Outdoors · Seychelles
8 best outdoor things to do in Seychelles
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Vallée de Mai, Anse Lazio and Morne Seychellois National Park. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 22–28 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 22–28 hours
- Areas
- Praslin, Central Mahé and Beau Vallon
Outdoors in Seychelles
Nature · Praslin
1.Vallée de Mai
Join one of the guided walks run at the reserve to understand the palms, and go early in the day for the best chance of seeing black parrots.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Nature
- History
- Rainy day
Beach · Praslin
2.Anse Lazio
Snorkel around the boulders at the northern end on a calm morning; swimming is less comfortable when the north-west monsoon brings waves.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Park · Central Mahé
3.Morne Seychellois National Park
Start before 9am on a clear day; clouds often cover the peaks by late morning.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Free
Viewpoint · Central Mahé
4.Copolia Trail
The final section crosses smooth granite that is slippery when wet; wear shoes with grip.
- Time needed
- 2 hours return
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Active
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Beau Vallon
5.Anse Major trail
Bring water and go early; there is no shade on parts of the trail and no facilities at the beach.
- Time needed
- 3 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Garden · Victoria
6.National Botanical Gardens
Go in the late afternoon, when fruit bats become active and the heat drops.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Off Victoria
7.Sainte Anne Marine National Park
Choose a trip that includes snorkelling time rather than only the glass-bottom viewing.
- Time needed
- Half a day to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Island · Off Praslin
8.Curieuse Island
Wear sturdy sandals for the walk across the island, and leave the tortoises to approach you rather than feeding them.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Praslin | Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio | 1.5–2 hours + Half a day |
| Central Mahé | Morne Seychellois National Park and Copolia Trail | 2–4 hours + 2 hours return |
| Beau Vallon | Anse Major trail | 3 hours return |
| Victoria | National Botanical Gardens | 1 hour |
| Off Victoria | Sainte Anne Marine National Park | Half a day to full day |
| Off Praslin | Curieuse Island | Full day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 2 low cost, 2 mid-priced, 1 expensive. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Curieuse Island; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 7 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Praslin): Vallée de Mai, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Praslin): Anse Lazio, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Central Mahé): Morne Seychellois National Park, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Central Mahé): Copolia Trail, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Beau Vallon and Victoria): Anse Major trail → National Botanical Gardens, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Off Victoria): Sainte Anne Marine National Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Off Praslin): Curieuse Island, at least 6 hours.
The best months to be outside
- July: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 10 rainy days, busy crowds. The coolest month with steady trade winds; good for hiking but some beaches are choppy.
- August: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 10 rainy days, busy crowds. Windy and comfortable; Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio and Côte d'Or are the most sheltered for swimming.
- June: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Breezy and drier, with rougher seas on south-east coasts and seaweed on some beaches; northern beaches stay calmer.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Victoria — One of the world's smallest capitals, with a market, clock tower and Creole cafés
- Beau Vallon — Mahé's main beach resort area on a long, sheltered north-west bay
- Côte d'Or, Praslin — Long, calm beach on Praslin's north-east with guesthouses and restaurants
- Grand Anse and Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin — Praslin's west and south-east coasts, near the airport and the ferry jetty
More of Seychelles
All things to do in Seychelles · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Seychelles?
Vallée de Mai. A UNESCO-listed palm forest in the centre of Praslin where coco de mer trees, with seeds that can weigh over 15 kg, grow among five other endemic palms.
+Which of these are free in Seychelles?
Anse Lazio, Morne Seychellois National Park and Anse Major trail.