What to do on La Digue in the Seychelles?

After writing about Mahé Island and sharing the highlights of my few days on this idyllic island, I’m taking you to another little paradise in this article: La Digue Island.

Why should La Digue absolutely be part of your trip to the Seychelles? I wrote this article based on my personal experience. I visited La Digue a few years ago as part of a honeymoon trip that also included Praslin, and I remember it as if it were yesterday! So I have plenty to share with you. From the moment you arrive at its tiny harbor to its white-sand beaches, distinctive transportation, and timeless atmosphere, you’re sure to return home with plenty of memories. Here is everything I can tell you about this little piece of paradise.

To make the most of your stay, don’t forget to check out our detailed guide to the best time to visit Seychelles when planning your trip.

Since then, we’ve also published a complete guide to everything you can do in Seychelles.

As soon as you set foot on La Digue, you’ll quickly realize that there are very few cars on the island. The bicycle is therefore the most popular way to get around. Even if cycling is not usually your thing, you may enjoy it much more than you expect!

Cooling off in the turquoise water after working up a sweat is a real pleasure! And above all, you’ll have time to take in the beautiful scenery at your own pace and stop whenever and wherever you like. Cycling is a must during your vacation on La Digue Island!

This former coconut and vanilla plantation is a must-see on La Digue. Admission costs around 100 Seychellois rupees (less than €10). You’ll learn how vanilla is grown and hand-pollinated, as well as how coconut oil is produced from copra, the dried flesh of coconuts.

You will also visit the old cemetery, where La Digue’s first settlers are buried. Children usually love the Aldabra giant tortoise enclosure! Union Estate is also home to a plantation house built in the French colonial style. A Mauritian family who made their fortune after settling on the island had this beautiful house built using precious woods and palm leaves. Finally, admire the impressive giant Union rock, 4,000 m² in area and 40 m high. It is estimated to be 700 million years old!

When you arrive at La Digue, you are immediately impressed by La Passe harbor. It may be small, but it is full of charm! The harbor’s main street starts here. It is lined with small shops, where you can buy food and drinks, souvenirs and CDs of local sega music sung in Seychellois Creole.

You will also come across colonial houses with typical Seychelles architecture and vestiges of the archipelago’s history.

If you enjoy hiking, I recommend this route for a different perspective on La Digue’s natural beauty. This 4-kilometer mountain hike will take you to the highest peak of La Digue (333 m). You should leave early in the morning, as most of the trails are not in the shade. But once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views of La Digue and the surrounding islands (Praslin, Félicité, Marianne, and sometimes Frégate, if the weather is clear).

Along the way, you’ll pass through the “La Veuve” Reserve. You will be able to observe an endemic protected bird known as the Seychelles paradise flycatcher, or black widow. It can be recognized by its black plumage with bluish reflections, and its long tail. In this reserve, banana trees, lataniers, vanilla trees and orchids grow. Botanically, it is an incredibly rich area.

Well, of course, if you travel to the Seychelles, and more precisely to La Digue, Anse Source d’Argent is the beach you simply have to see! It’s the one you see on all the postcards when people picture this dreamlike archipelago. It is the ultimate paradise beach, with its huge granite rocks, its white sand, its translucent waters and its coconut trees. It is common to see newlyweds posing for wedding photos here, and some couples even hold their ceremony on the beach. However, reaching it takes a little effort because it lies at the far end of Union Estate. You have to pay to get there and walk a bit. Once you arrive, though, the secluded, end-of-the-world atmosphere makes it worthwhile…

Anse Sévère is also worth a visit, especially at sunset, when beautiful colors spread across both the sky and the water. It is located north of La Digue and offers a beautiful view of Praslin. Protected by the coral reef, it is ideal if you go there with children. The sea is calm and shallow at low tide. On the beach, you can enjoy a bar and a store. You will find it easily, since it is located on the roadside. I definitely recommend this place for snorkeling.

I also wanted to tell you about my favorite beach on La Digue: Anse Patates. For me, it is the most beautiful beach on the island, and perhaps even in the Seychelles! When you arrive from the road, you will be captivated by the view over this beautiful cove. You have to walk up a staircase to get there. You have to go there at low tide, because the strip of sand is not very wide, and to wear shoes to go in the water (because of the numerous corals and sea urchins). But once you put on your fins, mask and snorkel, you’re in for a real treat. You will have the sensation of swimming in an aquarium, among beautiful multicolored fish! In short, I really recommend you make a stop there.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to do a cruise when I was on La Digue, but I’ve heard that the excursion is well worth it. For about 120 euros per adult for one day, you will explore these islets, but also discover the marine life and the coral reefs.

Departure is usually around 9:30 a.m., heading toward Coco Island, a national marine reserve since 1996, where you can snorkel. Lunch is provided on site. In the afternoon, you will visit Grande Sœur and Félicité, where you will be able to walk through the lush vegetation and dive among fish, turtles and maybe sharks. The return trip is scheduled around 5:00 pm.

