Afrinkong
Forty-Three Granite Islands
Granite in the inner islands, coral atolls in the outer, and a thousand kilometres between.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
SEYCHELLES · Tourism
Granite Islands in the Indian Ocean
The only granite islands in the middle of an ocean anywhere on earth — Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, the coco de mer in the Vallée de Mai, and Aldabra's giant tortoises a thousand kilometres out.
IslandsRegion
27Tourism experiences
Granite islands in the Indian OceanKnown for
01
Featured destinations
Where the country actually takes you.
Morne Seychellois
Nine hundred metres of forested granite above Victoria, with trails through the mist forest.
Photo Vishnu Panday / Pexels
Sauzier and the Streams
Short granite streams off the ridges, and the Sauzier falls in the west of Mahé.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
No Rivers, All Sea
The water here is the Indian Ocean, and the lagoons inside the reef.
Photo Logan Hamm / Pexels
Anse Source d'Argent
The most photographed beach in the world, and the granite is the reason why.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
Forests & RainforestThe Vallée de Mai
Coco de mer palms in a valley on Praslin, and the largest seed of any plant on earth.
Photo Alex Fanaso / Pexels
02
Wildlife & safari
What lives here, and how you see it without disturbing it.
Wildlife
Endemic Everywhere
The black parrot, the magpie robin, and giant tortoises that live free on Curieuse.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
Not a Safari, a Reef
The game here is under the water — reef fish, turtle, and whale shark off Mahé in season.
Photo Jess Loiterton / Pexels
Half the Country Is Protected
Forty-two per cent of the land is national park, and the marine parks now match it.
Photo Boris Hamer / Pexels
03
Culture & heritage
The part of a country you cannot photograph from a vehicle.
Culture
Creole
African, French, Indian and Chinese, in one Creole language and one kitchen.
Traditional PeopleIsland Life
A hundred thousand people across a hundred and fifteen islands, most on three of them.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
Fish, Coconut and Chilli
Grilled fish, coconut curry, breadfruit, and a chilli sauce that is not a suggestion.
Photo Michał Robak / Pexels
Festivals & CelebrationsFestival Kreol
Festival Kreol in October, and the sega and moutya danced through it.
Photo Kim Villanueva / Pexels
Boatbuilding and Weaving
Pirogue building on La Digue, and coconut palm weaving still done by hand.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
Historic SitesThe Plantations
L'Union Estate on La Digue, with its vanilla, copra mill and colonial house.
HeritageAldabra
A thousand kilometres out, with a hundred thousand giant tortoises and almost no people.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
04
Cities & everyday life
Where people actually live between the landmarks.
Victoria
One of the smallest capitals in the world, with a clock tower and a market.
Creole Houses
Steep roofs, wide verandas and louvres — built for heat before anyone had a choice.
Photo Wesley Novais / Pexels
The Fish Market
Victoria's market at eight in the morning is the most useful hour on the island.
Shallow, Warm, Safe
Lagoons inside the reef, no dangerous surf on most beaches, and short boat rides.
05
Adventure & outdoors
For travellers who would rather walk it than watch it.
Adventure
Dive, Sail, Walk
Diving the granite drop-offs, sailing the inner islands, and walking Mahé's ridge trails.
Dive, Kayak, Cycle
Granite dive sites, kayaks in the lagoons, and La Digue where the bicycle is the transport.
Luxury TravelThe Private Islands
North Island, Frégate and Denis — private islands with a dozen villas on each.
Photo Rajesh Chetty / Pexels
06
Travel inspiration
The frames people come home with.
Granite and Turquoise
Grey granite, white sand and three shades of blue — the reason every camera comes here.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
Hidden GemsLa Digue by Bicycle
No real roads and few cars — an island best measured in bicycle hours.
Photo Vika Glitter / Pexels
Why Visit This Country
Nowhere Else Is Built Like This
Granite in mid-ocean, a palm that grows nowhere else, and tortoises older than the state.
Nowhere Else Is Built Like This
Granite in mid-ocean, a palm that grows nowhere else, and tortoises older than the state.
Build a journey