La Digue – the least developed and traditional island in the Seychelles – is located east of Praslin Island and west of Felicite Island.
La Digue Island is home to the stunning beach of Anse Source d’Argent. As one the world’s most romantic islands La Digue is the perfect location for a Seychelles honeymoon.
With traditional architecture, breathtaking beaches, a renowned friendly atmosphere and languid pace of life, La Digue is ideal for relaxing on the beach with your sweetheart, enjoying a horseback ride along pristine Anse Source d’Argent and visiting the picturesque Satellite Islands for more scuba diving and hiking.
With only one paved road on this tiny traffic-free island, you’re free to explore the island by ox cart, bicycle or strolling around by foot. Gardens here blaze with hibiscus and nepenthes against a backdrop of swaying coconut palms.
Take a stroll through La Digue's forests to see a wealth of flora that ranges from delicate orchids and tumbling vines of vanilla to Indian almond and takamaka trees. Watch out for rare black paradise fly-catchers found only on La Digue: the male is unmistakable with its iridescent blue-black feathers and streaming tail feathers.
See 100-year-old giant tortoises in their natural habitat, horseback ride along pristine beaches or visit the nearby satellite islands for more scuba diving and hiking.
La Digue is lined with great beaches, from the photogenic Anse Source d’Argent to the secluded Anse Cocos. Here’s a selection of the best beaches on La Digue Island…
This is possibly the most photographed beach in the world, famous for its soft pink-hued sand that is framed by immense weather-smoothed granite boulders.
Easily discovered on foot or bicycle, this stunning small crescent beach is sheltered by a reef and shallow water, making it ideal for snorkelling, sun bathing and swimming in warm, luminescent waters of greens and pastel blues.
Follow twisting pathways that lead along the coastline to hidden coves and a series of similar beaches separated by immense sea-smoothed glacis rocks, admiring the magnificent scenery along the way.
Read more about Anse Source d’Argent…
Other great beaches on La Digue Island, include…
Anse Sever – Easily reached by car, foot or bicycle on the nearby road, this scenic beach is renowned for its snorkelling and swimming.
The water here is calm and shallow. While the beach can disappear at high tide, for most of the time there is a beautiful sandy surface to enjoy.
Facilities inclue a small snack bar on the north side of the beach, as well as a boutique. Anse Severe is also close to several accommodations.
Anse Severe lies in the north of La Digue, with wonderful views overlooking Praslin Island – especially notable at night, when the sun sets over Praslin.
Anse Marron – Discover this isolated ‘Robinson Crusoe’ beach of pristine, wave-washed golden sands and scenic rock formations.
Anse Marron – the southernmost beach on La Digue – features a protected shallow saltwater pool, cut off from the open ocean by an imposing formation of granite boulders, as well as an open section where the beach shelves deeply into the sea.
Due to the lack of coral reef protection, the open section is often choppy with strong currents and may be unsafe for swimming.
However, the small crystal-clear pools are shallow enough for bathing, and the granite boulders protect this section of the beach from the dangers of the open ocean.
Anse Marron can be difficult to find, and almost all visitors come here with the help of a tour guide. The beach is 2km walk from Anse Source d’Argent.
Grand Anse – Located on the southeast coast, La Digue's longest beach (420m) Grand Anse offers gorgeous scenery and pristine white sand, making it well-worth a visit.
The beach is framed by rock formations at one end of the beach and overlooked by lush vegetation.
The water gets deep quickly, and because there is no coral reef, strong offshore currents during the southeast monsoon, from April to October, produce dangerous conditions for swimming.
Most visitors to Grand Anse come by bike, although it is also possible to walk here. There is a small car park nearby. Facilities include a restaurant and toilets.
Petite Anse – This quiet and extremely picturesque beach is just a short 15-minute walk from Grand Anse on the south-east of La Digue
Petite Anse beach is much better suited to beach games, sunbathing and picnicking than swimming.
Similar to Grand Anse, it is not safe to swim here due to dangerous underwater currents – signposts remind you of this fact. However, if you decide to venture into the water, take care and always have someone watching out for you.
Driftwood shelters and natural shade provide protection from the sun. Facilities are located at Grand Anse.
Anse Cocos – Trek across the island via Nid'Aigle or on foot from either Grand Anse or Petite Anse to one of the most secluded and unspoilt beaches on La Digue.
Anse Cocos offers a beautiful golden-sand beach fringed by palm trees and shallow natural pools with crystal-clear water at low tide. It's easy to spend the day here paddling in the sea and enjoying the sun.
