The Seychelles are what dreams are made of 115 astonishingly beautiful islands anchored 1,000 miles off the coast of East Africa and just 4 degrees south of the Equator: A tapestry of tropical forests, exotic plants and flowers, huge granite boulders, and the most beautiful palm fringed beaches. Its relative isolation over the centuries has resulted in a unique ecology with many unusual species such as giant land tortoises, rare birds and the unique Coco de Mar coconut.
Seychelles is a heady mixture of scenic beauty, the friendliness of the languid, easygoing people, the piquant pleasures of Creole cooking, and the overall simplicity of a slower pace of life.
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Viewpoint:
Gourmet dinning, snappy service and sophisticated nightlife are not the hallmarks of the Seychelles. it is the beautiful scenery, lovely beaches and the relaxed lifestyle that is so appealing. Mahe is more developed so do plan a visit to the out islands for a real taste of the Seychelles. It does rain a lot particularly Nov to Jan, and prevailing winds and tides cause a build up of seaweed on the south coast of Praslin during May-Sep.
Explore the islands of Seychelles on a island hopping trip.
Getting there: International Airport.
Mahe: Seychelles International Airport, city centre - 10 km
Domestic Airports: Praslin, Bird Island, Denis Island, Desroches, Fregate Island
Dialling Code:
+248
Time Zone:
Seychelles is four hours ahead of GMT in winter and three hours in summer.
Currency:
Seychelles Rupee (SRe: singular; SRs: plural) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of SRs100, 50, 25 and 10. Coins are in denominations of SRs5 and 1, and 25, 10 and 5 cents.
Currency Exchange:
Exchange facilities are available at the airport banks, which are open for all flight departures and arrivals. Currency exchange receipts should be kept in order to facilitate re-exchange on departure.
Credit and Debit Cards:
MasterCard and Visa are accepted. American Express is by major hotels and restaurants. Diners Card is sparsely accepted.
Electricity:
240 volts with British 3-pin square plugs.
Best time to go:
The Seychelles is a year-round destination. May to October are the driest months - temperatures are fairly constant at about 29 to 30 C and there are more than seven hours of sunshine per day. October to April are the more humid months when rain falls in short, heavy bursts and the skies generally clear rapidly. December, January and February are generally the wettest months.
Public Holidays:
New Year’s Day; 2 Jan; Good Friday; Holy Saturday; Liberation Day 5 June; Corpus Christi; Independence Day 29 June; Assumption; All Saints’ Day; Immaculate Conception; Christmas Day.
Visa Requirements:
Visas are not required for most visitors, but you will need an onward ticket, booked accommodation and sufficient funds. Please check with the relevant embassy.
Mahe:
Mahe is the largest and most important island of the Seychelles archipelago and part of the Inner Islands. The beaches are idyllic, soft beautiful sand, fringed by swaying palm trees and a warm and inviting sea to help you cool off from the tropical sun.
This spectacular island is only 27 kilometres long but is dominated by a mountain range that forms the backbone of the island. The highest peak, Morne Seychellois, reaches a height of 905 metres and provides a perfect backdrop to the capital city Victoria. There are over 75 beaches scattered around the island the most well known being the Beau Vallon on the North West coast, but the beauty of Anse Tkamaka and Anse Intendence is breathtaking.
Getting there:
By air: Fly to Seychelles International Airport, which is about 10 km away from Victoria.
Getting around: Rental cars mostly Mini Mokes, jeeps and small Japanese sedans are plentiful on Mahe, taxis to Beau Vallon costs around $35 each way or book our recommended transfer service.
Traffic moves on the left and is easy to drive, but don not expect to use it much.
Worth seeing: Victoria is small enough that it does not take too long to walk around; it is the best way to see the city and to get a feel of the place and the people.
Just a 10 to 15 minute boat trip will take you from here to Saint Anne Marine National Park where you can see the wondrous coral formation and shoals of colourful fish in clear unpolluted waters.
Half-day trips can be made to the islands of Round, Loungue, Cerf and Moyennes, and there are two other marine parks at Baie Ternay and Port Launay on the west coast.
