Which Island for You? Seychelles, Mauritius or the Maldives

The Short Answer

Choose the Seychelles if you want dramatic scenery, granite boulder beaches and nature on land as well as in the water. Choose Mauritius if you want a big choice of resorts, easy family logistics and things to do beyond the beach. Choose the Maldives if you want the best water: clear lagoons, house reefs from your villa and a whole island to yourself.

All three are in the Indian Ocean and all three work after a safari. The differences are in the landscape, the water, the seasons and how hard they are to reach.

The Landscape

The Seychelles are two kinds of island. The inner islands around Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are granite, with steep green hills, rainforest and the smooth pink and gray boulders that frame the beaches. The outer islands are flat coral atolls, remote and quiet, where the reason to come is the sea.

Mauritius is a single larger volcanic island ringed by a reef and a lagoon. Inland there are mountains, sugar cane, tea estates, waterfalls and the forest of Black River Gorges National Park. It feels like a country rather than a resort.

The Maldives is a chain of coral atolls in the middle of the ocean. Most resorts take up a whole small island, with villas on the beach or over the lagoon. There is very little land and almost no landscape beyond sand, palms and water, which is exactly the appeal.

Beaches and Water

• Seychelles: some of the most photographed beaches in the Indian Ocean, such as Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue. Snorkeling around the granite reefs is good, and the outer islands have excellent diving. Seaweed and swell affect some beaches in the trade-wind months.
• Mauritius: long, calm lagoon beaches, good for swimming and water sports. Snorkeling is fine but rarely the main event, as the lagoon reefs are less rich than those of the Maldives or the outer Seychelles.
• Maldives: the clearest water and the best reefs of the three, often right off your villa. Many resorts have a house reef you can swim to from the beach, and manta rays, turtles and reef sharks are common sights.

Getting There

From the US, all three take at least one connection, usually through Europe or the Gulf. From Africa, it depends on where your safari ends.

• Seychelles: about three hours by air from Nairobi and four from Johannesburg, with connections through Addis Ababa and the Gulf. Then a short flight, helicopter or boat to the island.
• Mauritius: about four hours from Johannesburg, with flights from Nairobi and Europe too. Then a drive of up to an hour or so to the resort.
• Maldives: usually through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, then a seaplane, domestic flight or speedboat. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, which can mean a night near Malé.

When to Go

• Seychelles: good all year. The calmest seas are in April, May, October and November.
• Mauritius: best from April to June and September to December. January to March is hot, humid and the main cyclone season.
• Maldives: best from December to April. From May to November it is wetter and windier, though diving can be very good and the manta season peaks in Baa Atoll.

In practice, that means the Maldives fits a Christmas, New Year or February trip, while the Seychelles and Mauritius fit the African dry season from June to October.

Families

Mauritius is the easiest for families, with large resorts, strong kids' clubs, calm lagoons and plenty to do on land. One&Only Le Saint Géran is our usual choice.

In the Maldives, several resorts are very good with children, especially Soneva Fushi and Cheval Blanc Randheli. Over-water villas need care with young children.

In the Seychelles, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island works well for families, and private islands like North Island are good for a family taking over the whole place.

Seychelles vs Mauritius vs Maldives at a Glance

• Scenery: the Seychelles for granite and rainforest, Mauritius for mountains and variety, the Maldives for lagoons and open ocean.
• Snorkeling and diving: the Maldives first, then the Seychelles, then Mauritius.
• Things to do on land: Mauritius first, then the Seychelles. Very little in the Maldives.
• Privacy: the Maldives and the Seychelles' private islands. Mauritius resorts are larger.
• After a safari: the Seychelles and Mauritius are the easier hops from Africa. The Maldives needs a connection through the Gulf.
• Best months: the Seychelles in April, May, October and November. Mauritius from April to June and September to December. The Maldives from December to April.

Who Should Choose Which

Choose the Seychelles if you:

• Want scenery and nature on land as well as beaches
• Like the idea of hopping between two islands
• Want a private island, such as North Island, or a quiet base like Six Senses Zil Pasyon
• Are traveling in the shoulder months between the trade winds

Choose Mauritius if you:

• Are traveling with children or a multigenerational group
• Want a wide choice of restaurants, activities and day trips
• Are coming from Johannesburg and want a short, simple flight
• Prefer a calm, sunset-facing resort like The Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius

Choose the Maldives if you:

• Care most about clear water and snorkeling from your villa
• Want real privacy and very little to organize
• Are traveling between December and April
• Like design and art, as at JOALI Maldives

For how each one fits after a safari, see our guide to beach after safari, and our Indian Ocean page has the full list of hotels. If you would like help choosing, tell us what you have in mind.