African Indian Ocean · Seychelles

We’re planning a trip to the Seychelles in summer 2027. We live in Lyon and I’m looking for all possible flight options. I’m interested in hearing from people who’ve flown from Barcelona with Emirates to Mahé (layover in Dubai). I’m wondering how easy parking is in Barcelona and how manageable it is to fly from there with two kids aged 10 and 13. Flights from Barcelona are cheaper than from Lyon or CDG. I’d love to hear from anyone who chose BCN with Emirates. If you’ve got other suggestions, I’m all ears. Thanks!

Since no travel journal has been posted about this destination since 2020, I’m giving it a go—maybe it’ll jog some memories for a few of you or give others a few ideas... even if, in the end, there isn’t much to tell 😎! Even though the itinerary was as classic as can be, it still led to a few brain knots: in what order? How many nights on each island? Rent a car or not? In short, plenty of existential questions to land on 4 nights per island, finishing with Mahé to avoid any nasty surprises before the return flight.

Saturday 03/22: Flight to Mahé with Qatar Airways (no—or rather, no more—direct flights from Paris 😕) A nice surprise at CDG with the discovery of a new lounge in Terminal 1

Then, an in-depth exploration of Doha Airport thanks to (or because of) a loooong layover:



And finally, arrival at the tiny Mahé airport where we step onto the tarmac feeling like we’ve walked into a steam room

Baggage claim is quick, the shuttle to the port is on time, the ferry is punctual (we, on the other hand, are *very* early for it ), and there’s Praslin in sight:



... with a sneak peek of the sea’s colors 🙂 Quick note on the photos: most were taken with a smartphone, and the colors are a bit more saturated than in real life (I did bring my hybrid camera, but in the end, I barely used it since it wasn’t very practical to lug around on the water or for snorkeling).

We pick up the car (a Grand i10 instead of a Picanto) from a muddy parking lot (it just rained) and off we go—of course, with a windshield wiper instead of the turn signal 😎, left-hand driving obliges. In just a few minutes, we arrive at our accommodation for these 4 nights on Praslin (Oh, and now the "lien" tab isn’t working! ) We’re blown away by the view from the terrace:



Then by the view from the little shared terrace on a promontory:

Before heading to test the water temperature on the other side of the road, at Anse Boudin, and spotting our first fish.

We spent two weeks in the Seychelles at the end of March and beginning of April 2026. We split our stay as follows: 4 nights on La Digue, nights on Praslin (assuming you meant a specific number here—let me know if you'd like to correct it!), and 6 nights on Mahé. It’s a classic itinerary.

Inter-island transfers are done with the Cat Coco company. You can book the transfers online on their website, which also offers an airport-to-port shuttle when you arrive in Mahé. It takes about 50 minutes to go from Mahé to Praslin and 10 minutes between Praslin and La Digue.

La Digue is an island with very few cars (only taxis and a few official or business vehicles) and lots of bikes. You can rent them everywhere on the island—we rented ours from our landlady. Things to see and do on the island: a bike tour around the island, the Veuve Reserve (it’s a bird), Union Estate with a giant tortoise park, and especially Anse Source d’Argent (our favorite beach across all three islands) and all the other coves, including Grande Anse, Petite Anse, and Anse Sévère.

For food, there are several takeaways on the island and plenty of small shops for groceries—same goes for the other two islands.

On Praslin, we rented a car, but you can also use the bus network. There aren’t many destinations, the main one being the Vallée de Mai, a must-visit as the sanctuary of the coco de mer (the "butt nut"). It’s best to visit with a guide—they wait for a small group, and the ticket price can be split four ways. You *can* visit alone, but you’ll miss out on a lot of information. Another destination is Anse Georgette, in the north of the island near the airport and the golf course of a big resort. Have your accommodation notify the hotel when you’re heading there, and if you’re driving, park as soon as you see the first signs for the parking lot. Anse Lazio is famous, but much more touristy than Anse Georgette. We stayed in Anse Volbert Village at Côte d’Or, a stunning 3 km beach with shops, takeaways, and restaurants.

Mahé is the largest island. Like on Praslin, you can rent a car or use the buses—we rented one. The roads are good but sometimes narrow. Don’t forget the mountainous terrain in this part of the Seychelles, which makes some climbs very steep (same as on Praslin). Opt for small cars—they’re often automatic, and remember you drive on the left here!

Things to see on Mahé: the Jardin du Roi, a collection of everything that grows in the Seychelles—very interesting, with a great restaurant. Visit Anse Intendance, Anse Bazarca, and Police Bay in the south—three gorgeous beaches. Also check out Anse Royale. For souvenirs, head to the Craft Village, where you can find some unique items. If you’re a fan, visit the Takamaka distillery.

