Getting to the island

After your international flight lands at Mahé International Airport (SEZ), only the Mahé resorts are reachable by road; Praslin and La Digue need another domestic flight or ferry, and the private and outer islands need a light plane, helicopter or private boat. The island you pick decides whether you add another leg, whether you arrive the same day, and how easy it is for older or younger travellers.

Ferry / resort boat

Cat Cocos high-speed ferries run from Mahé to Praslin (about an hour), with a short ferry (about 15 minutes) on to La Digue; some island resorts near Mahé send their own boat. The ferry terminal is in Victoria on Mahé, so it adds a road leg from the airport.

Time: Mahé–Praslin about 1 hour, Praslin–La Digue about 15 minutes, plus road transfers
Cost: Ferries are priced per person and private boats extra; check the operator or resort for rates (booked by the resort, usually a separate line on the bill)
Runs: Ferries run on fixed daily schedules, not on demand; rough, windy days can bring changes or cancellations

Good for

Budget travellers linking Mahé, Praslin and La DigueAnyone who is fine on boats and wants to save on a domestic flightTravellers with more luggage who do not want small-plane weight limits

Watch out

· In the southeast-trade season (about May–October) the crossing is choppier; bring seasickness tablets or fly instead
· Last sailings are fixed, so a late international arrival usually means a night on Mahé
· Check schedules and operators on the official sites just before travel

Domestic flight / light plane / helicopter

Air Seychelles runs domestic flights from Mahé to Praslin (about 15 minutes); getting to outer islands such as Desroches and Alphonse, and to some private islands, means a light plane or helicopter arranged by the resort (for example on Zil Air routes), usually leaving from the domestic terminal beside Mahé International Airport.

Time: Praslin about 15 minutes; outer and private islands about 30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on distance, plus check-in and road time
Cost: Priced per person return; outer and private islands usually cost far more than the ferry and are often bundled into the resort package or listed separately — check with the resort (booked by the resort, usually a separate line on the bill)
Runs: Mostly daily scheduled or resort-arranged flights, flown in daylight and dependent on weather

Good for

Travelling with parents or older relatives who dislike rough ferriesShort trips that need to reach Praslin or an outer island the same dayOuter- and private-island resorts (there is little alternative)

Watch out

· Weight limits on light planes and helicopters are usually strict (often around 15–20 kg, per the airline or resort) — weigh bags before packing
· Few departures, so a cancellation for weather or technical reasons leaves little backup; leave a buffer day
· A late or red-eye international arrival often means a night on Mahé before flying on
· Follow the resort’s own instructions for outer- and private-island transfers and times

One-line advice

· With elders / infants, short trip, red-eye arrival → prefer a speedboat island (North / South Malé Atoll).
· Going to Baa, Noonu and other northern luxury atolls, arriving in daylight → seaplane, and enjoy the view.
· Going to Laamu and other far-southern atolls → domestic flight transfer; leave enough connection time.
· Evening / night arrival but want a seaplane island → likely a night in Malé; check when booking.

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