Travel Planning Made Simple. Create Your Own Itinerary.
Scuba diving at Maldives
Written by Keshav on October 13, 2023 Share on

Maldives vs Seychelles: A Detailed Comparison

Are you looking for an International tour but confused between Maldives trip and Seychelles? Drop the concern because we will clear it out for you. Maldives and Seychelles are a couple of the most premier island destinations in the world. For those planning a honeymoon vacation to one of these destinations, It might be a bit daunting to choose between Maldives honeymoon package and Seychelles Honeymoon package and you might be wondering which destination is the better pick? Well, like in life and a lot of things, the answer isn’t simple. Don’t worry though, We’ve done most of the hard lifting for you so, sit back and let’s now take a look at what differentiates the two destinations.

Maldives Packages Starting @ ₹78,000

5* Resorts. Water Villas. Customizable Itineraries.


View Maldives Packages

Geography:

Now even though both Maldives and Seychelles are island destinations, their geographies are quite different. The Maldives is an archipelago with over 1190 islands with low lying reefs that are spread over an area of 90,000 sq km. Only 1% of that total is solid land, the rest is just open seas. Seychelles, on the other hand, is made up of 115 islands that are spread over an area of 459 sq km. Of this, the capital island city of Mahe takes up 157 square kilometres of area. This is quite important as most islands in Maldives average at about 0.3-0.4 square kilometres which is a small fraction of the size of the three main islands in Seychelles. This leads to Seychelles having more diverse geography with rain forests, mountains & nature reserves apart from the beautiful beaches and waters it’s known for.

Maldives-vs-seychelles-2
Image Credits: Unsplash

Activities and sightseeing:

When it comes to activities and sightseeing, the Seychelles generally take the cake. With its more diverse geography come multiple places to visit, such as La Digue Island, which is known for its Vallee de Mai reserve, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. You also have a wider range of activities on offer, such as hiking, wildlife tours, rock climbing, ziplining and so on.

Places to visit in Maldives, on the other hand, aren’t much in ways of sightseeing to offer due to it not having a larger landmass that concentrated. What Maldives excels at is experiences, for starters, it has a lot to offer for the diver, a ton of underwater dive sports that each offer its own unique underwater landscapes and unique aquatic life. You can experience staying overnight on an island all by yourself or go to an island just for a picnic lunch. The kinda experiences you can have here are more unique and can’t be done at a lot of other places on earth. It’s also one of the last few prime areas for coral reefs in the world.

The Experience:

While Seychelles offers a much better experience when it comes to sightseeing and activities. Maldives reigns supreme when it comes to the stay experience.

 

Sheraton Resort Starting @ ₹90,000




View Resort Deals

Maldives is known for its one island one resort concept. The private island stay experience is something you just don’t get everywhere and even if you do. The way things are set up in Maldives makes it much better at executing that concept. By default, most accommodations come in the form of small villas and you also have the opportunity to experience water villas in Maldives.

Water villas are again primarily found only at two places in the world, Bora Bora and the Maldives. The experience of water villas in the rest of the world doesn’t compare to the ones that you get at these two destinations. Seychelles doesn’t have any water villa accommodations available at this point of time. Seychelles does offer some amazing villas but they usually end up being more expensive than what Maldives has on offer.

What it does offer is more flexibility, when you stay in Seychelles you are not dependent on your resort for everything. Since the islands are bigger, you have restaurants, pubs, bars and other places to hang out at around the resort.

 

Cocogiri Island Resort @ ₹68,000*



Pickyourtrail.com/cocogiri-island

In Maldives those experiences hinge on the resort you choose to stay at and Maldives also has an almost non-existent nightlife in Maldives since there aren’t exactly any pubs or bars around in the public islands. It’s a Muslim country as well and only resorts in Maldives have permits to serve alcohol here. So if you are someone who values nightlife quite a bit, then It’s better to go with Seychelles.

Maldives-vs-seychelles-5
Image Credits: unsplash

The Budget:

When it comes to the budget side of things, it again falls down to a number of different factors. Flight tickets to Seychelles go for around 40–60k per person roundtrip on average, while flight tickets to the Maldives go for around 10-25k per person roundtrip.

When it comes to accommodation and other expenses,. The Maldives is the more expensive here, with good private island accommodations starting at around 20k a night. There are cheaper rooms available as well but the good rooms start at around the 20k a night. The Seychelles, on the other hand, do have cheaper accommodations available. Good rooms start at around 8–10k a night. Nevertheless, you can also plan a budget trip to Maldives if you are very keen about it.

Key Takeaways:

Now, considering all those factors, here is what it all comes down to:. If you are planning a longer trip, say for six nights or more. Then it’s better to go with the Seychelles; even though the airfare is more expensive, it kind of gets adjusted over the accommodation pricing which is more affordable. You have more to see and do in Seychelles.

Now if you are planning a short, a long weekend sorta getaway and you just wanna blow off some steam and experience a dreamy atmosphere and drown in luxury, and looking for a honeymoon packages for Maldives is a better pick.

If you are someone who is very much into water sports, Maldives is also one of the best destinations for it. If you need more help choosing between the two and are still confused or if you are looking for the best deals. Well, visit Pickyoutrail to get some of the best deals on the market and do check our customized Maldives tour packages now.

Maldives Honeymoon Packages Starting @ ₹78,000

5* Resorts. Water Villas. Customizable Itineraries.


Maldives Honeymoon Packages

Frequently Asked Questions

Which destination offers better beaches, the Maldives or the Seychelles?

The Maldives clearly wins in this category, as it has stunning beaches complemented by scenic backdrops.

Are there differences in activities and attractions between the Maldives and the Seychelles?

No, most activities are similar in both destinations.

Which destination is more affordable, the Maldives or the Seychelles?

When compared to the Maldives, the Seychelles generally provide more affordable options for lodging, dining, and activities.

What are the differences in weather patterns or best times to visit the Maldives and Seychelles?

The dry season, which runs from November to April, is the best time to visit the Maldives because it offers sunny days, calm seas, and ideal conditions for diving and beach activities. April, May, October, and November are the best months to visit Seychelles for pleasant weather, with warm temperatures and low humidity, ideal for outdoor exploration and beach enjoyment.

Which destination offers more luxury or honeymoon-friendly experiences, the Maldives or the Seychelles?

The Maldives is unquestionably the best luxury honeymoon destination.

Maldives Packages by Departure City

Recommended Reads


Top Resorts to Check

Related Itineraries

Note: The images that are being published here are the author's choice, and the organisation takes no responsibility for their usability.