Seychelles Holidays

Seychelles holidays are the kind of trip you daydream about at your desk and never quite believe are real until your toes hit that powder-white sand and the Indian Ocean stretches out in front of you like a screensaver come to life.

Get ready to have your breath snatched by the Seychelles – an archipelago of 115 tropical islands that were plucked straight from a dream and dropped into the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean! This place is paradise with some of the most jaw-dropping beaches you'll ever see, powder-soft white sand meeting crystal-clear waters that'll have your Instagram followers seething with jealousy. This is where William and Kate came on their honeymoon, so we’re talking all-time top holiday destinations in the world.

Highlights of your Holidays to the Seychelles

• Beaches from another planet - Anse Lazio, Anse Source d'Argent, Beau Vallon. Granite boulders, powder sand, water so clear you can see your toenails from twenty metres out.

• Giant tortoises just wandering about - Curieuse Island has over 300 free-roaming Aldabra tortoises, some over 200 years old. You can walk right up and say hello.

• World-class diving and snorkelling - Coral reefs, whale sharks, manta rays, and visibility that goes on forever. The Ste Anne Marine National Park is a snorkeller's paradise.

• Luxury that actually delivers - Hilltop villas with infinity pools, jungle spas, private beach coves. Seychelles does high-end like nowhere else in the Indian Ocean.

• Creole food worth the flight alone - Grilled red snapper straight off the coals, coconut curry, fresh fruit you have never tasted before, and Takamaka rum made right on Mahe.

• A UNESCO rainforest with the world's biggest seeds - The Vallee de Mai on Praslin is home to the coco de mer palm, whose seeds weigh up to 25kg. Properly prehistoric stuff.

🏙️ Seychelles' Top Regions

Mahé Island is the largest and liveliest island, home to the tiny capital Victoria and about 90% of the population. Despite being the main hub, it's still beautifully laid-back with stunning beaches like Beau Vallon, lush mountains perfect for hiking, and the only international airport. Perfect for first-time visitors who want a bit of everything – beaches, culture, restaurants, and adventure.

Praslin Island is the second-largest island and many say the most beautiful, home to the legendary Anse Lazio beach and the UNESCO-protected Vallée de Mai forest. This is where you'll find the famous coco de mer palm and some seriously romantic luxury resorts. Ideal for couples seeking that perfect tropical paradise vibe with world-class beaches and intimate island charm.

Both islands are easily connected by short ferry rides or quick flights, making island-hopping an absolute breeze for your Seychelles adventure.

Good to Know - for your Seychelles holidays 2026 / 2027

• ☀️ Weather - Warm all year round, 26-30°C. June to August is driest with the coolest breezes. No bad time to visit.

• 💷 Money - A sit-down meal runs about £12 / €14, a local beer is £3 / €3.50, and a taxi from the airport to Beau Vallon is roughly £18 / €21. Not cheap, but not Maldives prices either.

• 🐢 Fun Fact - There are 115 islands in the Seychelles but only three are really inhabited (Mahe, Praslin, La Digue). The rest are basically nature reserves with nobody on them.

All-Inclusive Holidays in the Seychelles

All-inclusive in the Seychelles works differently to what you might be used to in the Med or the Caribbean. Here, it is a premium proposition, think multiple restaurants rather than a buffet hall, cocktail bars overlooking the ocean, water sports included, and sometimes even spa credits thrown in. You are paying for quality rather than quantity, and the standard is genuinely high.

It makes financial sense too. The Seychelles is not a cheap destination for eating out, so locking in your food and drinks upfront means you can actually relax without doing mental arithmetic every time someone orders a cocktail. Most of the bigger resorts on Mahe offer all-inclusive packages, and the included dining tends to span several restaurants rather than limiting you to one.

For families especially, all-inclusive takes the stress out of feeding everyone three meals a day plus snacks plus drinks in a destination where restaurant prices add up fast. For couples, it means you can focus on the sunset instead of the bill.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in the Seychelles for couples?

• Kempinski Seychelles Resort - Beachfront on Baie Lazare with an all-inclusive package that covers multiple restaurants, premium drinks, and a spa discount. The setting is gorgeous and the food is a proper step above standard all-inclusive fare.

