The Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles aren’t the most obvious road trip destination. They’re more of a ‘find a gorgeous beach, lay on a lounger and read a book while drinking fruity cocktails’ type of place. But there’s more to the islands than just their sand and sunshine. Mahé is the biggest and most varied of the islands, and is where most visitors arrive.
Whether you’re on a Seychelles stopover or flying into Mahé before heading to Praslin or La Digue, it’s worth exploring the island. So here’s my one-day Seychelles road trip driving itinerary featuring the best things to do in Mahé. Car hire costs around €40 a day and the route covers 57 miles. It takes around three hours if you drive straight through. But with over 20 beaches, viewpoints, restaurants and a rum distillery on the way, you’ll want to take your time.
Read more: How to visit the Seychelles on a budget
Mahé island Seychelles map
Things to do in Mahé, Seychelles
Victoria
Start your Seychelles road trip in Victoria, the country’s capital – it’s home to a third of the its population but is still Africa’s smallest capital city. Take a walk around Victoria’s sights before setting off. The market is extra busy early in the morning, with fishermen selling their catch as well as fruit and vegetable stalls, aromatic spices, crafts and souvenirs.
Then there’s the Victoria Clocktower, which looks like a mini Big Ben. It’s actually a replica of the clock on Vauxhall Bridge in London which was brought over in 1903 when the Seychelles became a British colony. There’s also a cathedral, Natural History museum, colourful Hindu temple and Botanical Gardens with spice grove and mini rainforest. But this is the Seychelles, so you don’t want to spend all day in a city, so head out of Victoria and off down Mahé’s east coast.

The Victoria Clocktower
The east coast
The east coast of Mahé is the most built-up part of the island, but once you pass the airport and Eden Island development things start to get more relaxed. Which might have something to do with the fact that this is where you’ll find the Takamaka rum distillery. It’s part of a 200-year-old estate which originally made coconut oil and distilled cinnamon and patchouli.

Takamaka rum at the distillery
The plantation house has been restored to its former glory and is now a restaurant and base for the distillery. If you visit at 11am or 1pm you can do a tour , otherwise take a walk around the old medicinal gardens and stock up on rum at the shop. Further on down the coast a line of beaches run from Anse Royale through Anse Bougainville and Anse Parnel to Anse Forbans.
The beaches here aren’t the best on the island – they’re a bit narrow and sometimes get seaweed washed up – but this is judging them by Seychelles standards, where even the less-good beaches come with golden sand, palm trees and clear turquoise waters. So you still find some beautiful spots, like the little bay at the far north of Anse Royale, which is separated from the main beach by a pile of perfectly positioned granite boulders that could’ve come straight from a postcard.

Postcard perfection at the north end of Anse Royale
The west coast
The island gets narrow here so if you head inland from Anse Forbans you’ll reach the west coast in about 10 minutes. This side of the island is quieter and wilder, with beaches backed with green jungle-covered hills. You can take your pick from a whole string of amazing beaches – relaxing on their golden sands is one of the most popular things to do in Mahé.

Boats on Anse Takamaka beach
They’re mostly set away from the main road so you’ll need to detour and take one of the narrow winding roads down to reach them. At the south is Anse Intendance, which has the Banyan Tree resort at one end but the other is usually deserted and good for swimming or snorkelling. Next is Anse Takamaka with the Chez Batista bar and restaurant (complete with a pen of giant tortoises) and Petite Anse which you have to go through the Four Seasons Hotel to get to.
Anse Soleil is a tiny cove down a steep road with a beach café that’s a good spot for lunch. They serve a mix of Asian dishes and local seafood (or fruit bat if you’re feeling adventurous). Further north is Anse Louis, another wide, empty stretch of sand with the MAIA resort at one end.

Anse Louis beach
The mountains
Once you get up to the edge of Port Glaud, turn inland and follow the Sans Souci road up into the mountains. Morne Seychellois National Park covers a fifth of Mahé, with a mix of landscapes from coastal mangroves to thick jungle peaks. The road zigzags its way uphill through steep hairpin bends, so it’s not long until you start getting panoramic views back down to the coast.

Views over Morne Seychellois National Park
There are a few places to stop along the way – a ruined missionary school which was built in the 1870s, and a working tea plantation where you can take a free 20-minute tour of the factory and pick up some of their teas. You also pass the starting point for a couple of Mahé’s best hikes.
There’s the trail from the tea factory up to the peak of Morne Blanc, and the route up to the Trois Frères cliffs. Both have fantastic views and take about two hours return (plus an extra hour if you want to reach the summit of the Trois Frères). If that’s too energetic, there’s a great view down onto Victoria and the east coast on the road back down.

Seychelles flowers
The far north
Once you get back to the outskirts of Victoria, follow the signposts towards North Point. This takes you up the peninsula to the most northerly part of the island. Along the way you pass the beaches at Anse Étoile and Anse Nord d’Est, a deserted stretch of sand which has an abandoned hotel development at one end. The road hugs the cliff edge around Northeast and North Points, with glimpses down to little hidden coves tucked away at the foot of the cliffs.

Empty Anse Nord d’Est
Beau Vallon
Finish up in Beau Vallon before heading back to Victoria. Beau Vallon is Mahé’s most popular beach, but that doesn’t mean its packed with sunloungers and high-rise hotels. This long curve of sandy has plenty of space and a row of shady palm and takamaka trees. At the end of the beach there are usually vendors selling fresh coconuts and local fruit. Or if you’re there on a Wednesday you can pick up curries or grilled fish at the evening market.
Otherwise the Boathouse is a good option for dinner, with an open-sided restaurant which lets the breeze in and a nightly Creole buffet with 20 different local dishes (430 rupees). Then all you need is a sunset cocktail on the beach to finish off a perfect Mahé Seychelles road trip.

