26
May
2016
0

Seychelles vs Maldives

We are often asked by beach lovers on our preference amongst Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius. We have been to the Maldivian islands twice and to Seychelles once. Sadly, Mauritius hasn’t been ticked off our travel bucketlist as yet and our comparison is between Maldives and Seychelles. While I vote for Seychelles, Ankur votes for Maldives!

Here are some points that distinguish the two …

Geology…

The Seychelles are granite island, dotting the Indian Ocean. Huge granite boulders adorn beaches and have been sheltering marine life since time immemorial.

Anse Source d'Argent, with its famed granite boulders

Anse Source d’Argent, with its famed granite boulders

The Maldives, are coral islands… rings of sandy, living, breathing coral. At times, imagining the weight of an entire holiday resort on nothing but coral does scare me, but all seems well so far!

Atoll en route to Reethi Beach Resort

Atoll en route to Reethi Beach Resort

Size of the islands….

The bigger islands in Seychelles (Mahe and Praslin) are large enough to be explored by renting a car. Beach hopping is ideally done by packing a picnic basket and hopping from one beach to the other in your car or local bus.

Zip zap zoom...Mahe, Seyvhelles

Zip zap zoom…Mahe, Seyvhelles

Smaller islands like La Digue can be explored on foot or on a bicycle.

Most islands in Maldives are not big enough to explore by car. You can simply walk around and explore a major portion of the island. The larger Maldivian islands like Gan have local villages with a few resorts by the beach and do have roads on the island. However, most islands are resort islands i.e the resort covers the entire island (which can be explored on foot/cycle/golf carts).

Culture…

Seychelles was a French colony. The local culture reflects a mix of French, African and native Seychellois culture. Majority of the population is Christian, with a small percentage of Hindus and Muslims. You are free to wear anything and everything on the island and on the beaches.

Anse Lazio, with a the 'protected' area for swimming

Anse Lazio, with a the ‘protected’ area for swimming

Maldives is a Muslim nation and you need to dress conservatively in line local customs. Swimwear is not allowed on the beaches around the local villages. However, you are free to wear swimwear/bikinis at the resort island or on private beaches.

Accommodation…

Seychelles can be done on a budget… not a shoestring budget… but definitely on a budget. There are guest houses to choose from that can let you stay for as low as USD 75 per night for a room.

Our cosy B&B at Praslin

Our cosy B&B at Praslin

If you are looking for luxury, you can rent a a room in a villa that is next to one owned by David Beckham, which sure comes at a price. Sea side luxury resorts, little chalets on a palm fringed hillock, a cosy room a sleepy sea side town or an island to yourself – Seychelles has it all. We spent two nights at the Kempinski in Mahe and four nights at B&Bs in different islands, each being a different experience.

Time to get some shut eye...at the Kempinski, Seychelles

Time to get some shut eye…at the Kempinski, Seychelles

If staying over turquoise blue waters in a stilted water bungalow has been on your bucketlist, Maldives is the destination for you. Almost all island resorts have water bungalows to let you live your dream.

Water Bungalows Reethi Beach ResortIf you are looking for a budget getaway, cheer up. The Maldivian authorities have allowed locals to run bed and breakfast services very recently. However, these B&Bs are in the local villages and you will have restrictions on what you wears. The best would be to ask the B&B to get you a day pass to one of the resorts, which typically include use of the pool, beach facilities and buffet lunch.

Food…

Local cuisines of both islands are dominated by sea food, obviously! However, finding good vegetarian food in the both island nations is a challenge, unless you eat at the restaurant of a five star hotel. The Creole cuisine is unique, with spices and lots of coconut. Its an interesting mix of Indian and African cuisines. The Maldivan cuisine, on the other hand, clearly reflects an influence of South Indian cuisine.

Vegetable curry at Seychelles

Vegetable curry at Seychelles

Activities…

Seychelles offers a plethora of activities… island hopping, beach hopping, road tripping, hiking and off course, bird watching, SCUBA diving and snorkelling. Praslin is the only place in the world where the black parrot can be sighted in its natural habitat. Oh… I missed mentioning tortoise feeding! We did a hike in Vallee De Mai on Praslin and it was a day well spent under shaded palms.

Exploring Vallee de Mai with Marc

Exploring Vallee de Mai with Marc

We spotted a pair of black parrots and some really interesting geckos. We did a snorkelling trip to Felicite Island and the marine life was as good as we have ever seen (including the Maldives and the Red Sea). However, snorkelling off the coast was just very average, except in La Digue. Its is imperative to take a snorkelling trip to see the healthy corals.

