eSIM Seychelles is the easiest way to stay connected while exploring the paradise islands in the Indian Ocean. The best SIM card for Seychelles? That would be Airalo.
I’ve been to Seychelles more than five times, and have visited all three main islands: Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. Therefore, I know that finding a reliable mobile internet isn’t always easy.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN SEYCHELLES:
• Hilltop Boutique Hotel (I stayed here in Victoria on Mahé)
• Sun Properties & Resort Hotel (I stayed here in Beau Vallon on Mahé)
• Marie Laure Suites (I stayed here in Bel Ombre on Mahé)
• Bambous River Lodge (I stayed here in Bel Ombre on Mahé)
• Palm Beach Hotel (I stayed here in Grand Anse on Praslin)
• Chez Bea (I stayed here in Cote’Or on Praslin)
• Cote D’Or Footprints (upscale stay in Cote D’Or on Praslin)
• La Digue Self Catering Apartments (I stayed here in La Passe on La Digue)
• Le Nautique Waterfront Hotel (perfect beachfront location on La Digue)
• Chalets d’Anse Reunion (perfect paradise stay on La Digue)
TOP EXPERIENCES and TOURS IN SEYCHELLES:
• Mahé: Anse Major hike (I did this fun hike!)
• Mahé: Private Tour on Mahé (I did this)
• Mahé: St. Anne Marine Park with Lunch (I did this!)
• Mahé: Rock pool hike (on my wishlist)
• Mahé: Day trip to Praslin and La Digue (great if you are short on time)
• Praslin: Vallé de Mai and Anse Lazio (I did this!)
• Praslin: cruise to Curieuse and St. Pierre Island (top-rated tour)
• La Digue: Anse Marron (hike to an isolated beach)
• La Digue: Crystal Water Kayaks tour (my favorite!)
Before I started using Airalo, I had to wait in line at the Seychelles airport to get a physical SIM from Airtel Seychelles. I don’t want to mention the stress about not losing my home SIM card!
With an eSIM for Seychelles, setup is easy. You can install it before traveling abroad, skip the airport lines, and stay connected across all three main islands — quick, simple, and stress-free.
I’ve found Airalo eSIM Seychelles to be the most reliable and convenient for travelers. I’ve heard good things about Holafly as well. Both can be used for navigation, sharing photos, or staying in touch, each day of your Seychelles itinerary.
In this post, I’ll explain why I decided to start using Airalo eSIM over a regular SIM, how to set it up, and why I think it’s the best option for travelers heading to Seychelles.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Never leave for a trip without travel insurance. Unexpected issues can arise, so I suggest using insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country. You can buy this travel insurance even if you are already abroad.
Best eSIM for Seychelles
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● An eSIM card is an embedded digital SIM card that lets you download a data plan directly to your phone without inserting a physical SIM.
● eSIMs make travel in Seychelles easier, as you can download the app and get an eSIM when still at home and get data immediately when you at your destination.
● I’ve used Airalo (ANJA7995, to get 3€ Off your eSIM) most of the time, but there are other good options like Holafly (unlimited data) (and get 5% off with code ANJA at checkout) and a local Airtel SIM card (cheaper per GB), that all work across Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue.
📌 No time to read? Pin it for later!
Best eSIM for Seychelles: Airalo vs Holafly vs Airtel (an overview)
If you are short on time and are struggling with connectivity for your trip to Seychelles, below you can find the best travel esim providers on the island.
| AIRALO | HOLAFLY | AIRTEL SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Airtel Network | Airtel Network | Airtel Network |
| Data type | Limited GB packages | Unlimited | Large GB packages |
| Setup | Before arrival via app | Before arrival via app | Buy at the airport |
| Keep home SIM active | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Sample price | 3 GB / €18 for 30 days | unlimited GB / €36.9 for 7 days | 10 GB / €40 for 21 days |
| Best for | Budget-conscious users | Heavy data users | Local calls needed |
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital version of a physical SIM card embedded into your phone. Instead of inserting a physical SIM card into your phone, you simply download the eSIM profile directly to your device.
Setting up an eSIM is simple. Once you install your eSIM profile and activate it, you’re good to go. Most modern phones support multiple prepaid eSIM profiles, so you can switch between plans without any fuss.
Why choose an eSIM for the Seychelles
Before I started using eSIM for the Seychelles, I got a physical SIM from a local provider, Airtel (which worked great).
