After spending a few weeks visiting the Seychelles, it’s without a doubt that La Digue is my favorite of the three main islands of the country. Praslin and Mahe were nice, but they just didn’t give me that tropical island in the sun vibe given how large they were.
Enter La Digue. This island is everything you think of when it comes to a tropical island beach paradise in the middle of the ocean. It’s small but quaint, and is home to the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles.
La Digue is the third most populated island in the Seychelles and my personal favorite. It’s much smaller than Praslin and Mahe giving it a unique feel. I just really prefer small islands as it really gives me that island vibe.
La Digue is a very popular day trip destination for those staying on Mahe and Praslin but I made sure to stay here for many nights. For me, La Digue also has the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles and is home to the world famous Anse Source D’Argent which is the beach you’ll see in most advertisements of the Seychelles.
Getting to La Digue
La Digue is well connected by the Seychelles ferry system which connects Mahe and Praslin to La Digue.
There are two ways to get to La Digue:
- By Ferry from Mahe and Praslin via Cat Cocos
- By ferry from Praslin via Cat Rose
There are only two ferries in the Seychelles for the three main islands: Cat Cocos and Cat Rose.
Cat Cocos is the larger ferry of the two and does an L shaped itinerary from Mahe to Praslin to La Digue to Praslin to Mahe. The boat journey from Mahe to La Digue always stops in Praslin and vice versa. The total trip takes 2h.
Cat Rose is the smaller boat and it only travels between Praslin and La Digue. This 20 minute journey is done many times throughout the day and only connects the two smaller islands of the Seychelles.
The cost for Mahe to La Digue is roughly €70-€80 one way depending on whether you want to sit in the bottom level or the top level. The cost for the Cat Rose ferry from Praslin to La Digue is €20 one way. The ferries are ridiculously expensive in the Seychelles so be prepared to pay!
Getting around La Digue
La Digue is very small at only 10 square kilometers. You can bike around the entire island in about 30 minutes. The main form of transport on La Digue is by bicycle. You’ll see countless shops by the ferry port that rent out bicycles for visitors.
Bike rentals generally about €10 per day. There are so many bike rental shops so you won’t have an issue finding a bike. There is a lot of quality difference however so make sure you go with a shop that has newer bikes. There are even electric bikes for rent in La Digue nowadays for €40 a day. These bikes are quite dangerous and many people bike way too fast for the small streets of La Digue.
Biking around La Digue is very easy. The roads are well paved and it is not very hilly. The bike ride to Grand Anse has a few hills but nothing that will kill you.
Where to eat on La Digue
La Digue is a small little island but it is filled with plenty of good dining options. In fact, I think the food on La Digue was the best of the three islands I visited. The takeaway options on La Digue were on point.
Here are some of my favorite restaurant son La Digue
- Mimi’s Cafe: The Coconut cheesecake is literally to die for
- Rey & Josh Takeaway: Great Creole style food for very cheap
- Zerof Takeaway: Another amazing takeaway that serves great local food. Get the grilled fish.
- KZ Takeaway: Best fish wraps I’ve had. Lived off of these while I stayed on La Digue
- Ton Greg: Pizza restaurant run by an Italian. Pizzas won’t remind you of Naples but they do the job.
- Glorious Bakery: Open from 7am with various baked goods and the best fish samosas for a cheap price. One of the few places I could find a coffee.
Food in general in Seychelles wasn’t something I was impressed with. Their main dish is fish curry which is tasty don’t get me wrong but it’s simply not something overly unique. Plus there weren’t many other options that were quintessential Seychelles.
Food in the Seychelles is also quite expensive and often times I would wonder about the value proposition of what I was getting. La Digue is a laid back island with mostly casual restaurants but the prices are more expensive than Western Europe. Even fruit from local fruit shacks are insanely expensive (almost €8 for a papaya).
“Takeaways” are the Seychelles version of street food or take out food. The prices here are much cheaper and is what you’ll live off of if you want to save money. These are mostly hit or miss but there are a few in La Digue.
Best Beaches on La Digue
Finally onto the good stuff. La Digue is all about the beautiful beaches packed into a small island. I think the beaches on La Digue are the most beautiful in all of the Seychelles and being able to reach them by bicycle makes it even better.
Not only are the nicest beaches in La Digue, but there is also an abundance of beaches. I went to at least 5 different beaches in La Digue, all of which were stunning. Praslin on the other hand only really had two beaches that were worth visiting.
Grand Anse
One of the most popular beaches on La Digue is the Grand Anse on the eastern side of the island. This beach is about 500 meters long and home to some of the softest sand I’ve walked on. It’s also contained on both sides by beautiful granite rocks that make the view almost fake looking.
Grand Anse is easily reachable by bike and is about 20 minutes from the town. There is also a restaurant on the beach as well as juice bars. Expect to pay up though as the coconut at the juice stand was 100 SCR (ridiculous).
From Grand Anse, you can walk to even more stunning beaches in my opinion with less people which is next on my list.
Petite Anse
Petite anse is located adjacent to Grand anse and can easily be accessed through a little trail from Grande anse (10 minutes by foot). The trail is located just 5 meters behind the fruit stand on Grande Anse.