Cocktails in Beau Vallon
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32 Comments
Travel Candy
January 12, 2017 at 3:57 pmI love that you finish on a cocktail! That’s my kinda road trip: beaches and booze! 🙂 Did you stop at the rum distillery?
Lucy
January 12, 2017 at 4:11 pmBut of course! We didn’t get chance to do the rum tour but we did go and try some (and a pina colada or two…).
aeparker81
January 12, 2017 at 8:47 pmWhat a gorgeous place for a roadtrip and stunning and varied scenery! Totally the place to do more than just sunbathe
Lucy
January 16, 2017 at 10:15 amThe beaches were lovely but it was nice that there were other things to do too – much as I like a good beach I have my lazing limit!
Zen
January 13, 2017 at 10:33 amLove that this comes with a map : D And 40 EUR split between another one or two people is noooot bad!
Lucy
January 16, 2017 at 10:14 amThe islands can be quite expensive so €40 is pretty good I thought too (and glad you like the map!).
Kerry
January 14, 2017 at 9:19 amThis looks stunning. I always wrote the Seychelles off as a beaches only holiday which is not my thing at all but you’ve shown me the light! It looks like there are a variety of interesting activities and spreading that trip out over a few days would be fab!
Lucy
January 16, 2017 at 10:13 amI had it in the same bracket as the Maldives as being just beaches too so was pleasantly surprised on how many other things there were to see and do – and if you have time you could totally take your time and spread it all out.
Bama
January 14, 2017 at 2:22 pmAs usual, you seem to always know when to go to certain places. The weather in Mahé looks perfect! Blue skies with a little bit of clouds to add more character, just lovely.
Lucy
January 16, 2017 at 10:12 amWe did have a few cracking storms too but luckily they were mostly at night! Definitely agree that a few white clouds add something to the photos that you don’t get with just blue skies.
Suzanne Jones
January 15, 2017 at 10:13 pmThose beaches look beautiful – especially on a gloomy January day! Did you go snorkelling while you were there?
Lucy
January 16, 2017 at 10:05 amThere were a couple of storms overnight while we were there which had churned the sand up a bit so we didn’t snorkel – hear that it’s usually great though!
Kathryn Burrington
January 16, 2017 at 10:16 amWould love to do this one day. Road-tripping isn’t something I would have associated with the Seychelles but it’s an excellent idea. Love all your Seychelles posts.
Lucy
January 17, 2017 at 10:53 pmNo I didn’t expect to be doing a road trip either but it’s the perfect place – small enough to get around easily but plenty to see!
Jane
January 17, 2017 at 11:50 amGreat post, thanks for sharing your experiences and tips. It looks like a truly amazing and relaxing place to visit for a holiday. Although it certainly isn’t the most common destination for a road trip, it definitely looks like a perfect choice for one! Traveling certainly presents such an amazing opportunity and can really broaden your perspectives on life and strengthen your understanding and appreciation for other cultures.
Lucy
January 17, 2017 at 10:52 pmThanks, it was a great trip – and extra special for being unexpected!
mindoftwo
January 31, 2017 at 8:06 pmAmazing pictures! Love your site 🙂
Lucy
February 2, 2017 at 10:51 amThanks so much!
pam
February 27, 2017 at 12:57 amDid you go to the District 6 museum and the Kirstenboch Gardens? If so, what did you think about them. I will be in Cape Town the end of March for just a few days and trying to plan my time. Thanks!!
Lucy
March 2, 2017 at 11:42 amWe didn’t get to the District Six museum but have heard it’s very good. Kirstenboch Gardens were lovely though – we used the sightseeing bus to drop us off there and got some lovely views along the coast on the way back into the city.
Nadine Cathleen
October 1, 2017 at 2:07 pmLove this post! Great trip suggestion! I’m here now and will do a road trip today and tomorrow. Then we will explore the other islands 🙂
Lucy
October 2, 2017 at 7:38 pmHope you have a great time – it’s a stunning place!
Bino
February 1, 2018 at 5:49 amVery helpful post! Just wondering – which area of Mahe is that in your first picture? It looks absolutely stunning!
Lucy
February 2, 2018 at 8:38 pmHi, that’s the view of Eden Island from the road up into Morne Seychellois National Park – there’s a viewpoint turning so you can pull up and look down onto it, so gorgeous!
Gyna
August 20, 2018 at 3:02 amWow, a very interesting experience. The island is very beautiful, incredible scenery. You are very lucky to be there, I became jealous of you. Last year I also traveled, this may not be as interesting as you do. But I’m glad this is my first trip with friends and interesting experiences we got there, new friends and some unique things.
Lucy
August 23, 2018 at 9:55 amThanks it was a wonderful place!
Nada
February 24, 2019 at 6:47 pmHi Lucy, thank you for all the great info! can I ask you where did you rent the car from, please?
Thank you!
Lucy
February 25, 2019 at 2:14 pmHi, our AirBnB host arranged the car for us, and a lot of hotels and accommodation providers have links with local hire firms too so it’s often the best way to get a bargain.
Kervish
February 28, 2019 at 10:15 amHi,
Please confirm whether you could organise a one day excursion for around 30 persons pick up point from the Port in the morning and back in the evening at around 5 p.m. We would like to see the main attractions, stop for lunch in between and would not require dinner. Thanks to propose your best quotations for our family trip.
With kind regards,
Kervish
Lucy
February 28, 2019 at 6:12 pmHi Kervish, afraid I’m not a tour operator so you would have to speak to someone locally – or you could try GetYourGuide?
Lieve
October 20, 2019 at 7:39 amHi, lovely road trip!
where is the picture taken from the background of the Mahe road trio itinerary?
Lucy
November 11, 2019 at 6:25 pmHi that was from the north end of Anse Royale