The Botanical Gardens offer the opportunity to see some of Seychelles, unique and endemic plants in easy and comfortable surroundings.
The Clock Tower is the focal point of Victoria; it was erected in 1903 to mark Seychelles ‘coming of age as a separate colony’. Although 90 percent of the total Seychelles population lives on Mahe, it still has a quiet and informal atmosphere.
The nightlife is much livelier on Mahe than the neighbouring islands; there are two casinos, one in Beau Vallon Bay and one at the Plantation Club in the south of the island. The restaurants offer fantastic cuisine with a variety of international and local delicacies; each has its own identity.
Mahe has many nature walks and trails amongst the Morne Seychellois National Park, which covers an area of 11 square miles. If it is walking around an art gallery or an artist’s studio that takes your fancy then Mahe has this too, in fact, Mahe can offer you almost anything you want.
Praslin:
Praslin is everyone’s idea of the perfect tropical island and measures only 10.5 kilometres by roughly 3.7 kilometres. All around Praslin are huge, fantastically shaped rocks and in comparison, the coral reefs are mere striplings, perhaps six to eight thousand years old and teeming with life; a landscape painted in the myriad colours of living coral, jewel-like shells and an amazing nine hundred species of fish.
Praslin, though small, is the second largest island in the Seychelles and more than warrants exploration. It is also the ideal place from which to visit many of the islands. It is also home to three of the world’s rarest birds: the Seychelles bulbul, fruit pigeon and the black parrot.
Getting there:
By air:Fly to Seychelles International airport on the main island of Mahe then take an onward 15 minute flight to Praslin airport. Helicopter services operate between Mahe and Praslin airports.
By boat and catamaran:Praslin lies 37 kilometres northeast of Mahe and is accessible by a 2 hour boat journey which is not recommended or by ‘Cat Coos’ catamaran in 1 hour which operates twice a day.
Getting around:Rental cars mostly Mini Mokes, jeeps and small Japanese sedans are available on Praslin, taxis to Baie Ste Anne Jetty costs around $20 each way or book our recommended transfer service.
Bicycles are available for rent.
Worth seeing: The exquisitely beautiful Vallee de Mai, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, is the home of the unique Coco de Mer, vanilla orchids, many species of lizards and some of the earth’s rarest birds. The Coco de Mer is a fruit from an extraordinary palm tree, which is found in only one place in the world, the Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island.
Well worth is the long winding drive from Cote dor, Anse Lazio can claim to be the perfect tropical paradise and is often listed among the world’s top ten beaches and is perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Windsurfing, snorkelling, diving and fishing are possible both from Grand Anse and Anse Volbert.
Look out for seaweed on some beaches during May to September.
La Digue:
An aura of charm and tranquillity surrounds La Digue. For years the way of life on La Digue has remained unchanged, transport is mainly by ox-cart or bicycle. On La Digue, time seems to stand still.
La Digue is the fourth largest island in the Seychelles, measuring five kilometres by three, and is part of the granitic group. It lies 43 kilometres from Mahe and six and a half from Praslin. The island has no natural harbour and is circled and protected by the coral reefs, together with masses of pink granite rocks, which seem to have exploded around the coastline. The hotels on La Digue are mostly situated along the west coast, between La Passe, L’Union and Anse Reunion. The east coast is far wider.
Although La Digue can be visited on a day excursion, the island’s rare calm and friendliness of its people are too precious to be passed by in haste. The ox-cart excursions include some of the more picturesque parts of the island where some fine traditional houses are situated. Wide deserted beaches are perfect for long walks, safe swimming, snorkelling and fishing. Although the famous flycatcher bird was once thought to be extinct, recent estimates suggest that there may be as many as one hundred on the island. Cycads, one of the oldest and most primitive of plants, are to be seen growing above the quiet roads of the island.
Getting there:
By ferry: La Digue Island is accessible by a 30-minute sea ferry from Praslin.
By helicopter: Operates from Mahe and Praslin airports.
Getting around: Ox Carts are available only on La Digue between the pier and La Digue Island Lodge at US$ 6 per person each way. Bicycles are available for rent.
