Seychelles Multi-Island Trip Planner
A longer Seychelles trip is a loop through the three main granite islands, and the main decision is how many nights each one gets. Seychelles International Airport on Mahe is the only international gateway, so you start and finish there. The two plans below use the usual nights per island: Mahe 2 to 3, Praslin 2 to 3, La Digue 1 to 2, plus a last night on Mahe before an international flight.
A six-night loop
- Nights 1 and 2, Mahe. Rum at Takamaka, the Copolia trail or Ste Anne Marine Park, and a walk round Victoria.
- Nights 3 and 4, Praslin. Vallee de Mai in the morning, then a boat day to Curieuse or an hour at Anse Lazio when the flags allow.
- Night 5, La Digue. Take the 15-minute crossing, cycle to L’Union Estate and see Anse Source d’Argent early, before the day boats arrive.
- Night 6, Mahe. Come back by way of Praslin and stay near the airport.
A nine-night loop
Add a night to each of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue on the way round. The extra Mahe night suits the Morne Seychellois trails, the extra Praslin night suits Cousin Island or Aride (Aride is open October to May only), and the second La Digue night gives a slow day for the Veuve reserve and bicycles.
Moving between islands
| Leg | Cat Cocos time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mahe to Praslin | about 1h15 | also a 15-minute Air Seychelles flight |
| Praslin to La Digue | about 15 minutes | Cat Rose also runs this crossing |
| La Digue to Mahe, via Praslin | about 1h45 | the usual weekday routing |
| La Digue to Mahe, direct | about 1h10 | limited days, weekends on the last published table |
Timetables change by weekday, and the operator’s most recent table was for 2025, so look at the Cat Cocos site before fixing dates. Book boats and rooms early for Christmas and New Year, Easter and July to August.
Money and entry
Most visitors need Travel Authorisation, applied for only on the official portal at seychelles.govtas.com up to 30 days before arrival. The standard application fee is EUR 10, though checkout totals of about EUR 10 to 12 are reported, and you must show onward travel, confirmed accommodation and enough funds. A Tourism Department notice confirms the fee. Since 1 January 2026 a sustainability levy applies per person per night at medium and large establishments (SCR 75 or SCR 100), with nothing at the smallest, and children under 12 pay nothing. Ask your accommodation which band it is in.
Buses run on Mahe and Praslin only and are cashless. The SPTC Visitor Travel Card costs SCR 100 for one day, SCR 198 for four days or SCR 363 for eight, and you collect it at the airport information desk. Details are on the SPTC card page . La Digue has no buses and tourists cannot hire cars, so plan on bicycles at about SCR 150 to 200 a day, taxis or buggies.
Sea and health
The sea sets the order of beaches. Swimming is unsafe on the west coast from about December to March and on the east coast from about May to September, so order your beach days accordingly. Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio and Cote d’Or hold the only lifeguards. Medical care on Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands is limited, and serious cases are moved by boat or plane, so buy insurance that includes evacuation.
Beyond the loop
Aldabra is a specialist expedition. Only vessels cleared in writing by the Seychelles Islands Foundation may go, with staff aboard, so it has to be booked through an operator that obtains that clearance. Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches, which opened in 2018, is one outer-island stay.
Places to stay on each island can be compared on Booking.com .
Read more: day trips in Seychelles and the Seychelles 7 day itinerary .