Escape the Crowds: Secret Seychelles Islands You Need to Know

Silhouette Island rises out of the Indian Ocean about 20 kilometres north of Mahé, its five granite peaks cloaked in dense tropical forest. Most visitors to Seychelles never make it past the main islands of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. Roughly 80 percent of tourist activity concentrates on those three, leaving the outer islands and smaller inner islands remarkably quiet. This guide covers the lesser-known islands where you can actually find space — Curieuse, Cousin, Silhouette, Desroches, and a few others — along with the practical realities of getting there and what to expect when you arrive.

If you are picturing empty beaches and trails without a queue for a photo, you need to look beyond the postcard shots of Anse Source d’Argent. The quieter islands require more effort to reach, cost more to stay on, or demand a willingness to trade convenience for solitude. That trade-off is worth understanding before you book.

Understanding Seychelles’ quieter islands

The archipelago has 115 islands, but only a handful see regular visitors.

The inner islands — Mahé, Praslin, La Digue — handle the vast majority of tourism. The outer islands and smaller inner islands like Silhouette, Curieuse, and Cousin sit outside that circuit. Distances vary: Curieuse is a 15-minute boat ride from Praslin, while Farquhar Atoll lies about 770 kilometres southwest of Mahé. Access ranges from scheduled boat transfers to chartered flights with no regular service.

One limitation worth noting: most of these islands have a single resort or no accommodation at all. Curieuse and Cousin are day-trip only. Silhouette has one resort. Desroches has the Four Seasons. If you want variety in restaurants or activities, you will not find it. The trade-off is that you will also not find crowds.

I spent a week bouncing between Praslin and Silhouette, and the difference in noise — literal noise — was immediate. On Silhouette, the loudest thing at midday was the wind through the takamaka trees.

Five islands worth the detour

Curieuse Island: tortoises and mangroves

A short boat ride from Praslin brings you to Curieuse Island, part of the Curieuse Marine National Park. The island is best known for its population of giant Aldabra tortoises, which roam freely around the old doctor’s house that now serves as a park office. The mangrove boardwalk cuts through a protected wetland area and gives you a close look at the root systems that anchor the shoreline. Snorkelling off the beach at Anse Jose is decent, though the coral is patchy compared to more protected sites like Baie Ternay.

What I would do: take the first boat from Praslin around 9 a.m. The tortoises are most active in the cooler morning hours, and you will have the boardwalk to yourself before the midday crowd arrives. Bring a reef-safe mineral sunscreen — the park is a protected area and standard sunscreens are discouraged.

Cousin Island: birds and nothing else

Cousin Island is a UNESCO-designated nature reserve and bird sanctuary off the coast of Praslin. The island is virtually untouched — no resorts, no restaurants, no shops. Visitors come for one reason: the birds. Cousin is a key site for the rare Seychelles Warbler, along with several other endemic species. Guided walks run twice daily and last about two hours. The number of visitors is capped, so you need to book ahead through a tour operator in Praslin.

What I would do: combine Cousin with Curieuse in a single day. Several operators run half-day trips that stop at both islands. The boat ride between them is about 20 minutes. Pack your own lunch — there is nowhere to buy food on Cousin.

Silhouette Island: hiking and isolation

Silhouette Island is the third-largest island in the archipelago and the most mountainous. Its five peaks rise sharply from the coast, and the trails that cross the island offer views over the forest canopy and out to the open ocean. The slopes of Mont Dauban are home to endemic carnivorous pitcher plants — one of those details that makes you stop and look closer. The island has one resort, Hilton Seychelles Labriz, plus a small village with a few basic guesthouses.

What I would do: hike the trail to the summit of Mont Dauban early in the morning before the heat sets in. The path is steep in sections and can be slippery after rain. Bring a lightweight hiking daypack with water and snacks — there are no facilities on the trail.

Desroches Island: luxury on a coral atoll

Desroches Island sits about 230 kilometres southwest of Mahé and is part of the Amirantes group. The island is roughly six kilometres long, ringed by white sand beaches and lined with coconut palms. The Four Seasons Resort occupies the entire island, with private villas set back from the beach. Activities include surfing for beginners and experienced surfers, kayaking, stand-up paddling, and cycling on 15 kilometres of trails. The tortoise sanctuary on the island runs a breeding programme, and the restaurant inside the old lighthouse is worth a meal even if you are not staying overnight.

What I would do: book a table at the lighthouse restaurant for sunset. The view from the top is unobstructed, and the menu focuses on locally caught fish. If you are not a resort guest, day visits are sometimes possible — call ahead to check availability.

