The Seychelles from the US: flights, timing and where to stay
Seychelles is the Indian Ocean trip for Americans who find one-island resorts claustrophobic. Granite, jungle and beach in the same frame, three inhabited islands worth staying on, and a domestic network that makes a two-centre trip straightforward. This page covers how to get there and how to structure the time once you have.
Editor's Top Pick
North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort
Our first call for a US traveller.
The hotel's official site
The stays we’d book
Editor’s shortlist
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island
Desroches Island, Amirantes, Seychelles
Best for: Private island with variety
Rates and availability are shown on the booking partner’s site, or the property’s own where we have no partner.
Getting there from the US
- Routing
- Qatar Airways via Doha is the most consistent option from JFK, Boston, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles — around 21 hours from the east coast. Emirates via Dubai and Ethiopian via Addis Ababa are the alternatives. Inter-island travel is a 15-minute flight to Praslin or a 60-minute ferry; the outer islands add a light-aircraft leg.
- When to go
- April-May and October-November are the transition months: least wind, clearest water, best diving. December to March brings the north-west monsoon with warm, humid, showery weather; May to September is drier but windier, with seaweed on some south-east beaches.
- What to budget
- Expect $900-$1,800 a night on Mahé or Praslin, $2,200-$3,000 for Six Senses Zil Pasyon, and $4,000-plus for North Island. Domestic flights are $80-$150 per person per leg. All-in for two for ten nights, flights included: $20,000-$35,000.
When to go, against the US calendar
| Window | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring break (March-April) | April is one of the two best months of the year here — book it early. |
| Memorial Day to June | Drier and breezier. Good for Mahé's north and west coasts, less so for exposed south-east beaches. |
| Summer (July-August) | Windiest stretch of the year. Fine for sailing, frustrating for flat-water swimming. |
| Thanksgiving to early December | The second calm window, and quieter than April. |
| Christmas and New Year | Humid, showery and fully booked. The weakest value of the year. |
The stays we’d book
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.
Why this works from the US
- This is a milestone trip and you want the whole island to yourself.
- You want somewhere no one at home will recognise from a feed.
The rate is the highest in the Indian Ocean; a 22-hour flight to a four-night stay is a poor trade.
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.
Why this works from the US
- Granite boulders and architecture are what pulled you to Seychelles.
- A serious wellness programme is part of the reason for the trip.
It is a small resort with limited dining — over ten nights that starts to register.
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.
Why this works from the US
- First Seychelles trip, and you want an easy base you can leave and return to.
- You want the option of a car, a hike and a restaurant that is not the resort's.
Petite Anse is a steep hillside — expect to use buggies constantly.
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.
Why this works from the US
- You want a private island without the North Island invoice.
- Diving is a genuine motivation, not a maybe.
The light-aircraft leg adds a day at each end of a long trip from the US.
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FAQs
How do you get to Seychelles from the US?
One stop via Doha, Dubai or Addis Ababa. Around 21 hours from JFK and 25-26 from the west coast. There is no non-stop.
Seychelles or Maldives from the US?
Seychelles if you want variety, hiking, granite scenery and more than one island. Maldives if the overwater villa is the point. Travel time is broadly the same.
When is the best time to visit Seychelles?
April-May and October-November — the calm transition months between the two monsoons, with the clearest water and least wind.
Do Americans need a visa for Seychelles?
No visa is required; a visitor's permit is issued on arrival with proof of accommodation, funds and a return ticket.