Things to Do in Mahe

Considered to be one of the most recommended places to visit in Mahe for beach lovers, Beau Vallon flaunts an exuberant atmosphere with a heavy influx of visitors. Considered to be one of the country’s largest beaches, Beau Vallon flaunts tall palms and turquoise waters. With its charming coral reefs, this beach offers you the chance to engage in underwater activities, including scuba diving and snorkeling.

Since the water here is shallow, you can also enjoy a refreshing swim. Kite surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, and fishing are a few other exhilarating water sports offered by Beau Vallon. After sunset the shoreline of the beach gets lined up with a number of stalls selling delicious seafood. Every Wednesday, a weekly market is held at Beau Vallon that lets visitors shop for amazing local souvenirs.

Location: North western coast of Mahé, Seychelles

Port Glaud happens to be a quaint coastal village lying in the northwestern part of Mahe. This small village shelters a nice beach, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the beautiful offshore islands. The serene natural lagoons formed by the sea waters offer the visitors the opportunity to enjoy snorkeling and swimming.

During low tide, the shallow waters allow visitors to reach the offshore L'Islette island just by crossing the seabed by foot. The calm and peaceful environs and the scenic beauty of Port Glaud make it one of the most couple-friendly Mahe tourist places, dedicated to people seeking nature and romance.

Translating to “Royal Bay” in english language, Anse Royale is a beautiful beach village. The fame of this place is majorly credited to the Jardin Du Roi, which is one of the prime attractions of this village.

Also referred to as the “Garden of the King” and spread across a whopping area of around 25 hectares, Jardin Du Roi happens to be a stunning spice estate that grows umpteen varieties of exotic and aromatic spices. Home to a myriad of colourful coral fish, the beach of Anse Royale makes for one of the excellent places to visit in Mahe for snorkelers.

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Considered to be one of the most favourite Mahe places to visit among nature and wildlife enthusiasts, Roche Caiman is a breathtaking sanctuary and wetland reserve. The sanctuary is home to umpteen varieties of exotic and rare flora and fauna. Made completely of freshwater, this reserve exclusively houses freshwater marine animals. Home to a number of migrant and indegenous bird species, Roche Caiman is the perfect hub for birdwatchers.

Tourists visiting this sanctuary will also have the opportunity to spot multiple species of insects, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Managed by Nature Seychelles, Roche Caiman features a spacious outdoor gym, the Heritage Garden, a kiosk for yoga sessions, and a farm laden with fruit trees, medicinal plants, and crops.

Location: PO Box 1310, Roche Caiman, Mahe

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

The postcard-perfect wild beach of Grand Anse is known popularly for its incredibly beautiful panoramic views. Though swimming is not advisable in this beach, the picturesque wild waters incorporate a touch of magic into this place. The magnificent granite boulders set overlooking the beach enhance its beauty and offer it a truly alluring look.

Counted among the best places to visit in Mahe for leisure seekers, the beautiful village of Barbarons has gained a lot of popularity over the years for its pristine beach and lavish resorts. The Barbarons village is also home to the Seychelles National Biodiversity Centre, which is an informative hub often frequented by visitors.

Opening Hours: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Lying in the southern part of Mahe, the artisanal village of Le Domaine De Val De Pres is one of the most suggested Mahe places to visit for art lovers. The skilled local artists and craftsmen live here and put up stalls to showcase their brilliant masterpieces to the visitors. During your visit to Le Domaine De Val De Pres, spend time learning about the beautiful Creole culture, admiring the local craftsmanship, and shopping for handcrafted souvenirs like the intricate specimens of ships.

You can also marvel at the various Creole architectural wonders housed here, including the ‘Gran Kaz’ Plantation House constructed in 1870, the 20th century ‘La Kaz Rosa’, the ‘Maison de Coco, made of coconut tree products, and the 12 workshops that exhibit local crafts.

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Location: PO Box 1383, Au Cap, Mahe, Seychelles

Lying in the southeastern coast of Mahe, Anse Forbans is a one of the famous beaches of Seychelles. Most parts of this beach offer excellent swimming opportunities, which make Anse Forbans one of the most-visited Mahe tourist places among adventure enthusiasts. The shoreline of the beach is lined by a number of lavish hotels, which let couples and families enjoy the perfect beach holiday.

Nestled adjacent to Anse Forbans, the pristine Anse Marie Louise is a serene beach, flaunting sparkling soft sand and turquoise blue water. The peaceful environment and shallow water of this beach make it suitable for enjoying snorkeling and swimming.

