The Seychelles

Granite islands, coral atolls and giant tortoises in the heart of the Indian Ocean.

Granite and reef

Scattered across the western Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is two worlds in one. The granite inner islands rise in green peaks above powder-white beaches and turquoise bays, while far to the southwest lie remote coral atolls few travellers ever reach. Sailing between them reveals ancient palm forests, seabird islands, vast lagoons and Aldabra, home to the world’s largest population of giant tortoises.

Highlights

The moments you’ll remember

Aldabra giant tortoise walking across grass

Aldabra Atoll

Explore a UNESCO World Heritage atoll where more than 100,000 giant tortoises roam and manta rays glide through the lagoon.

Granite boulders framing a white-sand beach in the Seychelles inner islands

The granite inner islands

Wander the ancient Vallée de Mai forest on Praslin and the boulder-framed beaches of La Digue, among the most beautiful in the world.

Aerial view of a small coral island ringed by reef in the outer Seychelles

Remote coral atolls

Reach the outer islands of Astove, Cosmoledo and Alphonse, where reefs, lagoons and birdlife remain almost untouched.

Activities

What you will do

Snorkelling and diving

Drop over the famous Astove Wall and drift above reefs alive with turtles, rays and tropical fish.

Kayaking

Paddle through calm lagoons, mangroves and winding tidal channels.

Guided island walks

Explore palm forests and nature reserves with expert naturalists who know every island.

Wildlife encounters

Meet giant tortoises, nesting seabirds and rare endemic species found nowhere else.

Wildlife

Island life found nowhere else

Aldabra giant tortoise

One of the largest tortoises on Earth, the Aldabra giant tortoise survives in the wild almost entirely on Aldabra Atoll, where more than 100,000 roam freely. Some live well beyond a century, grazing the atoll’s grasslands and resting in the shade of its scrub.

Red-footed boobies perched in the branches of a mangrove

Red-footed booby

The smallest of the boobies, red-footed boobies nest in trees and mangroves across the Seychelles’ outer atolls. Look for their bright red feet and pale blue bills as they gather in noisy colonies or fish far out at sea.

Great frigatebird

With a wingspan of more than two metres, the great frigatebird can stay aloft for weeks without landing. Aldabra hosts one of the largest colonies in the Indian Ocean, where males inflate a vivid red throat pouch to attract a mate.

Coconut crab

The world’s largest land invertebrate, the coconut crab can measure almost a metre across its legs. Powerful claws allow it to crack open coconuts, and it thrives on the remote, undisturbed islands of the outer Seychelles.

Hawksbill turtle

Named for its narrow, pointed beak, the hawksbill turtle feeds among coral reefs and nests on Seychelles beaches. Critically endangered worldwide, it is a highlight of snorkelling and diving across the islands.

Manta ray

Graceful and gentle, manta rays glide through the lagoons and channels of the outer atolls, filtering plankton from the water. Encountering one while snorkelling is among the most memorable moments in the Seychelles.

Blacktip reef shark

Easily recognised by the black tips on its fins, the blacktip reef shark patrols the shallow reefs and lagoons of the Seychelles. Shy and harmless to people, it is a sign of a healthy reef ecosystem.