Maldives vs Mauritius vs Seychelles: Which one’s for you?

At first glance, the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles seem to have plenty in common. Ridiculously beautiful beaches? Check. That dazzling Indian Ocean blue? Absolutely. But look beyond the postcard views and you'll find three very different personalities. 

The Maldives is best for private-island escape, seriously swish villas and spectacular snorkelling. Mauritius is ideal for travellers who want beautiful beaches with plenty to explore beyond them, from mountain trails to markets. The Seychelles is the pick for island-hopping, wild scenery and some of the most photogenic beaches on the planet. 

So, which one has your name written all over it? Let's find out .

How long does it take to fly to the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles?

Flying direct from London, the Maldives takes around 10–11 hours and Mauritius around 12 hours. Flights to the Seychelles usually involve a connection, so allow longer for the journey. You could also break up your journey with a stay in Arabia and turn your holiday into a twin-centre trip.

When is the best time to visit the Maldives, Mauritius or Seychelles?

All three destinations are warm year-round, but the best time to visit depends on where you're heading and what you want from your holiday. 

Maldives: December to April generally brings the driest, sunniest weather, making it a popular time for beach holidays and snorkelling. May to November tends to be wetter, although showers can be short-lived and there are still plenty of sunny spells. 

Mauritius: May to October brings cooler, drier weather that's great for exploring, hiking and golf. November to April is hotter and more humid, with a greater chance of tropical showers. 

Seychelles: April, May, October and November are often particularly good months to visit, with calmer winds and conditions that can suit swimming and snorkelling. The islands are warm throughout the year, with wetter weather generally between November and March. .

Where should you stay in the Maldives, Mauritius or Seychelles?

Where you stay depends on the holiday you have in mind. In the Maldives, your hotel is your own little world. Some resorts are all about toes-in-the-sand simplicity, others pull out all the stops with underwater restaurants and villas perched above the lagoon. Mauritius has everything from beachfront golf resorts to soulful spa retreats, while the Seychelles is the place for intimate boutique hotels and eco-conscious retreats tucked into the landscape. 

Still weighing up your options? Browse our Maldives hotels, Mauritius hotels and Seychelles hotels to see which one catches your eye.

What's the food like in the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles?

Forget choosing by the beaches alone. Let's talk about dinner. The Maldives pulls out all the stops, with seafood grilled on the sand, elaborate tasting menus and tables set above turquoise lagoons. All-inclusive packages can be worth their weight in gold, especially when cocktails and à la carte dinners are on the agenda. 

Mauritius is a treat for foodies, with Indian, Chinese, French and Creole cooking all leaving their delicious mark. Tuck into a warm dholl puri from a roadside stall, try a fragrant fish curry or cool off with a scoop of fruit sorbet after a sun-soaked afternoon. 

In the Seychelles, it's all about the day's catch and a generous kick of spice, with fish simmered in coconut milk and zingy chilli sauces bringing plenty of punch to the plate. .

Maldives, Mauritius or Seychelles: Which has the most to do?

In the Maldives, the best adventures happen underwater. Slip beneath the surface to spot reef sharks, turtles and shoals of fish, or head out by boat in search of manta rays. 

Mauritius is for those who want to do more than admire the view, whether that's hiking through the leafy valleys of Black River Gorges National Park, teeing off on a championship golf course, marvelling at the Hindu temples of Grand Bassin or seeing the rainbow-hued dunes of Chamarel's Seven Coloured Earth. 

The Seychelles is all about getting back to nature. Snorkel alongside colourful reef fish, kayak through turquoise bays or explore the mangrove channels of Curieuse Island.

How easy is it to get around the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles?

In the Maldives, getting from one resort island to another usually means hopping aboard a speedboat or seaplane. Fancy a change of scenery without going anywhere? Try a ‘room remix’, swapping your villa for a different style of stay on the same island.

In Mauritius, the best way to see the island is to hit the road. Hire a car and driver to take you past beaches, sugar cane plantations and sleepy fishing villages. You can even extend your trip with a short flight to neighbouring La Réunion, known for its jagged green peaks and waterfalls.

You'd be missing a trick if you only saw one corner of the Seychelles. Ferries and short domestic flights connect the main islands, so you can hire a car to hunt out beaches on Mahé, pedal past vanilla plantations on La Digue or lace up your walking boots for a hike through the ancient palm forests of Praslin.

Which is best for a honeymoon: Maldives, Mauritius or Seychelles?

