16 Best Things to Do in Seychelles: What We Actually Did Across 3 Islands
I went into Seychelles thinking the whole trip might be beautiful beaches, expensive resorts and not much else. I was completely wrong. We spent twelve days across Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and still left with places we had not reached.
The best things to do in Seychelles are not all luxury experiences either. Our favourite paid day was meeting the giant tortoises on Curieuse Island, but some of the days I would repeat first cost us almost nothing: swimming at Beau Vallon, walking into Petite Anse through the Four Seasons and cycling around La Digue with nowhere particular to be.
This is not a list of everything Google says exists. These are the beaches, hikes, food stops and island experiences we actually did in August 2026, plus the exact tips I wish we had before arriving.
Best Things to Do in Seychelles: My Quick Answer
If you only remember five things from this guide, make them these:
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| Pick | What I would choose | Island |
|---|---|---|
| Best day trip | Curieuse Island and St Pierre | Praslin |
| Best beach for swimming | Anse Lazio | Praslin |
| Best free day | Petite Anse through the Four Seasons | Mahé |
| Best hike | Copolia Trail | Mahé |
| Best way to explore | Hire a bike and circle La Digue | La Digue |
The biggest planning lesson is to visit all three islands if you can. Mahé gave us drives, hikes and local food. Praslin gave us our best swimming and the tortoise day. La Digue was the island that felt most like the Seychelles I had pictured before arriving.
We booked this exact Curieuse and St Pierre Island tour with a Creole barbecue lunch. It included pickup and drop-off from our Praslin accommodation, lunch and the boat trip. We paid A$111 each, then SCR150 each for the protected-area fee when we arrived.
Where We Stayed for These Seychelles Activities
We stayed in self-catering apartments rather than resorts. Every place had a kitchen, which gave us some home normality and stopped every meal becoming holiday-mode spending. These are the three Booking.com properties we actually stayed in.
Peponi SelfCatering Apartments
Our base for the final three nights on Mahé. Beau Vallon was the easiest beach of the trip for a reliable swim, dinner and sunset in one place.
Chez Rona
The host made this stay. He thought of everything and even cooked us a complimentary Creole dinner. It is at Anse Possession, so a car made exploring much easier.
MAZU Apartments
Our largest apartment in Seychelles, with a pool and bikes available from the property for SCR100 a day. We booked very late, so our price was much higher than I would normally recommend paying.
Best Things to Do on Mahé
Mahé is much more than the island you fly into. It was where we had the greatest variety: calm beaches in the north, wild beaches in the south, a rainforest hike, a rum tasting and the most useful base for everyday food and groceries.
1. Swim and Watch Sunset at Beau Vallon
Beau Vallon was one of our favourite beaches in the whole country because it was so easy. The water stayed flat and swimmable every day we went, even when beaches on the other side of Mahé were rough. It is a long beach, so even when it feels busy there is space to spread out.
Stay until sunset, then walk along the strip for dinner. Beach Shak was our best-value sit-down meal on Mahé, and we went back to Ô Saveurs des Iles twice for ice cream. This was the place that made Seychelles feel liveable rather than like a resort bubble.
2. Use the Free Outdoor Gym at Beau Vallon
This is one I did not see on the usual Seychelles lists. There is a free outdoor gym beside Beau Vallon with actual machines and possibly the best gym view we have ever had. If you travel full time, finding something that feels like your normal routine is honestly a treat.
It is not a reason to cross the island on its own, but it is such a good add-on before a swim. We also used MuscleMindz on Mahé when we wanted a full indoor session.
3. Taste Local Rum at Takamaka
Takamaka Rum Distillery was far better than a quick tasting counter. We spent about an hour and fifteen minutes there, tried ten rums by choosing the two different tasting packages between us, wandered through the tropical gardens and explored the old kitchen ruins from the 1800s.
The fact I still tell people is that Seychelles stays so warm that the rum can only age for around three or four years before too much evaporates. We drove ourselves and paid at the door, about A$15 each. If you do not have a car, this Takamaka distillery tour includes pickup. That is not the version we booked, but it solves the transport problem.
4. Drive Mahé's South Coast Beaches
Hire a car and make a day of Anse Royale, Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka. They do not feel like three versions of the same beach. Anse Royale is an easy stop, Anse Intendance felt wild and powerful in August, and Anse Takamaka was our sunset choice.
The honest warning is to choose beaches for the season. August sits in the southeast trade-wind period, so some exposed coasts were far rougher than Beau Vallon. I explain exactly which beaches worked for us in our guide to the best time to visit Seychelles.
