7 Days in Seychelles: Itinerary for the Perfect One-Week Seychelles Getaway

Last Updated on: 2nd April 2022, 10:29 pm

Looking for the perfect spot for your next beach vacation? Why not book a week in Seychelles?

The Seychelles islands are a perfect destination. They are known for their beauty and for being a trendy spot for honeymooners or a romantic vacation.

There are non-stop flights from hubs in Europe and the Middle East, so arriving in Seychelles is a breeze. And the island group is small, so you can easily see the best of Seychelles in a week!

Use this one-week Seychelles itinerary to plan your own Seychelles getaway so you, too, can enjoy the white sand beaches and turquoise waters of Africa’s Indian Ocean paradise.

Good to Know: This one-week Seychelles itinerary includes travel to and from the islands on days 1 and 7, essentially making it a 5-day Seychelles itinerary if you don’t want to include travel days.

However, if you are not counting travel days as part of your Seychelles week-long vacation, there are ideas below for more activities to add if you have more time!

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Good to know: This itinerary for how to spend one week in the Seychelles comes from Amy at Out Chasing Stars, a travel blogger with extensive knowledge of Seychelles.

For the past seven years, Amy has lived aboard her sailboat with her husband and sailed around the world. 

They finished their circumnavigation in 2020, which included over three months of sailing in the Seychelles.

You can watch her sailing adventures on YouTube or Instagram.

Essential Travel Tips for Your Seychelles Itinerary

Use this quick Seychelles travel guide for important tips you’ll need before your trip. See below for the full itinerary for Seychelles.

How Do You Get to Seychelles

Seychelles is a bucket list destination, but not everyone knows exactly where it is or how to get here.

This island chain of 115 islands (some of which are quite tiny islands!) is located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa.

When you book a flight, you will most likely end up connecting through Doha (Qatar), Dubai (UAE), or Nairobi (Kenya).

Some ask if you can take a cruise to Seychelles, and you can!

Some cruise lines do go to Seychelles. Norweigan Cruise Line has two itineraries for Seychelles that start in South Africa and include stops in Madagascar or Mauritius.

Traveling Around the Islands

To get between the islands of Mahé and Praslin, there are two choices: a flight or a ferry.  The ferry service is cheaper and takes one hour. The main provider is Cat Cocos.

The ferry goes from Victoria to Baie Ste Anne on Praslin. The plane departs from the airport on Mahé and arrives at Grand Anse in Praslin.

For travel within the island, hiring a driver or renting a car is reasonably priced and worth it. 

Because the islands are so mountainous, what looks like a short trip, say, from Beau Vallon to Victoria, is quite long. 

However, because the islands are so small, doing a one-day tour, whether you rent a car or hire a driver, is easy.

Book a Mahé Customizable Private Tour of Island with Driver or a Praslin Island and La Digue Island Day Tour

Weather & the Best Time to Go to Seychelles

There are two monsoon seasons in Seychelles. 

One is the NE monsoon season, which occurs from November to March, and the other is the SW monsoon season, which occurs from June to September.

During the NE monsoon season, the winds blow hard from the north and vice versa for the SW season. If you plan on beach swimming – pay attention!

Our three-month visit was during the SW monsoon season, and the beaches on the southern coast of the islands had large breaking waves and a lot of debris on the beach such as seaweed. 

The exception to this rule is Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue, which has a barrier reef and is usually pleasant. However, the beaches up north, like Beau Vallon, were calm.

Don’t let the monsoon season scare you though. We got rain every day, but it passed through very quickly in small showers and lots of rainbows.

If you don’t want to come during monsoon season, the best time to go to the Seychelles is April, May, October, and November, when the monsoon season and tradewinds are dying down.

Costs

Seychelles is not an inexpensive place to visit, so be prepared to spend some money. 

Depending on where you’re traveling from, flights alone can be quite an expense. 

This is one reason that Seychelles is a popular honeymoon destination since it can be easier to justify the cost as a “trip of a lifetime.”

It’s good to know that there are still great things to do here for budget travelers.

