Victoria
Victoria is the capital of Seychelles and also dubbed as the smallest capital city in the world. The tiny city is located in the northeast of Mahe and wonderfully portrays the pros of a small quiet town. The houses in Victoria are made almost entirely of wood and stone, which shows the culture and heritage of the city. Aside from this, the town is flanked with palms trees that give the ultimate laid-back atmosphere.
Divided into two main centres, there's much to see in Victoria. One of the two centres is the Clock Tower which in itself is a depiction of Seychelles History. Around the clock tower, several administrative buildings and other famous landmarks are located. The second main centre is the Sir Selwyn Clarke Market which is a must visit due to the colourful local wares sold here, as well as the joyous atmosphere, that makes it a magical place to walk through. The Seychelles International Airport is also located in Victoria which makes it all the more important. Other notable places include the new pier, various museums such as the History Museum, Botanical gardens, the Kenwyn House, Bicentennial Monument, the Bel Air Cemetery and the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Hindu Temple.
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La Misere Viewpoint
For a wonderful panoramic view of the Eden Islands and all the other islets near Mahe, Viewpoint La Misere is the place for you. The high altitudes of this place give you a stunning view and allow you to witness the beauty of Mahe by yourself.
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Eden Island
An artificial island off the coast of Mahe. The flat green island is a 56-hectare space which is approximately 8 kilometres from the Seychelles International Airport. Eden Island is connected to Mahe by a bridge that allows passage to and from the island. For a wonderful panoramic view of the Eden Islands and all the other islets near Mahe, Viewpoint La Misere is the place for you. The high altitudes of this place give you a stunning view and allow you to witness the beauty of Mahe by yourself.

Beau Vallon
Beau Vallon (on Mahé’s northwest coast, 3km from Victoria) is overbuilt by Seychellois standards, but you’ll find it remarkably low-key and quiet if you have experienced other tropical destinations. The seaside ambience, with fishermen selling fresh fish late in the afternoon in the shade of takamaka trees, adds a dash of real life to the area.
Beau Vallon is the main destination on the northwest coast because of its beach and tourist infrastructure, but there’s also some great scenery north, up the coast to Glacis and North Point . With your own wheels, it’s a scenic drive on a narrow road that hugs the coastline, with intermittent, lovely views over secluded coves at the foot of the cliffs.
From Northeast Point, you can head down to Victoria via Anse Étoile .
West of Beau Vallon, the coastal road goes past Bel Ombre , which has a few good accommodation options and a little fishing harbour, and ends at Danzil , where La Scala restaurant lies. From there, you can walk to Anse Major.

Le Jardin du Roi
Located 2km up in the hills above Anse Royale, this lush spice garden owes its existence to Pierre Poivre, the French spice entrepreneur. There is a self-guided walk around the 35-hectare orchard-crossed-with-forest. The planter’s house contains a one-room museum and there’s a pleasant cafe-restaurant with smashing views down to the coast. Homemade jams, marmalade and spices are available at the gift shop.

Port Glaud
Located in the north-west, Port Glaud is a small coastal village that is home to a tiny beach with magnificent views of the offshore islands. The beach waters create natural lagoons that make swimming, as well as snorkelling possible. At low tide, the waters here are so shallow that one can walk across the seabed to the offshore island of L'Islette. Another attraction near Port Glaud where individuals can swim is Port Launay. This port also has a zip line facility with around eight stages that take you all the way to the Beau Vallon area. Baie Ternay is also a snorkelling area that is famous amongst tourists.

