Renowned for its dazzling white sandy beaches, dramatic glacis rock formations, lush vegetation and warm and clear turquoise water, the Seychelles has some of the most photogenic beaches in the world.
Don't miss the world-famous beach of Anse Source d’Argent – the iconic image of emerald waters, white sands and sea-smoothed granite rocks – or the picture-perfect Anse Lazio on Praslin Island.
Located on La Digue Island, this stunning beach flows from one hidden cove to another.
Its pink crescents of soft sand are separated from each other by gigantic sculpted pink and rust-coloured granite boulders that are famous for their unusual curves eroded by time and weather.
Swim through warm, luminescent waters of greens and pastel blues. Sheltered by a reef, the beach is ideal for snorkeling, sun bathing and horseback riding.
Arguably the most beautiful beach in the Seychelles and ironically often empty – perfect for a secluded embrace.
Read more about Anse Source d’Argent… and La Digue Island…
Other great beaches on La Digue Island, include…
Anse Sever – Easily reached by car, foot or bicycle on the nearby road, this scenic beach is renowned for its snorkelling and swimming.
The water here is calm and shallow. While the beach can disappear at high tide, for most of the time there is a beautiful sandy surface to enjoy.
Facilities inclue a small snack bar on the north side of the beach, as well as a boutique. Anse Severe is also close to several accommodations.
Anse Severe lies in the north of La Digue, with wonderful views overlooking Praslin Island – especially notable at night, when the sun sets over Praslin.
Anse Marron – Discover this isolated ‘Robinson Crusoe’ beach of pristine, wave-washed golden sands and scenic rock formations.
Anse Marron – the southernmost beach on La Digue – features a protected shallow saltwater pool, cut off from the open ocean by an imposing formation of granite boulders, as well as an open section where the beach shelves deeply into the sea.
Due to the lack of coral reef protection, the open section is often choppy with strong currents and may be unsafe for swimming.
However, the small crystal-clear pools are shallow enough for bathing, and the granite boulders protect this section of the beach from the dangers of the open ocean.
Anse Marron can be difficult to find, and almost all visitors come here with the help of a tour guide. The beach is 2km walk from Anse Source d’Argent.
Grand Anse – Located on the southeast coast, La Digue's longest beach (420m) Grand Anse offers gorgeous scenery and pristine white sand, making it well-worth a visit.
The beach is framed by rock formations at one end of the beach and overlooked by lush vegetation.
The water gets deep quickly, and because there is no coral reef, strong offshore currents during the southeast monsoon, from April to October, produce dangerous conditions for swimming.
Most visitors to Grand Anse come by bike, although it is also possible to walk here. There is a small car park nearby. Facilities include a restaurant and toilets.
Petite Anse – This quiet and extremely picturesque beach is just a short 15-minute walk from Grand Anse on the south-east of La Digue
Petite Anse beach is much better suited to beach games, sunbathing and picnicking than swimming.
Similar to Grand Anse, it is not safe to swim here due to dangerous underwater currents – signposts remind you of this fact. However, if you decide to venture into the water, take care and always have someone watching out for you.
Driftwood shelters and natural shade provide protection from the sun. Facilities are located at Grand Anse.
Anse Cocos – Trek across the island via Nid'Aigle or on foot from either Grand Anse or Petite Anse to one of the most secluded and unspoilt beaches on La Digue.
Anse Cocos offers a beautiful golden-sand beach fringed by palm trees and shallow natural pools with crystal-clear water at low tide. It's easy to spend the day here paddling in the sea and enjoying the sun.
Access to the beach is by foot. Anse Cocos is located on the east coast of La Digue, a short distance from Petite Anse.
There is a path to Anse Cocos from Grand Anse, and another from Anse Fourmis. Closest facilities including a snack bar are at Grand Anse, 30 minutes away on-foot.
For those who enjoy walking as much as lying on the beach, Anse Cocos makes an ideal day trip.
This is possibly the second best beach in the Seychelles and also one of the most popular, located in Bay Chevalier on the north-west corner of Praslin Isle.
This photogenic beach is a perfect crescent of soft, fine-grained white sand, fringed by stands of Takamaka and palm trees that extend past huge rounded granite boulders into the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
A sheltered area to the east of the beach is protected by a reef and is perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The water is shallow, warm and safe. There are no sports rental facilities here so make sure you bring your own snorkel gear.
The seaside ‘feet in the sand’ Bon Bon Plume restaurant is an excellent lunch spot offering superb Creole cooking.
For shade use the palm trees, but beware of falling coconuts and remember to bring enough water to last the day, as you’re far from any shops.
Read more about Anse Lazio Beach… and Praslin Island…
Other great beaches on Praslin Island, include…
Anse Georgette – Unwind on the soft powder-white sand of this stunning beach that lies framed by granite boulders, with good snorkelling and swimming.
The nearby Lémuria Resort offers facilities to guests, including snorkelling equipment. The resort offers golf-cart transfers to Anse Georgette on a frequent basis. Otherwise you can simple walk to the beach. Alternatively, it is possible to reach Anse Georgette by boat.
