Finding the best ways of getting around Seychelles is a must if you want to be able to explore the islands and make the most out of your holiday. And seeing as there are a number of islands to discover, it’s important to know what is available for each of these and how to travel between the islands themselves.
This post will therefore take you through the main methods of travelling between the islands as well as looking at the available options once you’re on the island itself.
Travelling Between Islands – Island Hopping
As you would imagine, there are two main ways to travel between the islands – flying (helicopter or plane) or by boat. However, with this in mind, it’s important to note that not all islands have landing strips and therefore it is not possible to take a flight there.
The smaller islands tend to have only one accommodation. Typically, these are the more luxurious resorts, offering greater means of privacy and seclusion. Travel to these islands are therefore arranged through the resorts themselves, and depending on which island, this is either by boat, plane or helicopter.
Once there, it’s possible to organise excursions to other nearby islands by boat. This can typically be provided and organised by the resorts.
You can find out more about the individual islands here.
Main Islands
The ferry journey between Mahe and Praslin usually takes between 45 minutes to an hour. If you’d rather skip the ferry altogether, you can opt for the quick 15 minute flight between Mahe and Praslin. However, if you’re planning on visiting La Digue, there is no avoiding the boat ride. The crossing via ferry between Praslin and La Digue is approximately 15 minutes. There’s also a ferry which travels directly between Mahe and La Digue. This journey is longer, at around an hour and a half.
Cat Cocos, David Stanley, CC BY 2.0, Flickr
Getting Around the Islands
Before going any further, I think it’s important to point out that the three main islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue are the only islands with proper roads for vehicles. And although La Digue is included here, there are in fact only a handful of vehicles there and people mostly get around by cycling or walking.
The other smaller islands have trails for bicycles or walking as they are small enough to be explored in this way. Some islands with luxury resorts may have electric golf carts which are at times made available to guests. This will all depend on the regulations of the resort itself and that of the island. Bear in mind that much of Seychelles is protected and a lot of care is taken to preserve the environment and its habitats.
So now that you know vehicles are only a real option on Mahe and Praslin, let’s get into a bit more detail about the ways of getting around Seychelles’ islands.
Option 1 – Taxi (Mahe, Praslin and La Digue to a certain extent)
There are numerous taxi operators on Mahe and Praslin that can take you where you need to go. Many will also provide tours of the island and can stop off at various locations. You’ll find the great majority of the Seychellois taxi drivers are extremely knowledgeable about the islands and can even offer advice about best places to visit.
Taxi’s also operate on La Digue but there are very few and usually they are extremely busy. They mostly cater to the tourists disembarking from the jetty and take them to their place of accommodation.
Anse Royale, Mahe, So Seychelles, CC BY 2.0, Flickr
Option 2 – Car Rental (Mahe and Praslin)
If you’d rather take things at your own pace and visit the beaches and sights in your own time, then renting a car is probably your best option. There’s no shortage of car hire companies in Seychelles for this purpose. Prices typically start from about €50 per day, but these will vary depending on the company as well as the type of car.
You do not need an international drivers licence to drive in Seychelles. Your national driver’s licence will do. Although the age requirement can differ between companies, you generally have to be at least 21 years old with at least one year’s experience.
Some of the roads can be quite narrow, but driving in Seychelles is not hard or daunting. Just be sure to take your time and stick to the left side of the road.
Option 3 – Buses (Mahe and Praslin)
Bus fares are between 7 and 15 Seychelles Rupees (€0.37 – €0.80). That being said, it can be a bit more difficult to get to where you want to go as some places may be inaccessible by bus. In addition, bus timetables may vary. You can find more information about the public transport schedules for Mahe and Praslin on their website.
Option 4 – Cycling (La Digue & smaller islands)
The easiest way to get around La Digue is cycling. This is how most of the locals and tourists travel around La Digue. There are numerous bicycle rentals available and these are typically available for around €10 per day. Just remember to pack enough water and sunscreen with you on your day out.
Option 5 – Walking
On Mahe and Praslin, you’ll likely to be doing quite a bit of walking during your holiday in Seychelles. But this will be on your many sight-seeing and hiking adventures, not so much as a means of getting around the islands.
However, it’s very easy to get around the other smaller islands on foot and typically, this is one of the only ways to do so.
Concluding Remarks
Hopefully this post has given you a better idea of the different ways of getting around Seychelles. Having this information is essential when planning your holiday to the Seychelles as you’ll be better able to plan how much time you need as well as what activities you want to incorporate into your holiday.
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I was fortunate to visit Seychelles a few years ago. Such a beautiful place, we walked everywhere.
That’s amazing. So glad you loved it.