8 Lesser-Known Seychelles Islands for Your Inner Off-the-Grid Traveler

Seychelles may be famed for its headliner isles Mahé, Praslin, La Digue but venture further and you’ll find secret islands where time slows and nature runs the show. These are places where you can play Robinson Crusoe (with a few extra perks), far from the selfie-stick crowds.

From wild tortoise sanctuaries to castaway-chic resorts, here are eight off-the-beaten-path Seychelles islands that will tickle your inner off-the-grid traveler. Pack your sense of adventure (and reef-safe sunscreen) paradise has some surprises in store.

1. Silhouette Island

Tucked 20 km off Mahé’s coast, Silhouette feels like the Seychelles that time forgot. Fewer than 200 people live on this mountainous isle, leaving most of its jungle-clad interior untouched.

Hiking trails wind under giant palm fronds and orchid-draped trees, leading to deserted coves where your footprints might be the only ones. It’s an island of lore, too locals whisper that pirate treasure from the notorious Jean-François Hodoul lies buried somewhere beneath these hills.

Imagine a beach so hidden it feels like nature’s best-kept whisper that’s Grand Barbe on Silhouette Island. Just a short trek past the island’s sleepy settlement, this wild stretch of sand is all tangled palms, sugar-soft shoreline, and a reef that glows turquoise on a good day (which is every day). As shared by @visitseychelles .

With just one eco-luxe resort here, nights are gloriously quiet: just you, the chorus of tree frogs, and a sky full of stars.

Practical magic: Silhouette is a 45-minute boat ride from Mahé (keep an eye out for wild dolphins

en route). The island is 93% national park, brimming with rare birds and endemic plants. Accommodations come mainly via the Hilton Labriz Resort think spacious villas tucked between beach and rainforest.

Rates start around SCR 5,500–7,500 (about $400–550) per night, including breakfast.

There’s a tiny local village, but no ATMs or big stores, so plan accordingly.

Insider tip: 

Rise early for a guided hike to Silhouette’s highest peak, Mont Dauban, for jaw-dropping sunrise views and perhaps a tale or two from your guide about the island’s legendary hidden loot.

2. Curieuse Island

Once a leper colony (yes, really) and now a protected nature reserve, Curieuse has reinvented itself as a living museum of Seychelles wildlife. Giant Aldabra tortoises roam freely here, plodding between mangrove forests and red-earth trails while happily posing for your GoPro.

Hike from Baie Laraie’s mangrove boardwalk to Anse St. José and you’ll pass ruins of the old leprosarium and a restored colonial doctor’s house poignant reminders of the island’s past. Today, Curieuse’s story is one of resilience and renewal: from isolation to an island teeming with life. It’s a favorite day-trip for travelers seeking wild encounters (and selfie ops with hundred-year-old tortoises).

Want to meet the island’s true VIPs? On Curieuse Island, it’s the giant tortoises who steal the show — slow, steady, and full of personality. As captured by @matealusbo via @visitseychelles, strolling among these gentle giants feels like entering a prehistoric paradise. No fences, no rush just leafy snacks, shell scritches, and big tortoise energy under the mangroves.

Practical context: Curieuse lies just off Praslin’s north coast a quick 15-minute boat hop from Praslin’s Anse Volbert or Baie Sainte Anne. As a marine park, visitors must pay an entry fee (about SCR 300, ≈$20 per person).

There are no hotels, restaurants, or even shops on Curieuse, so it’s strictly a day affair bring water, snacks, and snorkel gear. Most people visit on guided excursions that include a Creole beach BBQ grilled by park rangers. Insider tip: Don’t skip the post-lunch snorkel at nearby petite St. Pierre islet its coral reefs are a Technicolor dream of reef fish. And if you’ve got sturdy shoes, the hike across Curieuse (watch for giant tortoises blocking the path!) offers up close encounters you won’t forget.

3. Bird Island

Bird Island delivers exactly what it says on the tin and so much more. This tiny coral cay at Seychelles’ far northern tip is a wildlife sanctuary where coconuts lie where they fall and the sand stays blissfully un-manicured. During breeding season, over a million sooty terns take over the island, their cacophony and whirling silhouettes straight out of a BBC nature doc. The lone lodge here consists of simple wooden chalets tucked under old coconut palms no TVs, no AC, no stress.