In conclusion, we should’ve added one or two more nights on La Digue—it’s really beautiful—and only stayed three nights on Praslin. We rented apartments through Booking and Airbnb. Don’t forget to get your tourist visa online. The Seychelles is a clean, safe, relaxed, and stress-free country

Hello, We’ll be on vacation in the Seychelles in July and will visit La Digue, Praslin, and then Mahé in that order. Our 21-year-old daughter will have to leave earlier than us while we’re still on Praslin. We’re hesitating between the following options for her return: Option 1: - July 9: ferry from Praslin at 2:00 PM – arrives in Mahé at 3:15 PM. - International flight departing at 7:30 PM. - The connection is very tight, leaving a 1- to 2-hour safety margin in case the ferry is delayed. Option 2: - July 9: ferry from Praslin at 8:00 AM – arrives in Mahé at 9:15 AM. - International flight departing at 7:30 PM. - This is safer than Option 1, but it means she’d lose the whole day, spending it alone. We’d pay for a day pass giving her access to a hotel pool to kill time. From experience, what do you think? Are significant ferry delays (2 hours or more) common, especially in July with the swell, making Option 1 too risky? Or is even Option 2 too risky, and should our daughter take a ferry the day before (though that would mean missing a lot of time with us)? Or should she take an Air Seychelles flight the same day instead of the ferry? Is that safer than the ferry? But it’s much more expensive… I know no one can give me certainty on this, but I’d just love to hear your gut feeling from those who have experience with inter-island transfers in the Seychelles. Thanks so much in advance! Christophe

Hello everyone, Thanks for this amazing forum—I’ve spent hours browsing through it. I’m reaching out to ask for your help as we’re looking for a destination for our honeymoon. We never travel outside Europe, so we’re total newbies, but we want to treat ourselves for this special occasion.

Dates: June 23 → July 8 (possibly until July 12) Duration: 2 to 3 weeks Budget: Not really an issue for this trip

Our plan: - A seaside destination first and foremost, with beautiful beaches - We’d like to do some hiking or at least go on walks with scenic viewpoints - A relaxing trip with sunshine, lush greenery, and stunning landscapes - A safe destination

Our thoughts so far: - New Zealand: our dream, but it seems like the wrong time of year weather-wise ++ - Azores: ruled out due to unpredictable weather—what do you think? - Mauritius/Reunion combo: vetoed by my future wife ^^ - Seychelles: seems like it could work, but I’ve read about a few downsides (no shops to buy food, snorkeling not always amazing, occasional weather/tide issues making swimming tricky)

Other options: - French Polynesia: we’re really dreaming of it, but is 2 weeks too short for such a long trip? - Hawaii: same question—too far? - Sardinia?

Thanks so much for your help, and have a great weekend!

Blanche & Nicolas

Hi there, We’ve booked accommodation at Digwa Beach Chalet on La Digue. We’ll be arriving and leaving by ferry. We’re only a 20-minute walk from our rental. I was wondering if anyone has stayed at this place before and knows if they pick you up from the ferry? Is it free? How much does it cost? My husband has reduced mobility and with the luggage, it’s not going to be easy. I’ve sent a message to the accommodation but haven’t heard back yet... Thanks so much for your help!

Hi there,

We're heading to Praslin, La Digue, and Mahé for 15 days in early March. Do you have any good snorkeling spots to recommend? Just to let you know, we're beginners, and I get scared easily if it's too deep.

Also, another important question: what do you do with your belongings on the beach while snorkeling? Our phones, accommodation keys, wallets, etc.?

Thanks for your tips!

Hi, we’re heading to the Seychelles at the end of April—2 adults and 2 kids (9 and 11 years old). We’ll be spending 3 nights in Mahé, 3 in Praslin, and 6 in La Digue. For Mahé, is staying in the southeast, around Anse Royale, a good idea? We’ll have a car and want to be close to beautiful beaches. Thanks

Hi there, we’re heading to the Seychelles at the end of March for two weeks. I was thinking 5 days in Praslin, 3 days in La Digue, and 5 days in Mahé. Does that time split sound good to you?! For accommodation in Praslin, does the Grande Anse area seem nicer than St Anne for a quiet stay? And on Mahé, is the south coast or the west coast better? Do you know where the boats usually leave from for island-hopping excursions? Last question: I’m a fisherman and I’ll have some gear with me. Do you know where the fishing reserves are? Are there any small harbors where I can hop on a boat with locals? Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hi, we’re traveling as a group of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids aged 9 and 12) in April. I was thinking of renting a car in Mahé and Praslin, then renting a bike on La Digue. When I look at car rental companies, there’s a whole bunch of them! For those who’ve been there before, do you have any recommendations? Thanks!

Sandra.

Planning for retirement! Where? How? Why there? Current home: Réunion Island > it's great. Though a bit too crowded on this island... And the future looks way too expensive to live reasonably without spending too much. So, exploring the Indian Ocean. Your ideas are welcome! ;-) A bit of Bali, a touch of Rodrigues, a few weeks in Mauritius, summers in Nosy Be, and winters in Réunion. In a camper van... maybe.

Hi there,

I’m heading to the Seychelles in March and I’d like to know how far in advance it’s best to book the boat transfers from Mahé to Praslin round-trip. Should I also book the transfers between Praslin and La Digue in advance, or can I just grab them on the day?

Hi there, We traveled with Qatar Airways from Roissy to the Seychelles in business class. The flight was on time, and the only hiccup was changing planes in Doha for an Airbus A350 in the same class. The cabin crew was very attentive, and the in-flight meals were way above average. The seats were super comfortable—especially the lie-flat position—so the flight was really restful. I’d highly recommend this airline. From what I’ve seen, they mainly serve the Middle East and Asia. Speaking of which, we’re about to book a trip to Thailand and Cambodia, again with the same airline.