Seychelles Island Hopping Intensive – 17 Days

Seychelles Island Hopping Intensive – 17 Days

Embark on the ultimate 17-day Seychelles island-hopping odyssey! This comprehensive journey takes you across the archipelago’s most enchanting islands: Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue — plus day excursions to the wild outposts of Curieuse Island and Cousin Island. Wander through the UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai on Praslin, a prehistoric palm forest where the legendary coco de mer grows — the world’s largest and most suggestively-shaped seed. Explore La Digue by bicycle, discovering hidden coves and the iconic Anse Source d’Argent. Come face-to-face with giant Aldabra tortoises on Curieuse Island, walk among thousands of nesting seabirds on the Cousin Island Special Reserve, and sink your toes into the powdery sands of Anse Lazio, repeatedly voted among the world’s most beautiful beaches. All inter-island ferries and 16 nights of beachfront accommodation are included. This is the Seychelles — unfiltered, unhurried, and unforgettable.

Day 1: Arrival — Mahé Island

Land at Seychelles International Airport on Mahé. Your driver meets you for a private transfer to your beachfront hotel. Settle in, soak up the tropical atmosphere, and enjoy your first Indian Ocean sunset.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Mahé (4 nights)

Day 2: Victoria & Mahé Discovery

Explore Mahé’s highlights, starting with Victoria. Visit the clock tower, Sir Selwyn Clarke Market, and the Botanical Gardens. In the afternoon, drive the scenic coastal road to Beau Vallon — Mahé’s most famous beach — for swimming, sunbathing, and fresh coconut water.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Mahé

Day 3: Bay Ternay Marine Park & Anse Major Hike

Morning snorkeling at Bay Ternay Marine Park — coral gardens, reef fish, and sea turtles. After a beachside lunch, hike the Anse Major coastal trail for breathtaking views of granite boulders and turquoise coves. Return by boat.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Mahé

Day 4: Mahé Free Day — Beach & Creole Culture

A day at leisure. Optional activities: visit the Takamaka Rum Distillery, explore Port Launay Marine Park, or simply relax on the beach with a good book and a fresh fruit platter. Evening Creole dinner featuring zourit (octopus curry) and ladob (banana in coconut cream).
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Mahé

Day 5: Ferry to Praslin — Vallée de Mai

Board the morning ferry from Mahé to Praslin, Seychelles’ second-largest island. After checking into your hotel, head straight to the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the shaded trails through this primordial palm forest — often called the Garden of Eden — where the legendary coco de mer palm grows. Listen for the call of the rare black parrot, found nowhere else on Earth.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Praslin (4 nights)

Day 6: Anse Lazio — World’s Best Beach

Spend the day at Anse Lazio, consistently ranked among the top beaches in the world. The sweeping crescent of ivory sand is backed by takamaka trees and framed by signature granite boulders. The gentle surf makes it perfect for swimming and floating in impossibly clear water. Lunch at a beachside grill.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Praslin

Day 7: Curieuse Island — Giant Tortoise Sanctuary

A short boat ride takes you to Curieuse Island, a protected national park and home to a thriving population of Aldabra giant tortoises. Walk the mangrove boardwalk, visit the tortoise nursery, and learn about Seychelles’ conservation success story. The island’s red earth contrasts dramatically with emerald forest and turquoise sea. Beach barbecue lunch included.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Praslin

Day 8: Cousin Island — Seabird Sanctuary

Today’s excursion is to the Cousin Island Special Reserve, one of the world’s most important seabird nesting sites. Guided walks bring you close to fairy terns, white-tailed tropicbirds, and the Seychelles warbler — once critically endangered, now a conservation triumph. The island’s pristine beaches are also an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles (seasonal).
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Praslin

Day 9: Ferry to La Digue — Bicycle Exploration

Take the short ferry hop from Praslin to La Digue. Upon arrival, rent a bicycle — the island’s quintessential mode of transport (there are very few cars). Pedal past vanilla plantations, coconut groves, and Creole houses with gingerbread trim. Check into your beachfront guesthouse and spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace.
Overnight: Beachfront guesthouse, La Digue (4 nights)

Day 10: Anse Source d’Argent — The Iconic Beach

Cycle to Anse Source d’Argent, the most photographed beach in the world, within L’Union Estate. Its shallow turquoise lagoon, pink-tinged sand, and sculptural granite boulders create a scene of almost surreal beauty. Wade through the warm water, explore the rock pools at low tide, and photograph every angle of this natural masterpiece.
Overnight: Beachfront guesthouse, La Digue

Day 11: Grand Anse, Petite Anse & Anse Cocos

Hike or cycle to La Digue’s southern beaches — a trio of stunning coves. Start at Grand Anse with its powerful surf and wide sweep of sand, then walk the trail to petite Petite Anse and finally to the secluded Anse Cocos, a hidden beach accessible only on foot, where granite pools invite a refreshing dip. Pack a picnic and make a day of it.
Overnight: Beachfront guesthouse, La Digue

Day 12: L’Union Estate & Giant Tortoises

Return to L’Union Estate for a deeper exploration. Tour the old copra mill, vanilla plantation, and colonial-era cemetery. Hand-feed the resident Aldabra giant tortoises, some of whom have been ambling around La Digue for over a century. Afternoon visit to the Veuve Reserve, protecting the rare Seychelles paradise flycatcher.
Overnight: Beachfront guesthouse, La Digue

Day 13: Ferry to Mahé — Farewell La Digue

Take the morning ferry from La Digue back to Mahé, with a brief stop at Praslin. Check into your final Mahé hotel and enjoy an afternoon of well-earned relaxation after two weeks of island-hopping. Sunset cocktail on the beach.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Mahé (4 nights)

Day 14: Southern Mahé — Anse Intendance & Takamaka

Explore Mahé’s dramatic southern coast. Visit Anse Intendance, a wild and windswept beach with crashing waves (great for photos, swimming only for strong swimmers), and the laid-back fishing coves of Anse Royale and Anse Forbans. Stop at the Takamaka Rum Distillery for a tasting of Seychelles’ famous rum.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Mahé

Day 15: Morne Seychellois National Park — Mission Lodge

Drive into Morne Seychellois National Park, which covers 20% of Mahé. Visit Mission Lodge for the most spectacular panoramic view in Seychelles. Walk the short interpretive trail through cinnamon and tea plants. Afternoon at Beau Vallon for a final swim and beachside Creole curry.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Mahé

Day 16: Free Day — Last Chance Paradise

A completely free day to revisit your favorite spots, shop for souvenirs (coco de mer nuts, vanilla extract, takamaka rum, local art), or do absolutely nothing on the beach. Farewell Creole dinner at a top-rated restaurant.
Overnight: Beachfront hotel, Mahé

Day 17: Departure — Carry Seychelles Home

After 17 days of island-hopping paradise, transfer to Seychelles International Airport for your departure. You depart with 16 nights of memories — Vallée de Mai’s prehistoric palms, Curieuse Island’s giant tortoises, Cousin Island’s seabird colonies, La Digue’s iconic Anse Source d’Argent, and the endless turquoise waters that define the Seychelles.
Orevwar, Seychelles — until we meet again.