Seychelles (Mahé and Praslin)
Covers Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Bali, Palawan, the Maldives, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zanzibar, with visa and park rules checked at the source.
UpdatedThis page carries dated prices, schedules or seasonal facts checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Re-check the sources at the foot of the page before you book.
The Seychelles are the Indian Ocean islands with the most dramatic beaches. The main islands are granite, not coral, so the sand sits between smooth gray boulders and green hills that drop straight into the sea. Most visitors split a trip between Mahé, the largest island with the airport and the capital, Victoria, and Praslin, with a day or two on La Digue.
It is a small market and a pricey one. The National Bureau of Statistics counted 398,841 visitor arrivals in 2025, and 2026 is running 7.1 percent behind through mid-October. The cheapest 3-star room we found near Beau Vallon was $139 in January and $159 in July, taxes in, more than double Mauritius on the same nights.
At a glance
- Best for
- Couples, beach photographers, snorkelers and hikers
- Skip it if
- You are on a budget: rooms here started at more than double Mauritius prices
- Getting there
- Fly to Mahé (SEZ) via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Addis Ababa or Nairobi; ferry or short flight to Praslin
- Hotel, mid-January
- $139 near Beau Vallon on January 13, 2027 (cheapest 3-star, taxes and fees in, Kayak)
- Island size
- Mahé is about 61 sq miles (157 sq km); Praslin and La Digue are a ferry ride away
- Visitors in 2025
- 398,841 visitor arrivals, all islands
In this guide
How Seychelles (Mahé and Praslin) scores
Six factors, scored 0 to 10 the same way for all 64 islands. How we score
- WeatherData · 20%8.3
- Beaches & seaEditors · 25%9.0
- Things to doEditors · 25%7.0
- Getting there from the USData · 10%2.0
- ValueData · 10%6.4
- Room to breatheData · 10%4.5
Weather month by month
Best months by our weather score: June, July, August. Daytime highs, rain and sunshine are 2016–2025 averages at Seychelles International Airport (Open-Meteo historical weather archive); sea temperatures are 2022–2025 averages for the nearest sea area (Open-Meteo marine archive).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 81 | 82 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 80 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 81 | 82 | 81 |
| Sea °F | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 85 | 82 | 79 | 79 | 80 | 82 | 84 | 84 |
| Rain (in) | 11.2 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 8.2 | 12.3 |
| Weather score | 6.3 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 7.2 | 6.4 |
The numbers behind the score
- Gateway airport
- Seychelles International Airport (SEZ)
- US nonstops
- None. No US nonstop to SEZ. Usual connections via Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), Abu Dhabi (Air Seychelles), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian), Nairobi (Kenya Airways) or seasonally Istanbul (Turkish Airlines). Praslin by Cat Cocos ferry (about 1 hour 15 minutes) or Air Seychelles domestic flight.
- Distance
- 10,377 mi from Los Angeles, 8,440 mi from New York
- Passport
- Needed for US citizens
- Hotel, one night
- $139 on Jan 13, 2027 · $159 on Jul 14, 2027 (Beau Vallon and Bel Ombre, north Mahe)
- Visitors a year
- 398,841 overnight visitors (2025)
- Bringing a dog
- Hard: Not verified: no official Seychelles pet-import page could be reached on October 20, 2026, and USDA APHIS has no Seychelles page in its pet export list. Treat as hard and confirm permit and quarantine rules with the Embassy of Seychelles before planning.
Hotel prices: Cheapest 3-star-or-better double in Kayak's 'Beau Vallon, Bel Ombre' search, 1 night, 2 adults, 'Nightly total - including all taxes + fees' view, checked 2026-10-20. January: Casadani Hotel (Bel Ombre). July: Voila Beau Vallon. The same search returned cheaper rooms elsewhere on Mahe (Les Mamelles, Anse Royale) that are outside the area named.. Visitor figures: National Bureau of Statistics Seychelles, Visitor Arrivals data series (sheet 2025, annual total).
Who the Seychelles suit, and who should skip them
Come for beaches, snorkeling and walks in the hills. Couples weighing a honeymoon island should put the Seychelles on the shortlist, and teens who like to snorkel and bike will have plenty to do on La Digue and Praslin.
