It’s precisely the relaxed attitude to life that appeals to visitors who come to Seychelles in search of a stress-free environment and natural beauty. If all you want out of your holiday is sun, sea and sand, there are other, cheaper tropical destinations. But if you are prepared to pay extra to enjoy the unique flora and fauna and loll on some of the best beaches in the world, look no further. Here is our pick of the best beaches in Seychelles.
Best for: the views
Just north of Quatre Borne's takeaway, a road leads onto a western promontory which has three bays. One of the best beaches in Seychelles here is Anse Soleil, an enchanting small sandy beach rated the second best ‘hidden secret’ in the world by the German magazine Reise & Preise, with good swimming and excellent views. It is rarely busy, except on Sundays when the simple but very good restaurant is popular with locals.
Anse Soleil at Mahé - Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best for: beach activities
Neighbouring Petite Anse is another one of the best beaches in Seychelles, a sandy cove, about 10 minute's walk along a shaded track. Unfortunately, this beach is not suitable for swimming as the currents are very strong, the waves are high and the wind is strong. If you do decide to swim here, do not swim too far and make sure you have someone watching you from the shore.
Despite the lack of swimming opportunities, the beach is perfect for other beach activities such as sunbathing, picnicking or playing beach sports.
Petite Anse beach Mahe, Seychelles Islands © Shutterstock
Best beaches in Seychelles for relaxation
The west coast road continues past Grand Anse Agricultural Station to the bay of Grand Anse. This is a majestic, tree-lined beach with fine white sand and granite rocks, but the treacherous offshore currents make it unsuitable for swimming (a governor of Seychelles drowned here in 1962). Over the brow of the hill, the road descends to tiny picturesque Petite Île.
Find more accommodation options to stay near Grand Anse.
Anse Cocos, Petit Anse and Grand Anse beaches at Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best for: seclusion
Anse Cocos is surrounded by spectacular rock formations. Like Grand Anse, however, currents are strong and swimming can be dangerous. Unless you are particularly adventurous it is not worth exploring further than Anse Cocos. Here the track turns inland crossing Pointe Ma Flore – which offers a lovely view over Anse Cocos and the northeast coast – to Anse Caiman, then peters out before you reach the road at Anse Fourmis.
Anse Cocos beach, La Digue Island, Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best for: unforgettable wedding
On the far side of the plantation reserve is one of the best beaches in Seychelles, Anse Source d’Argent (Bay of the Silver Spring). There are no facilities here at all, but that is part of its beauty. The silver-white sands are framed by giant granite boulders and perfectly positioned palms – the ultimate in exotic backdrops and a popular spot for weddings and fashion shoots.
Source d'Argent beach, La Digue Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best for: mesmerising scenery
The East Coast Road continues to Anse Marie-Louise, where it turns sharply inland and cuts across the southern end of Mahé. At Quatre Bornes, a road leads down to one of the best beaches in Seychelles, Anse Intendance, where there is a very exclusive hotel, The Banyan Tree Resort. The long, pristine beach is pounded by crashing breakers, exhilarating to watch as they sweep in with a tremendous roar and a haze of spray.
A strong swimmer might enjoy body surfing in the waves, but it’s easy to get caught in the rollers and dumped hard on the beach or rocks. As with many of Seychelles’ beaches, conditions vary according to the monsoon season.
Anse Intendance at Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best for: golden sands
Rejoining the main road at Quatre Bornes and heading west, you’ll reach Anse Takamaka, the first beach on the west coast road, whose large shady takamaka trees and golden sands entice many tourists and surfers. However, currents are strong around here and swimming is dangerous.
It should be noted that there is no infrastructure on the beach, so you should provide yourself with food and drinks in advance, as well as if you are going to do water activities here.
Anse Takamaka beach on tropical island Mahe in Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best for: swimming
After Anse Boudin, the road turns inland over the hill to Anse Lazio, often hailed as one of the best beaches in Seychelles and ‘the best beach in the world’. The sand here is as fine and soft as caster sugar and is scattered with granite boulders. The swimming is excellent except when the northwesterly winds are at their strongest, mainly around January and February.
Snorkelling is best around the rocks and at the two small coves at the northeastern end of the bay. To enjoy the beach at its finest it is best to come early in the morning before the crowds. There are two restaurants, BonBon Plume, with thatched umbrellas dotted across a lawn by the sea; and at the opposite end of the beach, Le Chevalier Restaurant, set back from the shoreline. Both offer mainly seafood and Creole cuisine.
