seychelles on a budget
Port Launay beach, Mahe Island

Post Updated Jan, 2024

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.

seychelles on a budget

Seychelles on a Budget – Essential Information

When to go

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.

Currency

Seychellois Rupee (SCR). At the time of writing, 1 USD = 13.53 SCR

How to get to Seychelles on a budget

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.

How to get around Seychelles on a budget

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.

seychelles on a budget main bus station
The bus station in Victoria – Mahe Island

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.

How to take the bus from the airport to your accommodation

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.

mahe island seychelles on a budget
View from the bus on Mahe Island.

Where to stay in Seychelles on a budget

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.

where to stay in seychelles on a budget
Bedroom in our apartment – Best bed ever!

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.

where to stay beau vallon beach seychelles on a budget
Our living room and the sunbed with a balcony terrace

Inside we had a small kitchen with all amenities, a coffee maker, fridge etc. A/C, fans in living room and bedroom.

where to stay in the seychelles on a budget
Our kitchen – It had everything!

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.

Where to Eat in Seychelles on a budget?

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

best portable coffee machine seychelles on a budget
The best thing we carry in our backpack!

If you would like to eat out, we’d recommend these two places along Beau Vallon Beach

  • Boabab Pizza – Great wood-fired pizzas from $13 each
  • La Plage Fish Restaurant – Fresh seafood dinner for about $35.00 or $15.00 lunch specials

Things to do in Seychelles

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.

Book Ferry Transfers in Advance

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.

What other islands can you stay at or visit?

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.

How much does stuff cost (in USD) from smaller supermarkets?

**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.

Get Connected with eSIM

Get connected easily on your travels—buy an eSIM! An eSIM works like an app: buy it, download it, and get connected in minutes! It’s easy, affordable, and convenient. Keep your original phone number, too!

Click below and view which eSIM data plan you need for your next adventure. Use our referral code: RACHEL5045, to get $3 off your first purchase!

Affordable or free things to do in Seychelles on a budget

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.

port launay seychelles on a budget
Us sitting on the beach in Port Launay

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.

Travel Tips for Africa

Interested in visiting more countries in Africa? We’ve visited them all!

Our Ultimate Food Map of AFRICA will give you a great idea about what they eat in each country and our Africa Bucket List covers the best things to do when you get there. Have you ever wondered how many countries in Africa are there? 54 or 55?

Seychelles feels like a Caribbean nation to us too, with Creole cooking and being so tropical. If visiting the Caribbean is something you’d love to do, then check out our comprehensive post about Island Hopping the Caribbean- all 13 AMAZING Islands. 

We share our best advice about logistics and useful things to know about this stunning region of the world.

These top 6 travel hacks to save money are a great tool for travel and if you’d like more of our best travel tips and advice for travel around the world, then head to our Travel Resources Page.