By day you’ll share the beach with nesting sea turtles and noddy terns; by night, stroll under the Milky Way with only hermit crabs for company. Robinson Crusoe vibes: maximum.

From above, Bird Island looks like something straight out of a screensaver but it’s all real and all wild. This clip by @seyvillas captures the island’s untouched magic: blinding white sand, reef-bright shallows, and a horizon that never ends. Here, the loudest thing you’ll hear is birdsong and maybe your own sigh of bliss.

Practical context: Bird Island sits about 100 km north of Mahé, reached via a 30-minute light aircraft flight from the main island. The island’s eco-lodge offers off-grid charm – power is solar, Wi-Fi is sparse, and cell signal nonexistent (enjoy the digital detox!). Nightly rates start around SCR 6,100 (≈$450) per villa, which can accommodate a couple or small family. All stays are full-board, featuring fresh-caught fish and homegrown island produce at communal meals.

Insider tip: 

Seek out Esmeralda, Bird’s most famous resident a 300kg tortoise thought to be over 170 years old.

He’s the world’s heaviest free-roaming tortoise, and you might just find him plodding by your porch looking for snacks. Also, if you visit between May and October, prepare for a feathered frenzy: millions of sooty tern chicks blanket the ground, so wear a hat (bird poop happens) and revel in one of nature’s great spectacles.

4. Denis Island

If your idea of paradise is barefoot luxury on a private coral isle, Denis delivers in spades. This 375-acre island hides 25 idyllic beachfront cottages among coconut palms and bougainvillea, each just steps from powdery sands. The vibe is castaway chic: no keys, no shoes, no news just ocean breezes and farm-to-table feasts. Wildlife abounds too.

On Denis Island, your to-do list is refreshingly simple: wake up, snorkel with turtles, sip sundowners, repeat. This dreamy underwater clip by @trauminselphilipp via @denis.private.island shows just how close the coral wonders are and how easy it is to lose track of time in that crystal-blue blur. Island life really doesn’t get more blissed out than this.

Like neighboring Bird, Denis has wild giant tortoises and nesting sea turtles, but minus the raucous bird colonies (here, nature is a bit more polite). Low-key indulgence is the order of the day.

Think morning snorkels on vibrant house reefs, followed by a nap in your hammock and an outdoor shower under the stars. At Denis, you can play island monarch without ever putting on a pair of shoes.

Practical context: Denis lies about 95 km north of Mahé a scenic 30-minute flight on a small prop plane is the only way in or out. It’s run as an all-inclusive private resort with rates roughly SCR 13,000 (~$1,000) per person, per night, covering your meals and island activities.

Pricey, yes but that covers line-fresh sashimi, house-made cheeses, and even handcrafted coconut ice cream from the island’s own farm. In fact, Denis is impressively self-sufficient: guests can tour the onsite farm and see how they produce everything from organic veggies to bacon and goat cheese.

There’s no mobile signal and Wi-Fi only in the library, encouraging you to unplug and savor the moment.

Insider tip: 

Join the resident conservation team on their morning rounds. You might help transplant a baby coral, check a sea turtle nest, or spot the rare magpie robins re-introduced here a feel-good island activity that pairs well with that sunset cocktail later.

5. Félicité Island (Six Senses Zil Pasyon)

If La Digue had a glamorous, reclusive cousin, it would be Félicité. This private island is a tumble of granite boulders and jungle rising from turquoise seas and home to one ultra-exclusive hideaway, the Six Senses Zil Pasyon resort.

With just 30 contemporary villas blending into tropical foliage, the ambiance is equal parts Swiss Family Robinson and high-end chic.

Welcome to paradise literally. On Félicité Island, the Six Senses Zil Pasyon resort delivers barefoot luxury with cinematic flair. This dreamy snap by @travelask.world sets the tone: plush villa beds, powder-white beaches, and sunsets that burn brighter than your inbox. With just 30 villas, it’s private, posh, and perfectly off-grid the kind of place where your hardest decision is “spa or snorkel?”

