The largest of the islands in the Seychelles archipelago and hosting most of the 90,000 population of the country, Mahe Islands in Seychelles is one of the smallest capital cities in the world. Although small in size, there are plenty of things to do in Mahe Island.

White sandy beaches with crystal clear water situated right in the heart of a capital city that exempts itself from the hustle-bustle of usual capital cities, this island is a paradise for ocean lovers. Hosting some of the perfect underwater spots, Mahe Island in Seychelles has stunning diving and snorkelling locations and water activities are undoubtedly among the best things to do on the island.

One might be mistaken to think of Mahe Island as a beach lover heaven only, however, the largest of the 115 islands in this archipelago, is home to some green, dense forests, some perfect hiking locations and a vibrant city centre life. This little capital city offers numerous adventure activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, rock climbing and zip-lining. I’ve compiled a complete travel guide and mentioned all the perfect things to do in Mahe Island.

Check out the ultimate guide to visit Seychelles Islands

Most of the people live in the town centre called Victoria, famous in the archipelago for its lively city centre and shopping options where one can buy perfect souvenirs. Home to a botanical garden and many other sights, this is one of the most commonly visited places in Mahe Island in Seychelles. There are many accommodation options in Victoria and people who want to explore the town other than only beaches, do prefer staying in Victoria.

Want to stay in the heart of Mahe Island, Victoria? Book here!

Moving Around in Mahe Island

As the island isn’t too large, moving around is quite easy. There are public buses available almost all day around and taxis are also used to commute. The roads aren’t too wide and can get very congested at times. However, I would suggest that the best method to move around for a tourist is to rent a car. Renting a car isn’t too difficult in Mahe Island and there are plenty of options available. However, please do book in advance as you might not be able to secure one at the last moment.

If you do not want to self-drive, check out these tours for Mahe Island, probably the easiest way to explore the island.

Or check out the full-day tour of Mahe Island.

Things to do in Mahe Island

People usually consider Seychelles as a laid back vacation. A vacation dedicated to soaking in the sunlight, reading a book as you enjoy the splendid beach view and a perfect time to relax.

However, there are plenty of things to do in Mahe Island and this capital city offers a perfect holiday for every taste.

Explore the beaches of Mahe Island

This little island is home to almost 60 beaches. Stretches of clear white sand with giant boulders guarding them and crystal clear water presenting fifty shades of blue makes some of the most pristine beaches of the world on this island. 

Although the beaches here aren’t as mesmerizing and secluded as those in Praslin and La Digue, they are captivating enough to make this island one of the best vacation spots in the world.

These 18 photos will make you fall in love with Seychelles Islands

Grande Anse is the longest beach in Mahe Island with long stretches of white sand. This beach has extremely wild waves which make it less suitable for swimming. It is quite deserted with less crowd and fallen maple leaves can be found everywhere around, giving it an eerie, however beautiful look.

Anse Royale is another large beach on Mahe Island which has a lot of shops and coconut stalls to offer. Pure white sand with clear, turquoise water gives an impression of boats parked in the air, on this beach. It is one of the frequently visited beaches on the island and many locals can be found luring tourist for various island visits and boat rides. Another commonly visited beach packed with tourists on Mahe Island is Petite Anse.

Check out the tour offering island hopping in Mahe Island.

Visit the most touristy beach of Beau Vallon

Over the hills, to the west of the city, lies the area of Beau Vallon, home to many resorts and Beau Vallon beach which is a perfect snorkelling and scuba diving location. This beach isn’t very secluded and one can find many companies running their stands here for water sports including snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, paddleboard and jet-ski.  Indeed it is the most touristy beach on the island.

This beach has shallow water and offers some perfect spots for snorkelling. Many companies also offer beginners, scuba dive, here. Walking past this beach, one can find some lavish resorts as well as excellent restaurants offering all sort of cuisine, Mahek restaurant being one of them offering amazing, delicious Indian food with an open kitchen and fine dining.

There are several water activities to be done on the beach of Beau Vallon. Many people can be seen snorkelling in the shallow waters of Beau Vallon. I opted for a jet-ski ride and it was amazing to explore the beautiful beach of Seychelles on a water scooter. The staff of the company offering the ride was very much concerned about our safety as well as the safety of the fellow beach-goers as it is a very touristy beach.

Go scuba diving

Before opting for such activities, it is always advisable to book safety insurance. Get Safety Wings insurance for 10 days in 13.2 USD, SUPER CHEAP!

When on an island, diving is indeed one of the best things to do and diving on Mahe Island is no different.

With many companies offering scuba diving at Beau Vallon beach, I opted for Blue Sea Divers for the first scuba diving experience of my life. Being a not to great swimmer back then, the instructor did everything to make me feel comfortable. I was pretty reluctant to go underwater at first and even asked the instructor to escort me back to the boat. However, he was too sweet to convince me to do so.

