A Mahé island tour is the best way to understand why so many visitors fall in love with the main island of the Seychelles. Mahé has no reason to hide behind Praslin or La Digue. Its granite mountains, quiet bays, spice gardens and little capital are all waiting for you, and we show you the island the way we know it: as our home.
This is a private tour. Only you and your partner, family or group take part, and you decide what we see. Choose your stops in advance or simply tell us on the day. In 5–6 hours there is plenty of time to swim, taste, take photos or just stop for a view. We adapt to you and share our tips along the way.
Island Tour Seychelles has been a family business since 2020. We pick you up anywhere on Mahé and bring you back wherever you like, at no extra cost. Our guides speak English and French, and Sheena also speaks a bit of German.
Highlights
- Private tour, only you and your partner, family or group
- Flexible route: you choose the stops
- Beaches of the south: Anse Intendance, Takamaka, Anse Royale
- Spice garden, rum distillery and local craft village
- Victoria, one of the smallest capitals in the world
- Free pick up and drop off anywhere on Mahé
Plan your day: what fits in 5 to 6 hours?
For each place, choose a quick photo stop or a proper stay. We add up the time on site and the estimated driving time.
None of this is required, it is here to play with. You can carry your stops into the booking, or simply skip the planner: then your guide suggests the route, or we decide together on the day of the tour.
Driving times are estimates. Traffic and the weather can change the day, and your guide adapts the route on the spot.
Book with these stopsYour day
Pick up
We collect you at your hotel, guesthouse, the airport, Victoria jetty, the cruise terminal, Eden Island or a friend's home. On the way we plan the day together.
Le Jardin du Roi spice garden
Walk through the garden and see the spices and endemic plants of the Seychelles. Allow about 2 hours, lunch at the garden restaurant is optional. Entrance fee payable on site, closed on public holidays.
Anse Intendance
Swim, snorkel or simply admire this wild southern bay. The Summer Beach Bar serves cocktails right on the sand. About 1 hour, depending on the cocktails.
Takamaka Beach
A quiet, beautiful beach in the southwest with giant tortoises and a small bay. A Creole restaurant on the beach serves real Seychellois cuisine for an optional lunch. About 1 hour without lunch.
Anse Royale
A long, wide beach in the southeast and a perfect spot for snorkelling, with several restaurants nearby. About 1–2 hours without lunch.
Takamaka Rum Distillery, La Plaine St André
See how the local rum is made and taste it. About 1 hour. Tasting fee payable on site, closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Domaine de Val des Prés and Pomme Cannelle craft village
A small village where only local artists work. A lovely stop for Seychellois crafts. About 45 minutes.
Mission Lodge
The historic site of Venn's Town, with a wide view over the west coast of Mahé. About 30 minutes. Entrance fee payable on site, closed on public holidays.
Sauzier Waterfall
A short walk of about 10 minutes leads to one of the most unusual waterfalls in the Seychelles, with a refreshing freshwater dip. About 1 hour. Entrance fee payable on site, closed on public holidays.
Port Launay and Carana Beach
Port Launay is one of the most beautiful bays on Mahé. The granite rocks of Carana Beach are a must for photos, but the waves are rough and only for strong swimmers.
Beau Vallon
The lively beach of the north, with room to swim and snorkel, beach restaurants and take aways. About 1–2 hours.
Victoria, Mont Signal and Eden Island
A short drive through the capital with the Hindu temple, the Clock Tower, the oldest church and the Supreme Court. Add the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, the 5–10 minute walk to Mont Signal, a panorama stop or a visit to the Eden Island marina.
Sunset and drop off
End the day with a sundowner on the beach if you wish. Then we bring you back to your starting point or anywhere else on Mahé, including the airport.
Included
- Private guided tour for you and your partner, family or group
- Seychellois guide speaking English or French
- Pick up and drop off anywhere on Mahé
- Transport in a vehicle from our own fleet
- Flexible route planned around your wishes
- Local tips for restaurants, beaches and photo spots
Not included
- Lunch, dinner and drinks (optional, paid on site)
- Entrance fees for Jardin du Roi, Mission Lodge and Sauzier Waterfall (paid on site)
- Rum tasting fee at the Takamaka distillery (paid on site)
- Souvenirs and personal expenses
What to bring
- Swimwear and a towel
- Sun cream, hat and sunglasses
- Comfortable shoes for the short walks
- Camera or phone for photos
- Seychelles rupees in cash for entrance fees, lunch and drinks
- Your own snorkelling mask if you have one
Good to know
- The tour is private, no other guests join your group.
- We cannot visit every stop in 5–6 hours. Choose your favourites, we help you plan.
- Jardin du Roi, Mission Lodge and Sauzier Waterfall are closed on public holidays.
- The rum distillery and the Victoria market are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
- When two adults book with children, the first child aged 0–12 travels free.
- Tours are paid in full online in advance. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
- Would you like more time? You can simply add extra hours when you book, and if the day runs a little longer, that is no problem.
Some places on this tour charge a small entrance fee, paid on site and only if you choose to visit them.
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | €199 |
| 2 to 6 persons | €110 |
| 7 to 50 persons | €95 |
With two paying adults, one child up to 12 years travels free. Lunch, dinner, drinks and entrance fees are optional and paid on site.