5. Walk Through the Four Seasons to Petite Anse
Petite Anse looks like it belongs only to the Four Seasons, but the beach is public. We gave our details at the gate, received wristbands and walked about ten minutes down through the resort. There were no vendors on the beach, so bring water and a picnic if you want to stay.
We cooked breakfast at home, packed what we needed and spent the day there for nothing. That is exactly the sort of Seychelles day I did not expect before the trip. It looked completely boujee, but it did not need to cost anything.
6. Hike the Copolia Trail for the View
Copolia was our favourite viewpoint on Mahé. We paid SCR100 each and took about 30 minutes to walk up and 25 minutes down. I would call it medium rather than hard, although there are lots of steps if your knees are not great.
The tip nobody warned us about: do not grab the palm trunks when you need balance because some have serious spikes. Street parking near the entrance was easy for us. We went at about 1pm and shared the top with only three other people, looking over the airport, islands and bright blue water.
7. Eat Along the Beau Vallon Strip
Seychelles can be expensive, but you do not need a resort restaurant every night. Beach Shak served the best-value sit-down meal we had on Mahé, right on the beach. Ellen had chicken with mash and vegetables, while I had a creamy coconut chicken curry that I would order again immediately.
Then walk to Ô Saveurs des Iles for ice cream. We went twice, which tells you everything. This simple dinner-and-dessert night was more us than dressing up for a resort tasting menu.
Best Things to Do on Praslin
Praslin gave us the two experiences I would protect first in an itinerary: Anse Lazio and the Curieuse Island day trip. I would hire a car here too. The island is small, but the best spots are spread out and taxis would quickly remove the freedom.
8. Meet Giant Tortoises on Curieuse Island
If I had to choose one paid activity in Seychelles, it would be this. Curieuse is home to free-roaming giant tortoises, and being beside them is completely different from seeing one behind a fence. We met a huge male called Obama and learned that the lower curve in a male tortoise's shell helps him mount the female.
The day also included the Doctor's House, built in 1873, coco de mer palms, a Creole barbecue lunch and snorkelling around St Pierre. Our tour collected us from our Praslin accommodation and dropped us home again, so it was a full day without having to organize separate transfers.
This is the exact Curieuse and St Pierre tour we booked. We paid A$111 each, with the SCR150 per-person protected-area fee paid separately on arrival. Check the current inclusions and fee before booking because these can change.
9. Swim at Anse Lazio
Anse Lazio was our favourite beach for swimming. It had the clear water and granite boulders you expect from Seychelles, but it also felt like a beach you could actually stay at for hours rather than just photograph.
Instead of driving the long way around to the paid parking near the sand, we parked higher up and walked about 15 minutes down. It saved us time and money, although you will need to be comfortable walking back uphill later.
10. Find the Small Beach Beyond Anse Lazio
Do not stop at the main beach. Walk to the far end of Anse Lazio, turn right and look for the large granite boulders. There is a path climbing up the side that leads to a much smaller beach.
We had it completely to ourselves. I never promise a secret beach will still be empty when somebody else arrives, but this little detour was one of those travel moments that made us feel as though we had worked something out for ourselves.
11. Eat Creole Food at Both Ends of the Budget
Our most memorable Praslin meals could not have been more different. The host at Chez Rona cooked us a complimentary Creole dinner with chicken curry, green papaya and job fish. At Les Rochers, we paid A$86.88 for our most expensive meal of the trip, but the water view, fish curry and huge spread of sides made it worth doing once.
For an everyday option, Village Take Away cost us A$13.27. That combination sums up how we travel: cook at the apartment, use local takeaways, then choose one meal that feels special.
Best Things to Do on La Digue
La Digue was the island I wished we had given one more night. We stayed two and I would choose three. There are more bikes than people, almost everything feels close, and the granite-and-palm scenery is exactly what I had imagined Seychelles would look like.
12. Hire a Bike and Explore La Digue
Hiring a bike is not just transport here. It is the activity. We paid SCR100 a day through our accommodation and used it for beach stops, the morning market, takeaways and sunset drinks.
There is no pressure to make an exact loop. The best part was stopping when the coast looked good, leaning the bikes against a palm and walking down to the water. Just test the brakes and seat before leaving, especially if you plan to ride towards Grand Anse where the road climbs.
13. Visit Anse Source d'Argent Twice
Anse Source d'Argent is famous for a reason. The granite formations are enormous, the shallow water glows and every corner looks different. We first went around sunset when it was busy, then returned in the morning and had sections almost entirely to ourselves.
