Seychelles travel guide: the complete guide to the Indian Ocean islands

In a cove on La Digue, turquoise water laps at almost-pink sand between blocks of granite polished by the millennia: you can see why this is one of the most photographed beaches in the world.

Often voted among the most beautiful beaches on the planet, it nestles within the historic L'Union Estate, a former coconut and vanilla plantation.

You reach it on foot or by bike after paying the entry fee, then string together coves separated by the rocks and swim in shallow water ideal for photos and idling.

No other beach in the Seychelles brings together this sand-granite-turquoise trio in such a compact, accessible setting.

Under the canopy of the Vallée de Mai, the silence is broken only by the cry of the black parrot and the crack of giant palm fronds: you're walking through a forest left almost untouched since prehistory.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, this primeval palm forest at the heart of Praslin is home to the coco de mer, whose nut can weigh up to 42 kg — the largest seed in the plant kingdom.

You follow shady trails for 1h30 to 2h, on the lookout for the six endemic palm species and the rare Seychelles black parrot.

It's one of only two UNESCO sites in the archipelago that's easy to reach: a journey back in time that no beach can replace.

At the northwestern tip of Praslin, a long curve of white sand opens between large granite boulders and takamaka trees that dip down to the water.

Regularly ranked among the ten most beautiful beaches in the world, Anse Lazio unfurls about 600 m of sand fringed by clear water.

You come here to swim and to snorkel along the side rocks, and two restaurants let you stretch out the day without heading back.

Wider and better for swimming than Anse Source d'Argent, it's the ideal way to round off a day on Praslin.

The moment you step off the ferry, the pace changes: here you get around by bike or ox cart, and the loudest engine is the sound of the surf.

The fourth inhabited island of the Seychelles, La Digue keeps an almost car-free way of life, built around wild coves like Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos.

You spend the day stringing together beaches by bike, swimming in sheltered coves and tasting island slowness.

It's the postcard image of the archipelago: granite, coconut palms and authenticity gathered on a few square kilometres.

On the northwestern coast of Mahé, a wide bay of golden sand stretches out facing the sunset, busy with strollers, divers and vendors.

Beau Vallon is the busiest beach in the Seychelles, lined with hotels, restaurants and diving clubs.

Its calm waters invite you to swim, and a small evening market is held here regularly to sample grilled food and Creole specialities by the sea.

It's the most practical base for a first stay: everything is within reach and the sea outings depart from here.

At the heart of Victoria, the smell of spices and fresh fish leads your steps towards the market, under the gaze of the little "Little Ben" clock tower.

The smallest capital in the world, Victoria stretches along the northeastern coast of Mahé around this replica of the London clock built in 1903.

You wander the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke market, in operation since 1840, among spices, tropical fruit and fish stalls, before heading on to the nearby botanical garden.

It's the only real town in the archipelago: an urban and cultural interlude between two beach days.

A few minutes by boat from Victoria, with a mask over your eyes, you discover another world: colourful reefs, butterflyfish and sea turtles gliding above the seagrass beds.

Created in 1973, Sainte-Anne is the first marine park in the Indian Ocean and protects six islets and their reefs over about 15 km².

You can snorkel, dive and take glass-bottom boat trips here, often on a half-day excursion from Mahé.

It's the most accessible underwater experience in the archipelago, ideal for a first encounter with the Seychelles seabed.

On Baie Laraie beach, a giant tortoise inches towards you, unbothered: on Curieuse, it's the century-old reptiles that call the tune.

A small granite island north of Praslin, Curieuse is home to more than 300 free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, reintroduced from 1978 onward.

You walk between mangroves and beaches, visit the former leper colony turned nature centre, and approach the tortoises while respecting their peace and quiet.

It's the best place in the inner islands to experience the Seychelles' iconic wildlife without travelling all the way to distant Aldabra.

Climbing the Copolia trail, the misty forest suddenly opens onto a granite balcony overlooking Victoria and the blue of the Sainte-Anne marine park.

The largest land park in the Seychelles, it covers more than 20% of Mahé and peaks at Morne Seychellois at 905 m, the highest point in the archipelago.

Misty forests, endemic plants and hiking trails reveal the mountainous interior of the islands, far from the beaches.

It's the perfect antidote to beach lazing: a half-day of nature and 360° panoramas.

More than 1,000 km from Mahé, Aldabra rises from the ocean like a forgotten sanctuary, where tens of thousands of giant tortoises reign without a predator.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982, it's one of the largest raised coral atolls in the world and is home to about 100,000 giant tortoises, the largest colony on the planet.

You can only visit it in tiny numbers, on scientific or specialised cruises, following strict preservation rules.

It's the naturalist's holy grail of the Seychelles: a near-pristine ecosystem, extremely rare and off-limits to independent visits.