Things to Do in Seychelles

October 20, 2026

Seychelles activities cluster around three granite islands: Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Mahe has the airport, the capital Victoria, the rum distillery and the trail network. Praslin and La Digue are reached by ferry or a short flight and are known for their beaches and nature reserves. Most of what follows is built around the sea, so the first section covers conditions before any activity.

Sea conditions first

Lifeguards patrol only three beaches: Beau Vallon on Mahe, and Anse Lazio and Cote d’Or on Praslin. Every other beach is unguarded. Official warning signs stand at Anse Intendance, Grand Anse and Petite Anse (La Digue), Anse Cocos and several others, so treat those as places to walk and photograph.

The safe coast changes with the season. The west coast is unsafe for swimming roughly from December to March, and the east coast roughly from May to September. Beaches at the southern tip of Mahe are unsuitable at any time. Beau Vallon can have strong rip currents when the sea is rough, so obey the flags even there. April and October tend to be the flattest months. The Tourism Department beach and sea safety guide lists every signed beach, and the UK Foreign Office advice repeats the seasonal warning. The emergency number is 999.

Rum at Takamaka

Takamaka Rum is at La Plaine St Andre on the east side of Mahe, about 7 km south of the airport. It opens Monday to Saturday, 10:30 to 16:30, and is closed on Sundays. Guided tours are free and run at set times (Monday to Friday at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00; Saturday at 11:00 and 14:00). A tasting of the Seychelles Series or premium St Andre rums costs SCR 175 per person. The estate also has a rum shack, a food truck, a small museum, a medicinal garden, historic ruins and two Aldabra giant tortoises. Details are on the Takamaka Rum visiting page .

Snorkelling in marine parks

Ste Anne Marine Park covers six islands, about 10 minutes by boat from Victoria, with a ticket of SCR 200. Port Launay is the only marine park you can reach by road as well as by boat, about 30 minutes from Victoria. It has eight beaches, reefs on both sides of the bay and an underwater trail leaflet, and whale sharks can appear in season. One SCR 200 ticket covers Port Launay and Baie Ternay.

Park tickets are per person per park, valid for one day and non-refundable. Children under 12 are free. The gate takes cards only, so buy online at spga.gov.sc to avoid delays. Entering without a valid permit carries a fine of SCR 600. Snorkel inside the marked zones, never alone, and wear a life jacket on tourist boats.

Diving

Three dive centres are listed: Big Blue Divers near Beau Vallon, Dive Seychelles Underwater Centre in the grounds of the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort, and Octopus Divers at Cote d’Or on Praslin, which offers nitrox. Shark Bank sits about 8 km west of Mahe, with a reef top rising from roughly 40 m to 18 m and stronger currents. The Ennerdale, a tanker that sank in 1970, lies at about 30 m and suits advanced divers. Ask each centre for current prices and conditions.

Whale sharks are seen off north-west Mahe from about August to November. Sightings are never guaranteed, and you should not touch the animal or use flash.

Glass-clear kayaks and a spice garden

Transparent-kayak tours run from Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue, and one reseller lists about EUR 45 for three hours. The L’Union Estate entry fee (SCR 150) is extra, so check what the operator includes. On Mahe, the Jardin du Roi spice garden sits above Anse Royale on a steep, narrow road. Fees and hours are not confirmed, so check on arrival.

Practical notes

Petty theft is reported at Beau Vallon, Victoria’s back streets, Cote d’Or beach and from unattended cars, so lock valuables out of sight. Drug laws are strict. Medical capacity is limited on Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands, so carry insurance that covers evacuation. Most visitors need Travel Authorisation, applied for only at seychelles.govtas.com, with an official fee of EUR 10.

For guided snorkelling and boat trips, compare options on GetYourGuide .