Situated on the south-western coast of Mahé, Anse à la Mouche is a large, sparkling calm bay with shallow clear waters. Swimming here is very safe and suitable for children as the water remains shallow even at high tide, with no strong currents.

Anse à la Mouche is suitable for:

    Restaurant
    Swimming

How to get there:

Located in Anse à la Mouche. From the international airport, turn left and travel south on the main road until you get to the Anse Royale petrol station. Continue until you see the green road signs for Les Canelles. Turn right into Les Canelles road continuing over the hill and down the other side to the junction. Turn left at the junction and the beachfront is before you. Total travelling time is approximately 25 minutes.

This long stretch of coastline stretching along the south-eastern coast of Mahé and including Turtle Bay, has narrow beaches and shallow waters that lie close to the coastal road. At low tide, it is interesting to walk on the sand and rocky outcrops where you will discover all sorts of marine life trapped in rock pools.

Local fishermen also use this stretch of coast to set fish traps and hunt for octopus and can often be seen wading out to the reef at low tide. At high tide it is possible to swim here, but the water remains fairly shallow.

Anse Aux Pins and Turtle Bay is suitable for:

    Restaurant
    Shop
    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

From the international airport, turn left and drive south for about 3.5km on the main road. Ascend a hill and as you descend the other side, you’ll see Katiolo discotheque on the left (at the deep bend in the road). From that point onwards there are several places where you will be able to park your car and access the beach.

Located on the south-western coast, the beach of Anse Boileau is a narrow band of sand fringing shallow waters close to the main coastal road. Fishermen can often be seen unloading their fish traps and small boats along this beach.

Anse Boileau is suitable for:

    Shop
    Swimming

How to get there:

From the international airport, turn left and travel south on the main road via Anse Aux Pins. Once you pass the Anse Aux Pins police station on your left, drive for approximately 1.5km until you reach the Montagne Posée junction on your right (next to a football field). Turn right onto Montagne Posée Road, which leads up a hill and down the other side to Anse Boileau. The total journey is approximately 9km.

Perhaps, in the age of the corsairs, pirates did indeed visit this beautiful beach on the south-eastern coast of Mahé. Nowadays, Anse Forbans is popular with visitors from nearby hotels along the shoreline. For the most part the beach is considered safe for swimming except for the southern part that leads to Anse Marie Louise (past Anse Forbans Chalets).

Anse Forbans is suitable for:

    Swimming

How to get there:

From the international airport, turn left and travel south on the main road via Anse Royale to Anse Forbans. You'll pass the petrol station at Anse Royale and should continue down this road. Travelling time is approximately 30 minutes.

The famous Intendance beach in southern Mahé offers half a mile of powder white sand and huge breakers. There is no reef so the waves are much larger than most of the other beaches around the island, making it more suitable for surfing rather than swimming at most times.

During the south-east trade winds the waves can reach fearsome heights, but in the north-west trade wind season the sea is calmer. This beautiful beach is also a popular spot for sunbathing.

Anse Intendance is suitable for:

    Surfing

How to get there:

Located approximately 15km from the airport. From the airport, turn left and travel south on the main road passing Anse Royale petrol station. Continue on this road until you reach the Quatre Bornes police station on your right. From here take the left turn onto Intendance Road and drive for about 1km until you reach another junction. Take the sign-posted road on your right passing Banyan Tree Resort also on your right and you will find the beach at the end of the road.

This secluded beach can be reached by boat trip or by hiking a nature trail from Danzil on the most north-westerly point of Mahé. The walk to the beach and back takes around three hours, but many visitors prefer to take a picnic and spend at least half a day here. Anse Major has a large sandy beach and, to the rear, a small lagoon. Swimming here is safe and it is a good spot for snorkelling. Glass bottomed boat excursions from Beau Vallon Bay, which include snorkelling, also visit this bay.

Anse Major is suitable for:

    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

Located in west Mahé along the Anse Major Nature trail. From the clock tower in Victoria, drive towards the traffic light and turn left light onto Revolution Avenue. Continue on the main road up the hill and down the other side until you reach the Beau Vallon police station. Continue to drive till you reach the end of the road, approximately 3km ahead. Passing La Scala restaurant on the left, drive the short distance where you'll see the trail signboard. The easy trail from Danzil to Anse Major lies mainly within the boundaries of the Morne Seychellois National park and will take approximately one and a half hours.

The stretch of small rock-fringed coves along the coast of Anse Royale on the south-eastern coast of Mahé, from the area known as Fairyland down to the Anglican church at Anse Royale, is an enchanting place for swimming and snorkelling.
The best areas for snorkelling are around the rocks at Fairyland and up to the small island just off the coast, where there are myriad brightly coloured coral fish. The water here is enclosed behind a reef, which keeps out the larger fish and is fairly shallow.
Currents can be deceptively strong, thus it is unadvisable to swim out too far. This stretch of coast is best enjoyed during the north-west trade winds when the water is translucent, balmy and tranquil.

