Destination No. 13 — Indian Ocean
Seychelles
Islands with mountains, forest and granite — the opposite of an atoll.
The Seychelles are older and heavier than the atolls further east: granite islands with ridges, rainforest and beaches set among boulders that look deliberately placed.
That changes the shape of a journey. You rarely stay on one island: Mahé for arrival and for eating well, Praslin for the Vallée de Mai, La Digue for lanes covered by bicycle. Ferries connect it all reliably.
Why we like this place
Three reasons
01
Because this is an island holiday where you need not dine in the hotel every evening.
02
Because the bird islands in the north are among the quietest places in the Indian Ocean.
03
Because forest and water sit close together — a green path in the morning, a cove at noon.
For planning
- Best time to visit
- April, May, October and November
- The months between the monsoons are the calmest: little wind, clear water, little seaweed. December to March is wetter; June to September windier and cooler.
- Suggested length
- Seven to ten nights
- Two islands, four or five nights each. With only a week, stay on Praslin or La Digue and treat Mahé as an arrival.
Which month suits which plan?
April, May, October and November are the calmest — little wind, clear water, good snorkelling. From June to September the south-east trades blow: pleasant for walking, choppier on the water. December to March is greener and wetter. Island-hopping by boat is rewarding but should avoid the windy months.
Noted by Pure Voyage
Pure Voyage Atlas
Where this leads
The Atlas connects what belongs together: the region, the collections, the right season and the houses that sit within the same story.
Within These Collections
When to Go
In the Journal
Where we stay
Addresses in this region
In the Seychelles we tend to combine one larger property with a small, privately run address — depending on the island and the season.
Related collections
From the Collection
Pure Voyage Signatures
Themes that run through our work
Recurring thoughts rather than categories. They appear where they explain something.
In a similar spirit
What shares the same spirit
Not the most similar, but the most natural next step: places, routes and essays that belong to this way of travelling.
- HouseJOALIRaa-Atoll, MaledivenA house we would mention in the same conversation.
- JourneyVenice Simplon-Orient-ExpressLondon, Paris, the Alps, VeniceA route that suits this way of travelling.
- RecommendationHotels Worth the JourneyHideaways, island resorts and lodges where the journey is part of the experience.Our selection for travellers with this outlook.
- JournalThe Best Time to Visit the Maldives6 minutesAn essay that carries this thought further.
Continue through Pure Voyage
Where to go from here
Not a catalogue, but a next step: the retreats, routes, countries and essays we would mention at this point in a conversation.
Hotels
Addresses that belong beside this page.
Journeys
Routes that open up this region.
Recommendations
What we suggest for this occasion.
Journal
Further reading before you decide.
A Personal Enquiry
Shall we plan Seychelles for you?
Tell us when you would like to travel and with whom — we suggest the houses that genuinely suit Seychelles in your period.
A first assessment is without obligation and free of charge.
Why book through Pure Voyage?
- Personal luxury travel advice
- Carefully chosen hotel recommendations
- Tailor-made itineraries
- Partner benefits wherever they apply
- Direct personal contact from start to finish
An Invitation
Once a month: hotels, new openings and travel ideas
One hotel that convinced us. One new opening we are watching. And one travel idea for the right season. Carefully selected and reduced to the essentials.