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The Seychelles lie deep in the Indian Ocean. Hundreds of miles east of Kenya and northeast of Madagascar, its islands form Africa’s smallest, richest, and safest nation state. While known for its pristine tropical beaches, there’s far more to the Seychelles than a beach destination alone. Geographically isolated for thousands of years, pretty much everything on the islands is unique, from its culture to its wildlife. Don’t miss any of it with the best 9 things to do in the Seychelles.
1. Explore the capital
Known as L’Éstablissement (The Establishment, or The Town) from its founding in 1778 until 1841, the Seychelle’s capital is now known as Victoria.
By no means the only place to delve into the culture of the islands, brushing shoulders with residents in the capital on Mahé Island is probably one of the best.
Lined with buildings of brick and corrugated iron, Victoria is home to roughly a quarter of the country’s entire population.
Even so, it lacks the intensity of other African capitals, and is pleasantly hassle-free. The centre of the action is the broad expanse of Independence Avenue.
At its eastern end, it opens out into the harbourfront. At its other is the Victoria Clock Tower (Lorloz in Seychellois Creole).
Having informed people of the time for more one hundred years, it’s one of Victoria’s oldest structures. It stands just a short distance from the National History Museum, which details a history including colonisation by both France and Britain.
A block away you’ll find Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke covered fruit and vegetable market, whose vast array of tropical fruits has also expanded into souvenirs.
It’s perfectly possible to explore Victoria independently, although if you’re a little nervy of heading out on your own – or just want the local know-how of a guide – look no further than a Mahé Island day tour.
2. Snorkel through magical waters
Circled by warm tropical waters, the islands of the Seychelles have long been known as a phenomenal place to head beneath the waves and uncover life below the surface.
A top destination for scuba divers, snorkelling in the Seychelles is also easy to organize. Few are disappointed by the wealth of colour and life found just a short distance from land, which is largely protected by marine parks.
Archetypal snorkelling experiences await anyone pulling on a mask, while the warmth of the water means you need nothing more than a swim suit.
Praslin Island has a good mix of well-known dive sites and hidden gems, including the likes of Grande Sœur and Petite Sœur on the Cote d’Or.
However, it’s also possible to have a first-rate snorkelling experience from Mahé, with a reef safari to St Anne’s National Park.
3. Greet the islands’ giant tortoises
Filling a similar role to the Galapagos Islands, the geographic isolation of the Seychelles led to the evolution of several unique animal species, including giant tortoises.
Although they can be found elsewhere in the world, taking a tour of Curieuse Marine National Park on the island of the same name is the only place where it’s possible to come face to face with Aldabra tortoises outside of a zoo.
Tipping the scales at 200 kilos (or more) and rising to a height of over a metre when fully grown, these impossible-not-to-love creatures are thought to live for around 200 years, meaning individuals alive today may well have encountered Napoleon or Nelson.
What’s more, their ancestry as a species can be traced back 450 million years, seeing them share the Earth with dinosaurs for generation after generation!
To see the oldest individual, you’ll want to swap Curieuse Marine National Park for Bird Island, the home of Esmeralda. Free roaming and therefore sometimes difficult to spot, there are around 20 tortoises on the island. Esmeralda is reckoned to be 175 years old, and weighs a massive 300 kg.
Despite the name, Esmeralda is a male!
4. Learn how to sun print
Africa’s bright wax cloth designs have been wowing me for years. But even they pale into insignificance when compared to the intricate and time-consuming patterns of traditional Seychelles sun printing.
Thought to have originated sometime in the 1800s, the technique sees locally-made cotton first painted any number of hues.
Before the dye dries – which happens quickly in the tropical sun – leaves and flowers are positioned on top off the cloth. After just a few minutes you’ll find they have left a negative image – having drained the colour from the parts of the cloth they cover.
In the practiced hands of an expert, the result can be phenomenal, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give this important part of Seychelles culture a go yourself!
5. Discover areas unaltered by time
Praslin Island’s Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve is one of the last remaining remnants of indigenous palm forest. It’s so important to the history, culture, and ecology of the islands that it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
The reserve is a great place to spot coco de mer, a palm sporting the buttock-shaped fruits which are the largest seed of any plant in the world.
This palm habitat also provides a space for rare bird species including the Seychelles black parrot, which feeds from the fruits of the palms. There are tree frogs and a variety of reptiles, from chameleons to snakes, too.
6. Relax on some of the world’s best beaches
You’d have to be crazy to head to this corner of the planet and not spend at least some time on the beaches of the Seychelles.
Having adorned travel posters for decades, their pristine white sands and turquoise shallows are as impressive in real life as they are in print and online.
Beaches aren’t hard to find, so the real question is which are the best beaches on the Seychelles? Which are the beaches you should look out for on this Indian Ocean nation?
Worthy of their own post, there are plenty to choose from. On Mahé, check out Beau Vallon, whose pristine nature remains unaffected by the presence of water sports including kayaking and paragliding adventures.
On the island of La Digue, Anse Source D’Argent has to be seen to be believed, with a mesmerizing blend of dazzling white sand and deep green foliage pierced by stunning rock formations.
Anse Lazio on Praslin Island is a great spot for taking in the Seychelles incredible sunsets, while at Anse Intendance (back on Mahé), serious surfers will find the waves they’ve been missing elsewhere.
7. Tackle the island’s walking trails
Although you’re never going to come across footpaths to rival the Appalachian Trail or Camino de Santiago in length, the various dedicated walking trails on the Seychelles are still worth discovering.
Mahé’s Copolia Trail is probably the best known, and winds its way uphill for views over the capital. Just 1.2 km in length, it still provides its challenges, cutting through forest on sometimes steep slopes to a rocky plateau studded with pitcher plants.
For even more of a challenge, take your hiking boots to the Anse Major Trail, lying on the edge of Morne Seychellois National Park. More rugged in places than the Copolia Trail, the path is marked by painted markers.
A delightful way to work up a bit of a sweat and encounter the wilder side of life on the islands, the trail ends at Anse Major beach – perfect for cooling off!
8. Get away from it all on St Pierre
Occupying just 0.004 square miles, St Pierre Island is invisible on all but the largest of atlases. An island where you can imagine being marooned or cast away, this tiny speck of land has a heart of waving palms ringed by rocks.
At low tide its small beach is a great place for snorkelling, while it’s possible to explore the rocks and take in the views at any time of day.
Despite its size, don’t be surprised if you encounter a private yacht or two, which regularly anchor offshore to admire the island and its sunsets.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to your own yacht, it’s still possible to visit. Just 1.5 km from Praslin, many Praslin tours include a stop at St Pierre.
9. Savour creole flavours without the hassle
For many, me included, it’s a destination’s blend of flavours and spices which stays in the memory the longest time.
Wander the streets and market stalls of Victoria and you’ll undoubtedly come across the aroma of all sorts of local delicacies.
But if you’re unsure where to start, a good place to sample the cuisine of the Seychelles is with a dining experience at Baie Sainte Anne on Praslin Island.
You’ll get to try famed dishes such as grilled fish and curried vegetables, as well as getting your taste buds around the regional tipple, takamaka, a type of rum.
The best 9 things to do in the Seychelles
The Seychelles is so good it has the royal seal of approval – Prince William spent his honeymoon here with new wife Catherine Middleton. They’re said to have spent their days relaxing on the beaches without the worries of the outside world. But beyond its white sands, the Seychelles has an incredible number of other exciting things to do!