Anse Lazio beach in the island Praslin, Seychelles © Shutterstock
One of the best beaches in Seychelles for a family holiday
The inland road that links Baie Ste Anne to Anse Volbert and the northeast coast passes through casuarina woodland. Anse Volbert, also known as Côte d’Or, is the island’s main tourism centre. Its long beach is sheltered by Curieuse Island so swimming is safe all year and there are no large breakers, making it one of the best beaches in Seychelles for a family holiday with kids.
The beach shelves very gradually so you need to walk out a long way to find water deep enough for swimming. The best snorkelling is around the boulders at the northern end of the beach and out towards Chauve Souris Island.
Anse Volbert beach in Praslin Island Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best for: birdwatching
Petite Anse Kerlan is home to the Constance Lemuria Resort, an exclusive hotel complex in a spectacular location spread over 36 hectares (90 acres) with three beaches and Seychelles’ only 18-hole golf course. Birdwatching on the grounds is excellent but it is necessary to call in advance to arrange access.
Find more accommodation options to stay near Anse Kerlan.
Turquoise water in Anse Kerlan beach. Praslins island, Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best beach in Seychelles for an exclusive holiday
Further north, lying within the grounds of the golf course, is Anse Georgette, a wild and remote beach worth exploring. This beach is considered one of the best beaches in Seychelles and one of the most beautiful in the world and is located within the Constance Lemuria Resort, a luxury hotel that offers exclusive beach access to visitors.
With limited access, the beach retains an atmosphere of tranquillity and privacy, creating the perfect escape for those seeking seclusion and serenity.
Anse Georgette from above, Praslin island, Seychelles © Shutterstock
Best for: scenic walks
Danzilles–Anse Major Walk is an easy one-and-a-half hour walk (this one can be done in flip flops), most of which is within Morne Seychellois National Park. The peaceful walk follows the coast (one of the few coastal stretches in Mahé with no road access) and leads to one of the best beaches in Seychelles, a small, secluded Anse Major beach.
It starts at the end of the road from Beau Vallon to Bel Ombre, which turns into a well-marked path crossing the Danzilles River. Highlights include wonderful views of Beau Vallon and Silhouette Island and spectacular areas of granitic rock slopes.
Seychelles, Mahè Island, Anse Major © Shutterstock
Best for: learning about colonial history
Just off the north coast of Praslin, Curieuse Island lies at the centre of a Marine National Park. From the sea, Curieuse is noticeably red, which explains why the island was first known as Île Rouge. The sparseness of the forest and redness of the soil are due to the many fires that have swept the island.
A leper colony was established in 1833 at Anse St José on the south coast of the island. The old Creole-style Doctor’s House has been renovated as a Visitors’ Centre and museum. A boardwalk follows the margins of the bay through mangroves where large Cardisoma crabs and colourful fiddler crabs are dominant. The path emerges at Baie Laraie, where there is a Tortoise Conservation Project.
Anse St. Jose beach. Seychelles islands © Shutterstock
Best for: snorkelling
Located near Anse Boileau on the west coast of Mahe Island, Anse Louis is one of the best beaches in Seychelles. Close to the beach is the famous Maia Resort, which overlooks the bay itself. The beach is perfect for families and is also very popular with surfers due to its high waves, which are higher than other beaches in the Seychelles.
The beach also offers activities to suit all tastes, from swimming and the scenery is spectacular and the water is suitable for swimming and snorkelling to romantic walks along the sunset coastline.
Paradise Beach Seychelles, Anse Louis © Shutterstock
Best for: unspoilt beauty
Continuing north along the coastal road, you will reach Anse aux Poules Bleues, one of the most unspoilt beaches in Seychelles. This beach is less known for the crowds, making it the perfect place for a relaxing holiday.
Here you’ll also find Michael Adams’ Studio. The best-known artist in Seychelles, his jungle landscapes are a riot of leaves, stalks and stems, crisscrossing and clashing in every shade. He also takes a wry look at village life. Excellent prints of his work are on sale at the plantation-style studio, but they are expensive so the postcards and calendars may be more appealing.
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written by
Olga Sitnitsa
updated 17.07.2023
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