Maldives vs Mauritius vs Seychelles

The Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles are all island destinations in the Indian Ocean, and all three have warm water, white beaches and friendly hospitality. They are also very different holidays. Mauritius and the Seychelles are larger, mountainous islands with roads, towns and forests to explore. The Maldives is a nation of small coral islands, where each resort usually has an island to itself.

This guide compares the three in plain terms, so you can choose the holiday that fits the way you like to travel.

Three kinds of island

The Maldives is made up of coral atolls: rings of low, sandy islands around wide lagoons. There are no mountains or long roads, only palm trees, beaches and sea. Our atolls guide explains how they formed and how they differ.

Mauritius is a single large volcanic island with mountains, sugar-cane fields, waterfalls and towns, ringed in many places by a lagoon and reef.

The Seychelles is a group of islands, several of them made of granite, with green hills, forests and dramatic boulder-lined beaches.

One island, one resort

The idea that most sets the Maldives apart is "one island, one resort". Most resorts occupy their own island, so the beach, the lagoon and the reef around it are shared only with other guests of that resort. There is no through traffic and no town next door, which gives a strong sense of privacy and calm.

In Mauritius and the Seychelles, hotels usually share a coastline with villages, public beaches and other hotels. That brings variety and local life close by, while the Maldives offers seclusion. Our guide to choosing a Maldives resort explains how island size changes the feel of a stay.

Overwater villas

Villas built on stilts above the lagoon are the signature of the Maldives, and many resorts offer them, often with steps from the deck straight into the water. In Mauritius and the Seychelles, most rooms and villas are on the beach or the hillside, and overwater villas are much less common.

If you are deciding between an overwater and a beach villa, our overwater vs beach villas guide compares the two.

House reefs and marine life

All three destinations have coral reefs, but in the Maldives the reef is often right on your doorstep. Many resort islands have a house reef you can reach by swimming out from the beach or a jetty, so snorkelling can be part of every day rather than a boat trip. Turtles, reef sharks, rays and colourful reef fish are part of everyday island life.

Mauritius and the Seychelles also offer good snorkelling and diving, usually reached from particular beaches or by boat. To learn more about the Maldives, read our guides to house reefs, snorkelling, marine life and manta rays and whale sharks.

Lagoon colours

Because the Maldives is made of shallow coral lagoons, the sea shows every shade from pale turquoise to deep blue, and the view from a seaplane is one many guests remember most. Sandbanks appear in the lagoons as bare strips of white sand, perfect for a picnic; see our sandbanks guide.

Mauritius and the Seychelles have lovely lagoons too, framed by green mountains and granite rocks, which gives their coastlines a different kind of beauty.

What Mauritius and the Seychelles offer

If you enjoy moving around during a holiday, Mauritius and the Seychelles have a lot to offer. You can hire a car or join tours, hike to viewpoints and waterfalls, visit towns and markets, and try different beaches on different days. The Seychelles' granite boulders and forested hills are unlike anything in the Maldives, and Mauritius has a varied mix of cultures and food on one island.

These are real strengths, and travellers who want a touring holiday may prefer them. The Maldives is a different kind of trip: you settle on one island and let the sea set the pace.

An easy resort-based holiday

In the Maldives, almost everything happens on your resort island: dining, the spa, excursions and water sports are arranged by the resort team. Meal plans make it simple to know what is included; our meal plans guide explains the options. When you want to go further, the resort takes you by boat to sandbanks, dive sites or a local island; see our water sports and excursions guide.

This makes the Maldives easy to plan: once you have chosen your resort, there is very little else to organise.

Getting to your island

In the Maldives, the resort team meets you at Velana International Airport and takes you straight to your island: by speedboat for resorts near the airport, or by domestic flight or seaplane from Velana Airport for islands further away. The journey itself is part of the holiday. Our transfers guide and arrival and departure day guide explain how it works.

In Mauritius and the Seychelles, you usually reach your hotel by road, and in the Seychelles some islands are reached by ferry or a short flight.

Who each destination suits

• Couples and honeymooners who want privacy and an overwater villa will find the Maldives hard to beat. See our honeymoon guide.
• Snorkellers and divers who want reefs close by will enjoy the Maldives' house reefs and atolls. See our diving guide.
• Families can enjoy all three; in the Maldives, calm lagoons and kids' clubs help. See our family holidays guide.
• Explorers who want road trips, hikes and towns may prefer Mauritius or the Seychelles.

Weather in broad terms

All three are warm all year, with drier and wetter seasons that differ from place to place. The Maldives sits close to the equator, so it stays warm through the year. Our best time to visit guide explains the Maldives seasons.

If you choose the Maldives

Start with our Maldives at a glance guide, then look at our hand-picked resorts. If you would like to combine the Maldives with another country, see our guide to combining the Maldives with another destination. You can also compare the Maldives with Bora Bora or the Maldives with Bali. Tell us how you like to travel and we will suggest resorts that match, or write to us at [email protected].