Praslin vs La Digue for families

Praslin has public buses run by the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation, and the tourism board lists 13 car hire firms there. The tourism board advises that buses are designed mainly for commuters, with room only for small bags, and suggests a taxi, hire car or hotel transfer for journeys with suitcases.

On La Digue, under the 2022 transport policy, bicycles must be licensed and insured and e-bike riders must wear helmets. Amendments approved in March 2024 limit e-bikes to 300 W, bar riders under 16 and require helmets for children under 14 on bicycles. Seychelles Nation reported that the amendments require bike hire businesses to provide helmets for clients under 14. Taxis are limited: the 2022 policy allowed 8 licensed operators plus up to 12 club cars. Ask your hotel before arrival about child seats on bikes and transfers from the jetty.

The differences that shape a family trip, in the order this page covers them:

For a family	Praslin	La Digue
Getting about	Public buses run by the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation; the tourism board lists 13 car hire firms	Bicycles, which must be licensed and insured; taxis limited to 8 licensed operators plus up to 12 club cars under the 2022 policy
Rules that affect children	Not established	E-bikes capped at 300 W and barred under 16; helmets for children under 14 on bicycles (March 2024 amendments)
Beaches the tourism board rates for families	Petite Anse Kerlan (safe for children), Anse Boudin (especially good for families), Anse Volbert (shallow)	Anse Source d'Argent (shallow tidal pools), Anse Sévère (calm water, beginner snorkelling), Anse Réunion (shallow entry near hotels)
Beaches it flags	Not established	Path to Anse Marron not recommended for children; deep water at Grand Anse and Petite Anse
Wildlife days out	Curieuse, 20 minutes by boat, SCR 300 for non-residents over 12 (SPGA); Cousin Island, free under 12 (Nature Seychelles), no shops or amenities	L'Union Estate, where visitors can feed giant tortoises
Hotel facilities for children	Kids' clubs: Constance Lemuria (ages 4 to 11) and the Sugar Palm Kids Club at Raffles Seychelles, with babysitting	Children's pool at La Digue Island Lodge; 100 m² Garden Suite Residences at Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie designed with families in mind
Health care	Clinic for basic care and medicine, no full hospital services	Clinic for basic care and medicine, no full hospital services

Beach ratings, the car hire count, the Sugar Palm Kids Club and the clinic note are the tourism board's; the kids' club ages are Constance Lemuria's own. The Curieuse fee is SPGA's and the Cousin Island admission Nature Seychelles', both checked 16 September 2026.

On Praslin, the tourism board rates Petite Anse Kerlan safe for families with children, calls Anse Boudin especially good for families and describes Anse Volbert as shallow with water sports. Anse La Farine, reached by boat, has calm, shallow water behind a reef.

On La Digue, the tourism board's family beach guide names Anse Source d'Argent for its shallow tidal pools, Anse Sévère for calm water and beginner snorkelling, and Anse Réunion for shallow entry close to hotels. It does not recommend taking children on the path to Anse Marron, and Grand Anse and Petite Anse have deep water.

Curieuse, 20 minutes by boat from Praslin, has hundreds of Aldabra giant tortoises and a mangrove boardwalk. Entry is SCR 300 for non-residents over 12 (SPGA, checked 16 September 2026). Cousin Island, 2 km off Praslin, is free for children under 12 (Nature Seychelles, checked 16 September 2026) but has no shops or amenities, so bring water and sun cream. On La Digue, L'Union Estate has giant tortoises that visitors can feed.

Constance Lemuria on Praslin says its kids' club takes children aged 4 to 11, and the tourism board says Raffles Seychelles runs the Sugar Palm Kids Club with babysitting. On La Digue, La Digue Island Lodge has a children's pool, and Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie designs its 100 m² Garden Suite Residences with families in mind.

The tourism board notes that Mahé, Praslin and La Digue each have health clinics for basic care and medicine, but not full hospital services, and recommends travel insurance that covers evacuation.

• You want a resort kids' club.
• You need a hire car or buses to get about.
• You want several family-rated beaches within a drive.
• You want a boat trip to see giant tortoises on Curieuse.

• Your children are happy on bikes, or old enough for e-bikes at 16.
• You want shallow west-coast beaches close to your accommodation.
• You prefer guesthouses and small hotels.
• You want tortoises and plantation history at L'Union Estate.