Skip them if price is the deciding factor. Skip them also if you want nightlife or a big resort strip: Victoria is a small capital, and evenings are quiet. For reef and overwater villas without the hills, the Maldives is the comparison.
Where to stay: Mahé, Praslin or La Digue
- Beau Vallon, Mahé. The main beach area, on the northwest coast near Victoria. Kayak's cheapest double rated 3 stars or better in its Beau Vallon and Bel Ombre search was Casadani Hotel in Bel Ombre at $139 on Wednesday, January 13, 2027, and Voilà Beau Vallon at $159 on Wednesday, July 14, 2027, taxes and fees included.
- Praslin. Quieter, with Anse Lazio and the Vallée de Mai. Good for three or four nights.
- La Digue. Tiny, with few cars; you get around by bicycle. Stay a night to see Anse Source d'Argent before the day boats arrive.
One rule matters before you book. The official travel authorization site says the Tourism Department publishes a list of licensed establishments, and applications naming a place not on that list may be denied. Check your guesthouse or rental against it.
Beaches: the boulders, and when to swim
Anse Lazio on Praslin and Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue are the famous two: pale sand, granite boulders and shallow water over a reef. Anse Source d'Argent is very shallow at low tide, good for small children, less good for swimming laps. Beau Vallon on Mahé is a long, open bay with gentle slope and the most services. Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka in the south of Mahé are beautiful but can have strong waves.
The wind changes sides with the season, so a beach that is glassy in one month can be rough in another. Ask locally and swim where the water is calm and others are swimming. Reef shoes help on the rockier coves, and many of the best beaches have no lifeguard, so treat currents near the boulders and reef gaps with respect. For snorkeling straight from the sand, Anse Lazio and the marine parks are the easiest starts.
Things to do beyond the beach
- Vallée de Mai on Praslin, a UNESCO World Heritage palm forest and home of the coco de mer, the largest seed in the plant kingdom.
- Morne Seychellois National Park on Mahé, with hiking trails through mountain forest and views over Victoria.
- Curieuse, off Praslin, where giant tortoises roam near the ranger station, usually combined with a snorkeling stop.
- Sainte Anne Marine National Park, a short boat ride from Victoria, for glass-bottom boats and snorkeling.
- Victoria's market for fish, spices and Creole snacks, and a half day around the capital.
Getting between islands is part of the trip. Cat Cocos ferries take about 1 hour 15 minutes from Mahé to Praslin and 15 minutes from Praslin to La Digue.
When to go: trade winds, monsoon and cyclones
The Seychelles Meteorological Authority's climate guide describes a wetter northwest monsoon around December to March, with January the rainiest stretch, and a drier southeast trade wind season that sets in from May, when the sea is breezier. April is the calm changeover month, with light winds and flat seas, and the authority calls May the sunniest part of the year.
Cyclones are not a big factor. The authority notes that January is the peak of the southwest Indian Ocean cyclone season, but that these storms normally curve south and rarely affect the main granitic islands. Compare regions in our cyclone season guide.
Getting there from the US, and entry rules
No US airport flies nonstop to Seychelles International (SEZ) on Mahé. Connect in Dubai on Emirates, Doha on Qatar Airways, Abu Dhabi on Air Seychelles, Addis Ababa on Ethiopian, Nairobi on Kenya Airways or, seasonally, Istanbul on Turkish Airlines.
No visa is needed, but every visitor needs a Travel Authorization from the official Seychelles Electronic Border System before arrival. Standard 24-hour processing is $11.23 (€10) per person, and faster tiers cost more. You upload a return flight and a booking for every place you will stay. Arriving without one brings a $33.68 (€30) penalty at the airport. The State Department adds that your passport must be valid for your stay. See our passport guide.
What a trip costs, and bringing a dog
On top of the room, larger hotels add the Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy, charged per adult per night by the Seychelles Revenue Commission:
| Where you stay | Levy per person per night |
|---|---|
| Small places, 1 to 24 rooms | None since January 1, 2026 |
| Medium hotels, 24 to 50 rooms | $5.08 (SCR 75) |
| Large hotels, island resorts and yachts | $6.77 (SCR 100) |
Children 12 and under are exempt. Small guesthouses no longer collect it, which is one more reason to stay in them.
