When British General Charles Gordon first set eyes on the Seychelles in 1881, he was convinced he had found Eden. It’s easy to see why – granite boulders rising from sugar-white sands, waves curling against palm-fringed shores, and postcard-perfect beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see. Beyond its prestigious resorts and turquoise shallows, the Seychelles is a place of misty mountain trails, Creole communities, and ancient giant tortoises lumbering through pockets of natural beauty. Here are some of the best experiences that reveal the soul of the islands.
Paddle a Transparent Kayak at Anse Source d’Argent
Few beaches are as instantly recognisable as Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue. Time and tides have carved its iconic formations into natural sculptures, creating coves and shallow pools along the shore, giving it an almost airbrushed appearance. While most visitors are content to wade through its shallows, a better way to experience it is by clear kayak.
Gliding across the lagoon in a glass-bottomed kayak uncovers a world of undulating corals, darting parrotfish, and perhaps a sea turtle if you’re lucky. Sunrise is particularly spectacular, when the water glows with the first flush of gold, and the beach is blissfully crowd-free.
Tip: Bring a waterproof phone case – the view beneath is just as mesmerising as the one ahead.
Hike to the Heights of Morne Seychellois National Park
The inner islands of the Seychelles are more than just shorelines. Mahé, the largest island, rises into a spine of cloud-wreathed peaks cloaked in tropical rainforest and riddled with hiking trails. The most rewarding trek is the Morne Blanc Trail – a steep but gratifying climb to a viewpoint of 667 metres above sea level, where jungle cascades into the sea.
Hikers can also take on the Morne Seychellois summit, the tallest point in Seychelles at 905 metres. It’s not an easy ascent – the path winds through dense cinnamon and rubber tree forests, often slippery after rain – but the view from the top, stretching across Victoria’s rooftops to the far-off silhouette of La Digue, makes it worth the effort.
Tip: Go early. The humidity becomes oppressive by midday, and mist can obscure the view later in the afternoon.
Experience a Creole Cooking Class in a Plantation House
Seychellois cuisine is a fragrant fusion of African, French, and Indian influences, best experienced not in a restaurant but at the hands of a local chef. Several plantation houses and private cooking schools offer Creole cooking classes, where you’ll learn how to prepare dishes such as kari zourit (octopus curry), coconut chutneys, and the island’s ubiquitous grilled fish, often basted in lime and chili.
The experience often begins at Victoria's morning market, where saffron-coloured spices compete for space with fresh-caught red snapper and mountains of breadfruit. After filling your basket with the morning's best offerings, it’s back to the kitchen for an introduction to Creole gastronomy.
Tip: Creole food is full of bold flavours, but heat levels can be adjusted to more or less spice.
Tour the Takamaka Rum Distillery
Seychelles may be best known for its beaches, but its artisanal rum is a quiet contender for the islands’ most distinctive export. At Takamaka Rum Distillery, set within the 18th-century La Plaine St. André estate, visitors can trace the journey of locally grown sugarcane from harvest to barrel. The distillery’s collection ranges from smooth coconut-infused blends to the oak-aged St. André, a rich, amber rum with hints of caramel and spice.
A guided tour takes you through the traditional distillation process, ending with a tasting session beneath the estate’s cinnamon trees. Linger afterward at the Rum Shack for expertly crafted cocktails – best enjoyed with a view of the sun dipping behind the palms.
Tip: Try the signature "Dark Spiced" blend – it’s aged in bourbon barrels, giving it a warm, smoky complexity.
Meet the World’s Oldest Tortoises on Curieuse Island
If you think the Galápagos has a monopoly on giant tortoises, think again. Curieuse Island, just off the coast of Praslin, is home to over 300 Aldabra giant tortoises, some of which are over 150 years old. With their wrinkled skin and slow, deliberate movements, these creatures roam freely across the island’s savannah-like terrain.
The island's human heritage is just as interesting as its reptilian residents. Curieuse has a fascinating history – it once served as a leper colony, and the preserved Doctor’s House, now a museum, tells the story of the island’s past. A mangrove boardwalk snakes through the wetlands, where mud crabs scuttle in the shallows and kingfishers dart between the trees.
Tip: Bring sturdy shoes – Curieuse has excellent hiking trails leading to secluded beaches and viewpoints.
Island-Hop to Cousin & St Pierre
The smaller islands scattered around Praslin offer some of Seychelles' most remarkable wildlife encounters. A day trip to Cousin Island and St. Pierre uncovers a side of the archipelago that few visitors experience.
Cousin Island is where conservation success stories unfold in real-time. This protected reserve has thousands of nesting seabirds, but its greatest triumph is the Seychelles warbler. Once down to just 26 birds worldwide, the species has rebounded thanks to careful habitat restoration. Today, you might spot these rare songbirds flitting through the canopy alongside white-tailed tropicbirds and sooty terns.
