Seychelles Holiday: Real Costs, Best Months & Island Guide

The granite boulders at Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue are so enormous they've become more photographed than some European capitals. But deciding which island to base yourself on, whether April or October is genuinely calmer, and whether that all-inclusive package from a UK operator is good value or just convenient — that's where most Seychelles holidays succeed or fall apart before they even start.

I grew up between Mahé and Praslin. I watch first-timers make the same avoidable mistakes every year. This guide fixes that.

## What Month Is Best to Visit Seychelles?

April and October are the sweet spots. Both sit in the gap between the two monsoons — the NW trades (November–March) and the SE trades (May–September) — when every beach on every island tends to behave, diving visibility peaks, and the crowds are thinner than during school-holiday windows.

If those months don't work for you, here's the honest seasonal breakdown:

- **November–March (NW monsoon):** West-facing beaches shine. Beau Vallon on Mahé and Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue are flat and gorgeous. La Digue in February specifically comes up constantly in Seychellois travel groups — and the answer is yes, it's excellent. Expect fast-clearing downpours rather than grey all-day rain. - **May–September (SE trades):** Driest and coolest season, great for hiking. East and south-facing beaches get churned up — Grand Anse on La Digue regularly flies red flags in June and July. Anse Georgette on Praslin stays sheltered when Anse Lazio gets rough, so plan your swims accordingly. - **October–November:** The calm before the NW monsoon arrives. Strong candidate for best snorkelling and diving conditions of the year.

For holidays to Seychelles in 2026 and 2027, early booking matters. Peak December and school-holiday weeks fill six to nine months out at most good properties — particularly on Praslin and La Digue where room numbers are limited.

## How Expensive Is a Seychelles Holiday?

More than most people budget for. But the range is wider than travel operators suggest, and the mid-range experience is genuinely excellent if you plan it right.

**Flights from the UK:** Return fares typically run £600–£1,400 per person depending on season and carrier. Book flexible tickets for 2026/2027 travel — routing through Gulf hubs has seen disruptions, and having an amendable fare is worth the small premium.

**Accommodation per night:**

| Type | Price per night (SCR) | Approx. in EUR | |---|---|---| | Budget guesthouse (Mahé, Praslin) | 1,500–2,500 SCR | ~€100–€165 | | Mid-range boutique / self-catering | 3,000–6,000 SCR | ~€200–€400 | | Luxury resort (Four Seasons Desroches, STORY Seychelles, Hilton Labriz) | 15,000–40,000+ SCR | ~€1,000–€2,600+ |

Adults-only and couples-focused properties — STORY Seychelles being the most talked-about on Mahé — sit at the upper end of mid-range to luxury. Worth it if romance is the point of the trip.

**Food:** This is where a holiday to Seychelles can breathe. A plate of grilled bourgeois (a prized local reef fish) with rice and satini (spiced chutney) at Victoria Market costs around 150–200 SCR. A full dinner at a tourist-facing restaurant on Beau Vallon runs 500–900 SCR per person. Self-catering on Praslin? [Lasose Mini Market](/business/lasose-mini-market-a1ea) in Grand Anse stocks the essentials and is a five-minute walk from most accommodations in that area.

**Getting between islands:** The Cat Cocos ferry from Mahé to Praslin costs around 1,300 SCR one way. The Praslin–La Digue hop runs roughly 150–200 SCR *Note: current inter-island ferry fares*. Budget the return leg every time — people consistently forget that.

**Getting around Mahé:** SPTC buses cost under 10 SCR and cover the main coastal routes but run infrequently. For flexibility, a taxi is your best tool. [Marquises Tropical Taxi Services](/business/marquises-tropical-taxi-services-1505) operates across Mahé and connects to ferry terminals. [SeyEcolux](/business/seyecolux-d117) is another well-rated option — both are on SeyFind if you want to check availability or contact them before you land.

**Total realistic budget (per couple, two weeks, mid-range):** £4,500–£7,000 including flights from the UK. All-inclusive packages from operators like Thomas Cook or Jet2 can undercut that figure if you're staying on one island and not planning to island-hop — but they rarely include inter-island transport, and that's where the hidden costs stack up.

**Mauritius + Seychelles combination:** Several operators bundle a split-stay — roughly a week each. If you want more variety and are coming from Europe anyway, the combined routing often works out cheaper than two separate return flights.

## Maldives or Seychelles — Which Is Actually Better?

The Maldives wins if you want to stay in one spot, never leave your overwater villa, and see nothing but ocean. That's a genuine offer and some people love it.

Seychelles wins if you want to actually *move*.

The difference is geological. The Maldives sits on coral atolls — flat, no jungle, no roads, no towns. Your resort is your island. Seychelles rises on ancient granite — the same bedrock that once connected to the supercontinent Gondwana. That means real mountains (Morne Seychellois peaks at 905 metres), dense forest trails, a working capital in Victoria, local rum distilleries, fish markets, and beaches you can literally cycle between on La Digue.