We paid SCR150 each to enter through L'Union Estate. Access arrangements can change, so check the current rules at the gate rather than building your day around old opening hours from a blog. The main tip is simple: go once for the light and again early for the space.
14. Cycle the North Coast to Anse Patates
The north-coast ride is one of the prettiest easy journeys on La Digue. Stop at Anse Severe, continue around the headland and keep going to Anse Patates. The sea can change quickly around the island, so judge each beach when you arrive rather than assuming the conditions match the other coast.
Anse Patates was all palms, bright water and giant rocks. It is a small beach, so it works best as one stop in a cycling day rather than the only place on your plan.
15. See the Wild Side at Grand Anse
Grand Anse was beautiful and very rough when we visited in August. Locals were telling people not to swim because the current was so strong, so we treated it as a scenery stop rather than forcing a beach day.
Walk left when you reach the sand. That was the prettiest section for us, with granite rocks and palms, plus woven shade huts along the beach. The palm forest behind the bike parking is worth slowing down for too.
16. Shop at the Morning Fruit and Vegetable Market
We found a small vegetable market open in the morning and bought tiny bananas, papaya and star fruit for about A$10. The seller told us star fruit was good for stress and high blood pressure, which is the kind of little conversation that never makes it onto a generic attractions list.
Go early, bring cash and buy something you have not tried before. It is a simple stop, but it made La Digue feel like an island where people live, not just a background for famous beach photos.
How I Would Plan These Seychelles Activities
Do not try to day-trip all three islands from Mahé. Moving accommodation takes time, but it lets you experience each island before and after the day visitors arrive.
- Mahé: hire a car for the south-coast beaches, Copolia and Takamaka, then keep one slow Beau Vallon day.
- Praslin: protect one full day for Curieuse and St Pierre, then one for Anse Lazio and its smaller beach.
- La Digue: give yourself three nights if possible, hire a bike and split the famous beaches across morning and sunset.
We booked the ferries directly through seyferry.com. Mahé to Praslin took about an hour and fifteen minutes and was rough enough that people around us were sick, so take something before boarding if you get seasick. Praslin to La Digue took only about fifteen minutes and was completely fine.
If you want the route without rebuilding it from dozens of tabs, our 8 day Seychelles itinerary and private map puts the islands, ferries, beaches, restaurants and practical notes in one place.
Want our 8 day Seychelles route?
Open the eight-day itinerary, private map and every place we would save again.
See the 8 day Seychelles itinerary →Watch Our Seychelles Vlog
The vlog shows what the sea, ferries, apartments and beaches actually looked like across all three islands, including the parts that were much rougher than the photos suggest.
Watch our Seychelles vlog on YouTube
Still planning? Here is how we would plan the whole trip and our exact Curieuse Island day-trip review and our honest verdict after twelve days and what twelve days actually cost us and which beaches suit each season and our honest guide to the best beaches and where to base yourself on each island.
FAQs About Things to Do in Seychelles
What are the best things to do in Seychelles?
Our top five were the Curieuse and St Pierre day trip, swimming at Anse Lazio, cycling around La Digue, hiking Copolia Trail and spending a free day at Petite Anse through the Four Seasons. Try to include Mahé, Praslin and La Digue because each island offers something different.
How many days do you need in Seychelles?
I would allow at least a week for all three main islands. We had twelve days and did not feel bored. If I changed our split, I would add a third night to La Digue because two nights disappeared quickly once ferry times were included.
Which Seychelles island has the most things to do?
Mahé has the widest variety, with beaches, hikes, the rum distillery, markets and the largest choice of food. Praslin has our favourite day trip and swimming beach, while La Digue is best for cycling and slow island days.
What can you do for free in Seychelles?
Most beaches are free, including Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio and Petite Anse. The outdoor gym at Beau Vallon is free too. We spent a full Petite Anse day with a packed picnic and paid nothing, even though the beach is accessed through the Four Seasons.
Do you need to book Seychelles tours in advance?
I would book the Curieuse day trip before arriving, particularly in busy periods, because it is one of Praslin's most popular activities and includes several moving parts. Beaches, cycling and the Copolia hike can stay flexible around the weather.
Is Seychelles worth visiting without staying in a luxury resort?
Yes. We stayed in self-catering apartments, cooked some meals, ate at local takeaways and hired our own cars. Seychelles was still expensive, but the beaches, hikes and island cycling did not depend on having a resort wristband.
Can you visit Petite Anse if you are not staying at the Four Seasons?
We did. Petite Anse is a public beach. We gave our details at the Four Seasons gate, received wristbands and walked down through the property. Bring water and food because there were no beach vendors when we visited.
