Seychelles and Maldives: Which Should You Choose?

Learn more about these two (now open!) destinations.

Listen to this and other stories on the Kated Travel Podcast.

Both the Maldives and the Seychelles deserve articles of their own. But here I just want to explain an important point that wasn’t clear to me before I visited either destination.

That point is — what’s the difference between the Maldives and the Seychelles?

It’s easy to confuse the two. They’re both tropical archipelagos, they both give the impression that it’s going to be paradise — beautiful little islands, snorkelling on reefs, finding a breathtaking place to be alone and escape the world.

The differences between the two have become more important now because the Maldives and the Seychelles are both realistic vacation options for you these coming months, since both are open to travel (with conditions which I will explain).

This is so because the Maldives and Seychelles have been able to control the level of COVID. They are small archipelagos, so naturally it’s a lot easier to keep people isolated there than it is in continental countries and large cities.

Both are destinations that are surging as well. They’re very popular at the moment.

And in some senses, they are similar.

The Seychelles as well as the Maldives will give you that white-beach feel, that Robinson Crusoe island escape. Both have nice resorts, where there are hardly any other guests, and where you find a house reef to go snorkelling at. It’s the kind of place where there’s not much to do — drink some cocktails, have a beer, eat good food — because they really are all about unwinding.

The key difference is that the Maldives is an archipelago of small islands.

And though each island is distinct, they have the similar vibe for you as a visitor, because most of the islands are private. So they are operated by a single resort and the experience all happens on the island. You take a boat and go to that island, spend your time there, enjoy the facilities, enjoy the solitude. You do some excursions in the nearby water, but you don’t travel further.

The Seychelles do have some of these islands — the awesome small private islands — but they are dominated by bigger islands. Islands where you will find an old, very cultural and colorful city; a volcano; tea plantations; adventure tours.

There’s more to do on the Seychelles.

And if your idea of a beach holiday ends after two days on the beach, then the Seychelles are probably more for you, because you can have a much more diverse holiday. It’s also a little bit easier to travel between the islands.

So you can also have that feel of small island vibe, and then also be on the main islands, check out the city, go trekking on the volcano, do those kinds of other holiday things beyond just drinking your cocktails, sunbathing, and exploring the water.

Now, I’m not the person to tell you about the best island to visit, the best things to do. I’ve been fortunate to visit the Maldives and the Seychelles —but only briefly, three or four days each time. (I managed to include them as part of connecting flights.)

I had a great time, but if I’m honest, I can’t actually remember the names of the islands. I can’t really remember what happened. All I remember is the relaxation — 72 hours doing nothing, except for eating way too much.

What I do know is that there is a huge difference between the islands — not just in terms of the quality of accommodation, but the price of your holiday, the type of services that are available on your island, the type of activities to do.

Some islands are perfect if you want to be in the water — snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming, doing all kinds of water activities.

But why pay a premium for those islands if you don’t want to be in the water? If your idea is just staying on the beach and maybe in a room that’s hidden in nature, there’s another island for you.

The recommendations are going to be completely different if you’re a couple or if you’re a family.

And that’s why I can’t sit here and tell you what are the places you should go. It’s all about the local travel designers, who will give you those recommendations based on what you want.

How long do you want to go for? What’s your budget? Four-star, five-star? Do you want the most exclusive island?

Do you want to stay where the celebrities stay — where it’s overpriced, but it’s pretty famous and great for the Instagram photos? Do you want to go to one of the lesser-known, better-value places where you can still get great service?

That’s something that travel designers for the Seychelles and the Maldives can explain to you.

Regarding COVID, the situation now is that most people can travel to these destinations. The Maldives and the Seychelles are the same in that you need a negative PCR test in order to enter the country. For the Maldives, it’s a negative test within 96 hours. For the Seychelles, it’s within 72 hours.

But of course it’s a changing situation. And that’s another reason why it’s great to have a travel designer — they can tell you exactly what’s happening as of now.

And when you book with a travel designer through Kated, you also get the peace of mind that comes with financial and legal protection. If your trip has to be changed, you’re not going to lose it.

You’re not going to have to cancel a trip. You can just move the dates to when it is possible for you to go.

By Stephen Bailey. Edited by Beatriz Becker.

For more insights and inspiration, check us out at Unorthodox Travel.