Mahe has the widest range of beaches in Seychelles. Beau Vallon on the northwest coast is the easy all-rounder, calm and safe for swimming with amenities and water sports. The wild southern beaches of Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka are dramatic and cinematic but can have strong surf, so they suit scenery and photographs more than easy swimming. Anse Royale is a sheltered local favourite, and Port Launay and Baie Ternay on the west coast sit in a marine park with calm water for snorkeling. A hire car reaches them all.
Mahe has more beaches than any other Seychelles island, and they range from long, calm and sociable to wild, dramatic and almost empty. That variety is the island’s gift, but it also means the right beach for a lazy family swim is not the right beach for a sunset walk or a surf. Here is a guide to the best beaches on Mahe, sorted by what you want from the day.
Beau Vallon: the easy all-rounder
The long golden sweep of Beau Vallon on the northwest coast is the island’s most popular beach, and for good reason. The water is calm and safe for swimming for much of the year, there are water sports and somewhere to eat every few steps, and the sunsets are lovely. It is the natural choice for families, first-timers and anyone who wants amenities close at hand. It is also the busiest, so come early for space.
Anse Intendance: the wild beauty
On the south coast, Anse Intendance is the island at its most cinematic, a broad, open sweep of sand with rolling surf and no development behind it. It is stunning to look at and walk, and a favourite for photographs, but the surf and currents can be strong, so it is more for the scenery and the sense of escape than for easy swimming. Always check conditions before going in.
Anse Takamaka: the postcard curve
Nearby, Anse Takamaka curves beneath leaning palms in a way that looks designed for a postcard. It shares the wild, beautiful character of the south coast, with the same caution needed for the water on bigger days. The light here in the late afternoon is glorious.
Anse Royale: the local favourite
On the southeast coast, Anse Royale is a longer, more sheltered beach that is popular with locals, with a protected lagoon area that is good for swimming and snorkeling. It makes a relaxed stop on a drive around the island, with a few places nearby for a coffee or a bite.
Port Launay and the west: calm and sheltered
The northwest and west, around Port Launay and Baie Ternay, sit within a marine national park, with calm, sheltered water that is excellent for swimming and snorkeling close to shore. This tranquil, green coast is the gentle alternative to the dramatic south.
| You want | Go to |
|---|---|
| Calm swimming and amenities | Beau Vallon |
| Wild scenery and photographs | Anse Intendance, Anse Takamaka |
| A sheltered local swim | Anse Royale |
| Calm snorkeling in a marine park | Port Launay, Baie Ternay |
Tips for the beaches of Mahe
- A hire car unlocks them all. The best beaches are spread along the coasts, and a car reaches the quiet south easily.
- Respect the surf. The south-coast beaches can have strong currents, especially in the southeast trade-wind season, so check before swimming.
- Go early for the famous ones. Beau Vallon and the photogenic south are loveliest and quietest in the morning.
- Take shade and water. Many of the wilder beaches have few facilities.
Plan your beach days
The joy of Mahe is mixing a calm swimming beach with a wild one for the scenery, all in a day. A hire car makes that easy, so book one with free delivery, browse our directory for a base near your favourite stretch of coast, and see the best beaches across all the islands for the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach on Mahe?
Beau Vallon is the most popular and easiest, a long calm beach with safe swimming and amenities. For wild beauty, Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka in the south are the most dramatic, and Port Launay on the west is best for calm snorkeling.
Which beaches on Mahe are best for swimming?
Beau Vallon for calm, safe swimming with amenities, Anse Royale for a sheltered local swim, and Port Launay and Baie Ternay in the west-coast marine park for calm snorkeling. The wild south can have strong currents, so check conditions.
Are the southern beaches of Mahe safe to swim?
Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka are beautiful but can have strong surf and currents, especially in the southeast trade-wind season, so they suit scenery and photographs more than easy swimming. Always check conditions before going in.
Do you need a car to reach the best beaches on Mahe?
A hire car unlocks the island's beaches, which are spread along the coasts, and reaches the quiet south easily. It lets you mix a calm swimming beach with a wild scenic one in a single day.
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