🏝️ Which Seychelles island to choose for a holiday: 16 resorts overview

Seychelles lies in the Indian Ocean and consists of dozens of granite and coral islands. People come here for white sand, warm water, and rare wildlife, but choosing between the islands is often confusing. Sixteen islands are set up for tourism, and each one suits a different type of vacation.

Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) is on Mahé, 9 km from Victoria (official tourism portal). From there you reach the other islands by ferry, light aircraft, or helicopter. The larger islands offer infrastructure and a wide choice of hotels, while private ones offer quiet and nature with no neighbors.

We compared all sixteen resort islands: what to see, how to get there, and which island is right for you.

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How to choose an island in Seychelles

💡 In short:

Mahé receives all international flights: airport, capital Victoria, dozens of beaches.
Choose Praslin and La Digue if you want to switch islands every couple of days by ferry.
Private islands in the east and north offer maximum seclusion but require light aircraft or a boat.
Resort access and infrastructure: 09/2026, verified on the official Seychelles tourism website.

The choice depends on two things: how many islands you want to cover and how important quiet is to you. Larger islands offer infrastructure, shops, and medical care, while private ones offer nature and peace with no neighbors.

Island	What it offers	Who it's for
Mahé	Airport, capital, dozens of beaches	First visit, short transfers
Praslin	Vallée de Mai park, vanilla plantations	Nature and calm beaches
La Digue	Granite boulders, Anse Source d'Argent beach	Bicycles and a quiet vacation
Thérèse	Private islet near Mahé	A day trip
Desroches	Coral atoll, one hotel	Seclusion and diving
Sainte Anne	Large resort near Mahé	Families and full service
Cerf	Marine reserve	Snorkeling and turtles
Moyenne	Pirate graves and a museum	A day excursion
Anonyme	Private estate near Mahé	Weddings and family vacations
Silhouette	Rainforest, one hotel	Quiet and nature
North	Private luxury resort	A vacation with no neighbors
Curieuse	National park and turtles	A trip from Praslin
Félicité	Six Senses Zil Pasyon	Luxury, spa, and diving
Frégate	Quiet island with rare birds	After renovation
Cousin	Nature reserve with turtles	Maximum seclusion
Denis	Eco-resort and fishing	Diving and nature

This table will help you narrow the choice down to two or three islands. Below we go through each resort in detail: what to see, how to get there, and who it suits.

1. Mahé

Beau Lazare Beach on Mahe Island, Seychelles

Mahé is larger than the other islands in the archipelago and serves as the main base for a trip. Seychelles International Airport is at Pointe La Rue, 9 km from Victoria (Seychelles tourism office data). Victoria is considered one of the smallest capitals in the world, but here you will find a market, souvenir shops, restaurants, and two museums.

The island has more than 70 beaches, and roads let you reach each one by bus or car. Hidden in the greenery are Morne Seychellois National Park with mountains and trails, the Mont Fleuri Botanical Garden, and the Royal Garden. For diving and snorkeling the water is calm: the archipelago lies away from storm paths, and there are no large predators near the shore.

Giant tortoises weighing up to 300 kg (Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority) calmly let people approach and are a hit with children. Accommodation near Victoria and along the beaches covers the full range, from guesthouses to large complexes.

The catch: this is the most populated island in the archipelago, so there is little quiet or seclusion here.
Who it's for: for a first trip and for those who want to stay near the airport.

Hotels on Mahé on Trip.com

2. Praslin

Dense thickets of fan palms in the forest

Praslin is considered the second-largest island in the archipelago and is famous for its palm forest. Fan palms, cabbage palms, and the legendary coco de mer with the largest fruit in the plant world all grow here. The main reason to come: Vallée de Mai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site (Seychelles Tourism portal). The black parrot lives in its thickets, while bulbuls, Indian mynas, and frigatebirds sing nearby.

Vanilla plantations and protected marine parks spread across the island. Half of the country's land is combined into national parks, reserves, and marine protected areas, so photography on land and underwater is almost unrestricted here. You will be offered boat trips to neighboring islands, snorkeling, and diving.

