Tour & Activity Scams in Mahé, Seychelles

How it works

Touts operating near the Eden Island marina and along the Victoria waterfront approach tourists offering discounted island-hopping packages to Praslin and La Digue. These individuals are not licensed tour operators and either collect deposits that are never refunded or sell seats on overcrowded, uninsured pirogues at prices far above the legitimate Cat Cocos or Zoodio ferry tickets. The official Cat Cocos return ferry from Mahé to Praslin costs approximately SCR 700–800 (around $50 USD) and departs from the Inter-Island Ferry Terminal near Victoria.

How it works

Private boat charter operators — particularly those advertising catamaran day trips to uninhabited islands or snorkeling spots around Mahé — advertise inclusive packages (lunch, equipment, guide) and then arrive with a smaller or poorly maintained vessel substituted for the pictured catamaran, absent or broken snorkeling gear, and a "catering supplement" demanded in cash on the day. Some operators simply cancel on the morning of departure and offer a partial refund, having already held the deposit for weeks.

How it works

Around the trailheads leading into Morne Seychellois National Park — the forested highland covering the interior of Mahé — unofficial individuals present themselves as licensed park guides, charging SCR 500–1,500 upfront for a guided hike. They may lead visitors partway up a trail before claiming the path is closed or dangerous and abandoning the group, or they may simply take the fee and disappear. The national park itself is free to enter and most marked trails do not require a guide.