Published 11 Oct 2026
For a first Seychelles trip from India, spend one night on Mahé, two on Praslin and two on La Digue, linked by fast ferries, and budget roughly ₹1,15,000 to ₹1,70,000 per person. You need no visa, only an online travel authorisation before you fly, and the cost is driven by flights and hotels rather than by anything you do on the islands.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
There is no visa to obtain in advance, but there is a pre-arrival authorisation. We checked the Seychelles Immigration and Civil Status (ICS) Visitor’s Permit page on 11 October 2026:
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): the page says all visitors must hold a valid ETA before leaving their country of origin, applied for on the Seychelles e-Border app or at seychelles.govtas.com.
- Visitor’s Permit: it is issued on arrival, initially for up to three months, and the first three months are free.
- What immigration looks for: a valid return or onward ticket covering the whole visit, confirmed accommodation and enough funds for the stay.
- Extensions: possible in three-month blocks up to twelve months in total, at SCR 5,000 per additional period. You will not need this on a six-day trip.
What we could not verify: the ICS page does not state the ETA fee or its processing time. Secondary sources report a fee of about €10 and a processing time of up to 12 hours, but treat those as unconfirmed and read the total on the portal before you pay. Apply a few days before you fly rather than at the airport.
Apply only through the official app or seychelles.govtas.com. Look-alike sites sell the same form at a markup. Print your hotel bookings for every night and your return ticket; the immigration criteria above are checked on arrival.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, two sharing a room, mid-range, six days and five nights. These are our estimates and ferry fares in particular change by season, so treat each line as a range.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight, Mumbai or Delhi to Mahé (one stop) | ₹50,000 – ₹70,000 |
| Travel authorisation (about €10 reported, confirm) | ₹1,000 – ₹1,300 |
| 5 nights in guesthouses and small hotels (half the room) | ₹23,000 – ₹39,000 |
| Ferries: Mahé–Praslin, Praslin–La Digue, La Digue–Mahé | ₹13,000 – ₹17,000 |
| Food, about ₹2,000 – ₹3,000 a day | ₹12,000 – ₹18,000 |
| Entry fees, bike hire, one boat day trip | ₹9,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Taxis and buses, airport transfers | ₹4,000 – ₹6,000 |
| Travel insurance, eSIM, tips | ₹3,000 – ₹4,000 |
| Total | ₹1,15,000 – ₹1,70,000 |
Three notes on the table:
- Ferries are quoted by resellers at roughly €50 to €60 one way from Mahé to Praslin and about €65 from La Digue back to Mahé, with Praslin to La Digue much shorter and cheaper. We found no official fare table, so check the operator’s fare and timetable when you book. Book the first and last legs in advance in peak season.
- Vallée de Mai on Praslin charged SCR 450 for a foreign adult when the Seychelles Islands Foundation announced its 2023 fees. Confirm the current price on sif.sc.
- Cheaper: self-catering guesthouses on La Digue and picnic lunches cut the food line by a third. The flight is the line you can least change.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: arrive on Mahé
Fly in, clear immigration with your printed bookings and transfer to a hotel near Beau Vallon or Victoria. Taxis are the simple option from the airport; agree the fare before you get in. Walk Beau Vallon beach at sunset and eat an early dinner. If your flight lands late at night, treat today as sleep.
Day 2: ferry to Praslin
Take a morning ferry from Victoria to Praslin (about an hour and 15 minutes). Check in, then walk or take a taxi to a nearby beach such as Anse Volbert for the afternoon. The water is shallow and calm, and the beach is the easiest first swim.
Day 3: Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio
Go to the Vallée de Mai at opening time. It is a UNESCO World Heritage palm forest and the home of the coco de mer, and a slow walk takes about 90 minutes. Spend the afternoon at Anse Lazio, often named among the best beaches in the Indian Ocean. Bring water and a snack: facilities are thin and a taxi back can take a while to call.
Day 4: ferry to La Digue
Take the short ferry from Praslin to La Digue. Cars are few, so most visitors hire a bike at the jetty. Cycle to the L’Union Estate, which has a small entry fee and leads to Anse Source d’Argent, the island’s best-known beach, with pink granite boulders and shallow lagoons. Visit at low tide for the sandbars and soft light late in the day.
Day 5: La Digue beaches or a boat day
Either hike or cycle to Grand Anse and Petite Anse, which have bigger waves and are for looking rather than swimming, or book a boat day trip to Coco, Félicité and Saint Pierre for snorkelling. A boat day trip is the best use of one day; agree what is included (lunch, snorkel gear, park fees) before you pay.
