Seychelles Self-Launched: Vallée de Mai, Curieuse Island & the Shores of Anse Lazio
8 days · Seychelles
G Adventures charges £5,000
No-markup version: ~£1,325 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on the 8-day Mahé–Praslin–La Digue loop: the same beaches, the same UNESCO palm forest, the same giant tortoises, the same catamaran island-hop — but on the public ferries, with guesthouses instead of lodges and tours booked direct instead of a guided group. The Seychelles is genuinely one of the most expensive places on the planet for accommodation, so expect this to be a "budget" version of a very pricey destination rather than a cheap trip — but you'll still cut well over half the cost by self-booking. Book ferries early (Cat Cocos and Cat Rose are the two public operators; seats sell out in peak season), and note that Vallée de Mai and Curieuse day-trip operators book out days in advance.
Day-by-day
Mahé: Land in Paradise
Beau Vallon, Mahé
Fly into Seychelles International Airport and take the public bus (SPTC route 9 or the Victoria-bound bus, then change) or a taxi (~SCR 450/£25) up the coast to Beau Vallon. Check into a guesthouse a few minutes' walk from the beach — there's a good cluster of small family-run places and one hostel-style option on the Beau Vallon strip. Spend the late afternoon swimming off the calm bay and watching the sunset, then eat Creole takeaway (grilled fish, rice, lentils) from one of the beachfront stalls for around £6-8.
🚌Public bus from airport (~£1) or taxi ~£25
🛏Guesthouse near Beau Vallon beach (double room from ~£65/night, or dorm bed ~£30-35)
- →Beau Vallon beach swim
- →Sunset walk along the bay
- →Creole takeaway dinner at the beachfront stalls
Mahé: Copolia Trail Hike or Giant Tortoises
Morne Seychellois National Park / Cap Lazare, Mahé
Pick your own OMG day. Option A: take the bus or a short taxi to Sans Soucis and hike the Copolia Trail — 1.5-2 hours return, steep but short, ending on a granite slab with sweeping views over Victoria, the reefs and the east coast. Bring water; the trail is free. Option B: organise a self-booked visit to a nature reserve with free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises (Cap Lazare or a similar private reserve, roughly £30-40 entry). Either way, return to Beau Vallon for an afternoon swim and a grilled-fish dinner.
🚌Public bus to Sans Soucis (~£1) plus taxi to trailhead (~£10 each way), or shared taxi to reserve
🛏Guesthouse near Beau Vallon beach
- →Copolia Trail hike
- →Giant tortoise reserve visit
- →Beau Vallon beach afternoon
Praslin: Anse Lazio
Praslin
Book the Cat Cocos fast ferry from Mahé (Victoria Inter Island Quay) to Praslin — about an hour, roughly £50-55 each way. Drop bags at a guesthouse in Anse Volbert/Côte d'Or (guesthouses here run ~£70-90 for a double; budget studios slightly less). Then take the public bus or a taxi to Anse Lazio at the northwest tip and spend the afternoon swimming between the granite boulders. Bring your own snorkel and water — the beach has a couple of restaurants but prices are steep. Sunset back in Anse Volbert.
🚌Cat Cocos ferry Mahé–Praslin ~£50-55; public bus to Anse Lazio ~£1
🛏Guesthouse in Anse Volbert / Côte d'Or, Praslin (~£70-90 double)
- →Cat Cocos ferry crossing
- →Anse Lazio beach afternoon
- →Swimming and snorkelling
Praslin: Catamaran to Curieuse & St Pierre
Curieuse Island & St Pierre Islets
Book a shared day cruise direct with one of the Praslin-based boat operators (or via GetYourGuide before you go) — full day with lunch, snorkelling gear and a Curieuse landing, typically £75-95 per person. You'll snorkel the coral gardens off St Pierre, land on Curieuse to walk among the free-roaming giant tortoises and mangrove boardwalks, and eat a beach BBQ lunch. Book at least a few days ahead in high season; morning departures from Côte d'Or are standard.