The journey continues at St Pierre, a tiny granite jewel that appears to float on the horizon. This palm-crowned islet, barely larger than a city block, is encircled by some of the richest reefs in the inner islands. Slip into the crystal-clear waters, and you’ll find yourself drifting above gardens of fan coral, where parrotfish graze and angelfish flicker in the sunlight.
Tip: Bring an underwater camera – St Pierre's reefs are a photographer's dream, especially in the morning light when visibility is at its best.
Discover the Lost World of Vallée de Mai
It’s been said that Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO-listed palm forest on Praslin, is the closest thing we have to the Garden of Eden. This primeval jungle, home to the towering coco de mer palm, feels frozen in time. The coco de mer’s distinctive seed – the largest in the plant kingdom—is an object of fascination, weighing up to 40 pounds.
This valley is also the domain of rare creatures, including the Seychelles black parrot, which flits through the foliage like a shadow. The trails are easy to follow, winding through dense greenery, accompanied by the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of unseen birds.
Tip: Go early to experience the reserve in near silence before tour groups arrive.
Sail to the Outer Islands for a True Castaway Experience
Beyond the familiar shores of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue lies another Seychelles – a string of remote coral atolls where footprints vanish with each tide. These outer islands – Desroches, Alphonse, and Cosmoledo – offer the kind of isolation that's becoming increasingly rare in our connected world.
On Alphonse Island, the Indian Ocean reveals its full glory. Divers drift through waters of impossible clarity, where manta rays soar like underwater birds and reef sharks patrol gardens of pristine coral. Further out still lies Cosmoledo Atoll, its lagoon surrounded by sandbars where thousands of sooty terns and frigate birds nest undisturbed. Here, a handful of solar-powered eco-lodges offer the only accommodation – a true escape into absolute solitude.
Tip: These islands are best accessed via liveaboard expeditions or private charters – plan in advance, as they’re highly exclusive.
Take to the Skies for Aerial Archipelago Views
Nothing prepares you for your first aerial view of the Seychelles. From above, the islands' dramatic geography comes into focus – wild jungle and rocky peaks give way to pale beaches and reef-protected waters that fade from light to deep blue at their edges.
Flights range from quick 15-minute hops to extended 90-minute tours across Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. The clear waters make it possible to spot marine life below – reef sharks cutting through the shallows, manta rays gliding past, and sea turtles riding the currents.
Tip: A clear morning flight is when visibility is sharpest, while an evening ride is the best time to watch the sunset bathe the ocean in gold.
Explore Victoria – One of the World’s Smallest Capitals
Compact yet characterful, Victoria, the Seychelles’ capital, is one of the smallest capital cities in the world – home to just 26,450 people. It can be explored in a morning’s walk, but there’s plenty to see. Rise early and head for the Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market, a lively sensory overload of tropical fruit, fresh fish, and stalls selling vanilla pods and cinnamon sticks. Upstairs, you’ll find souvenirs and pareos (sarongs), a colourful reminder of the islands' Creole flair.
The colonial clock tower, which famously didn’t work for the first 96 years of its life, stands as a landmark in the city’s centre. The Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, a brightly painted Hindu shrine, reflects the islands’ rich multicultural heritage, while the National Museum of History offers an insight into the Seychelles’ past, from its days as a French colony to its Creole traditions. If the humidity gets too much, you can move to the Botanical Gardens.
Tip: Stop by Marie Antoinette for lunch – an institution serving classic Seychellois dishes in a charming colonial-era setting.
Snorkel with Whale Sharks off Mahé
Between October and November, the warm waters around Mahé become a feeding ground for whale sharks – the world’s largest fish. These gentle giants, often as long as a bus, drift effortlessly through the water, filtering plankton as they go.
Several operators run snorkelling excursions, where, under strict regulations, you can swim alongside these magnificent creatures. Encounters are entirely natural – there’s no feeding or baiting involved – making it one of the most ethical ways to witness marine life up close.
Tip: Book with a reputable conservation-focused operator for responsible wildlife encounters.
Charter a Yacht and Explore the Archipelago by Sea
Chartering a yacht opens up a world of hidden coves and remote reefs that few visitors ever see, and you can explore the archipelago at your own pace.
The options suit every sailor's style – from day trips with an experienced skipper to week-long catamaran charters that let you set your own course. Drop anchor in secluded bays for a morning of snorkelling, picnic on empty beaches, or simply drift between islands as seafaring traders have done for centuries. More experienced sailors can take the wheel themselves, though most prefer to let a local captain navigate these waters.
Tip: Book in advance during peak season (June to September) – the best vessels are often reserved months ahead, especially for multi-day charters.
A One-of-a-Kind Destination
The Seychelles remains one of the few places where you can still feel like an explorer. While its beaches draw visitors from across the globe, it's the wild soul and the raw beauty of these islands that leave the deepest impression. In a world where true escape has become increasingly rare, the Seychelles offer something precious: genuine isolation, untamed nature, and the profound sense that some corners of Earth remain wonderfully, perfectly untouched.
