8 Best Shopping in Seychelles

Seychelles' best-known artist, Malaysian-born Michael Adams has studied the Seychelles' otherworldly jungle- and seascapes through dreamlike watercolors and silk screens for more than 30 years now. Visit his studio in Anse Poules Bleues to view (and purchase) his unique work, as well as that of his extremely talented children, Alyssa and Tristan, both of whom are also painters.

This shop features the work of this British painter who made La Digue her home. From her beach studio, Jenson produces a wide variety of work in many different media, all of which reflect the Seychelles' unique landscape and ethnically diverse population. Lately experimenting with paintings of varnish on aluminum, Jenson's more traditional island scenes in acrylics and watercolors are also available here, and she can arrange packaging for transport home, or shipping if necessary.

Located just outside the airport, you'll find black pearls from the Seychelles' black-lip oyster, a specialty of the islands, at the source.

This complex includes shops like Yves Souvenir Cachée, which only sells goods made in Seychelles, such as natural essential oils, crafts from coconut, carvings, and banana-leaf pictures. There is also a branch of Kreolor, a jewelry chain that sells fine gold and pearl jewelry with designs inspired by the islands.

Probably the best bookstore for reads on the Seychelles, this shop–a sister to the older Antigone Books nearby–stocks everything from field guides to cook books, travel guides to coffee table books. They also sell novels in English and a small stock of imported newspapers and magazines. There is also a branch at the International Airport.

One of Seychelles' best examples of a 19th-century French colonial home, Kenwyn House is a historic monument as well as a duty-free shop and gallery. Built entirely from wood in 1855, this elegant home now houses a jewelry shop featuring South African diamonds and tanzanite, an art gallery, high-end souvenirs from the Indian Ocean region, and a charming—if only sometimes functioning—coffee shop.

This small curio shop near the old cemetery at L'Union sells shells, sarongs, vanilla tea, vanilla pods, and the famous La Digue vanilla essence. Out front an even smaller stall also sells vanilla, sometimes at a cheaper price if you bargain.

The souvenir shop at the Vallée de Mai Park sells a certified Coco de Mer nut (about Rs3,000), books about Seychelles natural history, and other souvenirs.