The underwater life on the island is serene with perfect, clear diving conditions. Undoubtedly, the Seychelles Sea is a passage to another world of natural beauty and wonders. My first underwater dive was memorable and I would highly recommend opting for scuba-diving in Seychelles.

Go for adventure activities on Mahe Island

When Seychelles is mentioned, one imagines stretches of white sand, enthralling beaches and a perfect honeymoon destination. However, this piece of paradise has a lot more to offer. Some of the best adventure Seychelles activities include zip-lining, rock climbing and abseiling at the Constance Ephelia Resort.

A company known as SMAC adventures provides these activities at the resort. There are eight zip-lines offered which take you flying through the island forest at a height of 85-120 metres. The cost for zip-lining is SCR 845/ USD 63/ Euro 55.

There are rock-climbing and abseiling activities too offered by SMAC adventures. You get a perfect opportunity to climb the granite made hills on the island and explore the island’s beauty.

To read in detail about these activities, check out Adventure activities in Seychelles!

Go hiking on the Mahe Island

Mahe Island has three incredible hiking trails, perfect for every level of fitness: Mount Copolia. Anse Major and Morne Blanc.  Upon reaching the summit of these trails, one would be rewarded with mesmerizing views of the island as the green mountains merge with the blue sea.

As most of the islands are made of granite rocks, which form the giant boulders guarding the Seychelles Sea and standing as a symbol of this archipelago, the middle of the islands are quite mountainous despite being surrounded by stunning white-sand beaches.

The entrance to these hikes is easily accessible especially if you are driving around and the trails are properly sign-posted. Read in detail about hiking on Mahe Island.

Explore the Victoria market on Mahe Island

If you fancy exploring the actual vibe of Seychelles, head to the Victoria market on Mahe Island. Victoria is the largest and the main area on the island hosting all the diplomatic activities. Victoria market is a perfect blend of conventional and modern life in Seychelles.

There is a number of stalls selling souvenirs for the tourists in the market. However, the most prominent thing to see is the sale of fish and other sea-food. A wide range of fruits and vegetables can be seen in the market. It sells some of the local oils and herbs too. Indeed, the Victoria market is the perfect place to learn about Seychelles culture and everyday life.

The market is open Monday- Saturday, 4 am-5 pm and can get the busiest on a Saturday. Parking can be a pain at the market and it is always advisable to leave your car nearby and opt for a public bus to manage the parking blues.

Check out Victoria tour and explore the entire area without any hassle.

Visit the National Botanical Garden

Located in the outskirts of Victoria, is the National Botanical Garden of Seychelles. There are a number of tropical plants in the garden which are exotic as well as endemic to Seychelles. Some orchid plants native to Seychelles are found in the garden. Moreover, the giant tortoises of Aldabra which are endemic to the Seychelles Islands and can be as old as 150 years of age are also added in the National Botanical Garden.

The garden opens daily, 8 AM-5 PM and the entrance fee is 100 SCR/ 7.33 USD/ 6.6 Euro.

Where to stay in Mahe Island

Being the biggest island in the archipelago, Mahe Island has plenty of options to stay, whether you are looking near Victoria and the airport or you prefer a more secluded place. Most of the hotels are luxury resorts with Four Seasons, Hilton Hotel, Kempinski and Constance Ephelia Resort to name few. Other than these, apartments can be found which are pretty reasonable.

Beau Vallon offers some pretty good apartments to stay, not very secluded ones though but there is a beach at walking distance, with all sort of water sports available, many options to dine in and plenty of local shops nearby, making your stay quite comfortable.

During my stay, I opted for Beau Vallon Apartments. These were nice apartments with all the basic facilities including a parking space and a kitchen. Moreover, they were pretty close to the Beau Vallon beach which has all the activities on the island. Some of the fine dining restaurants were also at walk-distances to these apartments.

Want to book a reasonable accommodation near a beach? Check out the area of Beau Vallon!

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How to get to Mahe Island

The only international airport in Seychelles is in Mahe Island. It is a small beautiful airport, sitting next to a coastline surrounded by lush green mountains, making it one of the airports in the world which offers beautiful scenic views. One can easily get to the town by hiring a cab from the airport and many of the apartment owners or the hotels provide transport too. Check out this or this easy pickup option from the Mahe airport.

There are ferries running from Mahe Island provided by Cat Cocos. Direct ferries run to Praslin and those going to La Digue have a stopover in Praslin. One may fantasize taking a helicopter ride to Praslin as well from the Mahe Island and a number of companies provide this ride.

To avoid any hassle, check out this tour from Mahe Island to Praslin and Mahe Island to La Digue, by Cat Cocos.

Also, check out my ultimate guides for visiting Praslin and La Digue islands.

Let me know how did your trip go on this heavenly island. Comment below!

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