Family Days Out in Seychelles

October 20, 2026

Families do well in Seychelles when days are built around animals, short walks and a few carefully chosen beaches. The sea needs more attention than in most beach destinations, because lifeguards cover only three beaches and conditions change with the season. Children under 12 are free at SPGA parks and at the Seychelles Islands Foundation sites, which keeps entry costs down.

Beaches with lifeguards

Lifeguards work at Beau Vallon on Mahe and at Cote d’Or (Anse Volbert) and Anse Lazio on Praslin. These are the beaches to choose with children. Each comes with conditions.

Swim only between the flags and leave the water when red flags go up.
The west coast is unsafe for swimming from about December to March and the east coast from about May to September, so pick the beach to match your dates.
Beau Vallon can have strong rip currents when the sea is rough.
Anse Lazio has no protecting reef and gets heavy swell from December to March.

Beaches with official warning signs, including Anse Intendance, Grand Anse, Petite Anse, Anse Cocos, Anse Takamaka and Anse Forbans, are for walking and photographs, not for children to swim in. The Tourism Department beach and sea safety guide lists them all. Children wear life jackets on tourist boats, and snorkelling stays inside marked areas with an adult.

Tortoise encounters

Giant tortoises are the easiest wildlife for children to enjoy. They are not wild on the granite islands, so these are the places to see them.

Curieuse Island has a nursery where young tortoises are raised until about age five, plus hundreds of free-roaming adults near Baie Laraie. The park ticket is SCR 300, and the 433 m mangrove boardwalk is an easy walk.
L’Union Estate on La Digue keeps tortoises at the foot of a granite monolith, and visitors may feed them. Entry is SCR 150.
Moyenne Island, in Ste Anne Marine Park, has free-roaming tortoises and a loop trail of about 30 minutes.
National Botanical Garden in Victoria costs SCR 250 and opens 08:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). It has a tortoise enclosure, so ask staff about feeding rules.

Cycling and walking on La Digue

La Digue has no cars for tourists, and a bicycle is the standard way around. Bicycle hire is about SCR 150 to 200 a day. Rental shops must supply helmets to children under 14, and e-bikes are limited to riders 16 and over with a motor under 300 W. The ride from the jetty to L’Union Estate takes about 15 minutes.

The Veuve Special Reserve is flat and shaded, with a guided visit at SCR 200, and it protects the black paradise flycatcher. Vallee de Mai on Praslin has a visitor centre and the first part of the forest that is wheelchair accessible. The entry is SCR 450 for adults and free for under-12s, and a free map leaflet is handed out.

A rainy-day option

The Praslin Museum at Cote d’Or shows traditional activities such as coconut dehusking. Opening is reported at about 09:00 to 16:00 and entry at about EUR 5, so check before you go.

Planning notes

Ferries have limited sailings, so carry snacks and book seats early in school holidays. Pack sun cream, hats and water, since several sites have little shade. Medical capacity is limited on Praslin and La Digue, so insurance should cover evacuation to Mahe.

To compare family boat days and tours, search on GetYourGuide .