Anse Intendance
The wild one. A vast, open beach on the south of Mahe with no reef to tame it, where the surf rolls in big and the sand runs for what feels like forever. Spectacular to look at, serious about its sea.
A beach with no brakes
Anse Intendance is the beach people mean when they say Seychelles can be dramatic. It faces the open ocean on the south coast of Mahe with no protecting reef offshore, so the swell arrives with its full weight. The result is a long, wide sweep of pale sand, a shore break that thumps, and a sense of raw space you do not get on the sheltered bays up north. On the right day the waves draw bodyboarders and photographers in equal measure.
The setting is pure postcard. Takamaka trees lean over the top of the beach, granite headlands close each end, and behind it all the green hills of the south rise steeply. The Banyan Tree resort sits above one end, but the beach itself is public and rarely feels crowded because of its sheer size.
Swimming, surf and turtles
Be clear-eyed about the water. In the southeast trade-wind season the currents and shore break here can be genuinely dangerous, and this is not the place for a careless swim or for small children in the waves. On calmer days it can be beautiful for a dip, but always read the sea first and stay close to shore. The beach is far better known for walking, watching the surf and taking photographs than for gentle bathing.
Intendance is also an important nesting beach. Hawksbill and green turtles come ashore here in season to lay, and if you are lucky and respectful you may see tracks in the sand or the animals themselves. Keep your distance and let them be.
The long walk and the light
The best thing to do here is simply walk. The beach is long enough that you can leave the few other visitors behind within minutes, and the combination of white sand, wild water and green cliffs is as good as coastal scenery gets in Seychelles. Late afternoon light turns the whole bay gold, and it makes a stirring end to a day spent touring the south.
Know before you go
| Where | South coast of Mahe, below the Banyan Tree, a drive over the hills from the south |
| Type | Long wild ocean beach, no protecting reef |
| Swimming | Often unsafe. Strong shore break and currents, especially in the trade-wind season |
| Best for | Walking, surf watching, photography, big open scenery |
| Wildlife | A turtle nesting beach in season, keep your distance |
| Facilities | Very few, come prepared with water and shade |
| Best time | Late afternoon for the light, calmer seas in the northwest-wind months |
What visitors say
★ 4.7 · 1,021 Google reviews★★★★★It was the most beautiful beach on the island for us. High waves, not possible to swim but it was so much beautiful . Clear water, soft sand. Proper parking and just a min walk from there. No facilities around for snacks…
Olena Barzegar · via Google
★★★★★Beautiful, if not the most beautiful beach on Mahe. But when we were there (midday, February 2026) the waves / current were too strong to go safe in the sea. It was easy getting there and you can park for free on a parking lot.
zevenen70 · via Google
★★It’s one of the most famous beach in Mahé but I would say it’s one of the most strange.. it’s left me very confused feeling. First of all – the way from parking to the beach is super WILD and full of HUGE COCONUT SPIDERS…
Kristina K · via Google
★★★★★This is for sure one of the most beautiful beaches in entire Seychelles. Crystal waters, big waves and some shades made from the palm trees to relax under.
Stefan Buldeev · via Google
Intendance is a headline stop on any tour of the wild south coast, alongside the other great southern beaches. A full-day guided tour strings them together safely, and staying on Mahe keeps the drive short.
Traveller favouriteWild South full-day guided tourfrom €128 per groupBook this tourTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Anse Takamaka · Anse Soleil · Takamaka Rum Distillery
Never turn your back on the sea here. The shore break is powerful and the currents are real, so come for the walk and the scenery, and only swim on a genuinely calm day close to the sand.