For dogs, we could not reach an official Seychelles page with import rules, and the USDA has no Seychelles entry in its pet export list. Contact the Embassy of Seychelles before you plan around a pet.
Tickets and tours you can book
Praslin: Curieuse & St. Pierre Full-Day Boat Trip with Lunch
Pickup, guide, lunch and snorkel gear are included; the Curieuse park ticket (20 EUR, card only) is not. Only for visitors staying on Praslin.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Mahé: Saint-Anne Marine Park and Moyenne Island Cruise
Landing fees, lunch and pickup from set points are included; alcohol is extra.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Anse Marron Tour
Guide and fruit lunch are included; no hotel pickup, and the L'Union Estate fee is listed both as included and not, so check. You need trekking shoes and 1.5 L of water.
Rating as shown on Viator
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for the Seychelles?
No visa, but you must get a Travel Authorization online before you fly. Standard processing costs $11.23 (€10), and you need a return ticket and a booking at a licensed place to stay.
Mahé or Praslin: where should I stay?
Split it. Mahé has the airport, Beau Vallon and the national park; Praslin has Anse Lazio and the Vallée de Mai and is the jumping-off point for La Digue. The Cat Cocos ferry takes about 1 hour 15 minutes between them.
Do cyclones hit the Seychelles?
Rarely. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority says southwest Indian Ocean cyclones normally curve south and rarely affect the main granitic islands, even at the January peak.
Is there a tourist tax in the Seychelles?
Yes, at medium and large hotels: $5.08 (SCR 75) or $6.77 (SCR 100) per adult per night. Small places with 24 rooms or fewer stopped charging it on January 1, 2026.
What is the best month to visit the Seychelles?
April and May, by the Seychelles Meteorological Authority's description: April has light winds and calm seas, and May is the sunniest part of the year. October and November are the other transition months worth a look.
Further reading
Official sources
- National Bureau of Statistics Seychelles - Visitor Arrivals data series (2025 sheet) – 398,841 visitor arrivals in 2025 (393,598 by air, 5,243 by sea); checked October 20, 2026
- National Bureau of Statistics Seychelles - Visitor Arrivals Week 41, 2026 – 278,381 arrivals year to date in 2026 versus 299,664 a year earlier, down 7.1%; checked October 20, 2026
- Seychelles Electronic Border System (official) - FAQs – Travel Authorization fees: $11.23 (€10) standard, $33.68 (€30) premium, $78.58 (€70) expedited; $33.68 (€30) airport penalty; licensed accommodation list; checked October 20, 2026
- US State Department - Seychelles International Travel Information – No visa; Travel Authorization required, $12.24 (€10.90) with charges; passport valid for stay; flight and accommodation proof; checked October 20, 2026
- Seychelles Revenue Commission - Seychelles Tax System, Tourism Environmental Levy – SCR 75 medium, SCR 100 large hotels, island resorts and yachts; small establishments exempt from January 1, 2026; under-12s exempt; checked October 20, 2026
- Central Bank of Seychelles - Daily Indicative Exchange Rates – USD mid-rate 14.7630 SCR, October 20, 2026, 10 a.m., used for levy conversions
- European Central Bank - Euro foreign exchange reference rates – Reference rate of 1.1225 US dollars per euro, October 19, 2026, used for euro conversions
- Seychelles Meteorological Authority - Seychelles Climate Guide – Northwest monsoon and rainy season, April transition, southeast trades from May, May sunniest; cyclones rarely affect the granitic islands; checked October 20, 2026
- Cat Cocos - Ferry schedule – Mahé to Praslin 1 hour 15 minutes; Praslin to La Digue 15 minutes; checked October 20, 2026
- Wikipedia - Seychelles International Airport, Airlines and destinations – No US destinations; connections via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Istanbul (seasonal); checked October 20, 2026
- Kayak - Beau Vallon hotels, January 13-14, 2027 – Casadani Hotel, Bel Ombre, $139 nightly total including taxes and fees; checked October 20, 2026
- Kayak - Beau Vallon hotels, July 14-15, 2027 – Voilà Beau Vallon $159 nightly total including taxes and fees; checked October 20, 2026