Day 6: back to Mahé and fly
Take the first ferry from La Digue to Mahé (some sailings change boats at Praslin) and keep at least four hours between its arrival and your flight home. Many Gulf connections leave late at night, which gives you a free afternoon on Mahé: Victoria market and the Botanical Garden fit in easily.
Where to stay on each island
- Mahé: stay near Beau Vallon for restaurants and a bus link; stay closer to the airport on the last night if your flight is early.
- Praslin: Anse Volbert and Côte d’Or have the most choice of guesthouses; Anse Lazio itself has very few rooms.
- La Digue: most guesthouses are within a short bike ride of La Passe, the jetty. Book early for peak weeks; there are few rooms and they fill up.
Guesthouses are much cheaper than resorts and often include breakfast. Book the first and last nights near the ferry terminals so a missed sailing is not a disaster.
Eating as an Indian traveller
Seychellois Creole food is built on fish, coconut and chilli, and it is often close to what Indian travellers like. Vegetarians have fewer choices: ask for vegetable curry, rice, lentils, breadfruit, salads and fresh fruit, and say “no fish stock” explicitly. A few Indian restaurants operate on Mahé and Praslin, and some guesthouses will cook vegetarian dinners if you ask in advance. Self-catering kitchens in guesthouses make a real difference to the food budget.
Best time to go
April to May and October to November are the calm shoulder months with lighter winds and good beach conditions, and they are our pick for most Indian travellers. December to January brings more rain, and June to September has stronger southeast winds, which can bring seaweed to some beaches and make a few bays rough. Confirm the weather window before you pay for a boat day.
Practical tips
- Money: the local currency is the Seychelles rupee. Cards and forex cards work at hotels and larger restaurants; keep some euros or rupees for small guesthouses, bikes and snacks. UPI is not accepted.
- SIM: buy an eSIM before you fly, or a prepaid tourist SIM on arrival; coverage is good on the main islands.
- Plugs: Seychelles uses the British three-pin plug (Type G) at 240 V, so carry an adapter.
- Sun and sea: reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and water shoes; granite is slippery and some beaches have no lifeguards.
- Getting around: buses are cheap on Mahé and Praslin, taxis are expensive, and La Digue is best by bike.
- Beaches: do not move the granite or take shells and coral from protected areas.
Related guides
Comparing islands? Read our Mauritius honeymoon plan or the Maldives budget plan. For Asian beaches at a lower price, see the Palawan guide. More facts are on the Seychelles hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Seychelles?
No visa is needed in advance. You must hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you leave India, applied for on the Seychelles e-Border app or at seychelles.govtas.com. The immigration officer then issues a Visitor's Permit on arrival, free for the first three months.
How much is the Seychelles Travel Authorisation?
The Immigration and Civil Status Office page we checked does not state the ETA fee. Secondary sources report about €10 plus bank charges, so expect roughly ₹1,000 to ₹1,300 and confirm the total on the official portal before paying.
What do Indian tourists need to show at Seychelles immigration?
The official criteria are a valid return or onward ticket covering the whole stay, confirmed accommodation and enough funds for the visit. Carry printed hotel bookings for every night, your return ticket and a recent bank statement or forex card proof.
How much does a 6-day Seychelles trip cost from India?
Roughly ₹1,15,000 to ₹1,70,000 per person for a mid-range trip: return flights, the ETA, five nights in guesthouses and small hotels, three ferry legs, food, entry fees and transfers. Flights and hotels are the two lines that move the total most.
Is Seychelles more expensive than Mauritius or the Maldives?
Usually yes for food and hotels, and about level with the Maldives once you leave resort packages. Guesthouses on Praslin and La Digue keep it affordable, and self-catering breakfasts help, but plan on a bigger budget than Mauritius.
How many days do you need for Mahé, Praslin and La Digue?
Five nights is the practical minimum: one on Mahé at the start, two on Praslin and two on La Digue. Six days lets you do both Anse Lazio and Anse Source d'Argent without rushing; with only four days, pick Mahé plus one of the other two islands.
What is the best time to visit Seychelles from India?
April to May and October to November are the transition months between the monsoon seasons, with calmer seas and lighter winds. December to January is wetter, and June to September has stronger southeast winds that can make some beaches rougher.
Can I use UPI or Indian cards in Seychelles?
Do not plan on UPI. International cards and forex cards work at hotels and larger restaurants; carry some euros or Seychelles rupees for small guesthouses, bikes and roadside food, and ask your bank about international usage before you fly.