Snorkeling at Felicite Island, Seychelles

Snorkeling at Felicite Island, Seychelles

SCUBA was great! We spotted sharks, rays, eels, lion fish, turtles and a host of other colourful beings. The granite boulders under the sea added such a dramatic feel to the underwater world.

Diving in Seychelles

Maldives lets you enjoy all that the ocean can offer… swimming, snorkelling, SCUBA diving and water sports. There really isn’t much that you can do on land, except for the activities offered by your resort. Snorkelling and SCUBA diving in Maldives, is beyond doubt, excellent. We have sighted whale sharks, manta rays, spotted rays, sea turtles and off course, Nemo in the Indian Ocean while were in Maldives.

Sting ray feeding at Reethu Beach Resort

Sting ray feeding at Reethi Beach Resort

Snorkelling from off the coast is excellent and most resorts have a living house reef, making the activity more comfortable for those who aren’t too comfortable snorkelling in the open sea.

Coral...live and breathing!

Coral…live and breathing!

We have been to Maldives twice and to Seychelles only once. Given a chance, we would be delighted to repeat any of the destinations!

Sunny Maldives!

Sunny Maldives!

Both are picture perfect tropical destinations… warm and sunny, with powdery sand and blue waters. Its time to pack up your swimwear, sunhat and sunscreen… Paradise calling!

You may also like

Seychelles: Tips for your Trip
Diving in Seychelles: Finding Dory
Kempinski, Mahe: Hotel Review
Seychelles: Vegetarian Food

13 Responses

  1. I really want to go to the Maldives, it looks stunning, but not sure it’s a destination for a solo traveller. Seychelles hasn’t been on my list but it looks stunning too so maybe it’s a place I need to add. I will get to both of these one day and Mauritius!! Just so much of the world to explore 🙂

  2. Hmmm upon reading the comparisons I can honestly say I wouldn’t know how to pick between the two! I think both places have their positives. I would jump at any chance to go to either- they look so luxurious and I would love to scuba and snorkel in both places! Thanks for the great information!

  3. So both these places are on my bucket list anyway but thank you for comparing! It is great to hear Seychelles can be done on a budget! I have wanted to visit for so long!

  4. What a choice to have to make! I’ve been to Mauritius and just from your descriptions of the Maldives and Seychelles, I would easily pick one of those two if I had to! The Seychelles would probably win at the moment though, just because you can do it on a budget and I’m still paying off our Africa adventure!

  5. Although I want to visit both these places, the actual debate in my mind is which first. You have very nicely compared the two . torquoise blue water is really my first choice. So, guess I have made up my mind.

  6. I have been to the Maldives and was very underwhelmed. I felt the beaches didn’t wow me the way I hoped and the food was average. That being said, I did love the atolls and snorkeling. I do want to go to the Seychelles though!

  7. My parents have been to Maldives and I’ve been to Mauritius and I’ve just come to the conclusion that no matter where in the world island life is the best and comes with its own uniqueness. Maritius has a lot more options but I known from people that Maldives and even Seychelles is laid back and more relaxed.

  8. I would be happy to visit either place they both look beautiful, thank your sharing, great photos. I have had friends that have been to Maldives and love it! I don’t do enough beach holidays, both these will be on list when I decide to do a beach retreat. But I would choose Seychelles as it has more activities

  9. Love those pictures, especially the marine ones. I haven’t been to either the Maldives or the Seychelles but your pics remind me of snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi in Thailand. I’m now a big fan of snorkeling and have stuck the Maldives and the Seychelles on my bucket list. Nice post. Thanks for sharing. All the best and good luck with everything!

  10. I WANT BOTH!! Honestly, I’ve been pining after the Maldives since forever (it shows up on my IG feed constantly haha) but I do want to wait until I can enjoy it properly and not have to worry too much about a budget. It looks like a great honeymoon destination! Both do actually. I don’t like having to pick, so I’ll just say: one day – I hope to see both! Great, informative post here 🙂

  11. My dad’s favourite place on earth is Seychelles (he’s got some great stories from the place). I can definitely see the appeal!

    I’ve always wanted to visit both. I’m a scuba diver so I think I’d be spoilt for choices either countries I go to. But it’s interesting to see a comparison of the two. Thanks for sharing!

  12. I often to see the photo of resort with clear water in Maldives, indeed Maldives is stunning and alluring! Seychelles looks good, too. But may be if I were to choose either one to go, I will choose Seychelles for its various activities that could be done.

    But…ahh…hope to go to both places one day. 🙂

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