It’s not very touristy, and you can have a great time enjoying the scenery and lifestyle without a lot of the crowds that you find on Mediterranean beaches or Caribbean islands.

You’re biggest costs are transportation and accommodations, so stick to budget accommodations and self-catering if you want to keep costs low.

Costs to visit Seychelles (does not include transportation from your home to the main islands):

Budget: $100 USD – 200 USD per day 

Includes budget accommodations and takeaway/self-catering for meals, and one or two group tours.

Mid-Range: USD 200 -400 USD per day

Includes mid-range accommodations, some takeaway/self-catering and some nicer restaurant meals, and a few more big tours and water adventures.

Luxury: $1000 per day and up

Includes staying in a luxury hotel, eating in nicer restaurants, and private tours and experiences.

Pro tip: Make sure your credit cards will work in Seychelles by calling your company and putting a travel advisory on them letting them know where you’ll be. 

You also want to make sure you will be able to take out cash on your debit cards since many places don’t take credit cards, so call your banks as well!

Eating Out

The best way to eat out in Seychelles is to dine like a local! 

Local food tends to be a lot of seafood with Indian and Creole flavors taking center stage.

While visiting, you may notice a lot of small, hole-in-the-wall cafes called takeaways. The good ones might have a long line of locals waiting to get in.

Takeaways have a buffet-style menu where the food is laid out in pans and your order comes in a styrofoam container. 

There may be little to no seats available, so take your meal out to the beach or somewhere with a nice view.

Internet

Should you need it, cell phone data in the Seychelles is very expensive at $12 per GB. 

Most hotels provide wifi, so I would stick with that. 

Another option is to use Google Fi during your stay, which is what we did.

Beaches

All of the beaches in the Seychelles are public beaches by Seychellois law. 

There are quite a few neighborhoods where you can’t get in from the street – like Eden Island – but if you come in from a boat or kayak, legally you can use the beach.

So if there’s a famous beach you’re dying to see, just figure out how to get there! They won’t kick you out.

How to Get the Best Seychelles Travel Photos

I am a huge fan of hiring a vacation photographer for a photo session during our trips. 

If you want to have beautiful photos to remember your week in Seychelles by, hire a local Seychelles photographer.

The advantages of hiring a local photographer are many, but my favorites are getting pics of everyone together and being able to relax during the rest of the trip knowing that you’ll have dedicated time to get amazing family, group or couples photos.

This means that you can still take as many pictures as you want every day, but you know there will be time for one big picture where everyone has time to look their best.

If you’re on a Seychelles honeymoon or you are going to propose on the trip, you can have the photographer meet you to get romantic pictures of you together. 

Adding a photography session to a Seychelles honeymoon itinerary is a great gift you can give as a surprise for a partner who loves to go through vacation photos after a trip is done.

Local photographers also tend to know the best vacation photo spots for pictures to help you get photos that are extra special!

I used our last vacation photography session for our holiday cards in December, which was an easy way to share our vacation memories with friends and family.

Book a photo session with a local Seychelles photographer.

One Week in Seychelles: Itinerary + Tips

A week in Seychelles can be filled with a variety of activities. 

Of course, you can sit on the beach all day if you want, or you can explore the local wildlife, culture, and history.

Here’s what I recommend doing in Seychelles in one week. 

This Seychelles itinerary includes a variety of activities, but it always allows for time spent relaxing on the beach – which is what people visit Seychelles to do!

Day One: Arrival

You’ve probably had a long day (or two) of travel before you even get to start your Seychelles vacation, so I recommend taking it easy on the first day. 

Wherever you are staying is most likely pretty close to a stunning beach, so use that as a good place to start!

Beau Vallon is the perfect place to stretch your legs or relax in the sun. The beach is wide and flat. 

Visitors are often running around, swimming, playing European football, or doing yoga.

Day Two: Mahé Road Trip

A road trip around Mahé is the perfect way to see the island. 

It only takes two and a half hours to drive around the entire island non-stop, and most of that is on beach-side roads running along the water.

This is a perfect opportunity to check out beaches, especially if the conditions at the beach closest to where you are staying aren’t ideal (see above about the weather). 

