Island hopping in the Seychelles
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
The Seychelles consists of 115 islands, making it the perfect destination for an island-hopping trip! The three largest and best-known islands are Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. All three have beautiful white beaches and lush green jungles. They are easy to reach and not particularly large, which makes them perfect to combine during one trip.
Travelling between the islands
Mahé is easy to reach, as the island has an international airport. You can fly to Mahé from Europe, sometimes directly, but the Seychelles is also often combined with a trip to mainland Africa, such as South Africa or Zimbabwe.
There are two main ways to travel between the islands: by ferry or in a very small plane. We tried both options, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The distance between Mahé and Praslin or La Digue is the longest. On the outward journey, we took the plane from Mahé to Praslin. The advantage is that the flight only takes around 15 to 20 minutes. The disadvantages are that it is relatively expensive, the aircraft is very small and delays can occur because of the weather. We had to wait an additional two hours because of strong winds. For the return journey, we took the ferry from La Digue back to Mahé. The journey took around two hours and was considerably cheaper. However, you do need a strong stomach! Because you travel across a large stretch of open sea, conditions can be rough, especially when it is windy. The journey is made by high-speed catamaran, which may be uncomfortable for people who are not used to travelling at sea. Almost everyone around us became seasick, and we were all given several sick bags. If you are prone to seasickness, this may not be the best way for you to travel. Current journey times vary by sailing. Most ferries from La Digue to Mahé travel via Praslin and take approximately one hour and 45 minutes.
You can comfortably take the ferry between Praslin and La Digue. This crossing only takes around 15 minutes and is usually calmer because the islands are much closer together.
How many days do you need in the Seychelles?
If you want to visit all three islands, we recommend spending at least one week in the Seychelles. You will also lose some time travelling between the islands. One and a half to two weeks is even better, especially if you are planning to spend a few days relaxing and taking things a little slower. Of course, you can also choose to skip Mahé and divide your time between Praslin and La Digue.
The best Seychelles island-hopping itinerary for one or two weeks
Mahé: 1–3 days
Mahé is the largest island in the Seychelles and has the country’s international airport, making it the usual starting point for an island-hopping trip. Mahé is relatively easy to reach from Europe, but the Seychelles can also be combined with other African destinations. Direct flights are available from Johannesburg at certain times, although routes and schedules can change.
Once you arrive on Mahé, you can choose to travel directly to one of the other islands or spend a few days exploring Mahé first. Public buses operate around much of Mahé, but renting a car is more convenient if you want to explore the island independently and visit several beaches and viewpoints in one day. Taxis can also be quite expensive.
There is plenty to do on Mahé. You can go hiking, take a road trip past beautiful viewpoints or simply relax on the beach.
Some of our favourite things to do include:
Hike to Anse Major
Visit Morne Seychellois National Park
Relax on Petit Anse
Go snorkelling or join a snorkelling tour
Praslin: 3–5 days
Praslin is a smaller island, around a quarter of the size of Mahé. Although it is considerably smaller, we still recommend renting a car if you want to explore the island easily. Public buses are available, but having a car gives you more freedom and saves you from relying on relatively expensive taxis. Praslin is also a mountainous island, making a car particularly useful. In theory, it may be possible to hire a scooter from certain providers, but it is generally not the most comfortable or safest option. The Seychelles consists of tropical islands, so sudden rain showers are common. The roads can become slippery, and Praslin has several steep, winding roads running through the jungle.
Praslin is a wonderful island to explore. Here, you will find beautiful beaches surrounded by the Seychelles’ famous granite rock formations, including Anse Lazio and Côte d’Or.
Both are lovely places for swimming and snorkelling. Praslin is also home to the famous coco de mer palm. Make sure you visit Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve to see its enormous and unusually shaped seeds. Praslin can be reached from Mahé by a ferry of around one hour or a domestic flight of approximately 15 minutes.
La digue: 3–5 days
La Digue is the smallest of the three islands and perhaps also the most unusual, as the number of motorised vehicles is very limited. There is therefore no need to rent a car. The best way to explore La Digue is by bicycle. Be careful while cycling, as you may occasionally encounter animals on or beside the road. Giant tortoises can be seen in several places on the island, particularly around attractions such as L’Union Estate.
Because La Digue is so small, you can easily plan a cycling trip around much of the island and discover its most beautiful places. You can cycle along the coast or through L’Union Estate, where you can see more giant tortoises. La Digue is also home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles—and perhaps even in the world: Anse Source d’Argent.
