Overview

The stunning Mahe Island is part of the Seychelles archipelago located almost 1,000 miles off mainland East Africa, an idyllic tropical paradise. It's famous for its dazzling white sandy beaches home to luxurious resorts and lapped by the crystal clear blue ocean. It is a captivating island decorated with lush verdant tropical vegetation and 3,000-foot high majestic granite peaks such as Morne Seychellois and breathtaking views.

Mahe is the largest and main island of the Seychelles and home to the capital of Victoria, a charming place, which is one of the smallest capital cities in the world. This tropical island boasts dramatic scenic beauty and is a spectacular vacation destination and a great place to experience the local Creole culture. 

Things to See and Do

Go Hiking! Mahe Island is filled with verdant forested interiors and lush verdant mountains in the heart of the island. The Morne Seychellois is the highest point on the island soaring to 2,969 feet above sea level with breathtaking views over the capital of Victoria. There are hiking trails here that take you through tea plantations and the village of Danzil. 

Take a rewarding hike to Anse Major Beach is another great way to experience the island and one of its most beautiful, remote beaches! This beach cannot be accessed by road and features a scenic nature trail through the verdant jungle to reach it. 

Hike the Morne Blanc Trail in the Seychellois National Park, it is one of the highest peaks on Mahe and offers some of the best views of the west coast of the island. Hikers can reach teh summit via a short yet steep nature trail hike on Sans Soucis Road. 

The Island of Sainte Anne encompasses 6 islands just off the coast of Mahe. The Ste Anne National Marine Park is located here, it became the first national park in the Indian Ocean in 1973, it is an important nesting site for hawksbill sea turtles and is filled with other rich and diverse marine life. The islands are very popular for snorkeling and scuba diving in the picturesque waters filled with vibrant coral reefs. 

Watersports are very popular in Mahe, there is a full menu to choose from for those water enthusiasts. Indulge in snorkeling, world-class scuba diving, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, jet skiing, boating, and more. 

Take a wander around the beautiful Seychelles National Botanical Gardens in Victoria. Home to unique and endemic plant species, the tropical climate allows some incredible plants to grow including the famous coco de mer palm from Vallee de Mai on Praslin which produces the largest seed on earth. There is even a giant tortoise enclosure in the gardens. 

Visit the Mission Lodge at the historic Venns Town, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed cultural site, there are 19th-century ruins of a school that was dedicated to children who were dumped on the island following the abolition of slavery. The school was built by the London Missionary Society, there are plaques throughout the site detailing the history. There is an amazing viewpoint overlooking Morne Seychelles National Park. 

Visit the National Museum of History, which is housed in a colonial-era Supreme Court building that has been restored. The museum opened in 2018 and features some outstanding exhibits such as the informative display downstairs that takes visitors through 300 years of Seychelles history and showcases model ships, old cannons, and other historical pieces. The upstairs focuses on Creole culture and features displays on music, clothing, fishing, and architecture. 

Take a free tour of the Takamaka Rum Distillery and taste the island's delicious local rum. Takamaka Rum is featured on pretty much every restaurant and bar menu in the Seychelles, the Seychellois are very proud of their local rum. Visit the internationally acclaimed distillery which sources their ingredients locally and crafts different varieties which are an expression of the rich heritage, Creole traditions, and more.

Beaches

The gorgeous Mahe Island is part of the Seychelles archipelago which is made up of 115 idyllic islands that are home to some of the most undeniably beautiful beaches in the world. Mahe island is home to 70 of those stunning stretches of soft white sand lapped by the gorgeous waters of the Indian Ocean. Picture swaying palm trees, backed by the verdant hills and majestic mountains that make up the heart of the island which create the perfect backdrop for a beautiful beach day. Seychelle beaches are named “Anse” in Creole and each beach on the island boasts its unique charm. 

Beau Vallon Bay is one of the island's largest and most popular beaches with its clear calm waters and vibrant offshore coral reefs great for snorkeling and scuba diving. 

Anse Takamaka is nestled on the south-west coast of the island backed by verdant forests and swaying palms. The beach here stretches for just over 1.24 miles with its signature soft white sands and picture-perfect setting and a rustic beachside restaurant.

Anse Intendance is located in the south and home to the popular Bayyan Tree Hotel, a tranquil slice of paradise, and a great palace to spend a day on the warm sands and crystal clear waters. 

The stretch of sand at Anse Royale is simply gorgeous and a slice of tropical paradise ideal for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, and water sports. 

The solitary stretch of Grand Anse in the west boasts a picturesque stretch of soft white sand with horseback riding on the beach.

Dining

The island of Mahe has many different dining options to offer, serving up delicious Seychellois Creole cuisine and other international cuisines. There are fine dining options that are budget-friendly, along with local authentic joints, and plenty of takeaway options to choose from. It's no surprise that many of the menus on the island are dominated by freshly caught fish and seafood, the main fish caught here is tuna, red snapper is another favorite, and fish curries are a popular dish. There is a lot of French and British influence found in the restaurants in Mahe due to its colonial past. Resorts and hotels on the islands are home to most of the fine dining experiences serving up world cuisine. Fine dining favorites include La Scala, and La Perle Noire, located in Beau Vallon.

The cuisine in Seychelles is varied and features plenty of fresh fish and seafood, the Seychellois Creole cuisine is a blend of old French cuisine, piquant Indian, and Chinese flavors. Rice is a common staple on the island along with seafood curries, coconuts, and fresh fruit come in abundance, and ladob or spinach soup is another popular dish.

Nightlife

The nightlife offerings on Mahe Island are exciting and mainly found around the capital city of Victoria. Mahe is the most popular tourist destination in the Republic of Seychelles and is brimming with luxurious resorts that offer great nightlife entertainment, bountiful beaches with beachfront bars and restaurants, there are casinos and nightclubs too. Hotels and resorts have their bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and discos, some even have casinos so there is no need to even travel outside of your accommodations.

Mahe Island offers exciting nightlife, especially in the bustling capital city of Victoria, the main tourist hub with lots of action after dark. There are numerous restaurants and beachside bars to enjoy dinner and drinks with great sunset views. Hotels on the island offer plenty of nightlife opportunities like discos, bars, casinos, and nightclubs.