Seychelles and Maldives have a similar reputation as Zanzibar for being beautiful and relaxing – a popular choice for honeymooners. However, they are in fact different.
When planning your tropical island holiday, a few things come to mind. For one, white-sand beaches, adorned with beautiful palm trees make for that special paradise-feel. And warm turquoise waters of course. Throw in some delicious seafood, ice-cold cocktails, and gorgeous beachfront accommodation, and you’ve got a vacation that’s hard to beat.
Whether it’s the Maldives or the Seychelles you choose, you will find you’re on a pinch-yourself getaway. Both of these Indian Ocean islands have all the makings of a classic beach holiday. With warm waters and perfect climates, you can’t go wrong with either.
But these two dreamy locations do in fact offer slightly different experiences. Let’s take a closer look at things to consider when deciding between the Maldives and Seychelles.
Seychelles vs Maldives: Deciding Which One Fits You Best
Some wonder if Seychelles is worth visiting and the answer is a resounding yes! This postcard-perfect destination has some of the world’s finest beaches and award-winning resorts. Here you can make your home away from home in a stylish villa and truly live out your tropical island fantasy.
The accommodation is surrounded by impressive granite boulders and powder-white beaches as far as the eye can see. With a more varied landscape than the Maldives, this place is great for those wanting to move around a little more.
Island hopping is an attractive drawing card for this destination. If you’re not looking to stay put, then the Seychelles is for you. It’s an adventurer’s paradise with so much scope for exploring.
This dreamy spot prioritizes conservation and therefore motorized water sports are not allowed. As a result, you will get to enjoy some incredible oceans with undisturbed wildlife. The snorkeling and diving conditions here are truly fantastic.
Seychelles is made up of inner and outer islands. The inner islands can easily be accessed from a shallow plateau in these aquamarine waters. The pristine outer islands are ideal for experienced divers. Here you can look forward to incredible reefs that have barely been explored.
So what is Seychelles known for, other than the incredible snorkeling and diving of course? Many love it for the excellent salt-water fly-fishing and for activities like windsurfing and sailing.
There are some truly unparalleled opportunities to encounter marine life due to conservation. In this underwater wonderland, dive with the world’s biggest fish, plankton-eating whale sharks. Or visit the beautiful Vousine Island and enjoy this designated bird and turtle nature reserve.
If it’s exclusivity and privacy you’re after in your island vacation then Seychelles is hard to beat. With less than 200 000 people visiting a year, it is famous for its near-deserted, private beaches. Resorts and hotels also tend to be smaller and more luxurious.
More About Maldives versus Seychelles
We’ve talked all about incredible Seychelles, let’s dive right into the crystal clear waters of the Maldives.
And located south of India and Sri Lanka, this small island nation is iconic for its aquamarine waters, vibrant reefs, and milky-white beaches. This dreamy corner of the world has an air of exclusivity, luxury, and romance. Formed by hundreds of small islands set on 26 atolls (a ring-shaped coral reef surrounding a body of water).
Due to the small and spread out nature of these islands, the activities to take part in are usually set to those offered by your resort. The draw of this luxury destination is the seclusion created by having only one resort per island.
Most of your sightseeing at this breathtaking spot will be done underwater. Snorkeling and scuba diving are both popular activities. The water-babies out there will have no shortage of underwater world to explore with the many exceptional reefs and lagoons.
When deciding on the Seychelles or Maldives, you may want to consider the accommodation. The Maldives offer more of a variety to suit every budget and taste. From beautiful resorts to 5-star hotels to surfer-chic beach villas.
And if you’re looking for a more unique experience, this place is known for its extravagant and untraditional attractions. With everything from underwater restaurants and spas to treetop and over-water hanging villas.
Mauritius vs Seychelles and Mauritius vs Maldives
Much like the Seychelles and Maldives, Mauritius also boasts the makings of a tropical utopia. This exquisite slice of paradise is another popular vacationer’s choice. So whichever exotic beach escape you choose, you will be greeted by pearly white sand, fringed with palm trees and aquamarine waters.
Mauritius is one large island, which some may prefer when it comes to exploring different ladscapes. This area boasts some beautiful forests and impressive volcanic craters. Are you ending with your African safari and looking to extend the pleasure? What better place than in one of these tropical paradises with sun-kissed skin and your toes curled in the sand.
Its made further impressive by its waters that are home to the world’s third-largest coral reef. Mauritius arguably provides richer cultural immersion and experience than say, the Maldives.
Final words on the Seychelles and Maldives
So while all countries are situated in the Indian Ocean, these islands do vary in experiences and attractions. Each of these nations have their own charm and offer travelers a somewhat different experience.
Seychelles is full of adventure and fun activities – a trip that’s got the makings of a fantastic vacation. And the Maldives gives a feel of pristine luxury and escapism for some much needed R&R.
So once you’ve visited some of the best resorts in Africa, what better place to continue the pampering and treating than at one of these incredible island getaways.