Spread across 800 meters the beautiful Anse Intendance is considered to be one of the most popular Mahe tourist places. Although this photogenic beach has gained a huge popularity over time, yet it manages to remain crowd-free and calm and hosts a very serene atmosphere. The beach remains covered with soft sparkling white sands and magnificent granite outcrops, which add to its never-ending charm.

The path leading to this pristine beach is flanked with towering palm trees and majestic mangroves. Although this beach is not a recommendable swimming destination because of its strong currents, yet Anse Intendance makes for an excellent surfing destination for seasoned surfers seeking some challenge to test their skills.

Also known as Victoria Market, the famous Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market is one of the most visited Mahe tourist places among shoppaholics. Always packed with tourists and locals, this open-air market flaunts an eccentric and colourful vibe.

In addition to allowing the tourists to shop for amazing souvenirs, this market also lets them explore the delicious food and rich culture of this archipelago. You will find a number of fruit stalls here, selling fresh and juicy fruits and vegetables. Fishmongers can also be spotted selling umpteen varieties of fresh fish, including barracuda and parrotfish. You can also shop for amazing souvenirs, including local spices, herbs, shirts, and sarongs.

Opening Hours: 8 AM to 6 PM; Closed on Sundays

Location: Market Street, PO Box 166, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles

Nestled in Mont Fleuri in Victoria, the beautiful Seychelles National Botanical Gardens is considered to be one of the most ancient national monuments of Seychelles country. Spread across a whopping area of around 5 acres and dating back to a century, this place flaunts well-maintained and beautifully landscaped tropical gardens.

This breathtaking garden is home to umpteen varieties of fruit trees, palm trees, and spice plantations. The giant Aldabra tortoises can also be spotted in this garden, with some of them aged 150 years and above. You can also encounter huge colonies of fruit bats perched on the tall trees. There is also an orchid house, where umpteen varieties of colourful orchids are exhibited.

Opening Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM

Location: Mont Fleuri, Mahe, Victoria, Seychelles

One of the favorite Mahe tourist places of every trekker, Morne Blanc is a beautiful 3.2 kilometers long trail, starting from a high-altitude point in the Morne Seychellois National Park and offering a continuous ascent through breathtaking mist forests to the summit of the mountain. Set at an altitude of around 1,467 feet above sea level, overlooking the west coast, this trail offers spellbinding panoramic views of the western seaboard of Mahe.

The first few meters of the Morne Blanc trail passes via an ancient tea estate. As you go high up, the rich ecology of the forest becomes clearer, with most parts of the trail covered with ferns, mosses, and lichens. You can also spot a myriad of intriguing age-old caves that have been camouflaged by the dense jungle undergrowth.

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Location: Sans Souci road, Mahé, Seychelles

If you are wondering what to see in Mahe Seychelles that can please the soul of a nature lover, head to Mission Lodge. Mission Lodge Lookout is a very popular vantage point that offers mesmerizing panoramic views of the beautiful coastline and verdant rainforests.

This ever-charming site is famous for being visited by Queen Elizabeth II, who inaugurated this lodge and enjoyed a cup of tea here back in 1972. During your visit to Mission Lodge Lookout with your family and friends, sit under the shade of a gazebo and enjoy your picnic lunch after the hike. You can also take a serene walk through the fruit trees and enjoy birdwatching.

Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5.30 PM

Location: Sans Souci road, Mahé, Seychelles

Having its name among the nature-friendly places to visit in Mahe, Copolia Trail is spread across the magnificent granite mountain top and offers breathtaking 360 degrees panoramic views. Flaunting indegenous flora, thick forests, and beautiful glaciers, this 1.6 kilometers long trail is every trekker’s delight.

Perched at an approximate elevation of around 794 feet above sea level, Copolia Trek lets you enjoy an easy hike of 45 minutes along the splendid East Coast, even if you are a beginner with no prior trekking experience.

Location: Sans Souci road, Mahé, Seychelles

One of the amazing places to visit in Mahe with your family, the Seychelles Natural History Museum offers its visitors a sneak peek into the geological history and rich biodiversity of the country.

Established back in 1964, the museum aims at making the visitors aware of the important environmental concerns and inculcating a positive attitude to conserve the country’s natural heritage. You can find a myriad of educational resources in this museum, including photographs, documentations, animal models, and historical artifacts.

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; Friday: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM; Sat: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Closed on Sunday

Location: Independence Avenue, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles