Bicycle hire on La Digue

Why cycle on La Digue

Bicycles remain the main way to get around La Digue, as the Seychelles News Agency reported when the island's transport rules were revised in 2022. The island covers about 10 km², which, as Wikipedia notes, makes it relatively easy to get around by bike or on foot. A State House report from May 2026 noted the island's heavy reliance on cycling and recorded concerns from Tourism Office staff that larger buggies could pose safety risks to cyclists.

Where to hire

Bike hire is concentrated around the port in La Passe. A 2019 Seychelles News Agency article said most guesthouses rent bikes to their guests and that hotels also keep bikes for guests. Some shops meet you at the jetty or deliver to your guesthouse. Examples of providers with their own web pages include:

• Tati's Bicycle Rental describes itself as located at the jetty, with electric bikes, ladies', men's and children's bikes, and tricycles.
• Stan Bike Rental lists e-bikes, tandems, tricycles, children's bikes and child seats, and says it provides helmets and reflective vests.
• KK Bicycle Rental is behind the police station in La Passe, delivers bikes to guesthouses and collects them from there when you leave.
• Ton Ven Bike meets customers at the jetty or delivers to guesthouses at no extra cost, supplies locks free of charge, and has a store next to the fire station in La Passe.

They are listed as examples, not recommendations. The 2019 Seychelles News Agency article said prices depend on the length of hire, so confirm the price before you ride off.

Electric bikes and the rules

Stan Bike Rental says its e-bikes suit the island's uphill stretches. La Digue's transport rules have changed more than once. What the government sources say:

• 2022 policy. Cabinet approved a revised La Digue Land Transport Policy on 23 February 2022. Seychelles Nation reported that every bicycle on the island must be licensed and insured, that e-bikes are limited to 300 watts, and that e-bike riders must be 16 or older and wear a helmet. Riders of ordinary bicycles were exempt from the helmet rule.
• March 2024 amendments. Cabinet approved amendments on 6 March 2024. Seychelles Nation reported that they cap e-bikes at 300 watts, bar riders under 16, require children under 14 to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, and require rental businesses to provide helmets for clients under 14.
• March 2026 national measures. On 25 March 2026 Cabinet approved limits on e-bike power and speed and mandatory helmet safety standards, as part of a national package of rules for two-wheelers. The legislation was still to be drafted, and the State House report does not say how it affects La Digue's 300-watt rule.

None of these sources gives the date each rule came into force, so ask the shop to confirm the current rules when you collect an e-bike. The Seychelles News Agency reported in 2022 that petrol motorbikes and scooters are not permitted on La Digue.

Riding safely

• Keep left. SeyVillas advises keeping to the left, as all traffic in Seychelles does.
• Take a light. The SeyVillas travel guide notes there are few streetlights on La Digue, so carry a torch or head torch if you will be out after dark.
• Watch for tortoises. SeyVillas notes that free-living Aldabra giant tortoises live on La Digue and advises riding attentively and not speeding.
• Expect traffic in La Passe. SeyVillas notes the roads in the village are busier and harder to navigate than elsewhere on the island.
• Check the bike first. SeyVillas advises checking the bike is safe for the road before you set off. KK Bicycle Rental and Ton Ven Bike put their phone number on their bikes in case of a problem.

Tips for day trippers

If you are visiting for the day from Praslin or Mahé, Tati's Bicycle Rental says it is at the jetty and Ton Ven Bike meets customers there. SeyVillas suggests setting off with enough water, sun cream and a hat. Keep an eye on the time of the last ferry back. SeyFerry lists a charge of SCR 100 per bike per trip for bicycles on Cat Cocos ferries (checked 16 September 2026), and gives no bicycle charge for Cat Rose.

Other ways to get around

Taxis are limited: in 2022 the Seychelles News Agency counted eight licensed taxi operators, with up to 12 club cars permitted to work as taxis. A 2019 Seychelles News Agency article, republished by the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, said ox carts are usually stationed by the jetty at La Passe and can be hired for rides, though it described them as a tradition in decline. The island's small size also makes walking a practical option for shorter distances.