Ninety per cent of Seychellois live here, which makes it the one island in the group with a capital, a bus network and a mountain range. Seventy beaches, and a wide range of prices.
Mahé has the airport and the widest price range in the Seychelles by some distance.
The other islands are almost entirely resorts. Mahé has guesthouses, self-catering, mid-range hotels and serious five-stars, plus supermarkets and buses — which matters, because the Seychelles is expensive and almost everything is imported. Basing here for three or four nights and then taking the ferry to Praslin and La Digue is how we build most trips: it cuts the cost meaningfully without giving up anything you'd notice.
Mountains, a small capital, and beaches on both coasts.
The north coast's main beach — long, sandy and calm, with the island's best choice of places to eat. Wednesday fish market on the sand.
The south coast. Wild, empty and dramatic, with real surf. Beautiful, and check with the hotel before swimming.
A rainforest national park covering a fifth of the island. Steep trails, endemic birds, and views over the whole west coast.
The smallest capital in Africa. A market, a clock tower and a botanical garden. Worth a morning, not a day.
Granite pinnacles offshore with rays and reef sharks. Best April–May and October–November when visibility peaks.
Rum made on the island, on an old plantation estate in the south. Tour, tasting and lunch under the trees.
North for convenience, south and west for drama.
Calm swimming, restaurants and the widest hotel choice. Easiest first base.
Near the airport and the ferry terminal. Handy for a first or last night, less good for a stay.
Anse Intendance and Takamaka. Wild beaches and the smartest resorts. Half an hour from anywhere.
Small guesthouses and empty beaches. Where the value is, and you'll want a car.
It's four degrees off the equator, so 28–30°C every month. The wind is what changes.
April, May, October and November are the changeover months between monsoons — calmest seas, clearest water and best diving. The north-west monsoon runs November to March with more rain; the south-east trades blow April to October, which brings wind and, in July and August, seaweed onto some east-facing beaches.
10 hours direct to Mahé (SEZ), or via the Gulf which is often cheaper.
Buses are cheap and frequent. Car hire is easy and roads are steep and narrow.
Seychellois rupee. Cards in hotels; markets, buses and small restaurants want cash.
Cat Cocos to Praslin takes an hour, several times daily. Book in advance in peak months.
We'll build the island route, book the ferries, and write the payment plan out in full.
Three or four. Long enough for the beaches, the national park and Victoria, before moving to Praslin and La Digue.
Noticeably, because it has guesthouses and self-catering. It's the main lever for controlling the cost of a Seychelles trip.
Beau Vallon for convenience and calm water. The south for drama and seclusion — and check swimming conditions.
Not essential — buses cover the island cheaply. Useful if you're staying west or south and want to explore.
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
11 nights · Nov–Apr · from £2,199pp
14 nights · Apr–May, Sep–Nov · from £1,999pp
11 nights · Apr–May, Oct–Nov · from £2,449pp
11 nights · Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb · from £1,799pp
12 nights · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb · from £3,399pp
12 nights · Jul–Oct · from £3,099pp
14 nights · Dec–Mar · from £1,899pp
12 nights · Nov–Mar · from £1,849pp
