Seychelles Honeymoon UK Guide 2026: Costs & Best Resorts

The Seychelles is the most visually distinctive Indian Ocean honeymoon. The pink granite boulders framing Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue — an island where no cars are permitted, where Aldabra giant tortoises wander between the palms — belong to a completely different category of beauty from the Maldives’ flat coral atolls or Mauritius’s resort beaches. The 115-island archipelago is English-speaking, no-visa-required, 10 hours from London, and home to two of the world’s most celebrated honeymoon resorts: North Island (where William and Catherine spent their 2011 honeymoon) and Six Senses Zil Pasyon. This guide covers every practical question UK couples ask, with 2026 costs and honest comparisons.

By Matt Ward, Editor at WeddingsHub. Based on WeddingsHub’s 2026 honeymoon data, Seychelles resort pricing from July 2026, and editorial research including visits to Praslin and La Digue (April 2025) and Constance Lemuria review (May 2025).

Why the Seychelles is different from the Maldives and Mauritius

The three Indian Ocean honeymoon destinations that UK couples most frequently compare — Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles — are genuinely distinct experiences. Understanding the difference is the most useful thing in planning.

The Maldives is defined by one thing: overwater bungalows above a turquoise coral lagoon. The atolls are flat coral — no hills, no rainforest, little culture outside the resorts. The water is extraordinary; the island scenery is not. The correct choice for couples whose ideal honeymoon is sunbeds, snorkelling, and sunset cocktails with no other agenda.

Mauritius is a larger island with volcanic mountains, a varied coastline, and a French-Indian cultural mix that produces excellent food and a developed resort infrastructure. The north and west coasts have the best beaches. It is more affordable than the Seychelles and more accessible (direct flights from the UK on Air Mauritius and British Airways).

The Seychelles is the most visually extraordinary of the three — specifically because of the granite. The islands of La Digue and Praslin are strewn with ancient pink granite boulders of extraordinary scale, some the size of houses, framing beaches of white sand and turquoise water in a composition unlike anything else in the Indian Ocean. Anse Source d’Argent and Anse Lazio are genuinely in competition for the world’s most beautiful beach in a way that no Maldives or Mauritius beach is.

WeddingsHub’s 2026 post-honeymoon survey data: Seychelles-returning couples score “uniqueness of scenery” at 4.9 out of 5. Maldives-returning couples score “beach and water quality” at 4.9 out of 5. Both are excellent; they are measuring different things.

The three main islands: what each offers honeymooners

Mahé

The main island: international airport, capital Victoria, the highest concentration of hotels, granite highland rainforest with hiking trails, and several good beaches on the west coast (Beau Vallon, Anse Intendance). Mahé has the best restaurants outside the resorts — the south coast fishing villages serve Creole fish curry that is genuinely outstanding.

Mahé is not the main event for most honeymooners. It is the arrival and departure point, and one or two nights here at the start and end of a trip serves a logistical purpose. The two best hotels on Mahé for honeymooners: Maia Luxury Resort (private pool villas on a hillside above a private beach, from £500 per night) and Four Seasons Seychelles (cliff-top location above Petite Anse, from £600 per night, one of the most dramatic hotel approaches in the world).

Praslin

The second island, 35 minutes by ferry from Mahé (SCR 370 per person, approximately £22) or 15 minutes by Air Seychelles (£45-£70 per person). Praslin has two things that make it the most important island for honeymooners: Anse Lazio (frequently cited as one of the world’s five best beaches — a 400-metre arc of white sand on the north coast with perfect swimming conditions on calm days) and the Vallée de Mai (UNESCO World Heritage ancient palm forest, home to the Coco de Mer palm, the only place on earth where the world’s largest seed grows wild, £12-15 per person entry).

The two best resorts on Praslin: Constance Lemuria (from £450/night, beside Anse Kerlan with direct access to Anse Lazio via a 20-minute coastal walk, WeddingsHub’s most frequently booked Praslin property, excellent food, three pools including a beachfront pool above the sea) and Raffles Seychelles (from £400/night, Anse Takamaka location on the south-west coast, overwater and beach bungalows, excellent spa).

WeddingsHub first-hand note: WeddingsHub’s editorial team visited Constance Lemuria in May 2025 on a two-night research stay. Anse Lazio at 7:30am, before the day boats arrive, is the most beautiful beach we have visited in the Indian Ocean — the combination of the turquoise water, the white sand with no development beyond a beach shack at one end, and the granite headland framing the bay is extraordinary. The Constance Lemuria walk there along the coastal path (20 minutes, through coconut grove and granite boulders) is one of the best resort-to-beach walks in the world.

La Digue

The third main island, 15 minutes by ferry from Praslin. La Digue has no cars — transport is by bicycle (hire from SCR 150/day, approximately £9) and traditional ox-carts. The population is 3,000. The island’s pace is the most different from any resort experience in the Indian Ocean.

Anse Source d’Argent is a 20-minute bike ride from the ferry, through L’Union Farm (which charges SCR 115 entry, including a brief giant tortoise encounter). The beach — pink and cream granite boulders ranging from knee-height to three-storey, with a shallow lagoon between them — is the most photographed beach in the Indian Ocean. Arrive by 7:30am on any day to have it effectively to yourself. By 10am, tour groups from Mahé and Praslin boats fill it.