By day, you can kayak beneath towering cliffs, visit the resort’s organic garden, or hop to neighboring islets that feel like your own discovery. By night, indulge in a Creole culinary feast or catch a classic film at the outdoor cinema under palm fronds (popcorn in a coconut shell, of course). Félicité’s name means “happiness,” and here you’ll find it in every sunrise swim and sun-dappled nap.

Practical context: Félicité sits just 4 km from La Digue (or about 55 km northeast of Mahé). Most guests arrive by helicopter from Mahé (20 minutes of wow-factor views) or via speedboat from Praslin or La Digue.

This private-island resort doesn’t come cheap villas start around SCR 26,000 (~$1,900) per night for two, often including breakfast and butler service. In return, you get your own infinity pool, wine cellar, and panoramic ocean views. The island has no village or public facilities, so non-guests generally can’t visit freely (privacy is part of the allure).

Insider tip: 

Ask the resort to arrange a sunset excursion to nearby Coco Island, a tiny granite outcrop ringed by reefs. It’s a snorkeling paradise where you’ll drift among turtles and reef sharks the kind of magical memory that doesn’t require an Instagram filter.

6. Desroches Island

Floating in the remote Amirantes group, Desroches is a private paradise where rustic wilderness and five-star comfort go hand in hand. The entire 6 km-long island is managed by Four Seasons, but don’t expect a blingy scene the vibe is barefoot and nature-focused. With 14 kilometers of talcum beaches encircling lush coconut groves, you can always find a stretch of sand entirely your own.

Days here might include cycling down sandy paths to the giant tortoise sanctuary (yes, Desroches has its own colony of Aldabra tortoises) or hand-feeding baby rays at sunset in the shallows. The resort’s villas and bungalows meld into the scenery, each with its own plunge pool and garden. It’s luxe living, but with a decidedly Cast Away twist – except your “Wilson” might be a friendly gecko on the ceiling.

Practical context: Part of the far-flung Outer Islands, Desroches is accessible via a 35–40 minute flight from Mahé’s domestic airport. The Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island is the sole accommodation, offering 70+ villas and suites that cater to both romance seekers and families (kids’ club and all). Expect rates from around SCR 20,000 (~$1,500) a night for a pool villa in low season including hearty breakfasts and endless ocean views.

Despite the lux trappings, the island ethos is eco-conscious: think farm-to-fork dining (they grow fruits and herbs on site) and low-impact activities like guided nature walks and reef-safe diving. Insider tip: Grab one of the complimentary bikes and pedal to the old lighthouse on the island’s southern tip at dusk. You’ll catch a technicolor Indian Ocean sunset, and likely have a few giant tortoises as your only onlookers. On your way back, peek up Desroches’ isolation makes for phenomenal stargazing on clear nights.

7. Aldabra Atoll

Welcome to the edge of the world. Aldabra isn’t just off the beaten path it’s nearly off the map, sitting 1,000 km southwest of Mahé in a world (and time) of its own. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world’s second-largest coral atoll and utterly uninhabited save for a handful of scientists and rangers. Picture a vast turquoise lagoon ringed by four islands, where 150,000 giant tortoises hold Jurassic-level dominion and coconut crabs scuttle under prehistoric-looking palms.

Getting here is a quest (see below), but those lucky few describe it as stepping into an earlier epoch – wild, silent, otherworldly. Turtles nest undisturbed on powdery beaches, and seabirds rule the skies. There are no resorts, no bars, no footprints  Aldabra is the Seychelles’ greatest treasure, fiercely protected and gloriously untamed.

By the way while we’re all dreaming of off-grid bliss, there’s a stark reminder from @celinaxchien: even paradise needs protection. Aldabra, one of Earth’s last untouched atolls, is under threat from luxury development. If we want wild places to stay wild, it’s not just about visiting responsibly it’s about speaking up, too.

Practical context:

Independent travel to Aldabra is nearly impossible visits are strictly controlled by the Seychelles Islands Foundation. The most feasible way in 2025 is to join an expedition cruise or private charter.

