The luxury Seychelles travel guide
Seychelles is what the Maldives isn't. Where the Maldives is 1,200 flat coral atolls, Seychelles is granite peaks rising from the Indian Ocean, dense jungle, and beaches most people quietly consider the best on earth. It
How to choose
If you want First Seychelles trip: look for Mahé or Praslin base with a day trip to La Digue. Avoid Locking a whole week to one private island on your first visit. Best stay style: Main-island cliffside villa.
If you want Ultra-private honeymoon: look for Whole-island or private-island format with own boat/aircraft transfer. Avoid Larger resorts with weddings and day visitors. Best stay style: Private-island villa.
If you want Design + service: look for Small-inventory island (25–40 villas) with one signature restaurant. Avoid Sprawling multi-restaurant resorts. Best stay style: Design-led private island.
If you want Family with children: look for Main-island resort with beach access and shallow bays. Avoid Adults-only islands and long helicopter transfers with toddlers. Best stay style: Family villa on Mahé or Praslin.
If you want Maldives alternative: look for Granite-and-jungle scenery, house-reef diving, boat transfers. Avoid Overwater villas — Seychelles doesn't do them. Best stay style: Cliffside pool villa.
The shortlist
North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort — best for Ultra-private honeymoon. 11 hand-built villas across a whole private island — the benchmark for absolute privacy in the Indian Ocean, and the honeymoon many other resorts are quietly measured against. Avoid if Budget is a real constraint.. Budget: A$45,000+ / week.
Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Félicité — best for Design + wellness. 30 granite-boulder villas across a private Inner Islands paradise — the strongest wellness programme in Seychelles and Six Senses' signature architecture. Avoid if You want a large resort with multiple restaurants.. Budget: A$25,000–A$45,000 / week.
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, Mahé — best for First Seychelles trip. Cliffside villas above Petite Anse — the most polished big-brand base on Mahé, with a serious spa, strong family credentials and easy access to the rest of the island. Avoid if You want the seclusion of a private island.. Budget: A$18,000–A$32,000 / week.
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island — best for Private island with variety. The only resort on 14km of Amirantes coral island — cycling everywhere, one of the region's best PADI centres, and Four Seasons service without the North Island price tag. Avoid if You prefer granite-and-jungle Inner Islands scenery.. Budget: A$20,000–A$35,000 / week.
Raffles Seychelles, Praslin — best for Praslin base + Vallée de Mai access. 86 villas above Anse Takamaka on Praslin — the strongest luxury base for exploring La Digue, Curieuse and Anse Lazio. Avoid if You want a small, boutique feel.. Budget: A$16,000–A$28,000 / week.
Constance Lémuria, Praslin — best for Golf + Praslin beaches. The only 18-hole golf course in Seychelles, three of Praslin's best beaches including Anse Georgette, and a family-capable villa product. Avoid if You want no other resorts nearby.. Budget: A$14,000–A$26,000 / week.
Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas — best for Adults-only with a butler. 30 hillside villas on Mahé — adults-only, all-inclusive with a personal butler and champagne breakfasts, and one of Seychelles' most reliable service cultures. Avoid if You dislike all-inclusive formats or want to eat off-property.. Budget: A$22,000–A$40,000 / week.
Areas
Mahé — First visits, families, and travellers wanting easy access to Victoria and the rest of the archipelago.
Praslin — Best beaches (Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette), Vallée de Mai UNESCO forest, and day trips to La Digue and Curieuse.
La Digue — Day-trip icon (Anse Source d'Argent) — few luxury stays; visit from Praslin.
Félicité — Six Senses Zil Pasyon guests — private island with granite-boulder drama and full spa depth.
North Island — The single most private honeymoon or milestone stay in the country.
Desroches & the Outer Islands — Divers, atoll-lovers and travellers wanting flat coral-island format instead of granite peaks.
Watch-outs
Seychelles has no true overwater villas — if that is non-negotiable, the Maldives is the right destination.
Inter-island transfers are helicopter, private boat or domestic flight — always factor an extra half-day either side.
Outer-island resorts (Desroches, Alphonse) are a separate luggage and flight schedule to the Inner Islands.
May–September is windier and cooler; October–April is warmer but brings shoulder rain.
The Vallée de Mai on Praslin closes early — plan La Digue day trips around the boat schedule, not the other way around.
Local dining outside resorts is limited on the private islands by design; check whether all-inclusive genuinely covers what you'll want to drink and eat.
Suggested itineraries
5 nights — Single base on Mahé or Praslin, two day trips (La Digue from Praslin; Sainte Anne Marine Park from Mahé).
7 nights — Split 3 nights Mahé + 4 nights Praslin, with a La Digue day. The classic first-timer format.
10 nights — Two-island: 4 nights Praslin (Raffles or Constance) + 6 nights private island (North, Zil Pasyon or Desroches).
12 nights — Combine with Dubai on the way in or a South African safari on the way out — the natural pairings for Australian travellers.
FAQs
Seychelles or Maldives?
Maldives for overwater villas, flat atolls and shorter transfers. Seychelles for granite scenery, dense jungle, main-island culture and genuinely under-visited private islands. Most travellers who have done both slightly prefer Seychelles the second time.
When is the best time to visit?
April–May and October–November are the sweet spots — warm, calmer sea, and between the two monsoon winds. July–August is windier but drier.
How many islands should we visit?
Two is the ideal — one main island (Mahé or Praslin) for context, one private island for the seclusion pay-off.
Are there direct flights from Australia?
No — the common routings are via Dubai (Emirates), Abu Dhabi (Etihad), Singapore (Air Seychelles seasonally) or via a South African connection.
Is Seychelles good for families?
Yes on the main islands — Four Seasons Mahé, Raffles Praslin and Constance Lémuria all run genuine kids' programmes. Private islands are largely adults-oriented.
What about diving and snorkelling?
Excellent — especially the Outer Islands (Desroches, Alphonse) and around Praslin. Whale-shark season runs August–November.
How much should we budget?
A polished main-island week runs A$14,000–A$25,000 for two. Private-island weeks (Zil Pasyon, Desroches, Maia) sit A$22,000–A$45,000. North Island moves past A$45,000.
Do we need Rupees or can we use Euros?
Resort billing is typically in Euros or USD; keep a small Rupee float for the main islands. Cards are accepted almost everywhere.