast is swimmable more than temperature does.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) | Victoria | Taxi or bus | ~15 min by taxi, ~30 min by bus | The airport sits next to Victoria; bus station is in town, taxis wait outside arrivals. |
| Praslin (Baie Sainte Anne jetty) | Victoria Pier | Cat Cocos ferry | ~1 h | Book ahead in peak season; indoor, upper-deck and business seats. |
| La Digue (La Passe quay) | Victoria Pier | Cat Cocos ferry | ~1 h 30 | Same operator; check the day's sailing times before you plan the airport run. |
Regional passes
Public bus
buySCR 7 flat fare, roughly 05:30–20:30; good for Victoria and Beau Vallon, slow for the far coasts.
Rental car
buyAbout SCR 1,200 per day (2026 estimate); pick-up at the airport, ferry terminal or your hotel. The practical way to reach Anse Soleil, Port Launay and the park.
Taxi
skipFine for one airport run or a resort-bound stay; expensive as daily transport.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Creole curries, parrotfish and tuna steaks | Victoria and resort restaurants | Lunch costs well under dinner at the same kitchen; book dinner in peak weeks. |
| Hot-rock barbecue | Baie Lazare | You cook meat, fish or seafood on a heated stone at the table. |
| Market produce | Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market, Victoria | Fish, fruit and spices; go in the morning, it winds down by afternoon. |
| Tea and tea-factory tour | Morne Blanc terraces, Latanier Road | Guided walk through the tea terraces; buy leaves at the shop. |
Go next
Victoria
Bus or taxi, ~15–30 min from the airport
Market, clock tower, museums and the botanical gardens.
Beau Vallon
plannedBus from Victoria, ~20 min
The island's main beach strip and dive centre.
Morne Seychellois National Park
plannedDrive from Victoria, ~20 min to the trailheads
Twelve trails, 1–2 hours each, up to 905 m.
Praslin
plannedCat Cocos ferry from Victoria Pier, ~1 h
Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio; the usual next island.
La Digue
plannedCat Cocos ferry from Victoria Pier, ~1 h 30
Bikes and Anse Source d'Argent; book the crossing ahead.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids3 partsIn numbers · Going in… · Trips here
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Day trips
- 3, 20 min to 25 min
- Nights suggested
- 2–3 nights
- Ways in
- 3 listed
- Best months
- May, Jun, Oct
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Trips that stop here
Mahé and Praslin
7 days · 3 nights here
Mahé → Praslin
The three islands
10 days · 4 nights here
Mahé → Praslin → La Digue → Mahé
Inner islands plus a coral island
14 days · 5 nights here
Mahé → Praslin → La Digue → Bird or Denis Island → Mahé
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Ask about Mahé
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