Now, if you’ve ever waited in line at the airport (like forever) to get a physical SIM card, you will recognize three things that are simply the worst:
1. Wasting time. Standing in line, choosing a provider, and finding the best network can take forever, and it eats into your precious vacation time.
2. Too many choices. There’s never just one provider, and deciding which package you’ll need and which one will work best can be overwhelming.
3. Where to store your home SIM. Removing your home SIM card and keeping it safe for the entire trip is stressful (at least for me), because I never remember in which little pocket I have put it.
An eSIM eliminates all of these problems. You can:
● download and install it up tp 90 days before you are going to travel;
● activate it immediately, and start using it as soon as you land;
● avoid airport queues and relying on spotty WiFi;
● keep your number and stay connected on all islands without changing SIMs.
All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone and a few taps to install the data plan (more about that later on). It’s fast, flexible, and perfect for island-hopping in Seychelles.
Why I recommend Airalo for Seychelles
I started using Airalo eSIM because of convenience, affordability, and reliability.
When you are a tour guide, it is priceless, if you can prepare and manage things before you land to the destination. So setting up an Airalo eSim, which works just like a SIM card from local networks (such as Airtel or Cable & Wireless), is nothing more than traveling made easy. It offers reliable mobile network across Seychelles’ three most visited islands: Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue.
Here’s why I recommend Airalo for your Seychelles trip:
● Convenience: You can purchase and install the eSIM anytime, even before you leave home. No more rushing through airport queues or hunting for a local SIM vendor after landing.
READY TO TRY IT?
Download your Airalo Seychelles eSIM now, and use ANJA7995, to get 3€ Off your eSIM and you’ll be all set for your trip.
● Cost-effective: Airalo offers affordable data plans tailored to different travel needs, so you can pick a package that fits your budget without surprise fees. Find more about packages below.
● Easy setup: The Airalo app and eSIM is super easy to install. Just a few taps, and you’re online, ready to navigate, share photos, and stay connected.
● Flexibility: You don’t need to switch SIM cards as you island-hop. The same eSIM works seamlessly across all the main islands without any extra work from your side.
● Compatibility: Airalo supports most modern eSIM-compatible phones, making it accessible to a wide range of travelers.
With Airalo, you’ll have internet access and a stress-free way to stay connected while exploring the stunning Seychelles islands. You will be able to use maps, read guides or simply share the first photos of that bucket list tropical destination.
**Some of the guests on my tour were using Holafly eSIM Seychelles, and were happy with the coverage, ease of use and pricing as well. I haven’t used Holafly in Seychelles, so can not share my experience with them.**
How to set up Airalo eSIM Seychelles
Setting up and using the Airalo eSIM is quick, easy and straightforward.
1. Download the Airalo app before your trip. You only have to do this for your first use.
2. Open the app, and Login or Sign up (if you haven’t already).
3. Search “Seychelles” in the Store or type it in the field “search data packs for 200+ countries and regions”.
4. Pick your plan on the next screen. You will have the option to choose between 4 plans ranging from 7 to 30 days. For my 10 days Seychelles itinerary, I usually buy a 30 days plan with 5GB for 29.00€. As a tour guide I can not afford to run out of data.
Before you will pay for your plan, you will be able to see four available Top-Up packages (which are the same as packages presented before).
5. Buy and install eSIM with the app’s instructions.
6. Activate your eSIM within 90 days of purchase.
7. Switch on data & roaming for the eSIM when you land in Seychelles.
eSIM Seychelles: Prices & Available Plans
Seychelles is a remote region. Consequently, roaming charges and data packages for Seychelles are expensive.
As previously mentioned, during my numerous trips to Seychelles, I used physical SIM from Airtel and Airalo, which I also used in Italy, Kyrgyzstan, and Malta.
With Airalos‘ simple eSIM technology, you can access the internet and stay connected in over 200 countries.
READY TO TRY IT?
Download your Airalo Seychelles eSIM now, and use ANJA7995, to get 3€ Off your eSIM and you’ll be all set for your trip.
However, as I mentioned earlier, many of my tour passengers were using Holafly and were satisfied with it.
Holafly provides eSIMs with unlimited data in over 200 destinations, with hotspot capability available in several locations. They have amazing customer support, and their Global eSIM covers 113 countries, making it a reliable solution wherever you travel.