The beaches on the east coast, like Anse Royale, are smaller with slight barrier reef protection. 

There are a few big beaches on the west coast, like Anse a la Mouche and Lazare, that are bigger.

One recommended stop, especially if you are looking for a special meal out, is Takamaka Rum Distillery. 

The distillery offers tours several times a day, has a garden, museum, and historical site. 

There’s a restaurant on-site at the old plantation house, and we enjoyed gorgeous cocktails and a lovely lunch there.

There are a few waterfalls scattered around the island too, which are worth stopping to look at. 

Some of them are big enough to swim in, and the waters are clean and refreshing.

Victoria is a great place to do some shopping. 

It’s small enough to park the car and walk around for a while. 

Sir Selwyn Clarke Market sells handicrafts and produce like jackfruit, plantain chips, or vanilla extract. Camion Hall has some upscale shopping, including jewelry and local art.

For a place to eat in Victoria, Marie Antionette’s has a reputation for being touristy, but it’s great if you want to try a variety of local dishes. 

Food is served family-style for your table, and we ordered an unusual delicacy: fruit bat curry.

Day Three: Travel to Praslin and Enjoy the Beach

In the morning, take the ferry or plane to Praslin, the second-largest island in Seychelles. Wherever you are staying, there’s bound to be a beach nearby.

While some people choose to take a Mahe to Praslin day trip, for this itinerary you will stay on Praslin for the next three nights!

Once you’ve arrived on the island, settle into your accommodations and ask for recommendations for things to do nearby.

This would also be a good time to spend a few hours at the iconic Cote d’Or Beach, one of the most famous sites on the island.

Rest up a bit as well, since the next three days are packed!

Day Four: Praslin Road Trip

Unlike Mahé, there isn’t a big loop you can do around the island. 

The road goes around most of the island, but the north section, from Petite Anse Kerlan to Anse Lazio, doesn’t have a road even though they are only 1.5 miles apart. 

It’s a forty-minute drive to get around the island from Petite Anse Kerlan to Anse Lazio!

While visiting Praslin we hired a driver to take us around. 

There are two parks worth visiting: Vallée de Mai (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve.

Both are educational and you can hike a few easy trails and learn about the local flora and fauna, including the coco de mer palm, an endemic palm tree.

There are also great beaches. My favorite on Praslin is Anse Lazio. The beach is wide with the classic Seychellois granite boulders.

Another popular Praslin beach is Anse Georgette, but it requires a reservation to visit. You can also visit Grand Anse Beach if time allows.

If you spend a full day exploring Praslin, you’ll get to see most of the island’s main sites. However, there’s always more to see if you end up wanting to add some more time!

Hire a private driver and guide for a tour of Praslin.

Day Five: Day Trip to La Digue

My favorite place to visit in the Seychelles is La Digue. 

It’s a small island just a 15-minute ferry ride from Praslin. There’s no point on planning on visiting Seychelles without spending time doing a little island hopping!

The best thing to do on La Digue when you arrive in the morning is rent bikes. 

The island does not have many cars – just a few trucks here and there but mostly golf carts and bikes.

Just like Praslin, you can’t get all the way around the island, but you can bike a majority of it. 

The total bikeable road is four and a half miles one-way, so that’s nine miles of biking to do the whole island.

In the south is the biggest attraction, L’Union Estate Farm. 

There is an old vanilla plantation, a pen with the famous Seychelles tortoises, and the most famous attraction: Anse Source d’ Argent, which has been named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

The beach is protected by a barrier reef (a coral reef system) and has huge granite boulders decorating it.

If you find yourself with extra time, two other popular beaches on La Digue are Anse Severe and Anse Cocos.

Up north the road is lined with beach bars where you can pull up a chair and order a local meal like the national dish, octopus curry. 

If you desire more exercise, you can walk up the mountainous center of the island, Nid D’Aigles (Eagle’s Nest). 

There’s a beach bar up there too, and on a clear day, you can see out to Praslin and beyond.

Don’t forget to catch your ferry back to Praslin in the afternoon. 

