Mauritius or Seychelles?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 10 10
UNESCO listings among them 1 2
Cost level Mid-range Very high
Busiest month in our write-ups May April
Currency Mauritian rupee (MUR) Seychellois rupee (SCR)
Plugs and voltage C, G - 230 V G - 240 V
Everyday languages English, French, Creole Creole, English, French
Driving side left hand side left hand side
Region Eastern Africa Eastern Africa
Capital Port Louis Victoria
Mauritius
Indian, African, Chinese and French threads woven calmly; lagoon life sets the pace.
What we have written up
- Black River Gorges National Park national park
- Chamarel and the Seven Coloured Earths viewpoint
- Grand Bassin monument
- Ile aux Cerfs island
- Le Morne Brabant mountain
- Mauritian Cuisine dish
Worth knowing before you go
- Cards work widely; rupee cash for markets
- Tipping is appreciated, not demanded - round up
- English is official, French and Creole are daily life
Seychelles
Relaxed Creole warmth on island time; Sundays belong to church, family and the beach.
What we have written up
- Aldabra Atoll island
- Anse Lazio beach
- Beau Vallon beach
- Cousin Island Special Reserve island
- Curieuse and the Giant Tortoises island
- La Digue and Anse Source d'Argent beach
Worth knowing before you go
- Hotels and restaurants often quote in euros and take cards; market stalls and buses want rupees in cash
- Many restaurants already include a service charge - check the bill before tipping extra
- Shops close Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.