Ste Anne Marine National Park
Ste Anne Marine National Park, off Victoria, consists of six islands. Of these, day-trippers are permitted to land on Cerf Island and Moyenne Island . Moyenne was owned by Brendon Grimshaw, an English newspaper editor, who passed away in 2012. He had spent 40 years hacking back the jungle to create his own tropical paradise. The largest of the six islands, and only 4km east of Victoria, is Ste Anne Island , which boasts ravishing beaches. Round Island was once home to a leper colony, but these days it’s better known for the offshore snorkelling. A 10-villa luxury resort was under construction at the time of writing . As with Moyenne and Ste Anne Islands, the beaches are seriously alluring. Long Island has long been home to the prison but should welcome a new type of inmate with the opening of a swish hotel in 2014 or 2015. The smallest island of the lot, Cachée , lies southeast of Cerf. It’s uninhabited.
The park is fantastic for swimming and snorkelling , although the coral is no longer as awesome as it was. Silting from construction works in the bay has led to significant coral damage, compounded by several episodes of coral ‘bleaching’. There are superb beaches lapped by emerald waters, but expect some algae at certain times of the year.
The park is primarily visited on glass-bottomed boat tours offered by the main travel agencies in Victoria and some boat operators based in Beau Vallon. There are also about 10 dive sites, scattered off the various islands.
Note that the park authorities charge a fee of €10 per person (free for children under 12 years) to enter the marine park. Tour operators usually include this in their prices.
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Morne Seychellois National Park
While the dazzling coastline of Mahé is undoubtedly the main attraction, it’s crucial that you take the time to explore the island’s mountainous interior. One of Mahé’s highlights, the splendid Morne Seychellois National Park encompasses an impressive 20% of the land area of Mahé and contains a wide variety of habitats, from coastal mangrove forests up to the country’s highest peak, the Morne Seychellois (905m). Choked in thick forest formation, the enigmatic, central part of the park is virtually deserted and can only be reached by walking trails; you don’t have to go very far before the outside world starts to feel a long, long way away.
The road over the mountains from Victoria to Port Glaud (take the Bel Air Rd, which branches off Liberation Ave, and continue on Sans Souci Rd), which cuts through the Morne Seychellois National Park, is a stunning scenic drive. At Mission you can see the ruins of a school that was built by the London Missionary Society in 1875. There’s also a superb lookout with spectacular views of central Mahé and the west coast.
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Therese Island and L'Islette
Therese Island and L'Islette are islands just off the coast of Mahe that prove to be great destinations for a day trip. Both islands can only be reached by private boats and are secluded areas that provide stunning views of Mahe. Therese Island is also home to a 160-metre peak which is a perfect viewpoint for Pointe I'Escalier or the Star Point which can be reached through mysterious granite rock stairs that seem to have been in place right from the beginning.

Carana Beach
Somewhat off a hidden gem, this tiny, dreamlike cove lapped by lapis lazuli waters offers a small patch of sand framed by big boulders, with a couple of palm trees leaning over the shore. It’s at Northeast Point; look for a cement road on the left, in a high gradient descent of the road, or ask locals.
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Beau Vallon beach
A long, brilliant-white arc of sand laced by palms and takamaka trees, Beau Vallon beach is the most popular in Mahé. Here the water is deep enough for swimming, but watch out for large swells between June and November. There’s usually a lifeguard on duty.
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Sunset Beach
f you’re after a more intimate, more secluded strip of sand, head to the lovely beach just beside the Sunset Beach Hotel – no, it’s not private. Going north, drive past the hotel and after 150m look for a little cement path on the left, amid the vegetation.
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Anse Intendance Beach
Covering roughly 800 metres, Anse Intendance is a picture perfect spot and one of the most famous beaches of Mahe. Despite being a famous place, the beach is never crowded and has an all-round tranquil atmosphere. However, what makes this a truly beautiful place is not only the fact that it is covered in glittering white sands but also the wild jungle path that is dotted with huge mangroves and palm trees that provide shade. The large granite formations visible on the beach also add to its beauty. It is not recommended for swimming due to strong currents during from June to September, but the lack of reef which makes the waters quite deep, attract several daring surfers looking for a challenge.

Grand Anse Beach
Grand Anse is a wild beach with exceptional photographic views. The water is not restricted by a coral reef, so swimming is quite dangerous, but the wild waters add to the charm of the beach. This charm along with the majestic granite boulders that overlook the beach make it a one of a kind place.

Police Bay Beach
Near the village of Quatre Bornes, a road leads to Police Bay, a splendid, blissfully isolated spot at the southern tip of the island. Sadly, the currents are too dangerous for swimming, but the beaches are great places to watch the surf (bring a picnic).

Anse Takamaka Beach
The gently curving Anse Takamaka is a gorgeous beach for walking unfettered on white sand and gaping at sunsets.

Anse Soleil Beach
The idyllic little beach of Anse Soleil is a pocket-sized paradise where you can pause for lunch; there’s a beach restaurant. It’s accessible via a secondary road (it’s signposted).

Anse Louis Beach
To the north of Anse à la Mouche the coast is a bit less glam but appealing nonetheless. If you can find access to Anse Louis, where the super-swish Maia resort lies, you’ll be rewarded with a superlative beach you never knew existed.