Bird Island: sooty terns and the world’s oldest tortoise

Bird Island is the northernmost island in the Seychelles archipelago, reachable by a 30-minute flight from Mahé. From May to October, roughly 700,000 pairs of sooty tern nest on the island, covering the northern end in a dense, noisy colony. The island also hosts migratory Eurasian birds, resident species like Barred Ground Doves and Greater Crested Terns, and the occasional hawksbill or green turtle along the shoreline. On land, you can meet Esmerelda, the oldest giant tortoise in the world.

What I would do: visit between May and October for the tern colony. The noise and smell are intense — bring earplugs if you are sensitive. The self-catering villas are basic but comfortable, and the island shop stocks essentials.

Planning your island-hopping logistics

Getting to these islands requires more than a ferry ticket and a good attitude.

Boat transfers from Praslin to Curieuse and Cousin are straightforward and inexpensive — expect to pay around SCR 500–800 for a combined day trip. Silhouette is served by a scheduled ferry from Mahé that takes about one hour. Desroches, Bird Island, and Alphonse require flights on small aircraft, which cost significantly more and have limited seats. The table below breaks down the options.

The best time for calm seas and clear skies is April to May and October to November, when the trade winds ease off. During the southeast monsoon (May to October), the sea between Mahé and Silhouette can get rough, and ferry cancellations are not uncommon. The northwest monsoon (December to March) brings more rain but also flatter water.

What I would do: book your inter-island transfers before you arrive. For day trips to Curieuse and Cousin, reserve through a tour operator in Praslin at least a week in advance during high season. For flights to Desroches or Bird Island, book as soon as your main accommodation is confirmed.

What to know before you go

Packing for multiple islands

The climate is consistently warm — 27–32°C year-round — with high humidity. Lightweight, quick-drying clothing works best. A lightweight rain jacket is useful during the northwest monsoon, especially on Silhouette where afternoon showers roll in fast. Reef-safe sunscreen is essential, and a reusable water bottle helps cut down on plastic waste — the outer islands have limited recycling facilities.

Food and water on the outer islands

On Curieuse and Cousin, you bring your own food and water. Silhouette has a resort with multiple restaurants and a small shop in the village, but prices are higher than on Mahé. Desroches and Bird Island include meals in the accommodation rate. Tap water on the outer islands is generally not drinkable — stick to bottled or filtered water. The local cuisine leans heavily on fish, coconut, and rice, with Creole influences. If you have dietary restrictions, notify your accommodation in advance.

Respecting the environment

The outer islands are ecologically sensitive. Curieuse and Cousin are protected areas with strict rules: no littering, no touching the tortoises, no removing shells or coral. Silhouette is part of a national park, and the trails are fragile after rain. The resorts on Desroches and Bird Island run conservation programmes, and guests are expected to follow guidelines around wildlife viewing. A waterproof phone pouch is handy for beach days — less risk of dropping a phone in the sand or surf.

Frequently asked questions about Seychelles’ secret islands

Which Seychelles island has the fewest tourists?

Cousin Island sees the fewest visitors because access is capped and the island has no accommodation. Only guided groups are allowed, and the daily limit is low. If you want an island where you will not see another person for hours, Cousin is your best bet.

Can I visit the outer Seychelles islands on a budget?

Day trips to Curieuse and Cousin from Praslin are affordable — around SCR 500–800 per person. Overnight stays on Silhouette, Desroches, or Bird Island are not cheap. The cheapest option is a basic guesthouse on Silhouette, but even that runs higher than equivalent accommodation on Mahé.

Is it worth visiting Silhouette Island for a day trip?

A day trip to Silhouette is possible but tight. The ferry takes one hour each way, and the hiking trails require several hours. You will have time for one solid hike and a quick swim, but you will not see the whole island. Overnight is better if your schedule allows.

What is the best time of year to visit the quieter Seychelles islands?

April to May and October to November offer the calmest seas and clearest skies. The southeast monsoon (May to October) brings rougher seas that can cancel ferries to Silhouette. The northwest monsoon (December to March) has more rain but flatter water for boat transfers.

Are the outer Seychelles islands safe for solo travellers?

Yes, but with caveats. The resorts on Desroches and Bird Island are safe and well-staffed. Day trips to Curieuse and Cousin are guided. Solo hikers on Silhouette should stick to marked trails and let someone know their route. Mobile reception is patchy on most outer islands.

The quieter Seychelles islands do not offer the convenience of a beach bar on every corner or a ferry every hour. What they offer is something increasingly rare in tropical travel: the chance to hear the wind in the trees and nothing else. That is worth the extra planning.

Sources and further reading

Islands in Seychelles to escape the crowds. Travel Around the World Blog.

Most secluded places in Seychelles. Maarco Francis.

Secrets of the Seychelles: Islands. BBC StoryWorks.