Anse Royale is suitable for:

    Restaurant
    Shop
    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

Anse Royale is approximately 11km from the airport or a mere 10-minutes drive. From the international airport, turn left and travel south on the main road until you see the Anse Royale petrol station on your right, that faces Anse Royale beach.

Anse Soleil on the south-western coast of Mahé is a stunningly attractive bay, good for swimming and snorkelling, presenting a wide stretch of sandy beach, surrounded by large shady trees. This beach is very photogenic and a popular place for weekend beach picnics.
Getting here is something of a journey off the beaten track, but well worth the extra effort. There is also a small beachside café here, which serves excellent seafood.

Anse Soleil is suitable for:

    Restaurant
    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

Located in south-west Mahé. From the airport, turn left and travel south on the main road passing Anse Royale petrol station. Continue on this road until you reach Lazare Picault Hotel on your right, and further on, Baie Lazare police station. Take the first left onto Anse Soleil Road. Continue approximately 800 metres along this road and look for a low signpost to Anse Soleil Café. Turn right onto this track and continue downhill to Anse Soleil passing the Anse Soleil Café.
Total travelling time is approximately 50 minutes.

Nestled in-between the wide and spectacular beaches at Port Launay and Baie Ternay, this tiny cove is well worth a stop. Hemmed in by granite boulders, the small beach is often completely deserted and the sea is suitable for both swimming and snorkelling.

Anse Souillac is suitable for:

    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

From the clock tower in Victoria, drive to the traffic light and turn left onto Revolution Avenue. Drive past the main police station on your left, and then take the first road on your left, Bel Air Road. Follow Bel Air Road up the hill and down to the other side, passing the Everglow shop, the Mission Lodge viewing point and the Tea Factory.
Continue on this road down to the coast reaching the junction at Port Glaud, turn right passing Eden's Holiday Resort and, further on, the church on the right. Keep going along this road leading through the mangroves till you come to the end of the 2-lane road. Continue on the narrow road uphill for approximately 250 metres. The first small cove that you come to will be Anse Souillac.
Total travelling time is approximately 1 hour.

For the historically minded, this beach is worth visiting to imagine the vantage of Lazare Picault, the first mariner to land and claim Mahé for France in 1742. This palm-fringed bay on the south-western coast has a narrow sandy beach close to the road and is one of the island’s quieter spots.

Baie Lazare is suitable for:

    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

Baie Lazare is approximately a 45-minute drive from Victoria, or 35-minute/20km from the airport. From the international airport, turn left and travel south on the main road via Anse Royale, passing the turning to Les Canelles, Takamaka village and finally Baie Lazare that starts in front of the Lazare Picault hotel.

Surrounded by National Marine Park waters, this pristine beach is popular with scuba divers and sailors but unfortunately cannot at present be reached by car as the road leading to the beach is closed to the public.
Boasting a large expanse of white coral sand it is located in a remote corner of Mahé, which makes it a quiet paradise for those who are able to discover it.

Baie Ternay is suitable for:

    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

Located in west Mahé, this beach should be accessed by boat.

Karte

This is Mahé’s most popular resort beach with both visitors and locals alike. This sweeping bay of white sand and clear waters on the north-western coast of Mahé offers a very safe swimming area. With hotels stretched out along its sand, together with water sport and diving centres, this is the beach for those wishing to do something a little more energetic than soaking up the sun.
Beau Vallon is also very safe for children, as there are no strong currents, no rocks or corals underfoot and a lifeguard service is supplied. During the south-eastern trade winds, the sea is extremely calm and the beach is at its absolute best.

Beau Vallon is suitable for:

    Boat Hire
    Diving Centre
    Fishing Operator
    Lifeguard
    Restaurant
    Shop
    Snorkelling
    Swimming
    Water sports
    Water sports

The following services are available at Beau Vallon:

    Boat Hire
    Diving Centre
    Fishing Operator
    Lifeguard
    Restaurant
    Shop
    Water sports

How to get there:

Approximately 5km from Victoria. From the clock tower in Victoria, drive towards the traffic light and turn left onto Revolution Avenue. Continue on the main road up the hill and down the other side until you reach the Beau Vallon police station. Turn right at the police station junction and left at the next junction onto Beau Vallon Beach Road and continue for approximately 400 metres to reach the beachfront.

Situated on the north coast of Mahé, this beach can be considered dangerous for swimming and swimmers are advised not to proceed beyond the breakers. Carana is not suitable for small children as the seafloor does fall away steeply. The beach itself is large with trees and rocks to provide shade and shelter from the sun.

Carana Beach is suitable for:

    Surfing
    Water sports

How to get there:

From the Bicentennial Monument (3 birds' wings) in Victoria, drive north on 5th June Avenue and continue on the coastal road for approximately 10 minutes passing Kreolfleurage and the Rehabilitation Centre; then climbing a small incline, you'll come to a driveway leading to the site where the Carana Beach Hotel used to be.