Vallée de Mai
Praslin’s World Heritage–listed Vallée de Mai is one of only two places in the world where you can see the rare coco de mer palms growing in their natural state (the other being nearby Curieuse Island) – not to mention more than 50 other indigenous plants and trees. If the entry price seems steep, remember this is a unique chance to experience a slice of Eden. Five hiking trails lead through this primeval, emerald-tinged forest, which remained totally untouched until the 1930s. The shortest is about 1km and the longest is 2km – perfect for families. As you walk amid the forest, the atmosphere is eerie, with the monstrous leaves of the coco de mer soaring 30m to a sombre canopy of huge fronds. Signs indicate some of the other endemic trees to look out for, including several varieties of pandanus (screw pines) and latanier palms. Bird-watchers also rate Vallée de Mai as a top birding hot spot. Keep your eyes peeled for endemic species, including the Seychelles bulbul, the blue pigeon, the Seychelles warbler and the elusive black parrot, of which there are perhaps less than 100 left.

Anse Lazio Beach
Anse Lazio, on the northwest tip of the island, is picture-postcard everywhere you look. Here, the long, broad pale-sand beach has lapis lazuli waters on one side and a thick fringe of palm and takamaka trees on the other, and it’s framed by a series of granite boulders at each extremity. You won’t find a better place for sunbathing, and there is some good snorkelling among the rocks along the arms of the bay. Amenities include two restaurants. The beach’s charms are no secret, but it never feels crowded. Watch your valuables here.

Anse Volbert Beach
This long, gently arching beach is the most popular strand on the island. It’s great for safe swimming and sunbathing, and it’s also good for water sports. There are plenty of facilities, including restaurants and hotels. A small islet – Chauve-Souris – that you can swim to for snorkelling floats offshore.

Anse La Blague Beach
Head to Anse La Blague on the east coast if you’re after a secluded picnic spot. Very few tourists make it to this isolated beach, which feels like the world’s end. It has no facilities, other than shady takamaka trees to hang your towel on. You might come across a few fishermen with their catch of cordonnier (job-fish)

Anse Marie-Louise Beach
At the island’s southern tip, Anse Marie-Louise is a pretty spot. There are no facilities and no parking lot; just pull over at the side of the road and voilà – you’re at the beach. Continuing along the coastal road to the west, you’ll find numerous coves and other beaches, including Anse Consolation.

Grand Anse Beach
Grand Anse has a long beach, but swimming is only average, with shallow waters and a profusion of algae.

Anse Georgette Beach
Bad news: Anse Georgette, which is an indescribably lovely stretch of white sand at the northwestern tip of the island, has been engulfed by the sprawling Constance Lémuria resort. Good news: it remains a public beach that is accessible to anybody. In order not to be turned back at the gate of the Lémuria, call the reception beforehand – they will inform the guards. Once inside the property, you can get to Anse Georgette on foot or take the hourly ‘shuttle’ (a buggy) operated by the resort – isn’t it cute? You can also get there by taxi boat from Anse Volbert; Sagittarius Taxi Boat can arrange drop-offs and pick-ups (€30 per person).
Anse Georgette could hardly be more tranquil. The seas here are fairly calm, the bay is safe, and the vista of the surrounding green hills is dramatic. There are no amenities but you’ll find everything you need at the resort, which lies in the adjacent bay to the south.

Curieuse
Curieuse Island is a granite island 1.5km off Praslin’s north coast and was a leper colony from 1833 until 1965. Today, Curieuse is used as a breeding centre for giant Aldabra tortoises. The wardens at the giant tortoise farm show visitors round the pens, after which you’re free to explore the rest of the island. Nearby Baie Laraie is a fantastic place for swimming and snorkelling. From Baie Laraie, a path leads to Anse José , where you can visit the doctor’s house , which contains a small historical museum. If you fancy a dip after your picnic, the beach is lovely: a stretch of pristine pale golden sand fringed with lofty palm trees and framed by massive granite boulders.
Most visitors to Curieuse Island arrive on an organised tour, usually in combination with Cousin and St Pierre Islet. Tours are arranged through Praslin’s hotels or any tour operator. Day trips cost upwards from €115 for an adult including lunch, landing fees and the marine-park entry fee. The alternative is to charter your own boat from Anse Volbert.

