Seychelles main island Mahé is home to a long list of incredible beaches. Powder soft sand in shades of vanilla and pink, coconut trees and crystal clear water, you’ll find them all on this paradise island without having to look very far.
I’m sure you could throw a dart at a Mahé map, go to a random beach and be delighted. If you’re not wanting to leave it up to chance however, I’ve made a list of what I consider to be the best Mahé beaches.
Here are my top 3 absolute favourite beaches in Mahé for 2025 to add to your bucket list!
1. Anse à la Mouche
It just so happened that the beach right across from our accommodation turned out to be my most loved Mahé beach. I stopped by this beach every day of my stay on Mahé island. Even after having visited other beaches during the day, I would still find myself returning for a dip at Anse à la Mouche after an intense bus ride back to the apartment or to simply watch the sunset.
The water is very shallow and you can walk out into the sea for a very long time without it becoming that much deeper. I never made it any further than knee deep during low tide even though I walked out quite far. Therefore this beach is perfect for young or inexperienced swimmers.
Furthermore, I haven’t experienced a beach where to ocean was calmer than at Anse à la Mouche. Besides, it is one of the few Mahé beaches (if not the only beach) where you can get away with not wearing water shoes.
Why visit? This sheltered crescent shaped bay has the softest sand, the calmest water and the best sunsets. It’s generally a quiet beach that attracts most visitors at the end of the day to watch the sun go down. It did get a little livelier on the Sunday I was there with mostly locals barbequing and playing some tropical tunes which was a vibe in itself.
Best for: Sunset watching
Amenities: Beachside takeway and several other restaurants and supermarkets within walking distance, limited parking though
📍 Anse à la Mouche
2. Port Launay
Port Launay provides a front-row seat to Seychelles’ marine life. As part of the Port Launay Marine National Park you’ll find protected coral gardens where parrotfish, clownfish and sea urchins feed.
In an attempt to restore the reef, recently there was an installation of 450 coral fragments. These were placed onto structures in the sea bed forming the silhouette of a hawksbill turtle. In the coming years, the restored reef is hoped to enhance marine biodiversity and protect fish habitat.
Port Launay is a beach that impresses with turquoise waters, luscious green hills and dreamy offshore islands. It is one of the busier beaches though as it’s located nearby the Constance Ephelia resort. The resort is beautiful and lush with stunning suites and villas though it is not accessible to non-guests.
However, we booked a zipline activity that operates from the Constance Ephelia resort so we were granted access to the grounds. This way we were able to explore areas that normally would be restricted.
Why visit? Port Launay is the most populair beach of the Marine National Park which is famous for it’s whale shark sightings (season-dependent).
Best for: Spotting marine life
Amenities: Food, fresh juice stand and kayak rentals
📍 Port Launay
3. Pointe Au Sel
The water at Point Au Sel beach is one of the clearest I’ve seen from all the Seychelles beaches I have visited. This crystal clear calm water makes it super easy to spot a variety of fish and also the occasional stingray.
The sand was a little too gritty for my liking after being spoiled with the silky soft sand at Anse à la Mouche. I would recommend wearing water shoes as there is a lot of pulverized shells and coral around that make the sand quite coarse.
This beach does have one major drawback: it’s right beside the road. That being said, if it wasn’t, it probably would be a lot busier than it currently is.
During the entire afternoon we spend at Pointe Au Sel beach we only encountered three other people, one of them being a local employed to tidy up the beach.
Despite being next to a road, I felt a calm peace at Pointe Au Sel. It definitely helped that at some places along the beach the foliage has created a bit of separation from the road. There is also plenty of shady areas under the overhanging trees. Just make sure you don’t sit right under a coconut tree, because we had some close calls with coconuts dropping only a few inches away from our heads!
Why visit? The water at this beach is crystal clear and very shallow. It’s perfect for lounging in the surf and you do not need to don your snorkeling gear to watch all types of fish come and go.
Best for: Stingray spotting
Amenities: Not that much around apart from a small supermarket and one or two restaurants
📍 Pointe au Sel
Bonus: Anse Royale
Honourable mention for Anse Royale which was recommended to me by a local, though it also seems to be a favorite among tourists.
I asked our taxi driver that picked us up from the airport what the best spot for snorkeling is on Mahé and without hesitation he named Anse Royale. Calm, shallow and fringed by coral reefs, Anse Royale is a popular snorkeling spot. In fact, this beach appeared to me as one of the more “happening” beaches on the island with a beach bar, restaurants and the opportunity to rent kayaks.
Why visit? Anse Royale is one of the most iconic beaches of Mahé and another stunning Seychelles gem.
Best for: Relaxed beach vibes
Amenities: Beach bar, restaurants, kayak rental
📍Anse Royale
Mahé has so many beaches that I didn’t have time to see, but I feel perfectly content having visited the beaches that I did get to see and these top 3 in particular. I’m definitely not against returning to the Seychelles at some point. And when I do so, I will still have plenty of beach left to explore on this paradise island!
If you’re hungry after your beach session grab a bite to eat at one of these restaurants.
