Seychelles island hopping: Mahé, Praslin and La Digue by ferry
Seychelles · 7 nights, 8 days · 4.8 (4)
The Seychelles is for couples who want more than a single beach. The three inner islands are close enough to hop between by ferry, yet each feels completely different, and seeing all three is the reason to choose this over a single resort stay. The order matters: we start on Mahé to get over the flight, move to Praslin for the longest stay, and finish on La Digue, the quietest and most memorable, so the trip builds rather than fades.
Mahé is the big island, with the airport, the small capital Victoria and a spine of forested granite mountains. Two nights give you time for the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke market, a drive over the Sans Souci road to the Mission Lodge viewpoint, and an afternoon on the beach at Anse Intendance or Petite Anse. The fast ferry to Praslin takes about an hour; sit at the back on the open deck if the sea is choppy.
On Praslin you walk through the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO-listed palm forest where the coco de mer grows and the rare black parrot calls overhead, and spend an afternoon at Anse Lazio, which many people rate as the best beach in the Indian Ocean. A boat day to Curieuse, where giant Aldabra tortoises roam freely, and the tiny granite islet of St Pierre for snorkelling is included. La Digue is 15 minutes away by ferry and runs on bicycles: cars are rare. Cycle through the L'Union estate to Anse Source d'Argent at low tide, then over to the wild beaches of Grand Anse and Petite Anse on the east coast.
Practical points from Daniel Okafor, who knows these islands well: tides shape the beaches, so we give you a tide chart on arrival, and swimming at Grand Anse on La Digue is only safe on calm days. Hotels on the islands are mostly small and characterful rather than huge resorts, and half board is the sensible plan because restaurants outside hotels are few and close early. The sun is fierce, so reef-safe sun cream and a hat are essential.
Highlights
- Three islands in one trip: Mahé, Praslin and La Digue
- Vallée de Mai, home of the coco de mer palm
- Anse Lazio, one of the Indian Ocean's finest beaches
- Giant Aldabra tortoises on Curieuse Island
- Cycling to Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue
- Sunset over Mahé's mountains from the Mission Lodge viewpoint
Day by day
Day 1Arrive on Mahé, afternoon by the sea
The direct flight from Dubai takes about four and a half hours. Your driver meets you at Seychelles International Airport for the drive to your hotel, between 20 and 45 minutes depending on the coast. Take the afternoon easy: a swim, a walk along the sand, a cold coconut. Seychelles is equator-close, so the sun sets around 6:30pm all year. Dinner at your hotel, often Creole curries with fresh fish and breadfruit. Overnight Mahé.
Day 2Victoria, the mountains and Anse Intendance
At 9am your guide takes you into Victoria, one of the world's smallest capitals, to see the clock tower, the Hindu temple and the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke market, best early when the fish arrive. Drive over the Sans Souci road through the Morne Seychellois forest to the Mission Lodge ruins and their view over the west coast. The afternoon is for the beach at Anse Intendance in the south. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight Mahé.
Day 3Ferry to Praslin and Anse Lazio
After breakfast transfer to Victoria's inter-island quay for the fast ferry to Praslin, about one hour. Your driver meets you at Baie Sainte Anne jetty and takes you to your hotel. In the afternoon head to Anse Lazio on the north-west tip, with its granite boulders and clear water, and stay for the sunset. Bring snorkels, as the rocks at each end are full of fish. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight Praslin.
Day 4Vallée de Mai and the coco de mer forest
Start early, at about 8am, for the cool of the Vallée de Mai. Your guide leads a two-hour walk through the palm forest, pointing out the giant coco de mer nuts, endemic geckos and, with luck, the black parrot. In the afternoon return to your beach or visit the black pearl farm on the island's west side. Tonight enjoy the included honeymoon sunset dinner at your hotel. Overnight Praslin.
Day 5Curieuse and St Pierre boat day
At 9am board a boat for Curieuse Island, about 20 minutes away, where giant Aldabra tortoises roam the beach and a boardwalk crosses the mangroves. The crew prepare a Creole barbecue lunch on the sand. In the afternoon stop at St Pierre, the tiny granite islet seen on so many postcards, for snorkelling among parrotfish and angelfish. Back at your hotel by about 4pm. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight Praslin.
Day 6To La Digue and the bicycle island
Take the short 15-minute ferry from Praslin to La Digue, where an ox cart or small truck takes your bags to the hotel. Collect your bicycles and ride gently through La Passe village. In the afternoon cycle into the L'Union estate, past the old plantation house and the giant tortoise pen, to Anse Source d'Argent with its pink granite boulders. Arrive at low tide for the best pools. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight La Digue.