Access to the beach is by foot. Anse Cocos is located on the east coast of La Digue, a short distance from Petite Anse.
There is a path to Anse Cocos from Grand Anse, and another from Anse Fourmis. Closest facilities including a snack bar are at Grand Anse, 30 minutes away on-foot.
For those who enjoy walking as much as lying on the beach, Anse Cocos makes an ideal day trip.
Check out these top attractions…
Look out for the rare black paradise flycatcher bird (photo), found only on La Digue and numbering around 200.
Watch as the male bird, with its blue bill, iridescent blue sheen and long black tail streamers, flitters through Indian almond trees in search of insects with the white, black and brown females.
See one of Seychelles’ unique species, the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, munching on vegetation at L’Union Estate Plantation south of La Passe.
The male tortoises average 120cm in length and weigh around 250kg; some at L’Union are more than 100 years old. Wander around the Old Plantation House and watch demonstrations of extracting oil from copra (dried coconut flesh).
Hike through the heart of La Digue to Eagle's Nest Mountain then climb up to the summit of Nid’Aigle (333m) for panoramic views over the neighbouring islands and crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean beyond.
Succumb to the languid charms of La Digue Island at a choice of accommodation options to suit all budgets, including the following…
Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie Resort and Spa
Location: La Digue Island
Rating: 4-star
Ave nightly price: AUD757 per room
Description: Located in La Digue, Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie features a number of amenities to ensure guests have a relaxing stay, include a spa and wellness centre, and a fitness centre. Two on-site restaurants provide guests with various dining options. The spacious accommodations here offer guests features a minibar, a coffee machine, a balcony, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, and a private bathroom with a shower. Other resort facilities include 2 bars, an outdoor swimming pool, a tropical garden, and a 24-hour front desk. A number of outdoor activities can be enjoyed here, including snorkelling, hiking, swimming, and cycling. A bicycle rental shop is available on the property. Anse Severe Beach is a 2-minute walk, Anse Patate Beach is a 12-minute walk, and Source D'Argent Beach is 2 km away. Inter Island Ferry is a 5-minute walk from the property. A buggy transfer from La Digue jetty can be arranged at a per person surcharge.
Le Repaire - Boutique Hotel & Restaurant
Location: La Digue Island
Rating: 4-star
Ave nightly price: AUD334 per room
Description: Overlooking the Indian Ocean, Le Repaire features a small outdoor pool and elegant rooms. Offering views towards the Praslin Island, it has a restaurant and is 5 minutes’ walk from La Digue’s village centre. Fitted with a private balcony, each room at Le Repaire is decorated with modern furniture and green tones. They all come with a private bathroom and a seating area. Some rooms offer ocean views. The restaurant offers a menu based on Italian delicacies with a local Seychelles twist. Facing the sea, it is open for both lunch and dinner. Coffee shops and grocery stores can be found in the surrounding area. Le Repaire offers a private garden, and the staff can also organize fishing and diving excursions. Visits to the surrounding islands can be arranged upon request. The ferry pier is less than 10 minutes’ walk away, while bicycle rental can be found 700 metres from the property.
La Digue Island Lodge
Location: La Digue Island
Rating: 4-star
Ave nightly price: AUD166 per room
Description: La Digue Island Lodge has its own diving centre and a spa on Anse Reunion Beach. A sun terrace overlooking the ocean sits by the pool with swim-up bar. Creole-style accommodation is spread among tropical gardens. The spacious accommodation includes wooden chalets with a thatched roof, each with a view of the Indian Ocean or gardens. La Digue rooms have a balcony or terrace facing the white sand beach. Breakfast is served in the main restaurant with a sand floor. Creole cuisine and seafood feature on the dinner menu. The pool restaurant provides snacks and the bar offers cocktails. Packed lunches can be arranged. Fishing, snorkelling and bicycles for rent are available. The hotel can arrange boat tours and give information on walking trails. WiFi is available at the reception. La Digue Lodge is 500 metres from the inter-island ferry and under 3 km from Nid Aigle, the hill offering panoramic views over La Digue and other islands.
La Digue Island is located a few filometres east of Praslin Island.
The most convenient route to La Digue Island is by air to Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) on Mahé Island, followed by a short flight or ferry ride to Praslin Island.
Air Seychelles operates daily inter-island flights between Mahé and Praslin islands, taking just 20 minutes.
Zil Air offers helicopter flights between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue: Praslin to La Digue, takes just 8 minutes.
By boat, La Digue to Praslin takes 15 minutes.
› How to get to the Seychelles…
Latest update: La Digue Island Honeymoon Guide: 22 November, 2023
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