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Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it?
That all sounds nice, yet super expensive! Is it possible to visit Seychelles on a budget?
Seychelles is known and sold as a luxury destination, it’s the place to go for honeymoons, cashed-up couples and special occasions.
Many believe that this destination is out of the question for cash-conscious travellers, but nothing is impossible.
What if I told you that you can stay in beautiful accommodation, get around and eat at low costs – and it won’t break the bank. You just have to be smart about it.
Let us share with you all the information you’ll need to visit Seychelles on a budget.
The Seychelles archipelago consists of 115 islands with beautiful beaches, lush tropical vegetation and a wide variety of marine life.
Temperature varies from 24 to 32 degrees Celsius throughout the year. From December to March, expect hot and humid weather. From May to September, the temperature is lower and less humid.
Do you require a Visa?
A visa is not required for non-residents entering Seychelles. A valid passport (with at least 6 months validity), a return ticket and proof of accommodation will be required to show immigration officials upon arrival.
PLEASE NOTE: A Yellow Fever Certificate is also required for every visitor. You will not be able to enter if you do not have the original copy of this vaccination.
Seychellois Rupee (SCR). At the time of writing, 1 USD = 13.53 SCR
The cheapest flights to Seychelles can be booked online depending on where you are travelling from. We researched a few different websites, however, Skyscanner always has the best connections and the cheapest prices.
The best connections can be found with Ethiopian Airlines via/from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. This country is definitely worth a visit, however, if your flight allows you a half-day or one day in the capital city – consider joining a City Tour of Addis Ababa, it’s a great introduction to this interesting city.
Emirates also have some great flights deals from Dubai. If you do choose to stop over in this fantastic city, make sure you read our post to visit Dubai on a budget, it’s totally possible!
Search for your flight to arrive at Victoria Airport (Seychelles International Airport). Using Skyscanner, you can view a whole week or month of flights to compare prices.
This is ideal for this destination, as costs can vary greatly depending on the travel days.
Seychelles has many islands on which you can stay. The main island, Mahe, also the biggest has a local bus which has many connections around the entire island.
The hub is Victoria, the capital city and quite the bustling one at that.
This is where you can change buses and then travel to different beaches and destinations.
Each ride will cost you 7 Rupees or $0.50c. You can take this bus from the airport to reach your destination, just pay the driver when you jump on.
It’s a good idea to always have some small change with you to pay the driver.
Exit the airport, turn left and you’ll see a bus stop on the opposite side of the road. Depending on which direction you are heading, take the bus from here. We stayed near Beau Vallon beach.
We took the bus to Victoria station (changed bus), then caught a bus towards Beau Vallon beach. Our accommodation at Beau Vallon Residence was two minutes from the bus stop.
It was ideal. The fare was $1 each. The other option would have been to take a taxi for approximately 45 euros.
The buses leave every 30 minutes around the island, so you may have to wait a little bit, but it’s much cheaper than other options.
Car Hire: You can also hire a car on the island. Click here for the cheapest car hire in Seychelles.
The island is quite hilly and has lots of sharp bends – but a car can save you time exploring different beaches if you don’t want to wait for buses etc.
Affordable accommodation in Seychelles is hard to find. It’s all about location and which area you’d like to stay in.
We did lots of research for the best location, proximity to great beaches, small supermarkets and bus stops to access the island. One beach or location had the best reviews from previous travellers, so we searched in this area.
This one-bedroom apartment that we booked in Beau Vallon, Mahe Island was superb! It allowed us to visit Seychelles on a budget.
We paid 80 euros per night, which is a great price considering the average rate of good accommodation on the island.
Our apartment was exceptionally clean, had fantastic reviews and was within our budget for Seychelles.
It included a front terrace with a table and chairs to eat, a sunbed, and two very comfortable chairs to sit and drink our coffee and look out over lush mountains and banana trees.
Inside we had a small kitchen with all amenities, a coffee maker, fridge etc. A/C, fans in living room and bedroom.
We enjoyed a very large bathroom with a huge walk-in shower. The apartment was very light, and secure, with Wi-fi, and cable TV. Two small supermarkets were only two minutes walk away, a bus stop very close by and Beau Vallon beach was only 400 m walk away.
Here you can find some great restaurants, epic sunsets, and market food/creole cooking that you can buy and eat on the beach.
We stayed in Beau Vallon, Mahe Island. A few great places to eat are mentioned below. Around the rest of the island, you will find lots of great restaurants, ranging in prices that cater to visitors.
You will also find cheaper home-cooked food sold in small market shops for $10 or so for a meal.
A typical meal would include fish in some form: fish curry and rice, fish BBQ with rice and fried fish. It usually sets you back between $7-$12.
In the evenings, you’ll also find small food vans selling burgers and chips starting at $6.00. To visit Seychelles on a budget, you have to get creative with what you choose to eat.
It can get very expensive to eat out for every meal, so if you choose to book an apartment as we did, you will have a full kitchen to cater for yourself. We cooked the majority of our meals during our stay here, it was the key to visiting Seychelles on a budget.
