Island hopping is the perfect way to discover the idyllic Seychelles Islands. There are 115 islands in the archipelago to choose from, all of which are slightly different. Some, such as North Island, are luxurious and private, perfect for relaxing, whilst others, like Desroches, are great for cycling and exploring. Begin on the main island of Mahé and then pick and choose your next stops.
The islands in the Seychelles are like pick and mix sweets in a well-stocked sweet shop. Thankfully, you can choose as many as you want, as they are generally close together, or accessible via a light aircraft hop. You are visiting the Seychelles to relax, so you don’t want to be rushing from island to island, but in a week it is perfectly feasible to stay on a couple of different islands and to visit several others by boat. Variety is the spice of life, after all, and whilst one island might have an incredible place to stay, you might well want to combine it with the excitement of visiting somewhere where there is no human population or buildings at all.
Mahé is the largest island in the Seychelles, and all international flights arrive here. Three fantastic national parks - Morne Seychellois National Park, Baie Ternay Marine National Park, and Port Launay Marine National Park - cover much of the land area and surrounding seas, and the Sainte Anne Marine National Park is just offshore. If you want a taste of the Seychellois culture, this is the place to try it as the vast majority of the population lives here. There is still a strong British and French influence dating back to colonial times, especially in some of the architecture in Victoria, and we highly recommend visiting the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market for some local colour. A walk in the Victoria Botanical Gardens is also an excellent choice for plant lovers as so many of the Seychelles’ endemic species have been planted here.
For something completely different, head to the island of Praslin. There are substantial tracts to tropical forest here, home to wonderfully rich Seychellois birdlife. The Vallée de Mai is often referred to as a real-life Garden of Eden. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is here that you will find the famed coco de mer palm. You can take the boat from Praslin to nearby La Digue, which is one of the most convenient places in the Seychelles to see the Aldabra giant tortoise. You can climb Belle Vue, the highest peak on the island, walk and mountain bike in the forests, and snorkel off the coast amongst the tropical fish, shark, and manta ray.
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