La Digue

Flying to Seychelles and wondering if it’s worth including La Digue island in your itinerary? In today’s post, I’ll show you several reasons why it would be a shame to skip this paradise island. We fell in love with La Digue during our first vacation in Seychelles. We were enchanted not only by the local atmosphere, which was so different from the main island of Mahé, but also by the remote beaches that we often had all to ourselves.

That’s why we were especially looking forward to La Digue during our last visit to Seychelles. I can enthusiastically say that although the island has undergone some modernization over the years and seeing cars here isn’t unusual anymore, the island still maintains its paradise-like charm and you can still venture to remote beaches that you’ll have, at least for a moment, all to yourself.

>COMPARE ACCOMMODATION ON LA DIGUE<

Exotic Vacation – La Digue/ Petra Švehlová Stowasserová

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La Digue is the fourth largest island of Seychelles and one of the most picturesque. It’s located about 15 minutes by boat from Praslin and is known for its peaceful atmosphere. The island is only about 10 km² in size but hides many beautiful places that are definitely worth visiting.

La Digue is an island where even today you’ll feel like time has stood still. No busy roads, no tourist crowds – except for the center around the harbor. Turquoise sea, white beaches lined with granite rocks, and laid-back island life. Locals and visiting vacationers still mainly get around by bicycle or on foot, which gives the island its unique atmosphere. The biggest attractions are the iconic beaches, considered by many guides to be among the most beautiful in the world.

5 ACCOMMODATION TIPS ON LA DIGUE

But there’s much more waiting for you on La Digue. Besides the wild beaches on the southern and eastern coast, there are also breathtaking viewpoints and authentic Seychellois life. If you’re looking for a place to slow down from the hustle of everyday hectic life and enjoy nature in its purest form, La Digue will enchant you at first taste.

How to get to La Digue?

If you’re planning a trip to La Digue island, you can use ferry connections from Mahé and Praslin islands. Below I provide current information (2025) about companies, prices, and classes:

1. Ferry from Mahé to La Digue

Company: Cat Cocos

Prices (one-way ticket):

Economy Main Deck (Coco de Mer): €72 for adults, €42 for children aged 2-12.
Economy Upper Deck (Island Hopper): €78 for adults, €48 for children aged 2-12.
Business Class (Lazio Lounge): €96 for adults, €60 for children aged 2-12.

Important notice: From January 1, 2024, Seychelles Ports Authority has introduced a port fee of €2 per adult for each journey. This fee is automatically added to the ticket price during reservation.

2. Ferry from Praslin to La Digue

Company: Cat Rose

Prices (one-way ticket):

Adults: €15
Children aged 2-12: €7
Children under 2: free

Important notice: From January 1, 2024, Seychelles Ports Authority has introduced a port fee of €1 per adult for each journey. This fee is automatically added to the ticket price.

Note: Prices and fees may change, so I recommend verifying current information before your trip.

How to get around on La Digue?

This year too, the most common and popular transportation on La Digue island will still be cycling. It’s one of the main attractions why holidaymakers from around the world choose this island for their vacation, and it’s also the most comfortable and flexible way to get around the island.

Don’t feel like exploring the island by bike, or your health condition doesn’t allow it? Or are you simply looking for a comfortable way to get around? Then there’s island taxi available for you too. More remote and luxury accommodations even operate their own (mostly electric) transport and offer rides to their visitors to more distant beaches.

And the third option is, of course, walking. Given the size of the island, you can simply put on your sneakers and walk across La Digue on foot. Because there’s no heavy traffic on the roads, the island is also popular for running. You won’t be alone in the morning and evening hours. I recommend packing headlamps. They’ll come in handy not only for evening runs but also when going out for dinner.

Where to stay on La Digue?

Accommodation on La Digue offers quite a wide range of options. From simple guesthouses and family pensions to luxury beachfront resorts. You’ll find most options around La Passe, where the harbor, shops, and restaurants are located. If you prefer peace and nature, consider staying in the north of the island near beaches like Anse Patates and others.

Unlike Mahé and Praslin, you won’t find large hotels here, but rather smaller, stylish bungalows and eco-friendly resorts. I mention popular accommodation options below. Most accommodations also offer bike rental, usually with a substantial discount. Therefore, I recommend not renting a bike right after arriving by ferry, but waiting to see what offer you get at your accommodation.

