The three main islands in Seychelles are Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue. Since the international airport is located on Mahe, almost all visitors arrive there first. While Mahe is the largest island and offers a wide range of activities, Praslin and La Digue are home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. In this post, I will share our experience of visiting these two islands on a day trip.
Since we had only six days in Seychelles, we decided to stay on Mahe for the entire trip. However, we still wanted to visit Praslin and La Digue. There are three common ways to reach these islands:
- Flight from Mahe to Praslin: Around 20 minutes, costing about $70 each way.
- Cat Cocos Ferry: Around 1 hour 15 minutes, costing between $56 and $77 each way.
- Organized shared day tours covering both islands: Around $200 per person.
We chose the shared day tour. The flight and ferry options make more sense if you plan to spend several days on either island.
Journey to Praslin
Our tour started at 7:30 AM. We arrived much earlier and had our packed breakfast while waiting for the speedboat. One advantage was the large parking area next to the jetty, where we could leave our rental car for the day.
The speedboat took about 1 hour and 5 minutes to reach Praslin. Since we were visiting during the southeast trade wind season (May/June to September), the sea was quite rough.
After arriving, we were given a short introduction to the famous Coco de Mer palm outside the reserve. The Coco de Mer produces the world’s heaviest seed, which can weigh up to 18 kilograms. This remarkable palm grows naturally only in Seychelles and is one of the country’s most unique natural treasures.
Interestingly, the Coco de Mer is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate trees and require cross-pollination.
If you are staying longer on Praslin, it is worth visiting the reserve itself, which has several walking trails through the forest.
Anse Lazio Beach
Our next stop was Anse Lazio, often ranked among the best beaches in the world.
The beach was stunning, with soft white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water. We spent a long time swimming and playing in the ocean. It was easy to see why this beach appears on so many lists of the world’s top beaches.
Exploring La Digue by Bicycle
A short 15-minute boat ride brought us to La Digue.
La Digue is a small and laid-back island, and we were given the option to explore it by bicycle. Cycling turned out to be one of the highlights of the day. The island has very little traffic, making it a pleasant place to ride around.
After arriving, we had lunch, which was included in the tour package, and then continued to L’Union Estate, a historic plantation that has been converted into a living heritage site. Entry fees had to be paid separately.
One of the most interesting attractions at the estate was the enclosure of Aldabra giant tortoises. These tortoises are enormous and can live for well over a hundred years. To our surprise, the caretaker invited Tanu into the enclosure to feed one of them. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Source d’Argent Beach
From L’Union Estate, we cycled further to Source d’Argent, another of Seychelles’ iconic beaches.
After parking our bicycles, we walked through a plantation to reach the beach. Source d’Argent is very different from Anse Lazio. Instead of wide open stretches of sand, it is famous for its massive granite boulders, shallow turquoise lagoons, and unique scenery.
The combination of white sand, clear water, and dramatic rock formations makes it one of the most photographed beaches in the world. It was another memorable experience.
Return to Mahe
After spending some time at the beach, we cycled back to the jetty, a ride of about 20 minutes.
The return boat journey was rougher than the morning crossing. The waves were stronger, and all the windows had to be closed because of the sea spray. It became quite stuffy inside the boat. While it was a little uncomfortable for most of us, one passenger found it overwhelming and experienced what seemed like a mild panic attack. Fortunately, she was fine later.
I have experienced much rougher sea journeys before, including crossings through the Drake Passage in Antarctica and boat rides to Ross and Smith Islands in the Andamans. Compared to those, this journey was relatively mild.
We finally reached Mahe around 5 PM. It had been a long day, but it was definitely one of the highlights of our Seychelles trip.
Information and Tips
- We booked the tour through GetYourGuide (Link here). Our overall experience was very good.
- Lunch and bottled water were included in the package.
- Everything in Seychelles is expensive, including food and drinks on the islands. Carry snacks if needed.
- The sea is generally rough from May to September due to the trade winds. If you are prone to seasickness, consider flying to Praslin or visiting during March and April when the ocean is usually calmer.
- If you have more time, I would strongly recommend staying on Praslin or La Digue for a few days. The beaches are beautiful, and life moves at a slow and relaxed pace.
- Seychelles is an expensive destination. While careful planning can help reduce costs, it is difficult to make it a budget trip.
D.C.TIWARI
Very nice and intersting .
aravindgj
Thank you!