• Hilton Seychelles Labriz - On Silhouette Island (a short boat ride from Mahe), this feels like your own private island. All-inclusive here includes dining across several restaurants, a wine cellar experience, and water sports. Properly exclusive.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in the Seychelles for families?

• Constance Ephelia - The biggest resort in the Seychelles with an all-inclusive option covering five restaurants, kids' club activities, water sports, and pool bars. Two beaches, a huge pool complex, and enough going on to keep everyone happy for a fortnight.

• Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort - A more affordable all-inclusive entry point on Mahe's west coast. Beach bar, pool, kids' activities included, and the sunsets from this stretch of coast are extraordinary. Good value by Seychelles standards.

Seychelles Travel Guide

💑 What are the best things to do for couples on a Seychelles holiday?

• Sunset cruise from Beau Vallon - Hire a catamaran for the evening, anchor off the west coast of Mahe, and watch the sky turn gold with a cocktail in hand. Properly cinematic stuff.

• Anse Georgette, Praslin - One of the most secluded beaches in the Seychelles, only accessible by boat or through the Constance Lemuria resort. Worth the effort for the total privacy and the turquoise water.

• Victoria market morning - The Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market in the capital is tiny, colourful, and full of spices, fresh fish, and tropical fruit. Grab breakfast from the stalls and wander with no plan.

• Spa day at a jungle resort - Seychelles resort spas are built between granite boulders and tropical gardens. Treatments are half the price you would pay at an equivalent resort in the Maldives.

• Dinner at a beach restaurant on Mahe - Boat House on Beau Vallon does outstanding grilled fish with your feet practically in the sand. Bring your own wine from a local shop and save a fortune.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Seychelles family holiday?

• Curieuse Island tortoise walk - A short boat trip from Praslin takes you to an island where over 300 giant Aldabra tortoises roam free. Kids can walk right up to 200-year-old tortoises and the guided nature trail through the mangroves is brilliant.

• Beau Vallon beach day - The safest swimming beach on Mahe with calm, shallow water, lifeguards, and water sports hire right on the sand. Kayaks, glass-bottom boat trips, and snorkelling gear all available.

• Seychelles semi-submarine - For kids not quite ready for snorkelling, this glass-bottomed vessel lets everyone see the coral reef and tropical fish without getting wet. Runs from Mahe.

• Vallee de Mai, Praslin - The UNESCO rainforest is genuinely like walking through Jurassic Park. Kids will love spotting the coco de mer palms (the world's largest seeds, bigger than a football), rare black parrots, and geckos everywhere.

• Copolia Trail hike, Mahe - A manageable family-friendly trail (about 45 minutes each way) through misty cloud forest that opens out to a massive granite plateau with panoramic views of the east coast. Bring water and a camera.

🎉 What are the top things to do for groups on a Seychelles holiday?

• Island hopping by catamaran - Hire a boat for the day and hit multiple islands. Snorkelling stops, beach barbecues, and swimming in water so blue it looks fake. Split the cost between the group and it is surprisingly reasonable.

• Deep-sea fishing trip - The waters around the Seychelles are packed with marlin, sailfish, barracuda, and yellowfin tuna. Half-day charters run from Mahe and the crew handle everything.

• Ste Anne Marine National Park snorkelling - Six islands, massive coral reefs, and more tropical fish than you can identify. Group boat trips run daily from Victoria harbour on Mahe.

• Takamaka rum distillery tour, Mahe - The only rum distillery in the Seychelles, set in a beautiful old plantation house in the south of Mahe. Tour the production, taste the range, and load up for the villa.

• Night market at Beau Vallon - Every Wednesday evening the beach comes alive with stalls selling grilled octopus, fish curry, coconut sweets, and local rum cocktails. Brilliant atmosphere and a proper group night out without spending much.

🏨 What are the top Hotels in the Seychelles?

The Seychelles hotel scene leans toward the luxury end but there is more range than you might expect, from ultra-private hillside villas to friendly mid-range resorts right on the sand. Most properties are on Mahe (the biggest island with the airport) or Praslin (smaller, quieter, jaw-droppingly beautiful). See all hotels in the Seychelles or browse our top picks below...