Grand Anse, on the south-western coast of Mahé is, as its name suggests, an imposing sandy bay. Although not suitable for swimming because of the strong undertow, this spectacular beach with rolling waves and a long stretch of shoreline is ideal for taking a relaxing walk.

Grand Anse (on Mahé) is suitable for:

    Shop
    Surfing

How to get there:

From the clock tower in Victoria, drive down Francis Rachel Street, going towards the roundabout at Unity Monument (4 fish). Take the 4th exit onto Mont Fleuri Road, and continue until you reach the next small roundabout at Plaisance. Take the 3rd exit up La Misère Road and down the other side until you reach the junction at Grand Anse. Turn right and drive for approximately 0.8 Km until you arrive at Grand Anse beach.
Total travelling time is approximately half an hour.

This stretch of coastline is a rocky windswept contrast to the tranquil sandy bays on the opposite shores of the island. Close to the main road, the beaches are narrow stretches of white sand with rocks and a reef close to the shoreline. Only one or two more sheltered coves along this coastline are suitable for swimming, but the main beaches are ideal for long exploratory walks.

North East Point is suitable for:

    Shop
    Snorkelling
    Surfing
    Swimming

How to get there:

This stretch of coastline is approximately a 10-minute drive from Victoria. From the Bicentennial Monument (3 birds' wings) in Victoria, drive north on 5th June Avenue and continue on the coastal road until you reach the beach in front of Kreolfleurage and on up to the Rehabilitation Centre.

This breathtaking bay is close to Anse Soleil. Smaller than its more popular neighbour it is difficult to access but more than worth the journey as it offers tranquil swimming and sunbathing against a spectacular backdrop of granite boulders and verdant forest. The powder-soft sand and turquoise waters of this bay will quite simply take your breath away.

Petit Anse (or Anse la Liberte, on Mahé) is suitable for:

    Swimming

How to get there:

Located in south-west Mahé. From the airport, turn left and travel south on the main road passing Anse Royale petrol station. Continue on this road until you reach Lazare Picault Hotel on your right, and further on, Baie Lazare police station.
Take the first left onto Anse Soleil Road. Continue approximately 800 metres along this road and look for a low signpost to Anse Soleil Café. Turn right onto this track and continue for 50 metres until you find a siding on your left. Park your car here and continue along the footpath for approximately 20 minutes downhill towards the beach.
Total travelling time is approximately 1 hour.

On either side of the south-western tip of Mahé are two magnificent bays with rolling waves and soft white sand. These two beaches are best suited for walking and photography as the strong currents here make them dangerous for swimming. Because of this and their remote location, walkers can usually enjoy a solitary stroll along this pristine coastline.

How to get there:

These bays are located approximately 17km from the airport. From the airport, turn left and travel south on the main road passing Anse Royale petrol station. Continue on this road until you reach the Quatre Bornes police station on your right. From here take the left turn onto Intendance Road and drive for about 1km until you reach another junction. Keep to the road on the left and continue to the end.

This breathtaking beach, which is also a Marine National Park, is on the north-western coast of Mahé and can be reached by taking the road past Port Glaud.
Swimming and especially snorkelling here is excellent, with a wide variety of colourful fish that can be seen in and around the edges of the impressive bay.
The beach itself is large and wide with white sand and plenty of shady trees. It is popular with picnickers at weekends but during the week tends to be much quieter. There are often beautiful shells and corals to be found along the shoreline, but please remember this is National Park property and it is strictly prohibited to take coral and shells away.

Port Launay is suitable for:

    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

From the clock tower in Victoria, drive to the traffic light and turn left onto Revolution Avenue. Drive past the main police station on your left, and then take the first road on your left, Bel Air Road. Follow Bel Air Road up the hill and down to the other side, passing the Everglow store, the Mission Lodge viewing point and the Tea Factory. Continue on this road down to the coast reaching the junction at Port Glaud, turn right passing Eden's Holiday Resort and, further on, the church on the right. Keep going along this road leading through the mangroves till you come to the end of the 2-lane road.
Look for the Marine Park signpost on the left indicating Port Launay. Total travelling time is approximately 1 hour.

At Glacis, on the north-western coast of Mahé, this small beach is close to the Sunset Beach Hotel and can be reached by taking a path from the main road or by walking down a flight of steps from the hotel car park.
Edged with palms and trees, this beautiful beach is superb for swimming and snorkelling. Snorkelling is particularly good around the rocks below the hotel, and sightings of turtles here are common. The sea does have a sudden drop in depth close to the shore; so small children do need close adult supervision. As the name suggests, the sunsets here are breathtaking!

Sunset Beach is suitable for:

    Snorkelling
    Swimming

How to get there:

Sunset beach is approximately 18km from the airport or a 15-minute drive from Victoria. From the clock tower in Victoria, drive towards the traffic light and turn left at the light onto Revolution Avenue. Continue on the main road up the hill and down the other side until you reach the Beau Vallon police station. Turn right at the police station junction, going in the direction of Glacis and drive straight ahead for about 3.5km passing Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa on your left. Look for the Sunset Beach hotel on your left where you'll find the beach.