Maldives, Zanzibar, Mauritius or Seychelles: which island for your honeymoon?

"Maldives or Seychelles?", "Maldives or Mauritius?", "Zanzibar or Mauritius?": couples from Algeria ask these questions again and again. All four Indian Ocean islands promise white sand and turquoise water, but they differ in season, atmosphere and entry formalities. The right choice depends above all on your wedding date: an island that is ideal in August can be rainy in January.

At a glance: which island for which season

These months are a guide only: the weather varies from year to year and from one coast to another. Formalities are given for information; always check the current requirements with the embassy or the official website before you travel. We do not sell any visa service.

Summer wedding: Zanzibar, Mauritius or the Seychelles

If you travel between June and September, three islands are generally at their best:

• Zanzibar is generally drier from June to September. To swim at any time of day, head north (Nungwi, Kendwa), where the sea pulls back little; on the east coast the sea goes out a very long way at low tide, so pick a hotel with a pool. See our Zanzibar honeymoon guide and where to stay in Zanzibar.
• Mauritius is then in its southern-hemisphere winter: cooler and drier from June to September, with trade winds blowing mostly on the east and south coasts. The more sheltered west coast is also the driest, and October is generally the least rainy month.
• The Seychelles are in the south-east trade wind season from May to September: drier weather, a steady breeze and a sea that can be choppy on some beaches.

And the Maldives? From May to October the south-west monsoon brings wetter, windier weather: it is always warm, but the skies are more changeable.

Autumn or winter wedding: the Maldives first

December to March is the dry season in the Maldives: the classic time for a resort island and an overwater villa. Read our Maldives honeymoon guide and see our hotels in the Maldives.

Zanzibar is a good alternative in January and February, which are generally drier; December, however, falls in the short rains, which run from October to December.

In Mauritius, November to April is the southern-hemisphere summer: hot and humid, with February generally the wettest month, and it is also cyclone season. In the Seychelles, the north-west monsoon, from December to March, brings the most rain in December and January, with little wind and strong heat; the main islands nevertheless lie outside the cyclone belt, and April is generally the calmest month.

Atmosphere: lagoon, old town, hiking or granite

• Maldives: a Muslim country of almost 1,200 islands. You choose between a resort island (one island, one hotel), Malé and Hulhumalé near the airport, or a guesthouse on a local island such as Maafushi, with no alcohol and modest dress in the village. Everything is explained in resort island, Malé or local island.
• Zanzibar: a largely Muslim population, the old town of Stone Town on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and the option of adding a safari on the mainland: see safari in Tanzania and beach in Zanzibar.
• Mauritius: you can mix beach, hiking and day trips without changing island; about one in six inhabitants is Muslim. For halal meals, check with the hotel before you book.
• Seychelles: an archipelago of small islands. Mahé, the largest, has the international airport and the capital, Victoria; Praslin is home to the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site; on La Digue people get around mostly by bike or on foot. Here too, ask the hotel about meals.

For Mauritius and the Seychelles, our practical guide covers coasts, islands and formalities: Mauritius and the Seychelles from Algeria.

Formalities: the essentials, in principle

• Maldives: a tourist visa is issued on arrival on presentation of, among other things, a confirmed return ticket, a prepaid and confirmed accommodation booking and sufficient funds.
• Zanzibar: holders of an Algerian passport apply for a visa online before departure; local travel insurance has also been required since 1 October 2026. See travelling to Zanzibar from Algeria.
• Mauritius: a visa is issued on arrival to holders of an Algerian passport, on presentation of, among other things, a return ticket.
• Seychelles: no visa, whatever your nationality, but a paid travel authorisation must be obtained online before departure, no earlier than 30 days before arrival, with a return ticket, confirmed accommodation and sufficient funds; a visitor's permit is then issued on arrival.

In both the Maldives and the Seychelles, confirmed accommodation is one of the published conditions: that is exactly what the voucher we send you after payment proves.

All four islands are a long way from Algeria: plan at least a week on the spot so that the journey does not eat into the trip.

Book your honeymoon with us

We book your hotels in the Indian Ocean, from resort islands in the Maldives to beach hotels in Zanzibar. Send us your dates and wishes: our team checks availability and prices with the hotels. From Algeria, you pay in dinars: BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our agency in Telemly, Algiers. Living abroad? You can also pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you once payment is made.

Still weighing Tunisia, Turkey or Malaysia? Read our guide honeymoon from Algeria: which destination?.

See hotels in the Maldives · See hotels in Zanzibar

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.