💑 What are the best hotels in the Seychelles for couples?

• Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa - Perched on a jungle hillside above Beau Vallon, this one is all about the views. Private plunge pools, candlelit dining on a terrace overlooking the ocean, and a spa that will have you rebooking before you have even checked out.

• Carana Beach - A boutique property on Mahe's quieter north coast with its own private beach, ocean-view chalets, and the kind of barefoot luxury that makes you want to throw your shoes away permanently.

• Hotel l'Archipel - On Praslin with Anse Gouvernement beach right at the door, this is a proper romantic hideaway. Small, personal, and the seafood restaurant is outstanding.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels in the Seychelles?

• Anantara Maia Seychelles - An all-villa property tucked into the jungle on Mahe's southwest coast. Every villa has its own infinity pool and a dedicated butler. This is the one where you forget the outside world exists.

• Constance Lemuria - On Praslin with its own championship golf course (the only one in the Seychelles) and private access to Anse Georgette, one of the most secluded beaches in the archipelago. Genuinely special.

• Kempinski Seychelles Resort - A sprawling resort on Mahe's south coast at Baie Lazare with beachfront pools, a proper spa, and lush tropical gardens. The kind of place where you dress up for dinner and feel like you are in a Bond film.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in the Seychelles?

• Constance Ephelia - The biggest resort in the Seychelles, straddling two beaches on Mahe's west coast. Kids' club, multiple pools, water sports centre, five restaurants, and enough space for the whole family to spread out without getting under each other's feet.

• Coral Strand - Right on Beau Vallon beach with a pool, water sports, and easy access to restaurants and shops. A solid mid-range option that puts you in the middle of the action without the luxury price tag.

• Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort - A proper beach resort on Mahe's west coast with a big pool, kids' activities, and its own stretch of sand. Good value for the Seychelles and the sunsets from here are ridiculous.

👉 All hotels in the Seychelles

What are the best beaches in the Seychelles?

• Anse Lazio, Praslin Island - Regularly voted one of the best beaches on the planet and when you see it you will understand why. Powder-white sand curving between granite headlands, turquoise water so calm it looks photoshopped, and coconut palms leaning over like they are posing for the camera. Get there early in the morning and you might have the whole thing to yourself.

• Beau Vallon, Mahe - The liveliest beach in the Seychelles with a long crescent of sand, water sports, beach bars, and restaurants right on the shore. This is where the action is on Mahe. Great for families and anyone who wants more than just lying on a towel. Wednesday evening brings a buzzing local night market with grilled fish, Creole street food, and live music.

• Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue - The most photographed beach in the world, and honestly no amount of Instagram prep will prepare you for seeing those enormous granite boulders framing the sand in real life. The water is shallow and warm, the light changes colour every hour, and it costs about £6 / €7 to enter through the old coconut plantation. You can reach La Digue by ferry from Praslin in about 15 minutes.

Local Lingo

Seychellois Creole (Kreol Seselwa) is the language you will hear most on the islands, a French-based creole with African and Asian influences that sounds musical and warm. English and French are both official languages too, so you will have zero trouble communicating, but throwing in a bit of Kreol goes down brilliantly with locals.

• Bonzour, bon-ZOOR, Hello / Good morning

• Mersi, mer-SEE, Thank you

• Ki dir?, kee DEER, How are you? (literally "what's the word?")

• Mon kontan, mon kon-TAN, I am happy

• Orevwar, or-ev-WAR, Goodbye

More Destinations

• Praslin Island - The Seychelles' second island, home to Anse Lazio (one of the world's best beaches), the UNESCO-listed Vallee de Mai rainforest, and some of the most beautiful luxury hotels in the Indian Ocean.

• Maldives - Over a thousand islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, each one basically its own private resort. Overwater villas, world-class diving, and the kind of blue water that makes you question whether colour settings on your phone are broken.

• Mauritius - A volcanic island with dramatic mountain scenery, stunning beaches, world-class golf, and a melting pot of Creole, Indian, Chinese and French cultures that makes the food scene unreal.

• Sri Lanka - Ancient temples, tea plantations in the clouds, leopard safaris, golden beaches on the south coast, and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. An Indian Ocean all-rounder that punches well above its weight.