White sandy beaches, clear waters teeming with marine life, lush green jungle – that’s what you can expect from Mahé in The Seychelles. There’s no shortage of adventure activities to keep you busy while in Mahé, from exploring the islands and underwater life at Sainte-Anne Marine Park, to adrenaline fuelled activities like Zip Lining and 4×4 driving. This guide will help you to plan your trip dream trip to, with 10 of the best up-to-date things to do on Mahé Island in 2023 from our own personal experience.
1. Head to the Beach
It goes without saying that the first thing you should do when visiting the Seychelles is explore the beaches. With pristine white sand and clear turquoise water, it’s easy to see why the beaches in the Seychelles are considered to be some of the most beautiful in the world. Mahé is home to countless beaches, with Beau Vallon and Anse Intendance being among the most popular.
I would argue that the most beautiful beaches on Mahé are the secluded ones that are harder to reach, such as Anse Major. To get there, you’ll need to do a short hike through the jungle, as it’s one of the most remote beaches on Mahé with no roads leading to it.
2. Hike Through the Jungle
Mahé is probably the best island in the Seychelles for hiking, with trails ranging from easy to much more challenging. One of the most popular routes is the Copolia Trail, which takes you above the island and rewards you with views of Sainte Anne Marine National Park after a 50 minute hike.
There is an entrance fee of SCR100 / £6.45 and a toilet fee of SCR5 / £0.32 so it’s best to take some cash with you. Parking spots are located at the trail entrance and there is a bus stop at the entrance. Morne Blanc is another popular hike that is slightly more challenging than the Copolia Trail, and gives you the best view of Mahe’s west coast.
3. Visit the Mission Lodge
If you want to learn a bit of history while taking in the beautiful views of the island, then you should take a trip up to Mission Lodge. Originally a farm and boarding school for liberated slave children, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site with a viewpoint offering incredible sea and mountain views over the west coast of Mahe.
The entrance fee is SCR100 which you buy at the entrance. It’s located just 20 minutes from Victoria, and there is parking located at the entrance. Alternatively, you can take Bus 14 Port Launay via Sans Souci.
4. Trip to Eden Island
Eden Island is a man made island that is connected to Mahe via a bridge. It is mostly made up of luxury properties, but there is also a plaza with restaurants and shops, and a marina. Exploring the island will give you a taste of luxury as you will see plenty of yachts and villas.
Stay in one of the few apartment style accommodations or hotels and you’ll get access to the island’s private beach. We stayed in the Eden Bleu Hotel, and had stunning views of the marina from the balcony.
5. Explore the Streets of Victoria
Victoria is the capital of the Seychelles, and is one of the smallest capital cities in the world. Head to the Sir Selwyn Clarke vegetable and fish market pick up some local fresh food or shop for souvenirs.
Just around the corner from the market is the Hindu Temple, which you can’t miss because of the beautiful and colourful architecture. It’s called the Sri Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, and it’s worth visiting inside to marvel at the incredible building and see it in daily use. If you enter the temple, remember to remove your hat and shoes.
Victoria has many other attractions that you’ll see by strolling around the town, such as the Roman Catholic Cathedral and Victoria Clock Tower!
6. Glass Bottom Boat Trip to Moyenne Island
Saint-Anne Marine Park consists of 6 islands off the coast of Mahe, on a day trip you can explore these pristine islands and discover the teeming marine life. Moyenne Island is the most popular stop, as giant land tortoises roam freely on the island and it has an interesting history and a beautiful viewpoint looking over the island and turquoise water.
As you have to book a tour to access these islands, you’ll get lunch with live entertainment on Moyenne Island included, where you will be immersed in Seychellois culture.
We booked a tour which included stopping at a great spot for snorkelling, visiting Moyenne Island for a traditional creole lunch, then hopping back on the boat and stopping at Round Island Beach. This was one of the best parts, as the beach has a sand bank that you can walk out on and swim in the crystal clear water.
7. 4×4 Adventure with Mangrove Kayaking
One of our favourite adventure activities on Mahe was a 4×4 adventure ride with Mangrove kayaking. You’ll be taken on a bumpy ride through the jungle, passing by secluded beaches and winding roads, where you will stop at a secluded spot to take Kayaks out into the Mangroves. The scenery is just beautiful, and you will get to experience the lesser know parts of Mahe Island.
8. Get an Adrenaline Rush with Ziplining
If you’re after an adrenaline rush, head up to SMAC Adventures located in the Constance Ephelia Resort. Here you’ll find 8 different Zip lines that launch you over lush green jungle and granite boulders, giving you breathtaking views of Mahe’s landscape.
It does get booked up so you are required to book at least 2 days in advance. Make sure to wear shorts or trousers and proper shoes instead of flip flops.
9. Take a Dip at Sauzier Waterfall
Located at Port Glaud on Mahe’s west coast is Sauzier Waterfall, great for a short walk and a dip in the freshwater on a hot day. To get to the waterfall you follow a short nature trail that takes 5 – 10 minutes.
The entrance fee is SCR50, and there is parking at the entrance. If you’re taking public transport, you’ll want to get a bus to Port Glaud, and walk from there.
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10. Go Tea Tasting & the Tea Factory
Something you may not know about the Seychelles is that they have tea plantations and a tea factory that you can visit and learn how tea is made. You can take a self guided tour of the factory for SCR 25,00 (£1.50), while taking in the beautiful views over the island.
Throughout the tour you’ll see the machines used for the tea production, from the withering and rolling process all the way to the flavouring and packaging process.
After the tour you can sit in their Tea House and try a locally grown tea, or one of the many other drinks such as ice tea and coffee, fresh juice or alcohol. There is also a shop where you can buy numerous different flavours of tea!
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