Praslin's hotels sit along the east coast and near beaches with granite boulders. Cozy rooms, Creole cuisine in local restaurants, and short transfers make the island a convenient second base after Mahé.

The catch: you can only get here by ferry or light aircraft from Mahé, as large flights do not land here.
Who it's for: for those who want UNESCO-listed nature and calm beaches without large hotels.

Hotels on Praslin on Trip.com

3. La Digue

Granite boulders on Anse Source d'Argent beach

La Digue is surrounded by black granite cliffs. The island's main beach, Anse Source d'Argent, is covered with coral sand and sheltered by natural granite statues (open on map). You barely hear any engines here: people get around by bicycle, electric cart, or ox cart.

Life moves slowly, like two centuries ago, and the only visible changes are in the leisure areas. Along the coast, small restaurants serve Creole cuisine and surprise visitors with the variety of their dishes. Excellent sandy beaches and clear water invite long swims.

For overnight stays, guests can choose from many guesthouses and hotels. The buildings are wooden houses in the old Creole style. Clear water and soft sand make you feel like the first inhabitant of a lost world.

The catch: there are almost no regular cars, so you'll have to get around by bicycle or electric cart.
Who it's for: those who value quiet, bicycles, and a slow pace.

Hotels on La Digue on Trip.com

4. Therese

Small green island in the ocean among the waves

Therese Island is only 700 m long and lies close to Mahe; you can reach it by motorboat in 10 minutes (island overview on the portal). It's a palm oasis with white-sand beaches and clear water, where people come for a day trip.

The island became famous thanks to a TV show: a stylized village still has huts made of palm branches, a kitchen, sleeping areas, and lounge zones. Signs saying "Private property" stand around, but visitors are allowed to walk to the village.

Near the beaches, stairways lead upward, opening views of the bays. Bring a snorkeling mask: the water near the shore is calm and the bottom is clearly visible. A visit to the island is considered an interesting day trip while staying on Mahe.

The catch: the island is private, you can't stay overnight, and the whole trip takes one day.

Hotels near Therese Island on Trip.com

5. Desroches

Desroches Airport runway amid tropical greenery

The coral atoll of Desroches is surrounded by white-sand beaches totaling about 14 km in length; visitors fly here from Mahe on small aircraft (island page at the tour office). The atoll was named after the eighteenth governor of Mauritius, and today it's known as a place for both active and lazy vacations at the same time.

The only hotel on the island, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, offers 49 luxurious rooms and villas (fourseasons.com). Guests don't need transport: you can get to the beach or restaurant by free buggy or bicycle. Breakfast and lunch can be ordered straight to your villa.

The property has a spa, boutiques, round-the-clock internet, and medical staff. Active guests can enjoy jungle trail walks, windsurfing, guided diving, and excursions to a turtle farm. After completing the training course, you receive a diving certificate.

The catch: the only way to get there is by small aircraft, and there is just one hotel on the island.
Who it's for: couples and those who want seclusion with full service.

Hotels on Desroches on Trip.com

6. Sainte Anne

Eden Island Marina and Sainte Anne Island in the distance

The Sainte Anne resort appeared in 2002 on the site of a former anchorage for pirate and whaling ships. White-sand beaches with coral sand, granite rocks, and lush vegetation surround the modern Sainte Anne Resort & Spa 5*.

The hotel has 87 luxury villas, four restaurants, a spa with a yoga pavilion and a wooden pool. There is a kids' club and playgrounds for children, and several pools and garden gazebos for adults.

The island is part of the National Marine Reserve, established in 1973 as the first marine park in the Indian Ocean (Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority). It covers about 14.5 km² and includes six islands. Motorized watercraft are prohibited in the park's waters, but snorkeling and diving reveal rare marine life.

The catch: you get to the island by boat from Mahé, and there is no beach town of its own nearby.
Who it's for: families and those who want full-service amenities close to the capital.