However, if you want to extend your trip by one night, two days on La Digue gives you enough time to bike the island, lounge on the beach, and hike to the top!

If you don’t want to DIY your visit to La Digue, you can go on an organized day trip from Praslin.

From Praslin: Cocos, Felicite & La Digue Islands Tour

Day Six: Travel Back to Mahé and Go Hiking or Touring

Take the trip from Praslin back to Mahé in the morning to enjoy your last full day in Seychelles.

With the stunning elevation of the Seychelles, a perfect activity is to go hiking. 

There are several trails around the island, but two stand out:  Copolia and Morne Blanc. 

Both start close to the center of the island and provide stunning views. 

We hiked Copolia twice, which gave us beautiful views of the east coast and the eastern side of the island, including the airport, Victoria, and Eden Island. 

Morne Blanc’s view is of the west coast, looking out over the ocean.

If you don’t want to hike on your own, you can experience Copolia as a guided hike.

Day Seven: Dining and Departure

Spend your last day relaxing before your trip back home. 

Make sure to get in the last of your quality beach time before you have to travel back home.

If you haven’t tried it yet, have a local curry for your last meal, preferably from a local beach bar.

Depending on your departure time, you may fit in one more visit to one of the island’s best beaches or be able to add in an extra hike. 

See below for ideas on how to spend additional time in Seychelles!

Have Extra Time? More Seychelles Itinerary Ideas

If you want to pack more into your trip or extend your trip by a day or two, I have two recommendations for activities. 

Afterward, I’ve listed a few more of the best things to do in Seychelles that you can pick from.

Option 1: Snorkeling or Scuba Diving

Go on a snorkeling or diving trip. 

While the water clarity wasn’t very good in the monsoon season, if you are visiting in the shoulder seasons like April or October, the conditions should be better (though perhaps not the crystal clear waters some like to advertise).

Large marine fauna like sharks and manta rays visit Seychelles, making for a very memorable dive. 

We did go diving with a company in Beau Vallon, and while the offshore dive was tough conditions, our second dive was in Beau Vallon and it was a nice calm, shallow dive.

As an alternative for those who would prefer snorkeling to scuba diving (or aren’t scuba certified), you can go on a reef safari and snorkel instead.

Book a Reef Safari of St Anne Marine Park- Snorkeling, Fish Feeding & Lunch 

Option 2: Curieuse Island

Plan an extra day in Praslin and go visit Curieuse Island where giant tortoises roam free.

There are ranger stations and conservation efforts to maintain the tortoise population and you can learn a lot about the special animals. 

There are also hiking trails and the ruins of an old leprosy colony.

Book a Full-Day Excursion of Cousin, Curieuse, and St Pierre Islands from Praslin Island

More Things to Do in Seychelles

If you find yourself with extra time, here are a few more great Seychelles activities.

Relax at Baie Lazare

See history at Mission Lodge

Swim at Anse Intendance

Day Trip to Silhouette Island

Enjoy more Water Sports like sailing or kayaking

Go bird watching and look for the famous Black Parrot

Enjoy nature at the National Botanical Gardens

How to Spend 5 Days in Seychelles

This itinerary is perfect for five days in the Seychelles and a travel day on either end. 

However, if you want to know how to see the best of Seychelles in five days and days one and five are travel days, then you really only have three full days in the islands.

To make this a five-day Seychelles itinerary, go through the activities and choose the three days that appeal to you the most. 

One the days you travel between Mahe and Praslin, avoid too much downtime so that you can fit more in.

Make sure to still give yourself time to relax! You don’t want to leave having tried to squeeze five days’ worth of sightseeing into three!

Before Your Trip – Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!

Whenever I go on a trip, I always make sure to get travel insurance!

This is especially true for trips where I’m visiting big cities or spending time in the great outdoors!

The company Safety Wing is the travel insurance company I always look to first, and I happily recommend them!

I always make sure to get travel insurance whenever I’m going to be over one hundred miles from home, in large cities where tourists can be the target of pickpockets, and anytime I’ll be doing outdoor activities.

It makes my life easier knowing if something should happen, I’ll be able to take care of it!

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

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