Seychelles is an island nation, located in the Indian Ocean close to the east of Africa, known for its breathtaking beauty. It is an archipelago of 115 islands. Seychelles doesn't have water villa accommodations but is equally popular as Maldives amongst honeymooners.
| Maldives | Seychelles | |
| Visa | Free tourist visa on arrival for up to 30 days | Free tourist visa on arrival for up to 30 days |
| Ideal Number of Days | 3-4 days | 4-6 days |
| Type of Island | Private islands | Public Islands |
| Water Villas | Yes | No |
| Nightlife | No | Yes |
| Water Sports | Yes | Yes |
| Flight (from Mumbai) | INR 15-25k round trip | INR 50-65k round trip |
| Hotel Cost (per night) | 20-25k | 8-10k |
Best Time to Visit
Both Maldives and Seychelles has a tropical climate and stays hot and sunny throughout the year with not many variations. The best time to visit the Maldives from November to March which is the dry season. In Seychelles, although the tourist season lasts all year round, May to September is the best time to visit.
Honeymoon
Seychelles' natural beauty - the pristine beaches and diverse flora and fauna are also hard to beat. It is often referred to as a couples' paradise and a holiday here is more adventurous. Therefore, if you are looking for a laid-back, pampered and luxurious experience with your partner, Maldives is the best option for you. Seychelles is perfect for those active couples who are interested in island hopping and exploring the islands beyond resorts and beaches.
Geography
Maldives is an archipelago of 1190 islands having low lying reefs and grouped into natural atolls. It is located in the Indian Ocean, 700 km southwest of mainland Sri Lanka. It is spread over 90,000 sq km of which only 1% is solid land, while the remaining is open sea.
Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands, 45 of which are granitic islands, while 74 are coralline islands. It is located in the Indian Ocean, 1500 km east of mainland Sri Lanka. Seychelles has a more diverse geography with rainforests, mountains and nature reserves.
Family Trip with Kids
Kids' clubs are rare in Seychelles, but it is more of a touristy destination where different towns and villages could be visited to soak up the local culture. The colourful and vibrant capital city - Victoria is also a good place to learn about History and experience Seychellois cosmopolitan culture. Also, the exotic wildlife of Seychelles, especially the fascinating giant tortoises amuse children and adults alike.
Adventure
In Seychelles, motorised water sports are largely banned and are restricted to Beau Vallon Bay in Mahe, and this archipelago is not popular on the surf map either as it's difficult to find your desired types of waves here. Seychelles offer some fun land-based adventure activities like rock climbing and hiking. It is also famous for its diving and snorkelling opportunities with a variety of colourful fishes and even the gentle giants - whale sharks.
Accessibility & Getting Around
In the Maldives, there isn't much to explore except for stunning beaches and when the resort offers a variety of activities to enjoy right there, most people prefer to stay on their private island resort and enjoy the comforts to cut costs and save time as the islands are quite spread out.
As far as gay-friendliness is concerned, Seychelles has the advantage of the law as homosexuality is no longer illegal here while the Maldives still hasn't legally accepted it. It will be easy to find gay-friendly accommodation and enjoying a gay honeymoon in Seychelles. In Maldives, even though the law doesn't allow 'being gay,' the culture is different, and this hub of tourism is accepting of all couples. Just that LGBT couples may feel more conscious indulging in public display of affection. Both are amazing options nevertheless.