Six Nights in Seychelles: Island Hopping Between Mahé, Praslin & La Digue

Mahé, Carana Beach & Capital City Life

Mahé is often treated as a simple gateway, but it deserves time. Jungle‑covered hills drop down to palm‑fringed bays, and tiny Victoria is one of the world’s smallest capitals.

We stayed at Carana Beach, a stylish, boutique‑feeling hotel set above a small cove. White‑and‑turquoise interiors mirror the sea outside, and the pool seems to spill into the ocean. Our Mahé days quickly settled into a soothing rhythm: coffee on the terrace watching sunrise colours shift over the water, a dip in the pool or sea, then sunset cocktails as waves rolled over the granite boulders in front of us.

Guided Tour of Victoria

To balance the beach time, we joined a guided tour of Victoria, which was a lovely way to get under the skin of Seychelles beyond the sand.

Our guide led us through a small local market, perfect for picking up little keepsakes and souvenirs.  We visited charming churches and small squares, hearing how British and French influences, together with African and Asian heritage, have all shaped the islands’ Creole culture.

Along the way we stopped by some of Victoria’s key landmarks and heard stories from the islands’ past, from early settlers to independence. It gave welcome context to the beaches and forests we saw elsewhere and made the whole trip feel richer and more connected.

Tomoka Rum Distillery

Another Mahé highlight was visiting Tomoka Rum Distillery. It is a relaxed but fascinating way to learn more about the islands, from locally sourced ingredients and spices to how the rum is crafted and matured. The best part is naturally the tasting, and it is hard to leave without a bottle or two to bring home.

Praslin: Forests, Beaches & Island‑Hopping

A short hop from Mahé, Praslin has a softer, more languid feel, with forested hills and curving bays. We based ourselves at Indian Ocean Lodge, a friendly beachfront hotel that made it very easy to slow down. Barefoot walks along the sand and simple sunset views became a gentle everyday ritual.

Vallée de Mai & the Coco de Mer

On Praslin we visited the UNESCO‑listed Vallée de Mai, the legendary palm forest and home of the Coco de Mer. Walking beneath the towering palms with their huge, sculptural seeds feels otherworldly. Light filters through the canopy, the air is warm and still, and our guide wove together the botany, mythology and conservation story of this unique place. It is somewhere you instinctively lower your voice, because it feels quietly sacred.

Anse Lazio

Being on Praslin also meant a visit to the famously perfect Anse Lazio, one of those beaches that constantly appears in “world’s best” lists. It absolutely deserves the attention.

The sand is a pale, silky gold, book‑ended by smooth granite boulders and backed by lush, green hills. The sea here is the kind of turquoise you normally only see in edited photos, gently shelving so you can float for ages with the bay curving around you. We did very little and loved every second: swimming, lazing under the trees, taking far too many photos and simply soaking up the view.

Curieuse Island Marine Park

From Praslin we joined a 3‑island catamaran trip, and the most magical stop was Curieuse Island Marine Park. Curieuse feels like a living nature documentary.

We were incredibly lucky to see two turtles coming up the beach to lay their eggs, an experience I still struggle to put into words. Watching these ancient creatures hauling themselves up the sand in the soft light was both humbling and emotional. The island is also home to giant tortoises and abundant birdlife, and our guides explained the conservation work that protects this fragile ecosystem. Of the entire trip, Curieuse is the place that has stayed with me the most.

La Digue: Bicycles & Iconic Beaches

No Seychelles trip feels complete without La Digue, so we added it as a full day between Praslin and our final night on Mahé. La Digue is tiny, charming and wonderfully low‑key, with bicycles as the main mode of transport.

We joined a bike tour, pedalling past pastel houses, palm trees and simple local shops. The gentle pace of island life really sinks in here.

Coconut, Copra & Secret‑Feeling Coves

One of the more unusual highlights was a coconut and copra tour, where we learnt how coconuts were traditionally processed and how important they once were to the island’s economy. Seeing (and having a go at) the old methods in action gives you a different perspective on the neat coconut products on souvenir shelves.

Between stops we visited some of La Digue’s beaches, all boasting that signature combination of pink‑tinged sand, granite boulders and clear, shallow water. After cycling in the warmth, slipping into the sea felt blissful.

Anse Source d’Argent

On La Digue we also made a point of visiting Anse Source d’Argent, often called the most photographed beach in the world. It is one of those rare places where reality looks exactly like the postcards.

A short walk through palms leads to a series of curves of shallow, milky‑turquoise water and soft sand, framed by huge granite boulders carved into extraordinary shapes. We slowly wandered along the shoreline, swimming in the calm lagoon and constantly stopping to stare at the view. Between the dappled shade, warm sea and sculpted rocks, Anse Source d’Argent feels like nature’s own film set.

For me, Seychelles is about far more than pretty beaches. It is the mix of:

• Wild nature and rare wildlife
• Quiet but powerful conservation stories
• Warm, easy island hospitality
• Small, characterful places to stay

From exploring Victoria’s markets and churches, rum tasting on Mahé and walking under Coco de Mer palms in Vallée de Mai, to watching turtles nest on Curieuse, biking around La Digue and standing in awe on Anse Lazio and Anse Source d’Argent, this short trip was a vivid reminder of how special travel can be when you really connect with a place.