Seychelles Itinerary: One Week in the Seychelles

The Seychelles is an island nation on the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. It is made up of a group of 115 islands. Growing up, the Seychelles was THE ultimate dream destination in my mind. Picture perfect beaches, turquoise waters, rare Aldabara tortoises, the Coco de Mer, and stunning granitic rocks are frequent sights. If the Seychelles is on your radar, then you’re in the right place. Here are all the details you need for your Seychelles itinerary for one week in the Seychelles.

Understandably, Seychelles is known for honeymoons and destination weddings but there’s so much more to it. It is a destination for solo travelers, couples, groups, and families!

Traveling to The Seychelles in 2021 (Updated)

The Seychelles is open to tourists and is the second most vaccinated country in the world with about 70% of its local population on track to being fully vaccinated. The Seychelles has begun to welcome visitors from across the globe, irrespective of their vaccination status, starting March 25, 2021. Visitors from South Africa will still not be permitted to enter Seychelles for the time being. If not vaccinated, a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. Masks and social distancing are still required.

Without further ado, here’s how to spend one week in the Seychelles.

Best Time to Visit Seychelles

The Seychelles islands are a great year-round destination. Expect larger crowds in August, Easter, and around Christmas due to holidays.

• April, May, October, and November are the best months to visit as they provide the best conditions for swimming, snorkeling, and diving
• May – September are the best months for sailing due to winds

How To Get To The Seychelles

Depending on where you are in the world, getting to the Seychelles may take some time. You can fly to Mahe from the cities below or connect from your home city via one of these cities. For travelers on the African continent, Ethiopian or Kenyan Airways or Air Seychelles (only for South Africa and Mauritius) will be your best bet.

For those that live in the USA, Kenyan Airways or Ethiopian will get you there fastest, as there are flights to Nairobi and Addis Ababa from the US. Those coming from Europe have quite a few options for direct flights and a number of options – Ethiopian Airlines, Kenyan Airways, Emirates, and Etihad – with layovers. I made this handy table showing direct flights into Seychelles, the airlines, the number of flights each week, and the flight times. This information is accurate as of July 2019.

You can also arrive in the Seychelles via a cruise. The following cruise ships stop in the Seychelles:

• AIDA Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Olsen
• MSC Cruises
• Phoenix Reisen
• Silver Cruises
• Voyages to Antiquity
• Seabourn

Arrivals and Customs

All international flights arrive and depart from Mahe, home of the capital and international airport. Depending on the time of your arrival, consider staying in Mahe on your first night or catching a ferry or flight to the next island.

Visas and Money

Seychelles is a visa-free country; visitors need to show a round-trip ticket and booked accommodation to be granted entry. The currency is the Seychelles Rupee but Euros are accepted at many establishments. Rupees can be withdrawn from ATMs on all three islands.

Language

The official languages are English, Creole, and French

Seychelles Itinerary For One Week

There are three main islands in the Seychelles: Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue. Mahe, measuring 28km long by 8km wide, is the largest and home to the majority of the country’s population. One week (7 days) is the minimum you need to explore all three main islands. Each of these islands is a little different, and I’d suggest spending some time on all three of them. Spend 2 nights on Mahe, 3 nights on La Digue, and 2 nights on Praslin.

Day 1 & Day 2 – Mahe – Go to Mahe for beaches, a chance to meet locals, great hikes, to see the smallest capital in the world, visit missions lodge, visit a rum distillery, and a craft center. Here are Ten Things To Do In Mahe.

Day 3, 4, 5 – La Digue* – Go to La Digue for some of the most photographed beaches in the world, explore the L’Union Estate, for island life unlimited – down to bikes been the main form of transportation, water sports, for more hikes and truly the most dramatic stunning beaches. Here is my La Digue Guide and here are the best things to in on La Digue.

Day 6 and 7 – Praslin* – Stop in Praslin to see Vallee De Mai National Park (or another equally amazing site that costs a fraction of the cost which I’ll share in my Praslin post), go to Anse Lazio and other beaches, visit Curieuse island, go snorkeling, enjoy stunning views all around.

*Depending on your preference you can swap the number of days in La Digue and Praslin around.

How To Travel Between the Seychelles islands

There are two ways to travel between the Seychelles islands; by air or by ferry. The table below shows the different options and travel times. There are several flights and ferries between the islands each day.

Routes	Options	Travel Time
Mahe to Praslin (and return)	Ferry or Flight	Ferry: 60 minutes   Flight: 20 minutes
Mahe to La Digue (and return)	Ferry with a stop in Praslin (no flights)	Ferry: 90 minutes (with stop)   Ferry Direct: 1 hour 10 minutes
La Digue to Praslin (and return)	Ferry	Ferry: 15 minutes
Private Islands	Work with the islands to arrange transportation	N/A

Ferry schedule & booking

You can find the link to the Cat Cocos Ferry schedule (the only ferry operator). Buy Cat cocos Ferry tickets online or via the Seychelles Ferry website. During peak travel season, please book ahead. Otherwise, tickets can be purchased at the jetty. If prone to sea sickness, consider sitting in the open air section of the ferry and carry the necessary medication

How To Fly Between Seychelles Islands

Flights can be booked directly on the Air Seychelles website. This is the only domestic airline within the country.

My experience traveling between the Seychelles islands

I traveled by ferry from Mahe to La Digue and from La Digue to Praslin. I flew from Praslin to Mahe and it wasn’t much more expensive than the ferry. Flying back made getting from the domestic to the international terminal for my flight out a breeze (and all of a two-minute walk). Both the flights and ferries were on time. I had read reports about the ferry being a bit of a rough ride, but in May the ferry was fine. The planes are small 15-seater planes and while there’s some air blowing from the vents, it wasn’t cool air, so dress light! It’s a short 15-minute flight and the views are stunning.

Where to Stay in the Seychelles

While the Seychelles is not a budget destination, it is far more affordable than the Maldives. There are accommodation options that are reasonably priced especially when traveling in groups of two or more. Look into self-catering apartments or Airbnbs for the option to make your own meals.

I found great boutique hotels on Mahe (cost $120 a night) and Praslin (about $150 a night but it wasn’t the cheapest room) on Booking.com and another on La Digue ($200 per night) found on Trip Advisor. All of which provided complimentary breakfast. Sharing these with one person would split the costs in half.

For the luxurious traveler, stunning properties, complete with private pools await your arrival. See my recommendations on Mahe Luxury accommodations and La Digue Luxury accommodations. 

Trips to Combine with The Seychelles

What’s better than one week in Seychelles? A few days or another week in a nearby country! Consider combining a trip to Seychelles with the following destinations

1. Safari and so much more in Kenya (see my ten-day Kenya itinerary)
2. Safari or Kilimanjaro hiking in Tanzania
3. Safari, and city life in South Africa (read about Cape Town, Johannesburg, and my Kruger safari).
4. A trip to Ethiopia (the second-most populous country in Africa)

 

More More Information For Seychelles Itinerary One Week

• Curious about the highlights from my one week in the Seychelles? I shared 8 unique highlights from the Seychelles 
• Read a detailed guide to the main island of Mahe
• Going to La Digue Island? Here is a detailed guide to La Digue and ten things to do in La Digue
• Looking to plan an African Safari? This post will get you started.

With this Seychelles itinerary, you’re on your way to planning the best one week in Seychelles! Have you been to Seychelles or are you planning a trip? Let me know what you would add or what other questions you may have.

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Till next time,

Dee (Ms. Heels).