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 house with a small, privately run address — depending on the island and the season.
Related collections
From the Collection
Continue through Pure Voyage
Where to go from here
Not a catalogue, but a next step: the houses, 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.
An Invitation
Once a month: hotels, new openings and travel ideas
One hotel that convinced us, with our advice on suite and season. The openings that actually matter. And a destination at its best right now. No offers, no advertising.