One of the biggest advantages of a Seychelles island-hopping holiday is that you can experience several completely different sides of the destination. Rather than spending your entire trip at one resort, combining Mahé, Praslin and La Digue allows you to discover bustling local life, untouched nature, world-famous beaches and the relaxed pace of traditional island life. Each island has its own personality, so your holiday can be about far more than simply choosing a beautiful beach resort.
Island hopping also gives you the flexibility to create a holiday that suits you. Spend a few nights exploring Mahé before slowing the pace on Praslin and finishing with the laid-back charm of La Digue. With accommodation, flights, ferries and transfers planned together as part of a package, exploring more than one island can be surprisingly straightforward.
Mahé is the largest island in the Seychelles and the natural starting point for most holidays. It is home to the capital, Victoria, where you can experience local markets, Creole culture and colourful architecture. Beyond the capital, Mahé is covered in lush mountains and rainforest, with Morne Seychellois National Park offering scenic walks and spectacular viewpoints. The island is also home to beautiful granite-framed beaches, including Beau Vallon and Anse Intendance.
As the main international arrival and departure hub, Mahé works particularly well at the beginning or end of an island-hopping itinerary. We recommend allowing around 3–4 nights, giving you enough time to recover from your flight, explore Victoria and discover some of the island's beaches and natural attractions without rushing.
Popular Mahé options include Hilton Northolme for a luxurious, intimate escape, Coral Strand for its beachfront setting on Beau Vallon and Carana Beach for a more secluded boutique-style stay.
Praslin is famous for its spectacular scenery and some of the Seychelles' most recognisable beaches. Explore the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the unique coco de mer palm, before heading to the powder-white sands of Anse Lazio or the beautiful Anse Georgette. Praslin offers a wonderful balance of nature, beaches and luxury resorts.
We recommend spending 4–5 nights on Praslin. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the island at a relaxed pace while also allowing time for a day trip to nearby islands or a visit to some of the Seychelles' most famous beaches.
For luxury, Constance Lemuria and Raffles Seychelles are standout choices. Coco de Mer Hotel offers a more relaxed island experience, while Black Parrot Suites provides an intimate adults-focused option.
La Digue is perhaps the most laid-back of the three main islands and is famous for its incredible beaches, granite boulders and traditional island atmosphere. Anse Source d'Argent is one of the world's most photographed beaches, while Anse Marron rewards adventurous travellers with a more secluded experience. The island's relaxed pace, traditional ox carts and bicycle-friendly roads make it feel wonderfully different from Mahé and Praslin.
Allow around 2–3 nights on La Digue. This is enough time to explore the island by bicycle, visit its famous beaches and simply enjoy its slower pace of life.
La Digue has very little car traffic, which is part of its charm. Bicycle hire is the main way to explore, allowing you to travel between beaches, restaurants and viewpoints at your own pace. Electric bicycles are also available, making it easier to tackle some of the island's hills.
The quickest option is a domestic flight from Mahé to Praslin, taking around 15 minutes. The flight offers fantastic aerial views of the islands and is particularly useful if you want to maximise your time on holiday. Ferries are also available for travellers who prefer to travel by sea.
Getting from Praslin to La Digue is simple, with regular inter-island ferry services taking approximately 15–30 minutes depending on the service and conditions. The short journey makes it easy to include La Digue even on a shorter Seychelles itinerary.
Planning an island-hopping holiday doesn't have to mean arranging every flight, ferry and transfer separately. When you book your Seychelles holiday as a package, we can help coordinate your international flights, hotels, domestic flights, ferries and private transfers into one itinerary. This means you can concentrate on enjoying the islands rather than worrying about how to get between them.
This 13-night Seychelles island-hopping itinerary combines Praslin, La Digue and Mahé, giving you the chance to experience three very different sides of the Seychelles.
Start with 5 nights at 4-star Coco de Mer Hotel – Black Parrot Suites. Explore Praslin's beautiful beaches, including Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, visit the UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai or simply relax at your hotel.
Continue to La Digue for 4 nights at Le Repaire Boutique Hotel. Hire a bicycle and discover the island's laid-back charm, including the iconic Anse Source d'Argent and its spectacular granite boulders.
Finish with 4 nights at 4-star Canopy by Hilton Seychelles Resort, staying in a Queen Room with Garden View. Explore Victoria, discover the island's beaches and nature, or simply enjoy some relaxing time at your resort before flying home.
It is a well-balanced itinerary combining beaches, nature, island culture and relaxation across three of the Seychelles' most popular islands.
Three islands (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue) is the classic route and the one we book most often - enough variety without too much time in transit.
Around 15–30 minutes depending on the operator and sea conditions.
Yes, though we'd recommend at least one overnight stay to see Anse Source d'Argent without the day-tripper crowds, best at sunrise or late afternoon.
10–12 nights total works well: roughly 3–4 on Mahé, 4–5 on Praslin, 2–3 on La Digue.
No - we include and coordinate all inter-island flights and ferry transfers as part of your tailor-made itinerary.
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