Praslin & La Digue
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How many nights on Praslin and La Digue

For Praslin and La Digue in Seychelles, the tourism board suggests about three days on Praslin and two to three nights on La Digue, within a trip of 10 to 14 days. How far that stretches depends on your arrival day, the ferry timetable and the fixed opening days of places you want to see.

Last verified 16 September 2026

The tourism board's suggestion

The tourism board's planning article says a Seychelles holiday works best at 10 to 14 days, counting the first and last days as travel days. Its 12-day outline covers Mahé, Praslin and La Digue: three nights and four days on Mahé, about three days on Praslin, and two to three nights on La Digue, which it notes is the smaller island. It suggests three weeks for anyone who wants to see more than three islands.

Travel time

Air Seychelles flies from Mahé to Praslin in 15 minutes, and times its domestic flights to connect with international arrivals and departures, with a transit of 30 minutes to an hour. Its domestic terminal is a two-minute walk from the international terminal.

By sea, Cat Cocos gives these journey times:

  • Mahé to Praslin: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Mahé to La Digue direct: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Mahé to La Digue via Praslin: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Praslin to La Digue: 15 minutes

La Digue has no airport, so visitors arrive and leave by boat.

What needs time on Praslin

  • Vallée de Mai: walking routes of about 1.5 km to 4 km, open 8:30 to 16:30 with last entry at 15:30, closed on 25 December and 1 January (Seychelles Islands Foundation, checked 16 September 2026).
  • Curieuse and St Pierre: a 20-minute boat ride from Côte d'Or; the tourism board describes a combined outing with a beach barbecue.
  • Cousin Island: open Monday to Friday only, from 9:45 to 12:30 (Nature Seychelles, checked 16 September 2026).
  • Aride: open to visitors from October to May, with booking essential (Island Conservation Society, checked 16 September 2026).
  • Glacis Noire trail: up to an hour from the main road to the fire tower, open 8:00 to 16:00 (SPGA, checked 16 September 2026).

What needs time on La Digue

  • L'Union Estate and Anse Source d'Argent: open daily 6:00 to 18:00; a day pass bought after 16:30 is valid the next day (L'Union Estate, checked 16 September 2026).
  • Veuve Special Reserve: open Monday to Friday 8:00 to 16:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 15:00, with no Sunday hours listed (SPGA, checked 16 September 2026).
  • Anse Marron trail: four to five hours, with a guide recommended.
  • Grand Anse: about 40 minutes by bike from the harbour.
  • Ile Cocos: a 10-minute boat ride, open daily until 17:00 (SPGA, checked 16 September 2026).

Day trips instead of a night

Because the Praslin to La Digue crossing takes 15 minutes, a stay on one island can include a day on the other. The tourism board's excursions article also describes day trips from Mahé that take in both Praslin and La Digue. Check the current Cat Cocos schedule before planning a return on the same day.

Planning around fixed days

Put weekday-only visits such as Cousin, and the Veuve Special Reserve, on days when you are on the right island. The Vallée de Mai is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and Aride is closed to visitors from June to September.

More planning guides

Ready to book

Stays you can book now

A spread of what is open and has a live, property-specific Booking.com link, from hotels to self-catering.

Find all bookable stays

  • Le Repaire Boutique Hotel

    Boutique hotel in Anse Réunion, La Digue

    Le Repaire is an 18-room beachfront boutique hotel at Anse Réunion on La Digue, near the main village and within walking distance of the jetty. It has two small pools, an Italian restaurant that cooks with local fish, a beach bar facing Praslin and free kayaks.

    • Beachfront
    • Families
    • Pool
    More information
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Oasis Hotel, Restaurant & Spa

    Hotel in Grand Anse, Praslin

    Oasis Hotel, Restaurant & Spa is a 30-room hotel at Grand Anse on Praslin, about 100 m from the beach and 2 km from the airstrip. It describes itself as three-star and has what it calls an Olympic-sized pool with a built-in bar, a restaurant cooking six cuisines, a spa and a small conference centre.

    • Honeymoon
    • Families
    • Pool
    • Spa
    More information
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

Questions

How many nights should I spend on La Digue?
Two to three nights, suggests Tourism Seychelles, as part of a 12-day trip taking in Mahé, Praslin and La Digue; La Digue is smaller than Praslin.
How many days do I need on Praslin?
The tourism board suggests about three days on Praslin within the same 12-day outline, after time on Mahé.
How long should a Seychelles trip be to include Mahé, Praslin and La Digue?
The tourism board recommends 10 to 14 days, treating the first and last days as travel days.
Can I visit La Digue as a day trip from Praslin?
Yes. Cat Cocos gives the crossing as 15 minutes. Check the current schedule for return sailings.
Can I visit Cousin Island at the weekend?
No. Nature Seychelles opens Cousin to visitors from Monday to Friday, between 9:45 and 12:30 (checked 16 September 2026).
How many nights should I stay on Praslin?
About three days, as part of a 12-day trip that also covers Mahé and La Digue, according to Tourism Seychelles.
How many days do I need for Mahé, Praslin and La Digue?
Ten to 14 days in total, according to Tourism Seychelles, which sketches a 12-day trip with about three nights on Mahé, three days on Praslin and two to three nights on La Digue.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.