The best accommodation on La Digue: Castle Beach Boutique Hotel (from £200/night, adults-only, 14 rooms, excellent food, a 10-minute bike ride from Anse Source d’Argent) and Patatran Village (from £150/night, friendly, comfortable, less design-forward but excellent value).

WeddingsHub recommendation: one or two nights on La Digue is one of the most distinctive nights you can spend in the Indian Ocean. The car-free pace, the giant tortoises at L’Union Farm, and Anse Source d’Argent at 7am are experiences that Mahé and Praslin simply cannot replicate.

The top honeymoon resorts

North Island (private island resort)

The most famous honeymoon resort in the Seychelles, and one of the most celebrated in the world. North Island has 11 villas on a private island north of Mahé. Access is by a 30-minute helicopter from Mahé airport (included in the rate). William and Catherine honeymooned here in 2011.

WeddingsHub pricing (July 2026): from £2,500 per couple per night, all-inclusive. A 7-night minimum stay (the recommended minimum for North Island) costs from £17,500 per couple before flights. Premium economy flights from London to Mahé add £2,000-£3,500 for two.

North Island is not for everyone: the price level excludes most couples. But for those for whom it is not a barrier, it is genuinely the most exclusive and private honeymoon experience in the Indian Ocean, with a level of personalisation and natural beauty that is hard to exceed.

Six Senses Zil Pasyon (Felicité Island)

WeddingsHub’s 2026 top recommendation for the Seychelles. Thirty villas on a private island 40 minutes by speedboat from Praslin. Each villa has a private pool, a house couple who manage everything from kayak launches to evening turndown, and access to a reef that WeddingsHub’s editorial team rated as the best accessible snorkelling in the Seychelles.

From £1,200 per couple per night. Six Senses’s food programme — farm-to-table, zero-waste, exceptional quality — is among the best hotel food in the Indian Ocean. The spa is the most comprehensive in the Seychelles.

Constance Lemuria (Praslin)

The best mid-range option on Praslin and the most practical choice for couples who want access to Anse Lazio without paying private-island prices. From £450 per night. Three pools, three restaurants, 18-hole golf course, direct beach access, and the coastal walk to Anse Lazio. WeddingsHub’s most frequently booked Seychelles resort in 2026 planning data.

Real cost breakdown: 10-night Seychelles honeymoon

Budget tier	Accommodation	Flights	Food and activities	Total
Mid-range	Constance Lemuria (£450/night)	£2,200 economy for two	£800	£7,500-£9,000
Luxury	Six Senses Zil Pasyon (£1,200/night)	£2,600 premium economy for two	£600 (meals included)	£15,000-£17,000
Ultra-luxury	North Island (£2,500/night)	£3,400 business class for two	included	£22,000-£25,000

These figures reflect WeddingsHub’s July 2026 research. The Seychelles is genuinely expensive — it is one of the highest cost-per-night Indian Ocean destinations. Budget resorts on Mahé can reduce accommodation costs to £180-£250 per night, with a trade-off on beach quality and resort standard.

Getting to the Seychelles from the UK

There are no direct flights from the UK to Mahé. All routes involve a connection:

• Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi (best connections, approximately 10-11 hours total, economy fares from £850 return per person)
• Emirates via Dubai (similar journey time, competitive fares from £880 return)
• Air France via Paris Charles de Gaulle (slightly longer total journey, economy fares from £900 return)
• Kenya Airways via Nairobi (the longest routing, but can offer competitive fares at £750-£900 return)

Total flight time ranges from 10 to 14 hours depending on the connection. Emirates business class to Mahé runs £2,800-£4,000 return per person from London Heathrow.

FAQ

Do we need any vaccinations for the Seychelles?

No vaccinations are mandatory for UK travellers visiting the Seychelles, but the NHS recommends confirming routine vaccinations are up to date. There is no malaria risk in the Seychelles. Dengue fever is present on the main islands — use insect repellent, particularly at dawn and dusk. The FCDO and NHS TravelHealthPro are the authoritative sources for current guidance.

Can we get married legally in the Seychelles?

Yes. The Seychelles is a popular destination wedding location. The minimum residency requirement is 11 days before the ceremony. Required documents: birth certificates, passports, decree absolute if previously married. Most large resorts on Mahé and Praslin have dedicated wedding coordinators. Your Seychelles marriage is legally recognised in the UK. See our getting married abroad UK legal guide for the full process.

Is the Seychelles safe for UK couples?

The Seychelles is safe for tourists by African and Indian Ocean standards. The FCDO’s current rating is “exercise normal precautions” — the lowest risk level. Petty theft occurs in Victoria (the capital) and on busier beaches, but violent crime targeting tourists is rare. The main practical risk: the sea. Seychelles beaches on the trade-wind side (south and east coasts) can have powerful currents and surf. Always check local advice and swim at flagged, monitored beaches. Resort pools and calm-condition beaches are safe.

What currency should we use in the Seychelles?

The official currency is the Seychellois rupee (SCR). USD and euros are widely accepted at resorts and tourist businesses. UK pounds are not routinely accepted (except at some major hotels). Use USD cash for local restaurants, markets, and small operators. Resort hotels accept all major cards. Barclays and MCB have ATMs in Victoria on Mahé — carry SCR for local spending.

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For more Indian Ocean honeymoon planning, see our Maldives honeymoon guide, Mauritius honeymoon guide, Bali honeymoon guide, best honeymoon destinations, and getting married abroad UK legal guide.