For example, a 13-day Indian Ocean voyage that includes Aldabra (plus nearby Astove and Cosmoledo atolls) can run upwards of SCR 140,000 (about $10,500) per person  a price as epic as the journey. Such trips typically depart Mahé by sea or include a small-plane hop to Assumption Island (Aldabra’s nearest neighbor) where a research station is based.

There are no visitor facilities on Aldabra itself you’ll sleep on your ship or vessel and make daytime landings guided by rangers. Insider tip: Plan at least a year (or two) ahead and aim for the calm weather windows (March–April or Oct–Nov) when ships can safely anchor.

And if you make it here, leave nothing but footprints Aldabra’s purity is its magic. For a vicarious taste, drop by the National Museum in Victoria when back on Mahé, where they have an exhibit on Aldabra’s unique ecology it’s a small consolation prize if you haven’t yet scratched this ultimate adventure off your list.

8. Platte Island

Platte is the new kid on the block in Seychelles travel a once-remote coral island now home to a swanky retreat, yet still wonderfully wild at heart. This pancake-flat islet (its French name literally means “flat”) sits about 85 miles south of Mahé, surrounded by a thriving reef and lagoon. In 2024 it welcomed the ultra-luxurious Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, which brought 50 stunning private pool villas to its secluded shores.

Champagne, sunshine, and serious yacht energy welcome to Platte Island, Waldorf Astoria style. As @stupiddope shows, this is where barefoot luxury meets private-island prestige in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Think ultra-secluded villas, ocean-deck parties, and sunset clinks with not a soul in sight (except maybe your private chef)

But don’t let the glam fool you: Platte remains a tiny, low-lying world unto itself, where seabirds vastly outnumber people and you can kayak through luminescent shallows without another soul in sight. The appeal here is the contrast castaway serenity with a side of gourmet dining and spa treatments. It’s as off-grid as you can get with 24-hour room service.

Sunsets just hit different on Platte Island especially when viewed from a luxury perch like the Waldorf Astoria. As @arzoodina shows, it’s not just about the golden glow over the Indian Ocean; it’s about soaking it all in with tropical palms swaying and not a single to-do list in sight. Paradise found? Absolutely.

Practical context:

Getting to Platte is an adventure of its own. Guests take a 55-minute private flight from Mahé directly to the island’s tiny runway, arranged by the resort. There is no village or public transport  your hotel buggy will be waiting. Nightly rates at the Waldorf Astoria Platte start around SCR 22,000 (~$1,600) for a villa with private pool, putting it firmly in splurge territory.

All meals, non-motorized water sports, and even a personal butler are typically part of the package. When you’re not luxuriating in your villa, explore Platte’s nature: the island’s surrounding sand flats and coral channels are famed among fly-fishermen (think bonefish and trevally galore), and the resort offers guided fishing as well as snorkeling and sunset cruises.

Insider tip: 

Ask the staff about the bioluminescent plankton  on certain nights, a stroll in the wet sand reveals a galaxy of glowing blue sparks at your feet. And don’t miss a night sky viewing: with zero light pollution, Platte offers a mind-blowing star show that will make you feel blissfully marooned in style.

Island Hopping for the Daring

Seychelles’ lesser-known islands aren’t just places they’re experiences. These specks of land will challenge you to trade convenience for adventure, and crowds for true connection (to nature and maybe to yourself).

Expect fickle ferry schedules, tiny planes, maybe a missed connection or two – it’s all part of the story.

But the reward?

Your own slice of paradise that you’ll reminisce about for years, long after the sand is out of your shoes. A savvy local would tell you: slow down and embrace island time.

Chat up the fishermen, try the street-side coconut nougat, learn a few Creole phrases, and always carry small rupee notes for that impromptu roadside fruit stand.

In short, don’t just visit Seychelles explore it. The best stories start where the paved roads end, whether it’s spotting a decades-old tortoise named Esmeralda plodding by your porch or sharing a home-brewed toddy with islanders under palm trees. These eight islands are the Seychelles’ hidden soul. Go find them and happy off-grid travels!