Our portable coffee machine was our saviour! It’s hard to find a good coffee on the island, and if you do, you’ll be paying around $5 for one. We always travel with our espresso machine and a bag of freshly ground coffee.
RELATED POST – 7 Tips – How to find the best food when travelling
If you would like to eat out, we’d recommend these two places along Beau Vallon Beach
Seychelles has some of the best beaches and diving/snorkelling in the world. Most guesthouses and hotels can organise daily excursions or you can book directly with operators that have small set-ups along the beach front.
The most popular day trips are below:
Private Seychelles Islands Tour – This tour explores the best islands in Seychelles and all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the views from a private boat. The tour showcases Curieuse Island and St. Pierre. No need to bring drinks: Alcohol, soft drinks, and snacks are provided, as well as all snorkel gear.
Mahe Island Tour – Discover the largest island in the Seychelles, Mahe, on a full-day tour with a private tour guide. Visit Victoria Market in the capital to learn about the history of this island nation. Then, embark on a scenic drive to Port Glaud Lagoon, Baie Lazare Beach, and Anse Intendance.
Big Game Fishing trip – Big game fishing trips are available. View all details here.
Local Ferry – It is possible to take local ferries between islands, however, you must coordinate your schedule accordingly. The return ferry from the port to La Digue island is 60 euros per person. Find a schedule here.
Praslin Island – As the second largest island in Seychelles, this island has some of the world’s best beaches.
La Digue Island – This is the island with the picture of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the picture used on all the postcards. The island is 3-5 km around, with no cars, just bicycles to get around.
**Index of prices** Price shown in USD
5L bottle of water $2.20
Butter $3
Canned tomatoes 0.70c
Small bag red onions 0.80c
2 x tomatoes $3.00
Loaf of bread $1.50
6 eggs $1.50
1 x small bottle beer $1.80
Bag spaghetti 500g 1.00
Bag potatoes $1.10
Bag fresh garlic $1.20
2 min noodles 0.50c
Bottle of wine $10.00
We shopped at a small supermarket which was located across the road from our apartment, so it was very convenient. There is also a bigger supermarket at Victoria Bus Station, prices are a little lower here.
Victoria Market – We caught the bus into the city (15min bus ride from Beau Vallon beach) and visited the fresh markets. Get off at the Hindu Temple and walk across to the market.
Markets are open from 08:00 – 16:00. It’s a small market, however, you can find fresh fish, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables for half the price as sold in the supermarkets and find fresh cinnamon, spices etc for Creole cooking. Upstairs you will see some small shops selling tropical light beachwear, souvenirs etc.
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All of the beaches on Mahé are public access, which means that you can enjoy the same beaches as the people staying and paying for the luxury resorts. The more popular beaches will have free parking (if you have a car) and facilities.
Many of the smaller beaches you will have to yourself. Bring your own food/picnic, snorkelling gear, and a good book and you’re all set to go.
There are so many incredible beaches to explore here and too many to name; however, my favourites were Petite Anse, Anse Intendance, Fort Launay and Beau Vallon.
There you go! See, Seychelles on a budget is possible! Interested in visiting the Maldives on a budget, too? Read more here.
We have many travel guides and tips for Africa – what a massive continent!
Have you ever wondered how many countries in Africa there are? 54 or 55? We cover them in depth in our ultimate Africa bucket list.
There is some delicious cuisine to be enjoyed across Africa, and these ten best African countries for food will inspire your food journey.
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For food lovers, our Food Map of AFRICA lists the quintessential dish you need to eat in every nation!
It’s worth reading these 17 ESSENTIAL Things to know before travelling to West Africa, and our packing list for Africa may be helpful to you.
Don’t miss our recap of our travels across West Africa for even more helpful tips, and try these popular West African dishes; they’re fantastic!
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6 Comments. Leave new
Hi there, thanks for the article – very informative! Just a quick one on the yellow fever vax requirement; did you travel from or transit through a country with a risk of yellow fever on your way to the Seychelles? Or is the yellow fever vax requirement now for all travellers regardless of where they travelled from? Many thanks in advance.
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you, we’re glad you enjoyed the post. We just checked the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) recommendation on Yellow Fever and it says it is required if you’re transiting though a country on your way to Seychelles with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission. Here’s the link to give you a little more information. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/seychelles
Thank you Very Hungry Nomads, I followed your advice and booked the same accommodation. I have just come back and I would like to thank you for the recommendation. It was a perfect retreat for my cash strapped partner and I! Loved Seychelles and we will be back!
Hi Sara,
Amazing news! We love to receive messages like this. We’re so happy to hear that you guys loved Seychelles, it’s a true paradise 🙂
What about a photo of the original yellow fever certificate, or does it have to be the official yellow little certificate? Seems daft if it is required as can easily be damaged/lost/stolen whilst travelling.
As far as we’re aware, you must produce the original yellow fever booklet. It’s best to look after it with care, like you do with your passport.