Where to stay in the Seychelles
Photo : Crewz
Three islands claim nearly all the beds in the archipelago, and every time you switch bases, you lose half a day and a night to the ferry. The default move is to book everything on Mahé where your flight lands. Laure D and Gaetan took that trip and recommend the opposite approach.
This guide builds your itinerary around nights instead of the map, breaking down four distinct bases from the most built-up island to private resort islands. A beachfront room runs $187 to $380* ($170 to $345), while a Creole guesthouse costs $117 to $220* ($110 to $195). Budget extra for dining out since meals often leave a bigger impression than the rooms.
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A piece of advice for a trip to the Seychelles, choose Praslin and La Digue over Mahé.
How many nights in each area?
Island hopping eats up half a day and a night you could actually use. Here is what actually works based on how long you are staying, keeping Mahé for your arrival and departure days.
- One week, 7 nights: 1 night on Mahé right when you land, 4 on Praslin, 2 on La Digue. Travelers in our community point to this split as the only one that actually leaves you with two full days on each island.
- Ten days: That exact same split, plus 2 nights on a private island resort to wrap things up. Splurging on that final stretch hits much better once you have already seen the rest of the archipelago.
- Five nights: Pick two islands instead of three: 3 nights on Praslin and 2 on La Digue, heading straight there from the airport. Trying to squeeze Mahé into this timeline means spending every other day stuck in transit.
- 2-night stopover: Stay entirely on Mahé around Beau Vallon. You get one day for the northern coast, one for the southern coves, and the airport is twenty minutes away. Jumping to another island for such a short window just burns your time on ferries.
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in the Seychelles
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
Mahé, around Beau Vallon Main island
for arriving, leaving, and moving on
This is the island with a real pulse, featuring open shops, evening buses, doctors, and Victoria, Africa's smallest capital. Bruno sums up what you will find there, "all kinds of activities to entertain you, grab a bite, or have a drink," with the northwest concentrating most of the action around the long beach of Beau Vallon. The drawback is twofold, as it is the only island where you hear traffic, and its most stunning coves (Soleil, Takamaka, Intendance) sit in the south, a winding one-hour drive away. Plan for one or two nights at the start or end of your trip, rarely more.
As the largest island in the Seychelles, you will find all kinds of activities here to keep you entertained, whether you want to eat out or grab a drink. There are so many water sports and other activities to choose from. You can head out on excursions to several other islands or just stay local and go hiking in the forest or along the coast.
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
STORY Seychelles Luxury
A five-star property right on Beau Vallon beach, backed by Morne Seychellois National Park. It makes an easy final stop before an early morning flight without needing to drive across the island.
Chateau Elysium Mid-range
Colonial-style rooms and villas in the hills above Beau Vallon, featuring ocean views and a Creole breakfast. It hits the sweet spot when you want beach access without paying full resort prices.
Rowsvilla Guest House Budget
Kitchenette apartments just two hundred meters from the sand. Cooking for yourself actually saves real money here rather than feeling like a downgrade, which is how you keep costs under control in an island nation where dining out adds up fast.
Pros
- The only island with actual shops, a pharmacy, and evening bus service
- All ferries and domestic flights depart from here
- Spectacular southern beaches that are often empty during the week
Cons
- The busiest island for traffic, and the only one where you can hear the road from your room
- The best coves sit far from the north, so budget for a rental car or long bus rides.
Praslin, northeast coast Second island
for setting down your bags for the longest stay
This is the base our members recommend most, and the only one that pairs a sheltered swimming beach, Anse Volbert, with a protected primary forest, the Vallée de Mai. Laure D calls it a place of pure peace between the rainforest and wild coves. The island is big enough to explore by bus yet small enough to drive right around, and boat trips to Curieuse and Cousin islands leave from the same dock. Gaetan points out that while Anse Volbert is gorgeous and convenient, it is not the absolute best beach in the Seychelles, meaning you still need to get out to Anse Lazio or Anse Georgette.
A piece of advice for a trip to the Seychelles, choose Praslin and La Digue over Mahé. For those who love partying and water sports, be warned that Praslin is all about peace and quiet, between the tropical forest and wild coves. Luxury, calm, and bliss in a postcard-perfect setting. Don't forget to take a quick hop over to the neighboring islets of Curieuse, Cousin, and Cousine.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hotel Le Duc de Praslin Luxury
A four-star property tucked slightly back from Côte d'Or, featuring a tropical garden and two restaurants. The spot that saves you from having to head out at night on an island where dining options are few.
Berjaya Praslin Resort Mid-range
Right on Anse Volbert, complete with a pool and terrace. The island classic: understated, but right on the stretch of sand our members mention most often.