Of course, you will first have to go to the Seychelles, via Mahé International Airport. As usual, I recommend checking the Skyscanner website to compare prices and see which periods offer the best prices. If you are flexible on your dates, you can find very good prices to go to the Seychelles, between €500 and €600 round trip from Paris. If you are looking for cheap flights, I recommend checking Skyscanner, the flight comparison website I have been using for a long time.

You have two possibilities:

• The Cat Cocos ferry, which you can take :
  • Directly from Mahé, which is located 45 km away. The trip takes about 1 hour 10 minutes and it will cost you about €60 per person for a one-way trip;
  • Most often, Cat Rose’s boats stop in Praslin. The trip from Praslin to La Digue takes 15 minutes (the distance between the two islands is 7 km), and costs about €15 one-way.

• Helicopter: yes, there is no airport or airfield on the island, but it has a landing strip for helicopters! Flights are operated by the company ZilAir from Mahé or Praslin to any of the 11 islands of the Seychelles.

Personally, I stayed three nights on La Digue, which felt about right. The tropical island is not very big, but there are a lot of things to do, so staying for less time would be a shame because you might not be able to “see everything”, even if, between us, it is not necessarily the ultimate goal. Above all, it is much nicer not to rush from one activity to the next. To answer the question of how long to stay in La Digue, three nights is ideal in my opinion, combining with other islands: Mahé-Praslin-La Digue or Praslin-La Digue. It all depends on the length of your trip to the Seychelles.

• By bicycle: this is the most common means of transportation on La Digue. If you are staying in a hotel or guesthouse, bicycles are often available to borrow or rent. But be careful with the quality of the bicycles, which are sometimes not very new… I learned that the hard way on my first day, I still remember it! Apart from that, the island is perfect for two-wheelers and this mode of transportation will allow you to fully enjoy the landscape and explore at your own pace.
• By taxi (very rare on the island): you will see, there are very few motorized vehicles on the island (this is also what makes its charm!). There are reportedly around thirty private vehicles used to transport tourists. For my part, I did not use this means of transportation, I preferred to get around the way most locals and visitors do.
• By private cart from the hotel (upon arrival and departure): you get off the boat and a small vehicle (golf-cart-style) is waiting for you and will transport you (and your luggage) to the hotel. It’s fun and it gives a little VIP touch to your arrival and departure. I liked it!
• By oxcart: it was once the main means of transportation in La Digue. There are only a few left, mostly for tourists. It certainly adds to the change of scenery!

Le Domaine de l’Orangeraie Resort and Spa

I stayed at this wonderful four-star resort during my visit to the tropical island of La Digue. My experience was extremely positive, and I still have wonderful memories of my stay. The room was beautiful, with its bathroom in natural materials, its warm decoration and the outdoor terrace where you can relax at the end of the day. The room was always spotless thanks to the attentive housekeeping service, with the added bonus of little chocolates on the bed!

What about the food? Excellent! The service was every bit as good as you would expect from a hotel of this standard. You can eat with your feet in the sand or choose a table on the pier, at the water’s edge. And if you have the opportunity, treat yourself to a massage. The spa is located high up, so you can get there by cart. Once you are comfortably seated on your massage table, you just have to gaze out over the seemingly endless blue ocean and enjoy this magical moment!

Nautique Waterfront Hotel La Digue

This 4-star hotel has excellent reviews. Its location on the west coast of the island is ideal for enjoying the beautiful sunsets with an unobstructed view of Praslin! You can enjoy the beautiful white-sand beach at the foot of the hotel, or, if you prefer, an infinity pool is available. It’s ideal for a relaxing seaside vacation. You can also take advantage of direct access to the sea to discover marine life in the crystal-clear waters. The staff is very welcoming (the kindness of Seychellois is well known!). Rooms are spacious and well-maintained, with a refined design. A very good place to stay on La Digue!

Domaine Les Rochers

If you’re looking for a quiet place to stay, Domaine Les Rochers is the place to go. Whether you come as a couple or with your family, you’re likely to find an apartment or bungalow that suits you. This is a great option for an independent stay. Since the establishment is located in the village of La Passe, there are restaurants and stores nearby. You’ll also be just 150 meters from the beach and a five-minute walk from the pier. Bicycles are available for rent 250 meters away from the estate. What more could you ask for?

Lucy’s guesthouse

Lucy’s Guesthouse on La Digue has plenty going for it. You’ll receive a warm welcome and the owners will give you lots of practical advice about the paradise island. You can rent bicycles on site to get around the island. The nearest beach (Anse La Réunion) is 250 meters away and Anse Source d’Argent less than a kilometer away. There is also a grocery store next door, which is convenient if you want to keep food costs down.

If you want to go further, I’ve written a very comprehensive guide to accommodation on the island of La Digue. It details all the different types of accommodation, so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for!

That’s it, our tour of the island of La Digue is over. Now you know all about the things to do in La Digue. Now it’s your turn to discover this little paradise, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. In conclusion, if I could give you just one piece of advice: do not go to the Seychelles without spending a few days on the island of La Digue! If you go on vacation in this little paradise, I invite you to read our other article about the island of Praslin, a real wonder.

See you soon!