Why a Mahé island tour is a must
Many visitors spend their holiday at one hotel beach and see little else. That would be a pity. Mahé is the largest island of the Seychelles and surprisingly varied. In a single day you move from white beaches in the south to green mountain roads, from a spice garden to a rum distillery, from a sleepy bay to a busy market in the capital. The places we describe here are only a first taste. On the day you will discover much more than we can write.
A private tour planned around you
There is no fixed programme. You tell us what you enjoy and we build the route together. Some guests want beaches and snorkelling, others want culture, food and local stories. Five to six hours is a long time in a car, so we never rush from stop to stop. You decide where we stay a while and where we only pause for a photo.
For beach lovers
The south of Mahé is ideal. Anse Intendance is wild and beautiful, with a beach bar for a cocktail on the sand. Takamaka Beach is quiet, with giant tortoises and a Creole restaurant right on the beach. Anse Royale is long and wide, and one of the best spots for snorkelling. In the north, Beau Vallon offers room to swim, beach restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere.
For culture and taste
At Le Jardin du Roi you walk among the spices and endemic plants of the Seychelles. At the Takamaka Rum Distillery in La Plaine St André you see how the local rum is made and taste it. The craft village at Domaine de Val des Prés and Pomme Cannelle is home to local artists, and Mission Lodge tells the story of Venn's Town while offering a wide view of the west coast.
For nature and views
A short walk takes you to Sauzier Waterfall, where you can cool off in fresh water. The granite rocks of Carana Beach are among the most photogenic places on the island. From Mont Signal, after just 5–10 minutes on foot, you look over Victoria and the islands of the Sainte Anne Marine Park: Sainte Anne, Long Island, Round Island, Moyenne and Cerf.
Victoria, a capital in miniature
Victoria is one of the smallest capitals in the world. We drive past the Hindu temple, the museum, the Clock Tower, the largest and oldest church of the Seychelles, the little marina and the remarkable Supreme Court. If you like, we walk with you through the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, full of fruit, vegetables, fish, spices and Creole crafts. If you want to explore the capital on foot, ask us about our separate city tour.
Sunset on the beach
Watching the sun go down is a perfect finish. Depending on where you stay, we stop at Beau Vallon in the north, at Port Launay in the northwest, or at Anse à la Mouche, Baie Lazare or Anse Intendance in the south. A local rum or an ice cold local beer is never far away.
Your guides
Island Tour Seychelles has been run by Sheena Jean since 2020. She is a licensed Seychellois tour guide, and according to our records the only licensed female tour guide in the country. Our guides Chris, Kevin, Yannick and Keeto are licensed as well, and together our team shows guests our island. We are Seychellois, we know our island, and we are happy to make your day on Mahé a special one.
Questions and answers
How long does the Mahé island tour take?
Can we see all the stops in one day?
Where do you pick us up?
Is lunch included?
Are there extra costs on the day?
Is the tour suitable for children?
What happens if we need to cancel?
Which languages do your guides speak?
Read up on the places
What awaits you at each stop, in peace and before you go.
- Le Jardin du Roi: Spice garden above Anse Royale
- Anse Intendance: the wild beach in the south of Mahé
- Anse Takamaka on Mahé: the beach where we spend the most time
- Anse Royale: shallow water behind the reef
- Takamaka Rum Distillery: Tour, Tasting and a House from 1792
- Domaine de Val des Prés: Craftsmanship in a Plantation House
- Mission Lodge on Mahé: views and a school that is no more
- Sauzier Waterfall near Port Glaud: fresh water between two beaches
- Port Launay: the quietest bay on the west coast
- Carana Beach: the beach for photos, not for swimming
- Beau Vallon: the beach in the north where there's always something happening
- Victoria: the smallest capital you will ever visit
- Mont Signal: Victoria from above, in ten minutes
- Eden Island: Marina, Restaurants and a View Back to Mahé
- Attractions on Mahé: all the places we visit
Guest reviews
Top private tour. Sheena is an upbeat and friendly tour guide. We had a super day with many wonderful impressions.
Tripadvisor
Highly recommended. Sheena made the best of it even in bad weather. Thank you!
Tripadvisor
What a great tour sheena... What a great tour sheena was a great host for around Seychelles tour taken me everwere and give me my own choices ..
Viator
Wonderful tour with Sheena 🌴. I had a wonderful tour with Sheena! She was very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. I would highly recommend her to anyone visiting the Seychelles. Thank you, Sheena, for the wonderful trip!
Tripadvisor
Mahé day tour. The trip was exceptionally well organized from start to finish. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable about all the sites we visited around Mahé, and her insights made each stop even more enjoyable. She made our tour a truly memorable experience with her professionalism, warmth, and enthusiasm. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an outstanding tour experience.
Viator
Stunning island. After a little confusion about the pick up point we started this beautiful tour with Yannick our driver/guide. The van was very confortable, clean and roomy. Yannick was informative, friendly and a good driver. We saw the entire island, beautiful beaches, stunning views, lush nature. We were there on a Sunday, unfortunately some places were closed but Yannick made adjustments to the tour so that we …
Viator
