Even though my last post about the Seychelles listed a bunch of the non-beach reasons why you should visit this island nation, the truth is that the beaches of the Seychelles really are incredible. In fact, I saw some of the best beaches I've ever seen here, with white sand, warm water, and super-clean shorelines.

So, because I think we can all use some beach-y inspiration every now and then, here are my picks for the best and most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles:

My 5 Favorite Beaches in the Seychelles

Here's my countdown to my favorite beaches that I had a chance to visit in the Seychelles:

5. Anse Royale

Mahe Island

The island of Mahe is the largest island in the Seychelles by both size and population, and doesn't get nearly enough love when it comes to its beaches. But this island has some beautiful ones!

One of my favorite Mahe beaches was Anse Royale, a long, shallow beach on Mahe's southeastern coast.

(And note that anse in French actually means “bay” or “cove”!)

Why I loved it: The beach at Anse Royale is huge. So even though this is one of the more popular local beaches on Mahe, it didn't feel crowded, even though I visited on a Saturday afternoon. (Plus, those palm trees and granite boulders sure looked cool!)

Best time to visit: Anytime!

4. Beau Vallon

Mahe Island

Located on Mahe's north coast, Beau Vallon is the most popular beach on the island. It's also one of the longest, and is lined with hotels and restaurants and places where you can rent gear for water sports.

I stayed near this beach during the first part of my week in the Seychelles, and it's definitely one of the more lively ones.

Why I loved it: It's the best place on Mahe to watch a sunset, and also a great place to do some people-watching.

Best time to visit: In the evening, leading up to sunset.

3. Anse Lazio

Praslin Island

The smaller island of Praslin is packed with beautiful (and usually empty) beaches. But if you're going to spend the day at just one, I think it has to be the beach at Anse Lazio on the island's north coast.

This is the most famous beach on Praslin – but it's famous for good reason. I mean, just look at it!!

Why I loved it: It's the perfect mixture of white sand, clear turquoise water, and cool boulder formations. (And, if you walk through said boulders on the left-hand side of the beach, you can reach a smaller, more-secluded portion of sand.)

I also loved having lunch at Bonbon Plume, which is right on the beach at Anse Lazio. The red snapper was delicious, and it was lovely being able to sit in the shade and enjoy the waves crashing nearby.

Best time to visit: Morning, for less crowds and better light for photos (my photos here were taken around 10:30/11 in the morning).

2. Grand Anse

La Digue Island

The whole island of La Digue is essentially one big beach. But one of the most popular of those beaches is Grand Anse on La Digue's southeast coast. The water is deep here, so it's not the best for swimming – but it's one of the more stunning beaches in the Seychelles!

Why I loved it: It was virtually empty, despite being a well-known beach. Also, you can get to other beaches from Grand Anse. A short walk and climb over boulders to the north leads to Petite Anse, and then on to Anse Cocos. Each beach gets less and less crowded.

Best time to visit: I went in the morning, though I think you could visit at any time of day and still find few people.

1. Anse Source d'Argent

La Digue Island

The most famous (and most-photographed) beach in the Seychelles in definitely the beach at Anse Source d'Argent. It's famous for its huge boulders, clear shallow water, and coral reef just feet from the sand.

You do have to pay to visit this beach since it sits on the property of L'Union Estate on the island's west coast, but I think the entrance fee is well worth it.

Why I loved it: The beach is quite long, with tucked away bits of sand in between the boulders. So, even though lots of people visit every day, it didn't feel super crowded.

It was also a really fun spot to take photos, and I enjoyed getting a fresh coconut from one of the fruit stands at the far end of the beach.

When to go: The earlier the better if you want to beat the crowds. (Though I was there from 11 am – 1 pm and honestly didn't feel like it was too crowded! Then again, “crowded” is defined differently in the Seychelles!)

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This of course isn't a complete list of Seychelles beaches, but these were my favorites. I visited other beaches, too, including Anse Volbert on Praslin, Anse Severe on La Digue, and a few unnamed stretches of beach on Mahe.

You could likely spend a month here and still not visit every beach worth seeing.

Every beach in the Seychelles is unique and beautiful in its own way – in fact, I don't think you can find an ugly one here!

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Which of these Seychelles beaches would YOU most like to visit?

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NOTE: Thanks to the Seychelles Tourism Board for hosting me in the Seychelles. As always, all opinions and recommendations are 100% my own.