Day 7Grand Anse and Petite Anse by bike
Cycle across the island in about 30 minutes, past the Veuve nature reserve where the rare paradise flycatcher nests, to Grand Anse, a wide wild beach with big surf. Walk 10 minutes over the headland to Petite Anse, smaller and quieter. Swim only when the sea is flat and never far out. Return for a late afternoon drink at a beach café in La Passe. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight La Digue.
Day 8Ferry back to Mahé and fly home
After breakfast take the ferry from La Digue back to Mahé, about 90 minutes including a short stop at Praslin. Your driver collects you at Victoria and, if time allows, stops at a viewpoint or a beach for lunch before taking you to the airport, about 15 minutes away. The direct flight back to Dubai takes about four and a half hours, landing the same evening or overnight depending on the schedule.
Hotels by tier
Choose the tier in the price box; the difference is priced per adult for the whole stay.
Named hotels or similar of the same standard if one is full; we tell you before you pay the balance.
What is included
Included
- Return direct flights from Dubai to Mahé, Economy, 30 kg baggage
- Fast ferries Mahé to Praslin, Praslin to La Digue and La Digue to Mahé
- All port and airport transfers on every island
- 7 nights on half board: 2 on Mahé, 3 on Praslin, 2 on La Digue
- Half-day guided Mahé tour with Victoria market and Mission Lodge
- Vallée de Mai entry ticket with a guided walk
- Full-day boat trip to Curieuse and St Pierre with barbecue lunch
- Bicycle hire for both days on La Digue, with L'Union estate entry
- Honeymoon extras: sparkling juice and a sunset dinner on Praslin
- 24/7 Dubai support line throughout the trip
Not included
- Seychelles Travel Authorisation fee, applied for online before travel
- Seychelles tourism environmental levy, paid locally at each hotel
- Lunches other than the boat trip barbecue, and drinks
- Tips for guides and boat crews
- Travel insurance
Departures and prices
Price per adult, twin share, standard hotels. Seats are held with our airline and hotel partners.
| Dates | Departure | Seats left | Per adult | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 25 Nov to Wed 2 Dec 2026 | Flexible | 8 | AED 10,800 | |
| Wed 9 Dec to Wed 16 Dec 2026 | Flexible | 4 | AED 12,420 | |
| Wed 6 Jan to Wed 13 Jan 2027 | Flexible | 8 | AED 12,420 | |
| Wed 20 Jan to Wed 27 Jan 2027 | Flexible | 8 | AED 12,420 | |
| Wed 3 Feb to Wed 10 Feb 2027 | Flexible | 8 | AED 12,420 | |
| Wed 17 Feb to Wed 24 Feb 2027 | Flexible | 8 | AED 12,420 | |
| Wed 3 Mar to Wed 10 Mar 2027 | Flexible | 4 | AED 12,420 | |
| Wed 17 Mar to Wed 24 Mar 2027 | Flexible | 8 | AED 12,420 | |
| Wed 31 Mar to Wed 7 Apr 2027 | Flexible | 8 | AED 13,660 | |
| Wed 14 Apr to Wed 21 Apr 2027 | Flexible | 8 | AED 12,420 | |
| Wed 28 Apr to Wed 5 May 2027 | Flexible | 4 | AED 12,420 |
Where it is
Questions about this holiday
When is the best time to visit the Seychelles?
Do UAE residents need a visa for the Seychelles?
Are the ferries rough?
Is halal food available?
Can we swap the islands or add a private island?
Is it suitable for children?
Travellers on this holiday
Gorgeous islands. The ferry from Mahé to Praslin was choppy and quite a few people were ill, us included, so take tablets. To be fair, we had been warned about it in the travel notes. The Creole fish curry at a tiny place on La Digue was the best meal of the trip.
Egyptian couple living in Sharjah. We paid in instalments over three months and every reminder came on WhatsApp, polite and clear. Snorkelling at Anse Lazio and a sunset catamaran were the highlights. Seven nights, three islands, no hassle at all.
Mahé, Praslin and La Digue in seven nights, with every ferry ticket printed before we left Dubai. Cycling to Anse Source d'Argent was exactly the postcard. The plan used small, quiet hotels with character instead of big resorts, and the coco de mer palms in Vallée de Mai were pure magic.
Tenth anniversary, and we wanted something different from the Maldives. Granite boulders, empty beaches, giant tortoises on Curieuse. Our hotel on Praslin upgraded us to a sea-view room after Joanna mentioned the occasion. Faultless from start to finish.
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