The Maldives is hard to beat for a honeymoon. Private pools suspended above turquoise lagoons, candlelit tables on the beach and coral reefs teeming with marine life. For somewhere deliciously intimate, we love Kandolhu Maldives, where the indulgence goes up a notch with its Ultimate Inclusions package. We're talking five restaurants to choose from, Champagne sunset cruises and an in-villa wine chiller stocked with over 30 international wines.

Mauritius brings more to the honeymoon table than beautiful beaches. At the adults-only Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel Boutique Hotel, find your favourite tucked-away 'love nest', gaze at the stars with an astronomer or treat yourselves to a flower-filled bath at the spa.

The Seychelles is for honeymooners with a wild side. Pocket-sized islands scattered across the ocean, jungle-covered hills and beaches that look like they've been plucked from a desert-island daydream. At Niva Labriz Seychelles on Silhouette Island, you're surrounded by protected wilderness, with forest-clad mountains rising behind the beach.

Which is best for families: Maldives, Mauritius or Seychelles?

The Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles all get the family holiday vote, but for different reasons. The Maldives is a hit for resort-based family fun, with kids' clubs, watersports and plenty to keep little ones busy while parents put their feet up. Mauritius is for families who'd happily swap a pool day for a new adventure. And the Seychelles is a treat for little explorers, with giant tortoises, jungle paths and islands to play castaway on.

The Maldives

Football camps with former England players? That should get a few young fans packing their boots. At Niva Kuramathi Maldives, summer football camps bring a little Premier League excitement to paradise. Over at ananea Madivaru Maldives, the Compass kids' club welcomes children aged four to 12, while babysitting services mean parents can sneak off for dinner à deux.

At Niva Dhigali Maldives, family-friendly dining and sunset dolphin cruises are on the menu. And at Niyama Private Islands, even the tiniest travellers get in on the fun. Its Explorers Kids Club welcomes children from just 12 months old, with mini MasterChef classes, movies under the stars and a splash park for pint-sized water babies.

Mauritius

Got a family that doesn't sit still for long? Mauritius is the one. At The Ravenala Attitude, there's plenty of choice at mealtimes, with restaurants serving flavours from around the world, while Preskil Island Resort  puts you close to the underwater world of Blue Bay Marine Park.

At Zilwa Attitude , take a front-row seat on a glass-bottom boat and watch reef fish dart through the water beneath your feet. Meanwhile, LUX* Belle Mare, Mauritius has clubs for different age groups, so everyone gets to find their tribe.

Want more ideas for your crew? Take a look at our guide to family holidays in Mauritius.

The Seychelles

For families who love a little Robinson Crusoe magic, the Seychelles has plenty up its sleeve. Think scrambling over enormous granite boulders, spotting neon fish in the shallows and seeking out beaches that feel like a secret hideout. At Constance Ephelia Seychelles, there's room for the whole gang in multi-bedroom villas, plus ziplining, smoothie-making and spa treats for little VIPs.

The best secluded stays in Mauritius and Seychelles

Want to disappear off the radar for a while? In Mauritius, swap the sound of the waves for a chorus of birdsong at Lakaz Chamarel Exclusive Lodge, where gardens tumble down the hillside and rooms with private plunge pools overlook the treetops.

The Seychelles is another good bet if you're looking to escape the crowds. Go off-grid on a tiny, jungle-clad island at Cerf Island Resort, or settle in at Coco De Mer Hotel, where tropical greenery spills towards the sea and the sunsets turn the sky a fiery orange.

Which is cheaper: Maldives, Mauritius or Seychelles?

If you're after more holiday for your money, Mauritius often comes out on top. There's a wider choice of hotels, plus plenty of places to eat beyond your resort. The Maldives can be a bigger splurge, especially once you add island transfers, meal plans and those tempting overwater villas. In the Seychelles, your budget depends on where you stay and how many islands you hop between. The golden rule? Look beyond the price tag and see what's included. A holiday that costs more upfront could save you money once you're there.

Can you combine the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles in one holiday?

Tempted to tick off two Indian Ocean paradises in one go? We get it. But while you can combine the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles, travelling between them isn't always straightforward, with connecting flights and lengthy journeys eating into precious holiday time.

Our advice? Pair the Maldives with Sri Lanka for temples, wildlife and beach time, or combine Mauritius with South Africa for safari adventures followed by a spell beside the Indian Ocean. For the Seychelles, add a stop in Dubai or Abu Dhabi for a hit of city life before swapping skyscrapers for palm trees.

And here's another thought: you can double up without crossing borders. Try two different resort islands in the Maldives, pair a hillside hideaway with a beachfront hotel in Mauritius or explore the Seychelles island by island. Sometimes the best second destination is just around the corner.

 The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.