Hotels near Sainte Anne on Trip.com

7. Cerf

Jolly Roger Bar and a granite boulder on Moyenne Island

Cerf, together with Sainte Anne, Moyenne, and several small neighboring islands, forms the Marine Reserve (marine park on the SPGA website). The island is roughly 1 by 1.5 km and is surrounded by coral growth, while giant tortoises live on land.

The island's waters are home to about 150 species of marine life, including starfish, octopuses, crabs, and sea urchins. Snorkeling gear is available at rental points, and the water is so clear that you can see the bottom with a regular mask. The average annual temperature stays in the 24-29 °C range, with short rains from December to February.

The granite island got its name from the frigate Le Cerf. A small hotel with 12 villas opened on the coast in 2003. From the island, it is easy to walk to cozy coves.

The catch: the island is quite small, with less infrastructure and fewer activities than Mahé.

Hotels on the reserve islands on Trip.com

8. Moyenne

Green Anonyme Island in the lagoon off Mahe

Moyenne is part of the Marine Reserve and is considered the most "pirate" island in the archipelago (Parks Authority). The island covers only about 9 hectares, yet it is home to three pirate graves and an old cemetery.

For more than fifty years, the island was owned by Brendon Grimshaw and his adopted son René Antoine Lafortune. They planted thousands of trees, brought in giant tortoises, and laid out walking routes to the old cemetery. The Jolly Roger restaurant, a small museum, and a chapel listing all the owners were opened on the island. A maintained beach and short trails make Moyenne a convenient spot for a couple of hours of exploring.

In 2008, Moyenne was granted nature reserve status, and in 2012 it became part of the Republic and ceased to be private property (Parks Authority). Today visitors come here on excursions: you walk the island's trails in a couple of hours and see rare trees and plants.

The catch: there are no permanent hotels on the island, so visits are possible only as a day trip.

Hotels near Moyenne Island on Trip.com

9. Anonyme

Waves crashing against rocks and palm trees on a tropical shore

Anonyme lies right next to Mahe and remains privately owned (materials from the tourist office). The place has belonged to the St Jorre family since people first appeared in this part of the ocean, and it is now owned by the daughter of the archipelago's former president.

Guests stay in separate chalets, with a small restaurant and the Anonyme Island Resort 4*. The island is of granite origin, and its hills are covered in tropical forest. On a walk you'll see rare trees, including bois noir (ironwood) and a banyan more than a hundred years old.

Regular ferry service to bustling Mahe lets you go elsewhere for entertainment, while Anonyme itself stays quiet. The island is often rented out entirely for a honeymoon or a single-family vacation, so water activities happen in a small group. Local legends hide in the caves and cozy bays beneath the green hills.

The catch: the private property is rented out in full, so the format is inconvenient for a solo traveler.
Who it's for: families and couples who want their own island for the duration of a vacation.

Hotels near Anonyme Island on Trip.com

10. Silhouette

Sunset over the water with silhouettes of boats and trees

Silhouette has fewer trappings of modern civilization than the other islands (island guide). It is home to the archipelago's only true rainforest, and the jungle, white sand, and rocks have earned the island a reputation as a "treasure island."

Guests are offered rooms in the only hotel, and the number of visitors is strictly limited. So anyone who wants to see a remote corner of the ocean and enjoy quiet beaches should book in advance. Life on the island looked much the same two hundred years ago.

Silhouette is home to rare animals, and there is a turtle sanctuary where you can touch the turtles with your hands. The underwater world off the coast is vibrant, and you can visit at any time of year.

The catch: places are very limited, there is only one hotel, and you need to book in advance.
Who it's for: those looking for quiet and not willing to stand in lines at attractions.

Hotels on Silhouette on Trip.com

11. North

The private island of North is home to a single resort, North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort, with 11 villas (resort description on the portal). The villas are built in the local tradition right on the ocean shore.

On the cozy verandas it's pleasant to have breakfast and gaze out at the endless expanse, with food brought by a butler. The conditions in this ecologically clean area feel like a lost world: you swim in turquoise water, windsurf, and sail.

Among the tropical forests there are small freshwater lakes, surrounded by rare plants and animals. The island is suitable for diving year-round: you can learn to scuba dive here, take courses, and join water sports events.