This beach is far less busy than Grand anse and perhaps even more beautiful. There are some insane sandy stretches and there’s a sandy patch in the water where you can walk out for many meters without stepping on any rocks. This is Seychelles paradise in its truest form.
The only downside to Petite anse is that there is not much shade to be had. Given that there are not many people, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding the shaded parts however.
Anse de Cocos
Further past Petite anse is the Anse de Cocos. This beach is even more deserted than the Petite Anse and Grand Anse and is home to some of the best photo opportunities on the island. There’s a huge rock formation right on the beach which makes for an incredible photo opportunity.
There is even a bar and restaurant here which serves decent food and drinks. You’ll need to walk another 20-30 minutes past Petite Anse to reach Anse de Cocos.
Anse Patates
Located i the far north of the island, Anse Patates is one of my favorite little beaches just because it is quicker to get to than many f the others. It’s attached to the Patatran hotel which means you have easy lunch options if you get hungry.
The beach itself is small but very picturesque with crystal blue waters and white sand beaches. As it is so close to the Patatran hotel, it is well groomed every day which means you’ll have the whitest sandiest beaches.
Best time is to get here before 10am as that’s when the crowds really start rolling in.
Anse Source D’Argent
You’ve all seen the photos. Beautiful rocks perfectly placed on white beaches surrounded by crystal clear waters that completely represents the Seychelles. These photos are all from the famous Anse Source D’Argent beach which is located in the southwest of the La Digue.
Anse Source d’Argent is one of the most famous and picturesque beaches in the world, located on La Digue Island in the Seychelles. This stunning beach is renowned for its massive granite boulders, which are sculpted into unique shapes, creating a dramatic and photogenic landscape. The soft, powdery white sand contrasts beautifully with the crystal-clear turquoise waters, making it an ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing.
The shallow, calm waters are protected by a coral reef, making it safe for swimmers unlike most of the other beaches in the Seychelles which are more wild.
Anse Source D’Argent is one of the only beaches in the Seychelles where you need to pay an entrance fee. It is 150 SCR per person per day to enter this beach which is steep if you’re planning to come here on multiple days.
As you enter the national park, you’ll need to bike another kilometer through vanilla fields, coconut palm forests, and more before arriving at the beach. There’s even a small park for the Aldabra Giant tortoise which we saw while on Praslin.
There are multiple beaches within Anse Source D’Argent. As you enter, there are a few small beaches sandwiched between massive granite boulders. A few hundred meters from the entrance is a wider sandy beach with multiple juice shacks. I wasn’t a fan of this beach as it was small and packed with people. I think you come to this beach for the rocks which is what makes it special. If you want beach, Grande Anse and Petite Anse are a million times nicer.
Overall, expect Anse Source D’Argent to be packed full of people. Many of the day trippers from Mahe and Praslin come to La Digue specifically to visit this beach. I would therefore come to this beach between 7-10am or from 4pm-6:30pm for the sunset.
Pro Tip: Buy your ticket from 4:30pm and onward. You can enter for the same day but also all of the next day.
Where to stay in La Digue
La Digue is chalk full of different hotels and guesthouses for all budgets. It is very much a tourist centric island. Given that it is so small, you won’t find huge resorts here but there are a few really nice options for those that want a more luxury experience.
Budget – Under €125
Middle End – €125 to 350
Luxury – €350+
Best time of year to visit La Digue
Seychelles enjoys a warm, tropical climate with temperatures ranging between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (90°F) throughout the year. The archipelago experiences two main seasons:
- April to May & October to November – These are the best months for calm seas and great underwater visibility, making them ideal for snorkeling and diving. The weather is warm, with gentle winds, and you can expect little to no rain.
- December to March – This is the wet season due to the northwest monsoon. While temperatures remain warm, heavy showers and humidity levels increase. However, the rain usually comes in short bursts, followed by sunshine.
- June to September – The southeast trade winds bring cooler, drier weather, making it a great time for hiking and outdoor exploration. However, the winds can make the ocean choppier, which may affect activities like swimming and snorkeling.
Accommodation Prices: When to Find the Best Deals
Seychelles is known for its luxury resorts, but prices fluctuate depending on the season:
- Peak Season (December to January & July to August) – Hotel rates are at their highest due to holiday demand and school vacations. It’s wise to book accommodations well in advance if you plan to visit during these months.
- Shoulder Season (April to June & September to November) – This is the best time to find more reasonable prices while still enjoying great weather. Many hotels offer discounts, making it an excellent time for budget-conscious travelers.
- Low Season (February to March) – While rain is more frequent, accommodation prices drop significantly. If you don’t mind occasional showers, you can take advantage of great deals on resorts and flights.
Crowd Sizes: When to Avoid the Rush
- High Season (December, January, July, and August) – Expect more tourists, especially at popular beaches like Anse Lazio and Beau Vallon. It’s best to book tours and activities in advance.
- Moderate Season (April, May, October, and November) – Fewer crowds and more relaxed vibes make this a perfect time to visit.
- Low Season (February, March, June, and September) – The least crowded time, allowing for a more peaceful experience with empty beaches and less competition for accommodations.
