Seychelles

The Botanical Gardens showcase giant Aldabra tortoises alongside the rare coco de mer palm, whose enormous double-lobed seed is found naturally only in Seychelles. Victoria’s small scale means most of its sights can be covered comfortably in a single morning. The city serves mainly as a practical stop before heading to the beaches that define most visits to Seychelles. Victoria’s compact charm offers a brief but pleasant introduction to island life.

A Sunday craft and food market draws visitors and locals alike, with stalls selling grilled fish and coconut-based dishes typical of Creole cuisine. Boat trips from Beau Vallon head out to nearby granite islands for snorkeling in some of the clearest water in the Indian Ocean. The beach’s gentle slope and consistent conditions make it well suited for families and first-time visitors to the islands. Beau Vallon’s combination of accessibility and natural beauty makes it Mahe’s most visited beach.

L’Union Estate, a former coconut and vanilla plantation, offers a glimpse of the island’s agricultural history alongside giant tortoises roaming freely on the grounds. The island’s slow pace, largely free of cars, gives it a distinctly relaxed, old-world island atmosphere. Grand Anse and Petite Anse offer wilder, less-crowded stretches of coastline on the island’s eastern side, popular with surfers when conditions allow. La Digue’s combination of dramatic granite scenery and unhurried pace makes it the most iconic island stop in Seychelles.