The catch: only 11 villas and private-luxury pricing, so this won't be a budget vacation.
Who it's for: couples and travelers who want premium-class private relaxation.

Hotels near North Island on Trip.com

12. Curieuse

Granite boulders on the coast of Curieuse Island

Curieuse lies in a seven-hundred-meter strait off Praslin, and you can get here on a guided excursion or sail over on your own yacht (park management). The island was named after the French schooner that arrived in 1768 to collect coco de mer nuts.

Since 1979, Curieuse and the surrounding waters have held national marine park status. There is no permanent population or modern hotels here, so nature has remained almost untouched.

The wild part of the island is home to a colony of land and sea turtles that were brought here after being wiped out in the 20th century. The turtles are unafraid of people and happily stretch out their necks to be petted, while hawksbill turtles come ashore only to lay eggs. You can grab a bite on the island in the barbecue areas.

The catch: there are no hotels and no permanent population, so the trip takes one day.

Hotels on Praslin near Curieuse on Trip.com

13. Félicité

Tropical island with granite boulders and palm trees

Félicité lies three kilometers from La Digue, and you can get here by helicopter from Mahé or by boat from neighboring islands (Félicité guide). Massive granite boulders have become the resort's signature feature, and rare marine life swims near the shores.

The only hotel, Six Senses Zil Pasyon 5*, consists of 30 villas and three two-level residences in Creole style. The villas have pools, terraces, wine bars, and beach lounging areas with sunbeds. Massage rooms and Ayurveda centers are available.

You can eat at the Island Café and Ocean Kitchen restaurants, as well as at the Koko Bar and Lakanbiz beach bars. For active recreation, the resort offers open-ocean fishing and a hike across the granite mountain ridge that crosses the island.

The catch: you can only get there by helicopter or boat, as there is no airport.
Who it's for: those who want luxury with a spa and diving on a secluded island.

Hotels near Félicité Island on Trip.com

14. Frégate

Beach with palm trees and granite boulders in the Seychelles

Frégate is located in the eastern part of the archipelago, and its name comes from the frigatebirds (official website). These remarkable creatures couldn't land on water, but they could reach tremendous speeds and rob other seabirds. Explorer Lazare Picault named the island after these birds, and local legends hold stories of pirate treasure.

The Fregate Island Private 5* resort with 16 villas and 40 beds used to operate here (fregate.com), which is why the island was known as one of the most exclusive in the world. It's now slated for redevelopment, and the official website lists a new opening date in 2026.

The Bambous riverbed runs alongside the landing strip. Rare tropical plants, palm groves, and Indian almond trees grow along its banks, and a nursery preserves endangered species for the future.

The catch: the island is currently closed for redevelopment, so plan your trip after it reopens.

Hotels near Frégate Island on Trip.com

15. Cousine

Tropical Cousin Island with a beach in the ocean

Cousine has held international nature reserve status since 1968 (cousineisland.com). The island's ecology, wildlife, and plant life have been restored, and scientific work is carried out across dozens of research programs. Guests are greeted by George and Georgina, two giant tortoises who have become the island's favorites.

Only a limited number of guests are accepted at any one time, so you'll hardly meet anyone on the trails (island description). The only hotel, Cousine Island Seychelles 5*, consists of four villa bungalows and can be rented out entirely for one family. The dedicated paths are laid out so as not to disturb the inhabitants or damage rare plants.

Smoking and noisy picnics are prohibited on the grounds: these are part of the reserve's rules that protect the restored nature. Cyclones and downpours usually pass the island by, and the experience suits families with children over 15.

The catch: very few spots available, and children under 15 are not accepted.
Who it's for: those who want maximum seclusion on a tiny nature-reserve island.

Hotels near Cousine Island on Trip.com

16. Denis

Lighthouse on Denis Island among tropical palm trees

Denis lies in the northernmost part of the island nation and has welcomed tourists since 1977 (tourism portal data). It's a private eco-resort, Denis Private Island, with 25 villas set amid tropical forest.

