Mahe, Praslin and La Digue Island Hopping

October 20, 2026

A multi-day trip in Seychelles is usually an island-hopping circuit across Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles International Airport on Mahe is the only international airport, so every route starts and ends there. Between islands you choose a ferry or a short flight, and the order of stops is worth planning around boat days.

The classic circuit

A common pattern for about a week to ten days looks like this.

Mahe, 2 to 3 nights. Rum at Takamaka, the Copolia trail, Ste Anne Marine Park and Victoria.
Praslin, 2 to 3 nights. Vallee de Mai, Anse Lazio, and boat days to Curieuse or Cousin.
La Digue, 1 to 2 nights. L’Union Estate, the Veuve reserve and Anse Source d’Argent at dawn, before the day boats arrive.
Mahe again, for a night before an international flight.

Moving between islands

Cat Cocos ferries take about 1 hour 15 minutes from Mahe to Praslin and 15 minutes from Praslin to La Digue. A direct Mahe to La Digue sailing of about 1 hour 10 minutes ran only on weekends on the 2025 timetable, so on other days you route through Praslin, where the connection is about 15 minutes. The operator’s published timetable changes by day, so check the Cat Cocos site before fixing dates. Air Seychelles flies Mahe to Praslin in about 15 minutes, with many flights a week. Book ferries and rooms early for Christmas and New Year, Easter and July to August.

Getting around cheaply

On Mahe and Praslin, the SPTC Visitor Travel Card costs SCR 100 for 1 day, SCR 198 for 4 days or SCR 363 for 8 days, and you collect it at the airport information desk. Buses are cashless, so you cannot pay the driver. See the SPTC card page . La Digue has no bus network and no car hire for visitors. Bicycles cost about SCR 150 to 200 a day, and taxis and buggies are also available.

Nature stops to anchor each leg

Choose one or two parks per island rather than ticking every site. Park tickets are per person per park and valid one day, and card is the only payment accepted at the gate. Daily fees run from SCR 100 at Copolia to SCR 450 at Vallee de Mai.

Costs and entry rules

Most visitors need Travel Authorisation, applied for only through the official portal, with a standard application fee of EUR 10 (see the Tourism Department notice ). From 1 January 2026 a sustainability levy applies per person per night at medium and large establishments (SCR 75 or SCR 100), with nothing charged at the smallest ones, and children under 12 are exempt. Ask your accommodation which band it falls in.

Safety on a multi-island trip

Sea safety changes the order of beaches. The west coast is unsafe for swimming from about December to March, and the east coast from about May to September. Lifeguards are only at Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio and Cote d’Or. Medical capacity is limited on Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands, so carry insurance that covers evacuation.

Longer and rarer options

Aldabra is a specialist expedition. Access is only by vessels cleared in writing by the Seychelles Islands Foundation, with staff on board, so the trip must be arranged through an operator that obtains that clearance. The outer-island resorts include Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches, which opened in 2018. Crewed and bareboat yachts are listed at Eden Island Marina, with weekly hire running into thousands of euros.

To compare places to stay on each island, search on Booking.com .