Beau Vallon Bay
Anse Intendance
Baie Ternay Marine National Park
Eden Island Marina
Anse Royale
Snorkel Shark Bank for whale sharks between October and February
Dive or snorkel Baie Ternay Marine National Park
Tour the Takamaka Rum distillery
Drive the Sans Souci road through the rainforest to Mission Lodge
Watch for nesting hawksbill turtles at Anse Intendance
Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
Domaine de Val des Pres
Mission Lodge
Port Glaud
Takamaka
April, May, October and November, the inter-monsoon months, tend to bring the calmest seas and lightest winds. The southeast trade winds blow steadily from May to September, cooler and good for sailing but with more chop, while the northwest monsoon from December to March brings warmer, wetter and occasionally squally weather. Whale shark season, typically October to February, is worth building an itinerary around if that’s a priority.
Seychelles International Airport, on Mahé’s east coast near Victoria, is the only international airport in the country and the point of entry for virtually every visitor to the archipelago. It has operated since 1971 and now receives direct flights from Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. Most charters embark from Eden Island Marina or Victoria harbour, both under 20 minutes from arrivals.
Beau Vallon, on the northwest coast, is the most sheltered and popular overnight anchorage, close to restaurants and a short tender ride from Eden Island for provisioning. Anse Intendance, further south, offers a wilder, more open alternative but carries more swell and less shelter, so it suits a daytime stop rather than an overnight in anything but calm, settled conditions. Anse Major, reachable only on foot or by boat, gives a quieter third option away from both.
Two to three days let guests cover Mahé itself, from Beau Vallon and Anse Intendance to a rainforest drive and the Takamaka Rum distillery, without feeling rushed. Since Mahé is really the gateway to the archipelago rather than a standalone destination, most charters treat it as the start and end point of a longer trip, spending the bulk of a week or more out among Praslin, La Digue and the smaller granitic islands beyond.
Victoria is often cited as the smallest capital city in the world, and its centre can genuinely be walked in well under an hour. The Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, built in 1840, remains the best place to see the everyday rhythm of the island, fish, spices and fresh produce sold under the same roof used for well over a century. It’s a worthwhile half-day stop rather than a full day.
