Conception, an island off the west coast of Mahé
Good to know about Conception island
Off the west coast of Mahé lies another island: Conception. It sits south of the Port Launay Marine National Park. Conception is only one kilometre long and about 600 metres wide, but it is dominated by a rocky ridge up to 130 metres high that runs along almost its entire length.
Until the mid-1970s the island was a coconut plantation. It has been uninhabited ever since. A few years ago it was declared a nature reserve, and today it is the most important home of the Mahé white-eye, known among specialists as the Seychelles white-eye (Zosterops modestus). The species was thought to be close to extinction until a previously unknown population of around 245 birds was discovered on Conception in 1996 and 1997.
The steep, densely vegetated slopes and the lack of a beach have saved the island from settlement. That has helped it: there are no rats on Conception, which on many other islands proved fatal for ground-nesting birds and small songbirds.
Getting there and visiting
Conception is not a day-trip destination with a beach and facilities. The island exists for species protection, and you should plan your visit with that in mind.
Landing on the island
We are not aware of any official visitor programme for Conception. Neither the Seychelles Tourism Board nor the national parks authority offers entry tickets or regular guided visits. The conservation organisation Island Conservation Society, which has run species protection programmes there, is based on Mahé. If you would like to land on the island for scientific or ornithological reasons, you can ask them. Do not expect a yes.
So assume that you will only see Conception from the water or from Mahé. A boat gives you the best view of the island. Ask the providers of boat trips and snorkelling whether their route passes Conception. Because the island is so close to the shore, the crossing does not take long.
Seeing it from Mahé
Conception lies roughly 2 kilometres off the coast. The nearest point on land is the headland of Cap Matoopa. The island is level with the Port Launay Marine Park. You can reach the park by car from Victoria in about 30 minutes via La Misère. A hire car is handy for this, or you can take a bus towards Port Glaud. A stroll along the beach at Port Launay is the easiest way to get Conception in view, and it combines well with swimming and snorkelling.
| Port Launay Marine Park | according to the national park authority |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | daily 9 am to 5 pm |
| Entrance fee (as of November 2026) | Rs 200 for non-residents over 12 years, valid together with Baie Ternay |
| Getting there by car | approx. 30 minutes from Victoria via La Misère |
Prices and times may change. Check the current rules with the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority.
Nature and wildlife
The white-eye is what makes Conception special. The bird is small and olive green with a narrow white ring around the eye. It breeds between September and April, usually in groups in which several birds help to raise the young. Conception was most recently home to a few hundred birds. From there, birds were moved to rat-free islands to found new populations: to Frégate between 2001 and 2003, and to North Island and Cousine in 2007. Thanks to these translocations, the species is now considered less threatened than it was a few years ago.
Besides the white-eye, Conception is home to the Seychelles kestrel, the Seychelles blue pigeon and the Malagasy turtle dove, as well as two species of gecko. Introduced species such as cinnamon, cashew, coconut palm and tabebuia dominate the plant life. Native plants still grow in the understorey, among them the endemic palm Phoenicophorium borsigianum. You can find more on wildlife and plants under Flora and fauna and Nature and conservation.
Accommodation, food and practical tips
There is nowhere to stay and nowhere to eat on Conception itself. You can stay in the surrounding area on Mahé: accommodation on Mahé and restaurants on Mahé. Around Port Launay on the west coast there are several hotels and holiday homes, which you can find through hotel booking. If you want to combine beach days with excursions, dream beaches has more suggestions.
For a visit to the area you will need swimwear, sun protection, drinking water and your own snorkelling gear. There are no cash machines, shops or doctors on Conception; you will find them on Mahé. For information on money, emergencies and clinics, see Money and banks and Hospital, clinics and emergency numbers.
Day trip or overnight stay
Staying overnight on Conception is not possible. As far as we know, a simple day trip to the island is not planned either. A day on the west coast of Mahé makes more sense: snorkel at Port Launay in the morning, have lunch nearby, and move on in the afternoon. If you are looking for islands with a visitor programme, Cousin, Aride and Curieuse offer the chance to see birds and tortoises up close. For an overview of all the islands, see Islands of the Seychelles.
