Route Briefing: London to Seychelles
There are beach destinations, and then there is Seychelles — a place so genuinely extraordinary that the journey to get there feels entirely justified the moment you step onto a beach framed by ancient granite boulders and water so clear it barely looks real. Flying from London to Mahé takes around ten and a half hours with a stop, and connecting through Dubai or Nairobi tends to offer the most competitive fares. Emirates and Etihad both route through the Gulf, while Kenya Airways connects via Nairobi — all solid options with good onward service into Seychelles International Airport.
On the fare front, Seychelles sits firmly in premium territory. Standard roundtrip pricing from London typically runs above £1,000, but if you catch a good deal you can find tickets under the equivalent of around $900 roundtrip. Given the destination's reputation for luxury eco-resorts and genuinely limited flight capacity, booking three to six months ahead is not just advisable — it's almost essential, particularly if you're targeting the peak windows of December through January or July through August when the islands are at their most sought-after.
Mahé is the main island and home to the capital, Victoria — one of the smallest capital cities in the world and worth a wander for its colourful market and Creole architecture. From the airport, taxis are the standard transfer option into Victoria or onward to your accommodation. The island is compact enough that getting around is manageable, and inter-island ferries and small domestic flights connect Mahé to Praslin and La Digue, the two other islands most visitors make time for.
La Digue in particular is the kind of place that makes you question every life decision that kept you away this long. Anse Source d'Argent is frequently cited among the most photographed beaches on earth, and the giant Aldabra tortoises wandering freely around the island add a genuinely surreal, prehistoric charm. Praslin is home to the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the rare coco de mer palm grows — a forest that feels ancient and almost mythological.
The shoulder months of April to May and October to November offer calmer seas and quieter resorts at slightly softer prices — a genuinely smart window for travellers who want the full experience without the peak-season premium. Seychelles never fully goes off-season, but those months reward the flexible traveller handsomely. If you can shift your dates even slightly away from the Christmas and summer school holiday rush, both your wallet and your beach towel will thank you.