A holiday to Seychelles also travels better independently. You're not locked into one resort. Most visitors cover three islands on one trip, eating at local snack bars half the time and sleeping in small guesthouses the other half.

Price comparison: mid-range holidays to Seychelles generally run slightly cheaper than comparable Maldives trips — especially if you use guesthouses and self-cater some meals. The extreme luxury tier (private island resorts) costs roughly the same in both destinations. The key difference is that in Seychelles, there's a Creole culture worth actually engaging with. The Maldives doesn't offer that.

## A Real One-Week Seychelles Itinerary

Most people arrive on Mahé and immediately want to leave for a smaller island. They're right to want that — but wrong to rush it. Two nights on Mahé is the minimum that makes sense.

**Days 1–2: Mahé** Land, settle in, walk off the flight. Victoria's Sir Selwyn Clarke Market runs from around 6am and slows by noon — go in the morning for fish, fruit, and the best spice stalls on the island. Beau Vallon beach in the late afternoon has the light in your favour. Day two: take a taxi into Morne Seychellois National Park for the Trois Frères trail — two hours up, views north over the whole island. For a taxi that knows the trailheads, [Marquises Tropical Taxi Services](/business/marquises-tropical-taxi-services-1505) or [SeyEcolux](/business/seyecolux-d117) are reliable choices.

**Days 3–4: Praslin** Catch the morning Cat Cocos ferry. One full day at Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only place on earth where the coco de mer palm grows wild. The other day goes to Anse Lazio, or Anse Georgette if the SE trades are running and Lazio is rough. Praslin moves slowly; that's the point.

**Days 5–6: La Digue** Short ferry from Praslin. Rent a bike the moment you step off — around 100 SCR/day and the only sensible way to navigate. Anse Source d'Argent gets the photos; Grand Anse and Petite Anse get the solitude, if you're willing to walk thirty minutes. Note: Grand Anse faces southeast and flies red flags regularly during the SE trade season. Check before you swim.

**Day 7: Buffer day on Mahé** Catch the afternoon ferry back. Don't skip this buffer. The Cat Cocos cancels in rough weather, and missing an international connection from Mahé costs real money. Use the day to shop at the market or explore the south of Mahé, which most visitors ignore. If you have a question a local can answer — about ferry conditions, beach safety, current weather — the [SeyFind community](/ask) is a good place to post it.

## Who Flies Direct to Seychelles from the UK?

British Airways operates direct flights from London Gatwick to Mahé International Airport (SEZ). Flight time is roughly 10–10.5 hours. Direct seats are limited and priced at a premium — check availability early if you want nonstop. *Note: British Airways direct Gatwick–SEZ service availability and frequency for 2026/2027 season*

One-stop connections are where most people find better fares:

- **Emirates** via Dubai - **Qatar Airways** via Doha - **Etihad** via Abu Dhabi - **Turkish Airlines** via Istanbul - **Air Arabia** via Sharjah

Gulf-routed flights add two to three hours to total travel time but can cost £300–£600 less per person in mid-range seasons. The tradeoff is exposure to potential Gulf hub disruptions — something recent Seychelles travellers have experienced firsthand. For holidays to Seychelles in 2026 or 2027, book routes with clear amendment policies and check airline-specific terms before committing.

## Good to Know Before You Book

- **Visa:** No visa required for most nationalities. A 30-day stamp on arrival; bring proof of accommodation and a return ticket. - **Currency:** Pay in SCR wherever possible. Hotels billing in euros or dollars often apply unfavourable internal rates. Victoria ATMs on Mahé are the most reliable cash points on the islands. - **Health:** Chikungunya virus is present in Seychelles and flares periodically — check current travel health guidance close to your departure date. Mosquito repellent is non-negotiable, especially in the wetter months. - **Swimming safety:** No centralised website tracks real-time beach conditions. Look for red flags on-site. Anse Cocos and Grand Anse La Digue are notorious for strong currents from June to August. - **Booking flexibility:** Ferry and internal flight tickets vary widely in amendment policies. Lock in flexible terms if your dates might shift — this is especially relevant for far-ahead 2026/2027 bookings. - **Car hire on Mahé:** Roads are narrow, hilly, and humbling. Hire something small. [Ezy Garage](/business/ezy-garage-6df4) in Victoria covers fuel and vehicle servicing if you need it mid-trip. - **Self-catering:** [Lasose Mini Market](/business/lasose-mini-market-a1ea) on Praslin in Grand Anse is your best stop for daily essentials. Larger supermarkets sit near Victoria on Mahé. - **Hidden fees to watch:** Some all-inclusive packages exclude inter-island ferry costs, water activities, and the 15% VAT that appears on restaurant and hotel bills. Read the small print before you commit to any package deal.

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A well-planned Seychelles holiday doesn't require a big-name operator or a single five-star resort. It requires knowing which ferry to book first, which beach suits which season, and where the real costs sit. Get those three things right and the rest arranges itself around the granite boulders and the warm Indian Ocean water that makes every other decision feel easy.

[Browse local transport, tours, and services on SeyFind](/businesses) — built for Seychelles, by people who actually live here.