Cousin
About 2km southwest of Praslin, Cousin Island is run as a nature reserve by Nature Seychelles (www.natureseychelles.org) . Seven species of sea birds nest here, including fairy terns, white-tailed tropicbirds and shearwaters. The bird population is estimated to exceed 300,000 on an island measuring just 1km in diameter. It’s an amazing experience to walk through thick forest with birds seemingly nesting on every branch. Cousin is also home to five species of endemic land birds, including the Seychelles warbler and the magpie robin. The island is also an important nesting ground for hawksbill turtles. Between October and April, as many as 100 individuals crawl ashore to lay their eggs in the island’s fringing circlet of sand. At any time of the year you’re bound to see lizards: Cousin boasts one of the highest densities of lizards in the world. Well over a hundred giant tortoises also live on the island, some of which have reached truly enormous sizes, measuring more than a metre long.
Cousin can only be visited as part of an organised tour from Monday to Friday, usually in combination with Curieuse and St Pierre Islet. Day trips can be arranged through Praslin’s hotels and tour operators upwards of €115 per adult. The adult price includes a €35 landing fee, which goes towards conservation efforts, a 90-minute guided tour led by a conservationist, and a barbecued lunch on Curieuse.

Saint Pierre Islet
The glassy waters around St Pierre Islet, off Anse Volbert, are excellent for snorkelling and sloshing around. Boat trips to St Pierre organised by hotels and private operators are usually offered in combination with Curieuse and Cousin. Or you can charter your own boat from Anse Volbert. Contact Sagittarius Taxi Boat (around €30 including fees).

Aride Island
The most northerly of the granite islands, this nature reserve lies 10km north of Praslin and supports the greatest concentration of sea birds in the area, including large colonies of noddies, terns and frigate birds, as well as lizards. From the summit (134m), the views are sensational. It also boasts a fantastic beach that’s primo for sun, sand and swimming, though not snorkelling.
Aride can be reached by boat between September and May only, as landing can be difficult at other times. During the season, the island is open to visitors three days a week. Tours can be arranged through travel agencies, hotels and guesthouses in Praslin. A day trip costs upwards of €115 per adult, including lunch and a guided tour of the island.

Fairyland Beach
he oft-overlooked, little-known Fairyland Beach offers shimmering waters and great snorkelling around tiny Île Souris , just offshore.

La Passe
A visit to tiny La Passe almost feels like stepping back in time, so perfectly does it capture the image of a sleepy tropical port. Virtually no cars clog the streets. Men and women talk shop on the jetty while waiting for the ferry to arrive. Children ride bicycles on the tree-lined roads. Come Saturday night, most islanders head to Tarosa for some serious dancing and drinking.
Check out the few souvenir shops near the jetty, sign up for a boat excursion or hire a bicycle and just peddle around a bit.
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L’Union Estate Copra Factory
At one time, the main industry on La Digue was coconut farming, centred on L’Union Estate coconut plantation south of La Passe. These days L’Union Estate is run as an informal ‘theme park’, with demonstrations of extracting oil from copra (dried coconut flesh). Also in the grounds are the Old Plantation House, a colonial-era graveyard, a boatyard and the obligatory pen of giant tortoises.

Veuve Reserve
La Digue is the last refuge of the black paradise flycatcher, which locals call the veuve (widow). This small forest reserve has been set aside to protect its natural habitat. At the time of writing there were 20 pairs within the reserve. The male has long black tail feathers. The ranger, Josiana, claims that sightings are guaranteed if she goes on a small tour with you – we confirm. Other species include terrapins, fruit bats and moorhens. Several walking trails punctuated with interpretive panels about flora have been set up. There’s also a small information centre.

Anse Source d’Argent Beach
Most new arrivals head straight for the beach at Anse Source d’Argent, and we don’t blame them. This is the tropical paradise we’ve all been daydreaming about all winter: a dazzling white-sand beach backed by naturally sculpted granite boulders that would have made Henry Moore proud.
Alas, don’t expect a Robinson Crusoe experience – it can get pretty crowded here, especially at high tide when the beach virtually disappears. Another downside: Anse Source d’Argent is scenic, but not that great for swimming due to the shallow water.
Take note that the path down to Anse Source d’Argent runs through the old L’Union Estate coconut plantation. In other words, you’ll have to pay the Rs 100 or €10 entry fee (valid for a day) to access the beach.

Grand Anse Beach
On the southeast coast, Grand Anse is a stunning beach to sun yourself on, and it sees fewer visitors because of the effort required to get there (though you can easily walk or cycle the 4km or so from La Passe). One caveat: swimming may be dangerous because of the strong offshore currents during the southeast monsoon, from April to October.

