About Seychelles

As locals would say, Byenveni - welcome to the Seychelles islands! No matter what you’ve heard or seen about us, we guarantee that experiencing Seychelles first hand will exceed every expectation you have and leave you with unforgettable memories and pangs of wanting to return. Local legend has it that if you eat the local breadfruit, you will.

The Seychelles islands have been dubbed many names such as ‘the garden of eden’ and ‘the land of perpetual summer’, for being blessed with dream-like seascapes and sunny tropical climate all year round. The weather is safe, warm and friendly, as are the people. Some would call us cosmopolitan - a harmonious blend of different races stemming from Africa, Europe and Asia.

When is the best time to visit Seychelles? The answer is all year round. Our islands experience two main monsoon seasons; the southeasterly winds blow between May to September giving cooler and drier weather perfect for sailing, hiking and parachuting. If you’re interested in snorkeling, swimming and diving, the prime times to visit would be during the northwest monsoon between October and early May where the sea is calm and flat, and temperatures are generally warmer.

Mahe is Seychelles’ main island - embodied by green towering mountains, served by main roads both around and across the hills and home to amazing trails, beaches, nature reserves and views.

Most visitors spend three to four days at the beginning or at the end of their trip here. So grab your sunglasses, hat, camera and beach bag, and discover below some of the best and most popular things to do on Mahe.

What do you want to do today?

Visit Victoria

Welcome to one of the world’s smallest capital - the Creole capital of the world - Victoria. Some of the top things to see and do in Victoria are; touring the Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market and watching the locals sell fresh fish, purchase local souvenirs from Victoria’s colourful kiosks, pose in front of the clock tower (a miniature replica of London’s Big Ben), visit the Seychelles Natural History Museum and walk along the streets and take in the local culture. Once you’ve taken in all the sights, sounds and smells of our charming capital, head over by a 10-minute walk to the Botanical Gardens for a picnic under the Coco de mer trees.

Beau Vallon

Beau-Vallon is the most popular area on Mahe with both locals and tourists alike, boasting one of the longest beaches on Mahe. By day, dig your feet into the beautiful sand and swim in warm shallow waters, go jet-skiing, have a massage at the BoatHouse Spa, settle in at the famous Baobab Pizzeria for a smoked fish salad, seafood pizza and cold SeyBrew beer, and watch the sunset at Beach Shak on the beach’s edge while sipping on a reggae Mai Tai. As the night eases in, choose from the various eateries and restaurants along the beach such as La Plage Seychelles, BoatHouse, La Perle Noir and Wooden House Cafe. Night or day, Beau Vallon never disappoints.

Anse Royale

A 20-minute drive away from Villa Kolibri is Anse Royale, a tiny village on the south easterly coast of Mahe consisting of different facilities such as a hospital, banks, restaurants, souvenir shops, a fish and vegetable market, grocery shops, a petrol station and university. It is also home to some of the most popular beaches on Mahe - in fact Anse Royale beach is made up of a long bay consisting of smaller beaches, each protected by coral reefs and fringed with palm trees.

After a day of snorkelling, fishing or scuba diving, make your way to the Spice Gardens (Jardin du Roi), a colonial home set in a beautiful stretch of spice, fruit and herb plantations. Treat yourself to Creole grilled-fish, home-cooked pancakes, lemongrass tea and beautiful mountain and sea views.

Sainte Anne Marine Park

The Sainte Anne Marine Park is a protected area spanning over 14.43km². Within the marine park are six beautiful islands and rich coral reefs. As it is a protected area, be ready to experience pure nature. Experience the best of its underwater life through snorkelling and diving trips, or without even getting wet through a Semi-Submarine. With a little luck, spot eagle rays, sea turtles, pipefish and even bottlenose dolphins! The islands offer great spots for barbecues and short hiking trips where you can spot giant land tortoises, birds, flora and fauna.

Although all six islands are beautiful, a day trip to Moyenne Island must be added to your Seychelles bucket list! At low tide, a sand bank forms between Moyenne and nearby Round Island, or between Long Island and Round Island linking them and allowing you to cross over safely for more exploring adventures!

Hiking

Mahe has some stunning trails. A trek to Copolia, Anse Major, Morne Blanc and Trois Freres are a must if you love nature and instagrammable moments. Find out more about the trails here and download some great guides and maps.

Eden Island

Across a bridge between Victoria and the Seychelles International Airport is Eden Island - a little haven away from the island’s hustle and bustle. Endless options for entertainment are available here, from boat trips to nearby islands, massages at the Eden Holistic Spa, shopping at Eden Island Plaza and many eateries such as Bravo! Seychelles, SeySushi, Sunset Trattoria, Tamassa, Chatterbox and Boardwalk. For good nightlife, bars and clubbing, a trip to Eden Island on Friday and Saturday nights is not to be missed.

If you want to book a car hire, or find out more information about the top things to see and do on Mahe, contact our team today.

Car ride along the coast and mountains

Renting a car on Mahe is a must - it will allow you to visit all the hidden spots that are not necessarily accessible by public bus. Drive along the tea plantations of Sans Souci, visit the Mission Lodge and Port Launay waterfall, cruise through local villages, stop by little fruit stalls, grab some locally-made banana chips at little village shops, try some island rum at La Plaine St. Andre... the list goes on. Touring Mahe Island by car is an experience of its own. Just remember to pack your driver’s license, and drive on the left!