🚌Walk from guesthouse to Côte d'Or jetty; boat included in tour
🛏Guesthouse in Anse Volbert / Côte d'Or, Praslin
- →Shared catamaran day cruise to St Pierre & Curieuse
- →Snorkelling at St Pierre islets
- →Giant tortoises and mangrove walk on Curieuse
- →Beach BBQ lunch
Praslin: Vallée de Mai, then Ferry to La Digue
Vallée de Mai / La Digue
Take the early bus to Vallée de Mai UNESCO reserve and pay the entry fee at the gate (£20-25). Do the self-guided loop (waymarked; 1-1.5 hrs) for the Coco de Mer palms and the chance of Seychelles black parrot, or join the on-site ranger walk if it's running. Head back, collect your bags, and take the short Cat Rose ferry from Praslin to La Digue (15 min, ~£12-15). On La Digue, hire a bicycle for the duration from your guesthouse or a rental shack in La Passe (~£8-10/day, the standard way to get around — there are almost no cars). Base yourself in La Passe or Anse Réunion.
🚌Cat Rose ferry Praslin–La Digue ~£13; bicycle hire ~£9/day
🛏Guesthouse or self-catering studio in La Passe / Anse Réunion, La Digue (~£75-95 double)
- →Self-guided Vallée de Mai walk
- →Coco de Mer spotting
- →Cat Rose ferry crossing
- →Bicycle hire and island orientation
La Digue: Clear Kayak at Anse Source d'Argent
Anse Source d'Argent & La Digue beaches
Cycle to L'Union Estate (small entry fee ~£8) and get to Anse Source d'Argent early before the day-trippers. Book a glass-bottom/marine clear kayak tour direct with one of the operators at the beach or through GetYourGuide (roughly £45-60 for a guided paddle over the coral gardens). Afterwards, bike-hop between Anse Source d'Argent, Anse Severe and Anse Patates, with a stop for a Creole lunch (~£10) at a local takeaway. The afternoon is yours — swim, snorkel, or ride to the north tip of the island.
🚌Bicycle (walking/biking only on La Digue)
🛏Guesthouse in La Passe / Anse Réunion, La Digue
- →Clear kayak tour at Anse Source d'Argent
- →L'Union Estate entry
- →Bicycle beach-hopping
- →Snorkelling at Anse Severe
Back to Mahé: Last-Day Beaches
La Digue to Mahé
Take the morning Cat Rose ferry to Praslin and connect with Cat Cocos onward to Mahé (combined ~£60-65, book the connection in advance). Return to Beau Vallon or Victoria area for the night. Spend the afternoon souvenir-shopping at Victoria market or on another swim, then have a final dinner of Creole curry or octopus. Buses are easy and cheap across Mahé; a taxi back to the airport tomorrow is around £25.
🚌Cat Rose La Digue–Praslin ~£13 plus Cat Cocos Praslin–Mahé ~£50-55
🛏Guesthouse near Beau Vallon or Victoria (~£65-85 double)
- →Ferry island-hop back to Mahé
- →Victoria market shopping
- →Beau Vallon final swim
- →Farewell dinner
Mahé: Departure
Mahé
Take the public bus to Seychelles International Airport (cheap and frequent from Victoria; from Beau Vallon change in Victoria) or a taxi, and fly out. If your flight is late, a morning swim at Beau Vallon or a quick Victoria wander is easy to fit in.
🚌Public bus to airport ~£1, or taxi ~£25
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Transfer to airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,325 | £5,000 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,675 per person (74%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,325
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Seychelles Self-Launched: Vallée de Mai, Curieuse Island & the Shores of Anse Lazio cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,325 per person for 8 days in Seychelles. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £5,000 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,325 — a saving of roughly £3,675 (74%) per person.
How long is the Seychelles trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Seychelles.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a beaches, hiking, wildlife trip through Seychelles, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.