READY TO TRY IT?
Download your Holafly Seychelles eSIM now, and get 5% off with code ANJA at checkout!
Below, I will present data allowance and price plans for Holafly eSIM Seychelles and Airalo eSIM for Seychelles, so you can make an informed decision choosing the best prepaid eSIM for your needs.
Airalo data plans for eSIM Seychelles
Airalo currently has 4 data plans available, which all use the Airtel network.
● 1 GB for €7.5, valid for 7 days
● 2 GB for €13, valid for 15 days
● 3 GB for €18, valid for 30 days
● 5 GB for €29, valid for 30 days
They also have 4 available top-up packages, which are the same in price and cost as the ones mentioned above.
Holafly data plans for eSIM Seychelles
With Holafly you pay for UNLIMITED DATA per day. So instead of using a package, you will have the option to customize the number of days.
If you will be following my first-time Seychelles itinerary, then you should select 10 days.
Here are some of the prices, so you can make a comparison:
● 1 day Unlimited Data €8.9
● 7 days Unlimited Data €36.9
● 15 days Unlimited Data €58.9
● 30 days Unlimited Data €103.9
How to choose the right data plan for eSIM Seychelles
How long do you plan to stay in the Seychelles? Why will you be using data for? Do you often use a lot of data, to watch Youtube, or do you need it just for posting photos and will be using wifi when available instead?
Factors such as these will determine what Seychelles eSIM data plan you should select.
Here are some data-saving tips for Seychelles:
● Use hotel or café WiFi when possible
I would recommend combining data plan with a free Wifi found in some cafes and hotels. In all the places I stayed in Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, there is a free Wifi available.
I usually go for 5GB for €29, valid for 30 days. Only because I don’t want to run out of data if something happens to my tour guests and because I frequently share my data to them as well. I never had the need to top-up.
Based on the prices, I would only reccomend Holafly if you heavily rely on phone coverage for your data.
● Turn off data for apps you don’t use on the go
Make sure you turn off automatic updates for apps or transferring photos using your data.
● Download offline maps and videos before you leave
● Set your location services on “While Using the App”
Is eSIM the most affordable Seychelles SIM card for tourists
No. But it is the most practical one.
Once you land in Seychelles’ Mahe airport, of course, you still have the opportunity to purchase a physical SIM card.
Besides data, a local SIM will also allow you to call and send local texts in Seychelles. I’ve only made 3 local calls in my last dozen visits, as I can easily contact and call tour providers using data only via WhatsApp.
Below you can find prices for an Airtel local Seychelles SIM card (November 2024) and compare those with the ones shared above for eSIM.
● 10GB for SCR600 | $43 |€40, valid for 21 days
● 15GB for SCR900 | $65 | €60, valid for 21 days
● 30GB for SCR1100 | $80 | €75, valid for 21 days
● 70GB for SCR2100 | $150 | €140, valid for 21 days
● 100GB for SCR3100 | $222 | €207, valid for 21 days
If you don’t mind waiting in line, I would go for the 10GB package (as I did in the past). But what I like most about buying an eSIM is its easy setup when I’m still at home, affordability, and zero fuss.
Plus, I’m super happy to know that I get to keep my original number.
Final thoughts on Airalo and eSIMs in Seychelles
Switching to an Airalo eSIM for Seychelles was the best thing for me.
It simplified my travel experience as a tourist and as a tour guide. Airalo makes it easy to stay connected, when exploring Mahé, Praslin, or La Digue. Right after buying a local SIM card, it is the best Seychelles SIM card for tourists and travellers.
Download your Seychelles eSIM before you go, and enjoy a seamless connection from the moment you land in this tropical paradise, that absolutely deserves a spot on your travel bucket list.
Now that you know how to stay connected in Seychelles, have a look at more detailed guide on what to do in La Digue, Praslin attractions and what to see in Mahe. Find more Seychelles guides on how to reach the islands, where to stay, what to pack and even how Seychelles compare to Zanzibar and Barbados.
➤ Read more Seychelles travel guides
• Where to stay in Seychelles: Hotels for every Budget & Style
• How to get to La Digue, Seychelles, from Mahé or Praslin
• How to spend 10 days in Seychelles Itinerary
• Where to stay in Praslin Island, Seychelles: 10 Best Praslin hotels
• 101+ Seychelles Captions for Instagram
📌 Like it? Pin it!
