Mahe Island

Mahe is the largest of the Seychelles’ 115 islands and home to Victoria, one of the smallest capitals in the world, along with the international airport most visitors arrive through. Granite peaks covered in dense forest rise straight from the coast, sheltering beaches such as Beau Vallon and Anse Intendance that rank among the country’s best. Most itineraries use Mahe as a base for a few days before island-hopping onward, though its own beaches and hiking trails are worth the time alone.