Petite Anse Beach
North of Grand Anse, the wonderfully dramatic crescent of Petite Anse is accessible on foot only. Strong riptides make it dangerous for swimming but the peace you find sitting here under a coconut palm may be as good as it gets on La Digue.

Anse Cocos Beach
From Petite Anse, you can also take your beach towel further north to the equally scenic Anse Cocos, which is reached by a rather vague track at the north end of Petite Anse. The bay here is dazzling to behold – a salt-white strip of sand lapped by turquoise waters. Backed by casuarina trees and craning palms, it’s a gorgeous place to sun yourself. Because of rip currents, Anse Cocos isn’t good for swimming; for a dip, head to the northern tip of the beach, which has protected pools.

Anse Marron Beach
At the southern tip of the island, little-known Anse Marron is a hidden morsel of tranquillity. The fact that this fantastically wild beach can only be reached on foot adds to its wonderful sense of remoteness.

Anse Reunion Beach
True, Anse Réunion, south of La Passe, hardly compares to Grand Anse or Anse Source d’Argent – there is usually algae drifting along the shore – but it’s an easy walk from town and a pretty place to watch the sun set.

Anse Patates Beach
At the northern tip of the island, this beach is alluring but lacks the wow factor. It’s a great place for a picnic, though, and has some good snorkelling.

Anse Severe Beach
On the north coast, this beach is not the most photogenic, but is great for snorkelling.

Nid d'Aigle (Eagle's Nest)
Ready to huff and puff? Tackle Nid d’Aigle (Eagle’s Nest), the highest point on La Digue (333m), which commands sensational views. From La Passe, follow the inland concrete road that leads up to Snack Bellevue (it’s signposted), then take the narrow path that starts behind the snack . After about 15 minutes, you’ll reach an intersection on a ridge; turn right and follow the path until you reach Nid d’Aigle (no sign) after another 10 minutes. From Nid d’Aigle, it’s possible to descend to Anse Cocos (add another 90 minutes), but a guide is mandatory as the path is overgrown

Silhouette
Silhouette is the pyramid-shaped island you see looming on the horizon from Beau Vallon on Mahé. With steep forested mountain peaks rising from the ocean above stunning palm-shaded beaches, Silhouette is a truly magnificent island hideaway, though only 20km north of Mahé. The highest point is Mt Dauban (740m), and there are some truly wild stretches of beach at Anse Mondon , Anse Lascar , Anse Patate and Grand Barbe . Silhouette is famed for its biological diversity and it’s home to a variety of unique habitats and ecosystems. There’s a small research station based in the village of La Passe that focuses on the conservation of giant tortoises and terrapins. Volunteers and tourists are welcome.

North Island
About 6km north of Silhouette, North Island is the last word in exclusivity and its hotel is generally lauded as a milestone in the ‘couture castaway’ Indian Ocean experience. The arrival by helicopter says it all: laid-back indulgence and James Bond glamour in a Bounty -licious paradise.

Denis Island
You land on a strip of coral by the sea. There’s a white-sand beach lapped by luxuriously warm waters; a shimmering lagoon with every hue from lapis lazuli to turquoise; palm and casuarina trees leaning over the shore. Welcome to Denis, a coral island that lies about 95km northeast of Mahé.
If working your suntan ceases to do it for you, there are nature walks along scenic pathways as well as fishing, snorkelling and diving trips that will keep you active. Wildlife lovers will enjoy it here, too; although Denis is small – barely 1.3km in length and 1.75km at its widest point – it’s a sanctuary for a variety of species, including giant tortoises, magpie robins, paradise flycatchers and Seychelles warblers. From July to December you’ll see turtles laying eggs on the beach.

Bird Island
Bird is the ultimate in ecotourism and bird-life viewing. Hundreds of thousands of sooty terns, fairy terns and common noddies descend en masse between May and October to nest on this coral island that lies 95km north of Mahé. Now is your chance to relive a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds ! You just have to sit on your veranda and birds will come to land on your head. Hawksbill turtles breed on the island’s beaches between October and February, while their land-bound relatives lumber around the interior. Pay your respects to Esmeralda, the largest tortoise in the world – a 300kg, two-century-old monster of a specimen

Frégate Island
A 30-minute flight from Mahé brings you to fairy-tale Frégate, which is both a wildlife sanctuary and a hideaway for celebs and millionaires who find serenity in the exclusive Fregate Island Private. The island has no less than seven beaches, including awesome Anse Victorin and Anse Maquereau .