La DigueLa Digue at a Glance
About La Digue
La Digue is a small island in the inner Seychelles archipelago renowned for its distinctive granite-boulder beaches and relaxed pace. It is a popular island destination for beach photography, snorkeling and experiencing traditional Seychellois village life.
Anse Source d’Argent is the island’s iconic beach, noted for sculpted granite boulders, shallow turquoise water and photogenic shoreline formations. Visitors also explore the island by bicycle, visit the historic L’Union Estate plantation and go snorkeling at nearby coves.
European colonial-era settlement and plantation agriculture shaped much of the island’s 18th- and 19th-century history; several estate houses and tools remain as part of heritage displays. The island has retained a small, tightly knit local community and a tourism economy focused on nature and beaches.
La Digue lies between the larger inner islands of Praslin and Mahé, a short ferry ride from Praslin’s port; the island’s harbourside village of La Passe serves as the primary landing point for visitors.
- Local transport: Most visitors travel by ferry from Praslin; bicycles and ox-carts are common transport on the island as there are few cars and short distances between sites.
What to See#
- Anse Source d’Argent: Anse Source d’Argent is the island’s best-known beach, famous for low granite boulders, shallow clear water and pink-tinged sand framed by coastal vegetation.
- L’Union Estate: L’Union Estate is a historic plantation area with a colonial house, small museum displays and a population of free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises that are part of the site’s visitor attractions.
Nearby Attractions to La Digue
Best Time to Visit La Digue
La Digue is warm year‑round; the best windows for calm seas and diving are the transition months (Apr-May and Oct-Nov).
Weather & Climate near La Digue
La Digue's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 24°C to 31°C. Heavy rainfall (2290 mm/year), wettest in January.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very Good | 24° - 30° | 27° | 371 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 3.6 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.2h |
| February | Very Good | 25° - 30° | 30° | 273 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.4 m/s | 2.8 extreme | 12.1h |
| March | Very Good | 25° - 31° | 31° | 188 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 3.8 m/s | 2.8 extreme | 12.0h |
| April | Very Good | 25° - 31° | 31° | 170 mm | some cloud | 77% | 3.7 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 11.9h |
| May | Very Good | 25° - 30° | 31° | 147 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 11.8h |
| June | Very Good | 24° - 29° | 27° | 94 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 5.8 m/s | 2.0 very high | 11.7h |
| July | Very Good | 24° - 28° | 26° | 85 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 6.2 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 11.8h |
| August | Very Good | 24° - 28° | 26° | 135 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 6.4 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 11.9h |
| September | Very Good | 24° - 29° | 26° | 141 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 5.7 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.0h |
| October | Very Good | 24° - 29° | 27° | 187 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.4 m/s | 2.7 extreme | 12.1h |
| November | Very Good | 24° - 30° | 27° | 211 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 3.8 m/s | 2.7 extreme | 12.2h |
| December | Very Good | 24° - 30° | 27° | 288 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.3h |
How to Get to La Digue
La Digue is reached by boat from Praslin or (less commonly) by direct inter‑island ferry from Mahé in high season. Most visitors fly into Seychelles International Airport (Mahé), take the Cat Cocos or similar ferry to Praslin (scheduled services from Mahé), then a short passenger ferry from Praslin to La Digue (about 10-20 minutes).
La Digue’s small La Passe jetty is the arrival point; from the pier most guesthouses, beaches and the main village are a short walk (typically under 20 minutes) or a quick bicycle/ox‑cart ride - cars are very limited on the island.
Tips for Visiting La Digue
- Arrive by the La Passe ferry and plan to rent a bicycle immediately at the jetty - most island services, bike rentals and guesthouses are clustered around the main landing so you can start exploring right away.
- Visit Anse Source d'Argent at or shortly after sunrise to photograph the beach and boulder formations before the mid-morning crowds and tour boats arrive.
- If you want quieter beaches, head west or bike inland past the main tourist strip - many scenic coves and trails are a short ride from the harbor and see far fewer visitors than the famous Anse Source d'Argent.