There's More Than One Version of the Seychelles

By Nikolas Hammermann · January 2026

Most people arrive in the Seychelles expecting resolution. One island. One beach. One version of stillness that stays consistent from arrival to departure.

Granite boulders and shallow water define much of the Seychelles’ inner islands, where land and sea overlap without clear boundaries.

What they encounter instead is a place that quietly resists being contained. Not through difficulty, but through distribution.

The Seychelles doesn't present itself all at once. Its character is spread across islands that sit close enough to see, yet far enough to require intention to reach. What you experience depends less on where you land than on how you choose to stay.

The Inner Islands of the Seychelles

The inner islands of the Seychelles sit clustered in shallow channels, connected by short crossings rather than roads. Granite formations rise sharply from the water. Distances are small on paper, but they still register.

Mahé carries the infrastructure. Praslin slows the pace. La Digue strips it back further. Each island offers a different density of life, sound, and possibilities.

None of them compete. They coexist.

A Private Beach Picnic

Experiences in the Seychelles don’t need to be dramatic to feel complete. It can be a simple afternoon that unfolds away from any built environment.

Sheltered beaches on the inner islands offer quiet stretches of sand shaped by shade, rock, and tide rather than development.

A short boat transfer ends at a quiet stretch of beach, reached without roads or markers. A simple picnic has been set up above the tide line. No timetable. No expectation of duration. Just shade, water, and the sound of the sea arriving and retreating at its own pace.

Nothing competes for attention. There is no program to follow. The experience is defined less by what happens than by what doesn't interrupt it. Time expands slightly. Conversation slows. The boundary between land and water becomes the only rhythm that matters.

Stillness or Mobility

In the Seychelles, where you stay shapes how your days unfold.

Some properties encourage staying close. Mornings return to the same stretch of beach. Afternoons follow familiar paths. Light shifts, but the setting remains constant. Over time, the repetition becomes reassuring rather than dull.

Others make leaving easy. Boats are part of the rhythm. A short crossing replaces a drive. The day begins with the question of where the water will take you, not how far you plan to go.

Neither approach is better. They simply lead to different kinds of days.

Settling Deeply or Moving Between Islands

A journey through the Seychelles works across a wide range of rhythms.

For some, seven days in one place is the sweet spot. The repetition becomes the point. The landscape settles into familiarity.

Moving between islands often happens by water, with short crossings replacing roads and reshaping the rhythm of travel.

For others, extending the journey toward ten or fourteen days allows for gentle dispersion. Short crossings introduce contrast without urgency. One island doesn't replace another. It reframes it.

If you're looking for a different kind of experience, a private yacht can shape the journey entirely, or quietly support it. It changes how distance feels. Days begin with weather rather than schedules. Movement remains optional.

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The Occasionist Lens

This journey suits travelers who value contrast, flexibility, and experiences that unfold without instruction.

It works equally well for those seeking decompression after more intense travel, and for those curious enough to move lightly between settings.

It is not designed for travelers who need constant stimulation, tightly structured days, or a single definitive version of a place.

The most common mistake is assuming that stillness and exploration are opposites. In the Seychelles, they exist comfortably side by side.

From above, the Seychelles reveal their layered geography: reefs, beaches, and forested hills existing within close reach of one another.

Practical Notes

Best time to go: Year-round, with subtle seasonal shifts

Ideal length: 7 to 14 days

Access: International arrival via Mahé, followed by boat or short domestic transfers

Planning consideration: Sea conditions and island access shape pacing more than distance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is island hopping required in the Seychelles?

No. Staying on one island can be deeply rewarding. Movement simply offers contrast, not completion.

Can this work as a honeymoon destination?

Yes. Many couples choose the Seychelles for focused stillness, especially after more active travel.

Does a yacht charter replace staying in a hotel?

Not necessarily. It can also work as a connector or short extension rather than a full substitute.

Is this destination suitable for first-time visitors?

Yes. The inner islands are accessible and adaptable to different travel styles.

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