Places to visit in

Seychelles

Mahé Island is the largest and most populous island of the Seychelles archipelago and the political, economic and cultural heart of the nation. It hosts the capital, Victoria, and important government institutions. Natural significance includes the granite mountains and lush rainforest of Morne Seychellois National Park, coastal ecosystems, and diverse marine life that make Mahé a center for ecotourism and biodiversity in the western Indian Ocean.

Praslin Island is the second-largest island of the Seychelles archipelago and is globally significant for its unique natural heritage. It is home to the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves a near-pristine palm forest dominated by the endemic Coco de Mer (the largest seed in the plant kingdom). The island supports rare and endemic wildlife including the Seychelles black parrot, important coral reef ecosystems, and granite island landscapes that are characteristic of the Inner Islands of the western Indian Ocean. Praslin also plays a role in Seychellois Creole culture and the islands' traditional fishing and plantation histories.

La Digue is one of the most iconic islands of the Seychelles archipelago — a living example of the granite island group with spectacular coastal geology, shallow turquoise lagoons and rich coastal biodiversity. The island retains strong Creole cultural traditions and a slow-paced, low-motor-traffic lifestyle (bicycles and ox-carts are common). Historically it was a plantation island producing copra and vanilla; the colonial-era L'Union Estate preserves that agricultural heritage.

Silhouette Island is the third-largest island of the Seychelles and is notable for its largely undeveloped, protected interior. The island has a history of plantation agriculture and later conservation efforts; much of its interior is covered by ancient granite peaks and dense tropical forest that protect a high proportion of endemic flora and fauna. It is recognized for its ecological importance and contributes to Seychelles' biodiversity conservation.

Curieuse Island is a national park and protected nature reserve in the Seychelles, located just off Praslin. It is significant for its unique coastal ecosystems, endangered species conservation, and cultural heritage linked to early leper colony history and traditional Creole life.

Cousin Island Special Reserve is a globally important conservation site in the Seychelles, set aside to protect rare and endemic species and to demonstrate successful island restoration. The island played a pivotal role in the recovery of the Seychelles warbler and other endemic birds through habitat protection and careful species management. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area and is celebrated as one of the world's early and successful island conservation projects.

Aride Island is one of the Seychelles' most important nature reserves — an uninhabited granite island renowned for its globally significant seabird colonies and endemic flora and fauna. It is designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) and serves as a model of island restoration and conservation in the Indian Ocean.

Denis Island is a small, raised coral island in the Seychelles, located about 55 km north of Mahé. Historically used as a coconut/copra plantation, it has been transformed into an eco-luxury private island resort and conservation site. The island is important for biodiversity conservation—home to breeding seabirds, giant tortoises, vibrant fringing coral reefs and abundant marine life—and is a showcase for sustainable tourism in the region.

Bird Island (Île aux Vaches) is one of the northernmost islands of the Seychelles and is principally important as a globally significant seabird breeding colony and a protected nature reserve. The island supports huge populations of nesting seabirds (notably sooty terns, brown noddies and black-naped terns), is an important nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles, and hosts introduced giant tortoises and unique coastal vegetation. As a relatively undisturbed coral island, it plays a vital role in Seychelles' biodiversity and long-term conservation research.

Natural and conservation significance: North Island is one of the Inner Islands of the Seychelles and is widely celebrated as a conservation success story. The privately owned island has been restored from degraded coconut plantations to native forest, providing habitat for endemic plants and animals and protecting important marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and turtle nesting beaches. The island's combination of pristine beaches, granite outcrops and rare wildlife makes it an important site for biodiversity and sustainable luxury tourism.

Natural importance: Desroches Island (part of the Amirantes group, Seychelles) is a relatively untouched coral island valued for its pristine beaches, extensive fringing reefs and lagoon, important seabird colonies and turtle nesting beaches. Historically the island was used for coconut plantations and occasional colonial-era settlement; in recent decades it has been developed carefully for low-density eco-luxury tourism while conservation of marine and terrestrial habitats remains a priority.

Frégate Island is a private island nature reserve in the Seychelles archipelago, renowned for its conservation successes, endemic species preservation, and luxury eco-tourism. It plays an important role in protecting rare flora and fauna, including the Seychelles magpie-robin and the Aldabra giant tortoise population. The island's restoration from past exploitation to a model of sustainable island management is significant both environmentally and culturally for Seychelles' conservation story.

Location & natural importance: Félicité Island is a small private granitic island in the Inner Islands of the Seychelles, located a short boat ride east of La Digue and off the coast of Praslin. The island is important as part of the unique granitic-island ecosystem of the Seychelles, featuring dramatic granite boulder landscapes, coastal vegetation, and rich coral reefs that support diverse marine life.

Sainte Anne Island is a small granite island located just off the east coast of Mahé in the Seychelles. It forms the centerpiece of the Sainte Anne Marine National Park (established in 1973) and is important for its protected coral reefs, diverse marine life, and role in Seychelles' early marine conservation efforts. The island also reflects Creole island culture and maritime history as part of the inner islands of the archipelago.

Cerf Island (Île Cerf) is a small, inhabited island off the east coast of Mahé in the Seychelles archipelago. It lies within or adjacent to the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, making it important for marine conservation, biodiversity, and recreational tourism. The island's mix of granitic shorelines, sheltered bays and coral reefs makes it a valuable natural site for snorkeling, diving and coastal ecology. Cerf also contributes to Seychelles' Creole island culture through its small local community, traditional fishing activity and low‑impact tourism offerings.

Moyenne Island (Île Moyenne) is a small granite island in the Inner Islands of the Seychelles, notable as a privately restored nature reserve that showcases successful low-impact conservation. It is famous for its story of personal stewardship by British owner Brendon Grimshaw, who bought the island in the 1960s and spent decades restoring native vegetation and wildlife. The island today protects habitat for giant tortoises, seabirds and native flora and serves as an example of community-focused conservation and sustainable ecotourism.

Thérèse Island (Île Thérèse) is a small granite islet off the coast of Mahé, Seychelles. Although modest in size, it contributes to the region's coastal biodiversity and offers a snapshot of Seychelles' classic granite island landscape—rocky outcrops, white sand beaches and fringing coral reefs. It has been used historically for local fishing, small-scale coconut cultivation and as a recreational getaway for residents and visitors from Mahé.

St Pierre Islet (often called St. Pierre Rock) is a small granite islet off the northeastern coast of Mahé in the Seychelles archipelago. It is primarily significant as a natural landmark and a popular snorkeling/diving site within the waters around Mahé. The islet and surrounding reef form part of the rich marine environment that makes Seychelles notable for its granite islands, clear waters, and diverse coral and reef fish communities.

Grande Soeur and Petite Soeur (literally “big sister” and “little sister” in French) are two granite islets lying just off the northwestern tip of La Digue in the Inner Islands of the Seychelles. They are valued for their near-pristine beaches, classic granite boulder scenery typical of the Seychelles, and important coastal and marine ecosystems. Grande Soeur hosts limited private accommodation and managed visitor access while Petite Soeur is largely undeveloped and valued as a quiet nature refuge. The islands contribute to local biodiversity (seabirds, reef fish, corals) and are part of the broader conservation and low-impact tourism model used across the Inner Islands.

Île Cocos (Coco Island) is a small, uninhabited granitic islet in the Inner Islands of the Republic of Seychelles. It is valued primarily for its natural importance: pristine coral reefs, clear turquoise waters, and as a sheltered snorkeling and diving spot. The islet contributes to the marine biodiversity of the region and often forms part of protected marine areas and day-trip itineraries, helping support local ecotourism.