Budget:

Popular:

Luxury:

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Excursions on La Digue Island

The island offers many beautiful places and activities worth experiencing. La Digue is small but offers beautiful nature, remote beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere. Here are the main trips we recommend adding to your itinerary:

1. Trip across 3 (4) beaches of the southeastern coast

For us, this is the most beautiful coastal trek we did on La Digue Island, and honestly, when someone asks me what not to miss during a vacation in Seychelles, I answer these 4 beaches. When we were here first in 2015, you could only go without a guide to Anse Cocos. During our last visit to the island, however, the trail had been improved all the way to Anse Caiman. So when planning your own Seychelles vacation, I recommend not skipping this coastal trek.

I wrote more about the coastal trek across 4 beaches in this post:

The Most Beautiful Trip on La Digue

2. Anse Source d’Argent and L’Union Estate

Anse Source d’Argent long ago earned the nickname of Seychelles’ most photographed beach, and this is reflected in its tourist popularity. However, a stay on La Digue Island wouldn’t be complete without visiting this iconic beach. You’ll find it inside L’Union Estate park, where there’s a daily entrance fee of 150 SCR (about 11 USD), and we recommend planning a whole day here to fully enjoy not only the beach but the entire park.

In the morning and afternoon hours, the beach is also suitable for snorkeling, and in recent years, clear kayak trips have become popular. You can rent these either independently or join group excursions.

What else to see in L’Union Estate park

Colonial plantation house – an old Creole house surrounded by coconut palms, showing how local planters once lived.
Giant Aldabra tortoises – you can get close to the wall and be very near these majestic creatures. You can even feed them with prepared branches with leaves that are usually available during feeding times.
Old cemetery – the place where the island’s first settlers are buried.
Vanilla plantation – a small field with vanilla plants that are still grown here today.

3. Beaches in the north and east of La Digue

If you’re a snorkeling enthusiast, one of the best beaches on La Digue Island is, in our opinion, Anse Sévère, and according to locals, Anse Patates as well. Specifically at the first mentioned beach, it’s possible to spot sea turtles. If you want to go diving or snorkeling at nearby reefs where you can see rays, turtles, and sharks, arrange it at the information center right at the port.

You’ll find other beautiful beaches for relaxation on the east side of the island. Not all are suitable for swimming, so pay attention to the signs. This part of La Digue is often overlooked by many, so we again had the beaches on this side almost to ourselves. You might be enticed by the experience of meeting giant tortoises, which you’re very likely to encounter here. They like to parade across the road. So if you see a group of holidaymakers from afar, they’re most likely photographing these tortoises.

4. Anse Marron Beach

Want to go on a trip where you’ll hardly meet anyone and therefore have the beaches you encounter all to yourself? The trip to Anse Marron is a real adventure, which will take you to one of La Digue’s most hidden and beautiful beaches. The path there isn’t easy, leading through dense jungle, rocky cliffs, and sometimes shallow waters, so it’s recommended to go, at least for the first time, with a local guide.

The reward is a stunning wild beach with huge granite boulders, golden sand, and natural pools where you can safely swim. Unlike the famous Anse Source d’Argent, there are still very few people here, so you can enjoy the feeling of discovering your own secret paradise. The trip takes several hours, but the experience of this untouched part of the island is definitely worth it!

5. Cycling tour around the island

The best way to explore La Digue Island! Most of the island can be comfortably explored by bike, and you have the opportunity to look into villages, more or less remote beaches, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this fairy-tale place at your own pace.

6. Hike to Nid d’Aigle viewpoint

Can’t imagine an exotic vacation without some hiking? The highest point of the island (319 m) offers beautiful views of La Digue and surrounding islands. The ascent is steep but short (about 45-60 minutes). Along the way, you’ll encounter stairs and also a ladder. Before the journey, assess your physical fitness, wear quality hiking shoes, and bring enough water. On the way back, you can stop at a bar and have a drink with a view.

We personally recommend setting out in the morning hours and then treating yourself to something good at Belle vue Cafeteria as a reward. From this bar, a breathtaking view of the sea and surrounding greenery opens up before you. If you’re looking for a nice place for dinner at sunset, definitely save this tip.

7. Trips to surrounding islands and fishing

Have you already discovered La Digue island literally inside out? Then it’s the right time to choose one of the day trips to surrounding islets. The easiest option is a trip to Praslin island, if you’ve left it out of your vacation itinerary, and visit this no less paradisiacal place at least as a day trip. The journey will take about 15 minutes, and the ferry is operated by Cat Rose.

Trips to nearby islands Coco, Félicité, and Sister Islands are another option for day trips from La Digue Island. They are both a paradise for snorkeling and diving with beautiful corals and schools of fish, and the beaches and environment of the islets themselves will enchant you. You can arrange trip reservations directly at the port, with one of the local agencies, at the info center, or in advance online.

Example of online reservation:

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