Anse Georgette offers beautiful ctystal-clear water for swimming and snorkelling. However, the beach shelves quickly into deep water, so children and unconfident swimmers should be supervised at all times in the water.
Anse la Blague – A secluded beach near the port, ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
The beach is shallow at low tide, and deep at high tide. Note: strong currents at high tide can make swimming dangerous.
A nearby road provides easy access to the beach. Walk along the shore past Petite Anse and up the hill towards Anse la Farine (on the other side of the headland) for stunning views over Le Ronde and to La Digue Island.
Facilities include a few small guesthouses and a restaurant, at the Grand Anse end of the beach, with views of the islands of Grande and Petite Soeur.
Anse la Blague is located in the south-east of Praslin, on the same stretch of coast as Grande and Petite Anse.
Anse Volbert – A sheltered and gently shelving beach also ideal for families. Stroll along the beach or snorkel around the boulders at the northern end, and around nearby Chauve Souris Island or St Pierre Islet.
Arguably, the most popular beach on Praslin, and certainly the longest, Anse Volbert is located on the east coast of Praslin Island close to Anse Volbert village.
Activities on offer here include swimming, snorkelling, surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, fishing and sailing.
Facilities include sun loungers, watersport rentals, restaurants, shops and numerous accommodation options along the beach.
Access to the beach is easy from any of the adjacent beach hotels, but from further afield, it's possible to reach Anse Volbert by car, bus and boat.
Beau Vallon Beach is probably the most popular beach on Mahé Island, with good swimming, snorkelling and diving due to its clear waters and coral reefs.
The beach shelves gently into shallow water that deepens slowly into a wide bay. Palm trees provide plenty of shade ensuring protection from the sun.
One of the longest beaches in the Seychelles at 1.75km (1mi), Beau Vallon is popular among tourists and locals alike thanks to its mix of beautiful scenery, extensive choice of activities and excellent infrastructure.
Waterport rentals include snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, fishing, jet skis and sailing.
A choice of hotels lie just a short walk from Beau Vallon. Beachfront facilities include local restaurants, bars and a nightclub. The beachside road allows easy-access by car, taxi or bus.
With extensive facilities and activities, safe, shallow water, and easy-access, Beau Vallon Beach is perfect for families and couples alike.
Watch fishermen selling fresh fish late in the afternoon in the shade of takamaka trees while enjoy a cool drink from a beachside bar.
Other great beaches on Mahé Island, include…
Numerous activities, beautiful scenery, clear, shallow water and easy-access makes Anse Royale one of the most popular beaches on Mahé.
The 1500m-long beach is often busy with a choice of activities, including swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Protected by an offshore coral reef, Anse Royale consists of several linked beaches that face a long bay. The beach shelves gently to a depth of around 2m to 3m. The water is usually calm and ideally-suited to swimming and snorkelling.
During the summer trade winds, from June to September, Anse Royale is also good for windsurfing.
Nearby facilities include a choice of accommodation options, shops and restaurants in the adjacent town that shares the same name.
Anse Royale is located on the south-east coast of Mahé.
Anse à la Mouche is located in the south-west of Mahé, facing a long, curved bay known for calm water. Conditions are favourable for swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Anse à la Mouche beach offers shallow water, plentiful shade, and easy-access. Nearby facilities include several shops and restaurants. The beach is accessable by car or bus.
With shallow water, calm waves and plenty of shade, the small, 40m-long Anse Baleine is ideal for couples and children wanting to splash around in the water or relax on the sand. It's also perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
The beach is often deserted during weekdays, however, weekends are popular with the locals, who often bring their children here for a picnic. The beach receives early morning sun - perfect for sunbathing – but is often covered in shade during the afternoon.
Facilities, including restaurants, are available along the main road at the nearby beaches of Anse Royale and Anse Parnel.
Anse Baleine is located in the south-east of Mahé, and is easily ccessible via car or bus, with bus stops nearby on the main road.
Protected by an offshore coral reef from the open ocean, Anse Forbans shelves into shallow water with gentle waves, making it ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
A choice of small guesthouses and hotels, including the Hilton Allamanda Resort, lie a short walk to the beach. Guests of the Hilton Allamanda Resort can borrow snorkelling equipment
Anse Forbans is located in the south-east of Mahé, just along the coast from Turtle Bay and Anse aux Pins. The beach is easy to reach by bus and car.
This popular beach, located in the Port Launay Marine Park, offers gorgeous scenery, calm, shallow water, ample shade and a wide range of watersport activities.
The calm waters of the bay lends itself well to swimming and snorkelling, while the numerous rental options provide the opportunity for surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, scuba diving, fishing, sailing and kayaking.
Nearby facilities include restaurants in the nearby Constance Ephelia Resort, and some small local shops.
Port Launay Marine Park is located in the north-west of Mahé, and contains several beaches and small offshore islands. The beach is easily accessible from the nearby road by car, taxi, or bus.
Read more about Mahé Island
Latest update: Top Beaches in the Seychelles: 27 April, 2022
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