An organic farm supplies guests with its own produce, and dishes made from it are served in the local restaurant. The farm is run by residents of a small village where an 18th-century chapel stands. The chapel is in demand for romantic weddings, and the marriage is confirmed with official documents.

The island sits on the edge of the African shelf, so ocean depths begin almost at the shore. Five world records have been set here for catching tuna, marlin, and dogtooth tuna. A PADI dive center, children's playgrounds, and nanny services are available to guests. Yachts, canoes, and catamarans cruise around the island, and the soft, snow-white beaches are perfect for long walks by the water.

The catch: you can only get there by boat, helicopter, or plane from Mahé.
Who it's for: anglers, divers, and families with children.

Hotels on Denis Island on Trip.com

Seychelles resorts on the map

All sixteen resorts are marked on the map below. Open it to compare island locations and plan transfers between them. Mahe and Praslin lie close to each other, while Desroches, Denis and Fregate are reached by light aircraft.

Resorts of the Seychelles

Places on the map

1Mahé International airport, the capital Victoria, more than 70 beaches
2Praslin Palm forest and the Vallée de Mai National Park, a UNESCO site
3La Digue Granite boulders and Anse Source d'Argent beach, no transport
4Thérèse Private islet near Mahé for a day trip
5Sainte Anne Resort in a marine reserve near Mahé
6Cerf Marine reserve with giant tortoises and coral reefs
7Moyenne Pirate graves and a museum on the reserve island
8Anonyme Private estate near Mahé for one family's holiday
9Silhouette The archipelago's only true rainforest, a single hotel
10North Island Private luxury resort North Island with 11 villas
11Curieuse National marine park with a tortoise colony
12Félicité Luxury hotel Six Senses Zil Pasyon among granite boulders
13Frégate Quiet island with rare birds, resort under redevelopment
14Cousin Tortoise reserve, children under 15 not admitted
15Denis Eco-resort with 25 villas and world fishing records

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Which Seychelles resort should you choose for a first visit?

Start with Mahe: it has the airport, the capital and more than 70 beaches, and transfers to other islands are short (Seychelles tourism website). For the second half of your trip, add Praslin or La Digue by ferry. Private islands are best left for next time: they cost more and require light aircraft.

When is the best time to go to the Seychelles?

The dry season runs from May to October, with less rain and calmer seas. From December to February there are short tropical downpours, but temperatures stay warm all year round (tourism portal). For beach time and diving, choose the first half of the season.

Can you visit several islands in one trip?

Yes. Mahe serves as the hub, from where you reach Praslin by ferry or light aircraft. La Digue and Felicite are reached by water, and Felicite also has helicopter service. Short flights take up to half an hour, so covering two or three islands in a week is realistic. Allow time for the transfer between the jetty and your hotel.

How do you get to the private islands?

Desroches, Fregate, Denis and North are reached by light aircraft or helicopter, with some routes departing from Mahe by air. Sainte Anne, Moyenne and Cerf are reached by boat from Victoria. Schedules depend on the season, so check them on the carrier's website.

Is a Seychelles vacation suitable for children?

Yes, if you choose the larger islands. Mahe, Praslin and Sainte Anne Resort & Spa 5* have kids' clubs, playgrounds and pools for little ones. On private Cousine, only children over 15 are accepted. Young children are more comfortable where medical care and shops are nearby.

In short: what to book

First decide how many islands you want to cover during your trip. For a balance of beaches and service, choose Mahe; for nature and tranquility, add Praslin, La Digue or a private island.

If you have	Choose
First trip	Mahe: airport, capital, dozens of beaches
Want two bases in a week	Praslin and La Digue by ferry
Looking for quiet and nature	Private islands: Desroches, Cousine, Denis, North
Traveling with children	Mahe, Praslin or Sainte Anne Resort & Spa 5*
Love diving	Cerf, Curieuse, Desroches

Consider the logistics: private islands are reached by light aircraft, and ferries and flights are best booked in advance. Pick a base on Mahe and one island that matches your pace, and the trip will come together without rushing.

See Seychelles hotels on Trip.com

Seychelles resorts: 16 islands, from Mahe and Praslin to private villas