Denis Island:
Denis is a small coral croissant shaped island, edged by sand and coconut groves, it is the perfect shelter for nature holidays. The ocean bed off the reefs surrounding Denis Island plunges 2000 m, offering a fantastic habitat for both deep-sea & bottom-fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling. The island was claimed in the name of the King of France by Denis de Trobiand, who landed there in 1773.
Indeed, the ‘Act of Possession’ is supposed to be buried on the island, and is the source of present-day treasure hunts. From its Avenue des Gens Heureux, the lighthouse, which dates back to 1908, the Seychelles’ unique ecumenical church and the warm hospitality of its small local population, Denis Island exudes a sense of history. The island ambience is further enhanced by the architecture, gastronomic cuisine and the dedicated attentions of the TAJ management, making Denis Island an absolute must for all discerning visitors to these shores.
Getting there:
By air: Fly into Seychelles International airport and then take an onward 30 minute flight to Denis Island. The flights operate daily except on Wednesdays. Flight departs Mahe at 11:45hrs and Denis Island at 12:45hrs. Baggage allowance is restricted to 15 kilos.
Fregate Island:
Fregate Island is the only resort on one of the most unspoiled places on earth. Once the island attracted pirates but now it lures the discerning and privileged with its soothing climate, tropical forests, and hidden coves of dazzling white sand.
But what really sets the property apart is its commitment to the endemic wildlife that surrounds it. Designed to coexist within a fragile ecosystem that shelters some of the world’s most endangered species, Fregate Island Private offers the utmost in luxury - tempered with caring responsibility.
Getting there:
By air, helicopter and boat: Fregate Island is the granitic island furthest away east from Mahe and accessible only by private helicopter, twin otter plane from Mahe with a journey time of 20 minutes. Private helicopter transfers are also available between Fregate - Praslin, Denis, North Island, Felicite, Cousin, La Digue, Bird, and Silhouette Islands. Boat charters from Mahe are also operated.
Cousin Island:
Cousin Island, measuring only 25 hectares, must be one of the world’s best-known conservation successes. Privately owned, the island is host to maximum 10 guests at any one time, whose stay contributes directly to the Nature Reserve funds.
The island hosts hundreds of hawksbill turtles during the nesting season of September to January and 60’000 Lessor Noddys during the breeding season from April to October. There are four other endemic bird species on Cousin Island, including 12 of the 70 Magpie Robins left in the world.
Getting there:
By boat: Cousin is located a few kilometres east of Praslin and is about 90 minutes from Praslin by boat. Fly into Seychelles International airport then an onward flight to Praslin airport, transfer to the jetty and then take the boat.
Felicite Island:
Felicite Island is just under three kilometre square, with many lovely beaches and stunning reefs teeming with a rich profusion of marine life.
It is not unusual to see turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs on this practically deserted island. Away from the beaches, there are trails for hiking through the lush vegetation to the top of the hill. For the ultimate in exclusivity, Felicite provides the answer.
Getting there:
By boat: This tiny island, 30 minutes by boat from La Digue can be exclusively yours to stay.
North Island:
North Island, one of the inner granitic islands of the Seychelles archipelago, is located approximately 32 km northwest of the main island, Mahe and 5 km north of its nearest neighbour Silhouette.
The beautiful beaches are separated by dramatic rock formations on each end and the corals in the deep waters are home to a huge variety of marine life.
The island is about 2.5 km long by 1 km wide and there are three main beaches on the island and at any time one of these beaches will be sheltered from the prevailing winds. . These outcrops drop straight into the sea but are bordered with giant boulders at their inland bases.
The island was first farmed in 1826 by a woman, Marie Josephine Celerine Beaufond, a descendant of French settlers from Reunion. The island remained in her family for the next 150 years and was used as a plantation for growing fruits and spices, and producing Guano, fish oil and coconut oil. The farm was sold in the seventies and fell into disuse, being taken over by coconuts and alien weeds, but the new resort has already started to return the island to its former pristine state of beauty.
Getting there:
By helicopter: North Island is a private paradise island located northwest of Mahe and is accessible by a 15 minute helicopter transfer from Seychelles International Airport on the main island of Mahe. Flying time is restricted to daylight hours.