Island-Hopping in Seychelles 2025:Mahé,Praslin & La Digue Like a Local

Stuck between wanting to unplug and wanting to brag? Head to Seychelles. This Indian Ocean nation of 115 islands is basically a screensaver come to life: turquoise lagoons, granite boulders and palm‑fringed beaches that look airbrushed. In 2025, the archipelago is having a moment. Visitor numbers are surging up 10.6 % in the first seven months and Tourism Seychelles has doubled down on authentic, experience‑driven events like trail runs, sailing challenges and festivals.

The result? A holiday that can be equal parts barefoot luxury, rainforest hikes, sunset catamarans and Creole street parties. To get the most out of the trip, hop between the three main granitic islands: Mahé (the lively hub), Praslin (the wild middle child) and La Digue (the bicycle‑only boho). Here’s your ultimate 2025 guide.

1. Getting there & getting around

Most travellers fly into Mahé’s Seychelles International Airport via regional hubs like Dubai or Nairobi. Once you’ve landed, island-hopping is easy thanks to ferries and flights. Travel blogger Olly Gaspar notes that the Cat Cocos fast ferry now runs earlier and later in 2025 with morning departures from Mahé at 7:30 am and late returns from Praslin most evenings. One-way tickets are about €60 on the main deck and €66–86 for upper or business class seats. Flights on Air Seychelles have also increased frequency to every 30–60 minutes during peak season; the 15-minute scenic hop costs roughly €150. For budget travellers, the Cat Rose ferry from La Digue to Praslin is just €17 each way.

2. Mahé : the big sister with hidden depths

Mahé isn’t just a transit hub; she’s a proper diva. The capital Victoria packs pastel-coloured colonial buildings, buzzing markets and the world’s smallest Hindu temple. Beyond town, you’ll find 70-plus beaches and Morne Seychellois National Park’s mist-shrouded trails. Travellers can now combine their beach time with an event. The Seychelles Nature Trail returns on 23 August 2025: a 22-kilometre trail run across Mahé’s verdant interior with over 1,210 metres of elevation. It’s open to all fitness levels and doubles as a showcase for the island’s biodiversity and sustainability efforts. In May the archipelago hosts the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup (1–11 May 2025), turning sand into stadiums.

Mahé’s hotel game is also on fire. The Cheval Blanc Seychelles opened its doors in Anse Intendance with 52 villas, private infinity pools and five restaurants. The resort promises LVMH polish and privacy think majordomes, Guerlain spa treatments and ocean views. You’ll pay for it (rooms start at several thousand euros) but the bragging rights are priceless. More wallet-friendly options include boutique guesthouses around Beau Vallon and Anse Royale.

Eat & drink:

Creole cuisine is the star. Try octopus curry and coconut-rich bat curry, or satisfy a sweet tooth with ladob (plantain cooked in coconut milk) travel advisor Nicola Mancini lists these classics among her top food experiences. For a hands-on experience, book a Creole cooking class.

As Instagrammers say:

One traveller captioned a selfie at Beau Vallon,

Another wrote,

3. Praslin : wild jungles & coco-de-mer dreams

Praslin is a short hop east of Mahé and feels like a different planet. Its interior is dominated by the Vallée de Mai, a primeval palm forest and UNESCO World Heritage Site where giant coco de mer palms (the world’s largest nut) grow alongside black parrots. According to Travel + Leisure, visitors can hike through this dense jungle and maybe spot the endemic black parrot. On the coast, Anse Lazio regularly tops lists of the world’s best beaches come early to beat the day-trippers.

Transport updates for 2025 make reaching Praslin easier: Cat Cocos ferries now offer more departure times and a new website for easier booking. If time is short, splash out on the 15-minute scenic flight (around €150). Once you arrive, rent a car or hop on local buses to explore beaches on your own timetable.

Praslin is also a stop on the inaugural Seychelles Challenge sailing event. From 20–27 July 2025, yachts sail from Mahé to Praslin and La Digue with daily anchorages, social engagements and conservation initiatives. Organisers say the challenge highlights coral regeneration and youth sailing programs. Even if you’re not racing, watching the flotilla glide into Baie Sainte-Anne is a spectacle.

4. La Digue:bikes, beaches & island festivals

La Digue is tiny, car-free and impossibly photogenic. Most visitors arrive via the 15-minute Cat Rose ferry from Praslin and immediately rent a bicycle. From there it’s a short pedal to Anse Source d’Argent, where waves lap shallow reefs and granite boulders frame the powdery sand. Content creator jonny.melon described La Digue as “a natural work of art” and invited followers to compare the colours between daylight and sunset.

Mark your calendar for 15 August 2025: the La Digue Festival (also known as Lafet La Digue) celebrates the Feast of the Assumption with parades, traditional music, dance and community feasts. It’s part of a bigger slate of 2025 events highlighted by Inside Seychelles, alongside the Kreol Festival’s 40th edition in October and the Regatta festival later in the year. On La Digue you can also visit L’Union Estate, where vanilla pods dry in the sun and giant tortoises roam, then hike to Anse Cocos for a natural tidal pool.

5. Sleep & splurge

All three islands offer a spectrum of stays. Besides the headline-grabbing Cheval Blanc, high-end choices include Six Senses Zil Pasyon and Fregate Island Private, each promising eco-luxury and private villas. Mid-range travellers love guesthouses on Praslin and self-catering chalets on La Digue, which have become more popular as visitors seek authentic experiences. Prices on smaller properties can start around US $150 a night in shoulder season, while luxury villas easily top US $1,000.

6. Practical tips & responsible travel

Plan around events: Big events like the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup (May), Seychelles Nature Trail (23 Aug) and La Digue Festival (15 Aug) will affect hotel availability and ferry capacity. Book early and expect higher prices during festival weeks.

Island hopping: Use ferries for budget travel; flights for speed. Ferries can be choppy – bring seasickness tablets if you’re prone.

Stay sustainable:

Respect local communities, take your trash with you, use reef-safe sunscreen and support businesses that use eco practices.

Embrace Creole culture: Attend the Kreol Festival in October, try local dishes and learn a few phrases in Seychellois Creole.

Seychelles in 2025 is more than a pretty postcard; it’s a living, breathing paradise where culture and conservation share the stage. Whether you’re running across Mahé’s jungle trails, sailing between islands in the Seychelles Challenge or dancing at La Digue’s festival, you’ll find yourself in on the secret.

For influencers:

And if you don’t believe me, just scroll through Instagram from travellers marvelling that Mahé “looks almost unreal” to influencers gushing about coco-de-mer and sunset beaches, the buzz is undeniable. Pack your sunscreen and a sense of adventure; Seychelles is ready to show off.