Les Lauriers Eco Hotel Budget
A short walk from that same beach, offering family rooms and a well-regarded table d'hôtes. The place that keeps Praslin accessible without leaving Côte d'Or.
Pros
- A main sheltered beach that works well for families traveling with kids
- Vallée de Mai and its coco de mer palms, fifteen minutes from the coast
- The best jumping-off point for Curieuse, Cousin, and La Digue
Cons
- The highest rates in the archipelago during peak season
- Quiet after dark: dinner is at the hotel or at one of two or three independent spots
La Digue, around La Passe Third island
for cycling and granite beaches
Fifteen minutes by ferry from Praslin, and almost car-free: getting around is by bicycle, which instantly changes the pace of a trip. Anse Source d'Argent and its pink granite boulders form the most photographed beach in the Indian Ocean, and Gaetan, who expected « an overhyped basic beach driven by the Insta effect », came away convinced by the reef's « very rich marine life ». Elayne recommends water shoes for the coral. The downside is real: the island is tiny, lodging is modest, and everything closes early.
right at the edge, you have access to a reef bathed in calm, crystal clear, warm water, where you can easily see a wide variety of fish and underwater animals. Just remember to bring water shoes.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie Resort and Spa Luxury
Hillside-tiered villas, a spa, and a panoramic pool. The only true large resort on the island, and by far the best sunset view.
Calou Guest House Mid-range
Creole house in the heart of La Passe, with a garden, on-site bike rentals, and a table d'hôtes. Five minutes from the jetty, which matters when you arrive with luggage on an island without taxis.
Bernique Guesthouse Budget
Renovated family rooms with private bathrooms, right next to the port. The simplest choice for a two-night stay on the island without eating up a third of your budget.
Pros
- An island you explore entirely by bicycle, with no cars or buses
- The most spectacular granite beaches in the archipelago
- Family-run guesthouses at rates unmatched anywhere else on Praslin
Cons
- Very few options for dinner, and kitchens close early
- Anse Source d'Argent charges an admission fee and fills up the moment the day tours arrive
Island-resorts Private islands
for a quick splurge, never the whole trip
A handful of islands hold just a single resort, reachable only by charter flight or private boat, and you stay put until departure. Nico De captures the draw, noting spots shielded from heavy tourist crowds. It is the priciest way to experience the islands and the least flexible, with no outside restaurants, no spontaneous boat trips, and no backup plan if the weather turns. Book two or three nights at the end of your trip as a splurge on top of a standard itinerary, rather than an entire week.
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
Denis Private Island Seychelles Luxury
A 150-hectare island thirty minutes by air from Mahé, featuring around forty beachfront cottages. Deep-sea fishing and scuba diving are the main draw here.
JA Enchanted Island Resort Seychelles Luxury
Roughly ten pool villas set inside the Saint Anne Marine National Park, reached via a quick speedboat ride from Mahé. It is the lowest-commitment private island setup since you remain right next door to the main airport.
Pros
- Unspoiled reefs and beaches where you will not see another soul
- Everything is included, transfers too, so zero logistics on the ground
Cons
- The highest rates in the islands, with zero alternatives once you arrive
- Zero flexibility, as you cannot switch restaurants, beaches, or schedules
Our tips for booking the right place
- Book your ferry tickets before your hotels: Two companies connect Mahé to Praslin in an hour, and Praslin to La Digue in fifteen minutes. Departures are infrequent, and during peak season, sailings sell out well in advance. Locking down your tickets before picking your rooms keeps you from finding out that no boats are running on your travel day, and the final departure of the day is often in the mid-afternoon.
- A kitchen matters more than hotel stars: Almost everything is imported, and dinner bills tend to shock you more than the room rate. Self-catering rentals, very common around Beau Vallon and La Passe, shift your trip budget much faster than dropping down a hotel star. Creole table d'hôtes spots are another solid workaround.
- The reefs are worth the trip, pack water shoes: Travelers in our community keep coming back to the same point: what stays with you are the underwater views. Anne calls Anse Soleil "just right" for picking up snorkeling, Elayne recommends reef shoes for the shallows at Anse Source d'Argent, and Nico De highlights boat trips out in the Sainte Anne Marine National Park. Packing a mask in your suitcase pays off far more than formal wear.
- Trying to hit four islands in a single week: each island hop costs you half a day of ferry terminals and waiting around, and you end up spending your trip in departure lounges.
- Booking near the airport on Mahé saves time, but the area is noisy with no swimmable beach, and the north end of the island is a twenty-minute taxi ride away.
- Relying on taxis on La Digue is a mistake since there are practically none. A hotel far from the ferry pier means hauling your luggage on a bicycle.
FAQ: where to stay in the Seychelles
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