Planning Your Trip
Seychelles offers the complete range of accommodations; charming Creole guesthouses, 5-Star World Class Resorts, exclusive island retreats, live aboard sailing vessels, live aboard diving and fishing vessels and bare boat or skippered charters. 16 of the 115 Seychelles islands currently offer accommodations. The 3 main tourist islands are Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Transport between islands is by air or ferry.
With so much diversity to offer, knowing where to start your journey of discovery and what paths to follow requires a degree of thought. The guidance you will receive from our Travel Advisors and the well thought out itineraries will help you make the most of your holiday by introducing you to the islands in a logical way.
They will enable you to island-hop and enjoy a wide range of experiences from primordial forests and exquisite beaches to secluded island getaways and exposure to our unique, island-style way of life.
Questions you should ask yourself:
How many islands do I want visit? What type of experience am I looking for? Luxury? Casual? Private and Exclusive? What activities do want to do? What sites do I want to see? What is my budget?
Seychelles is so much more than just a beautiful destination with divine, world-beating beaches, clear azure waters and an amazing ecology. You will discover that there’s truly surprising diversity to be enjoyed with, literally, a new experience around every corner.
If you’re into relaxation and just kicking back and enjoying the down-time, Seychelles has all you’ll ever need, from a selection of over 65 beaches on the island of Mahé alone, where to enjoy uncrowded, silver sands framed by some of the oldest granite boulders on earth. Just the place to acquire the special glow of a Seychelles’ tan, refreshed by dips into crystal waters or even a snorkel to introduce you to the amazing world just beneath the waves.
Mahé, the principal island, is home to the international airport and Victoria, the world’s tiniest capital and is the cultural and economic hub of the nation. Here can be found most of the islands’ tourism facilities in the form of the greatest selection of accommodation, cultural and eco-tourism hotspots, great restaurants, bars, café’s and casinos as well as dive centers, car, fishing & sailing boat rentals and walks & trails.
But Mahé is just one island among many for you to enjoy because Seychelles is a destination made up of 115 island jewels, each with its own character, secrets and story to tell. Island-hopping between the 16 islands currently offering accommodation is easy too, with scheduled plane and ferry services to suit just about any itinerary. And, wherever you decide to stay, either in a 5-star cocoon of luxury or in any one of a selection of charming small hotels, self-caterings or picturesque Creole guesthouses, you will be met with courteous service and the friendly smile of a people who live in harmony and reassuringly close to their roots.
Praslin, Seychelles’ second largest island where the vegetation is so special it was once seriously believed to be the original site of the Garden of Eden. A few steps into the extraordinary forest known as the Vallée de Mai will show you why. Here, in this ancient forest of towering palms grows the incredible Coco-de-Mer palm which produces fruits that are Nature’s exact replica of the female pelvis while one of the world’s rarest birds, the Seychelles Black Parrot, flits back and forth in the twilight. After a stroll through this legendary glade you will be ready for a swim at one of the most famous beaches on earth, the achingly beautiful Anse Lazio, just one of many places where you can also enjoy memorable Creole cuisine within sight of the ocean and with your feet in the sand.
La Digue Island is merely a 20 minute ferry ride from Praslin and, as you set foot on this magical island where the main forms of transport are still bicycle and ox-cart, you will feel yourself transported back to yesteryear. Steeped in tradition, La Digue is one of the most popular spots for enjoying a unique, island-style way of life at a wonderfully unhurried pace.
Several romantic island hideaways now boast excellent facilities either in sumptuous resorts offering elegant accommodation amid surrounds of breathtaking natural beauty or in rustic island lodges with homely beachside cottages. All will offer you adventure, great cuisine and the opportunity to experience the very best that unspoiled Nature has to offer.
Seeking adventure on the ocean?
Seychelles offers some of the finest sailing on earth with easy sailing distances, safe moorings and myriad islands, near and far, for you to discover. A number of charter companies offer modern fleets of mono-hulls and catamarans, either bareboat or skippered. God seems to have designed Seychelles with the sailor in mind! There can be few better ways to explore their hidden coves, secret beaches and to savor their enviable tranquility than by sailing or motor yacht.
Seychelles naturally lends itself to travel over water and you can marvel at its stunning natural beauty in exactly the same way as the very first visitors to her shores, the intrepid Arab mariners of the 9th century A.D, riding the wind on calm ocean waters as the timeless beauty of her isles drifts ever so slowly by.
If you’re a diver, expert or beginner, then you’ve come to the right place for unforgettable diving in waters teeming with marine life and spectacular underwater landscapes. We offer a selection of land-based and live-aboard dive options with expeditions to a number of exceptional sites where wondrously few have ventured.
You don’t have to stray far for your first bite in Seychelles’ fish-rich waters where deep-sea fishing offers a mixed bag like few others of tuna, barracuda, trevally, jack, rainbow-runner, sailfish and the mighty marlin. Bone-fishing on the flats of some of the Outer Islands is considered to be among the best in the world while the local sport of bottom-fishing will bring some of the tastiest fish around to your table.
If you’re coming to the islands of love for your wedding, honeymoon, anniversary or just that impulsive romantic getaway, then there are a host of options and romance/honeymoon packages to choose from as you soak up the romantic ambiance à La Creole at any one of the romantic hotels, guest houses or island hideaways we offer. Secret coves where the only footprints will be your own, out-of-the-way romantic restaurants where to enjoy that special tête à tête and sunset strolls along fabulous strands will supply memories for a lifetime. You can also enjoy a wide range of spa experiences featuring the rejuvenating, home-grown pampering of mind body and soul or the signature treatments of dedicated spas.
Best Time to Visit
As the Seychelles islands are blessed with a year-long warm, tropical climate, it’s always a good time to visit, although different times of year may be better suited to your particular interests.
Two opposing trade winds generally govern the weather pattern: the north-westerly trades blow from October to March when wind speeds average from 8 to 12 knots; and the brisker south-easterly trades blow from May to September with winds of between 10 to 20 knots, bringing the cooler and windier conditions ideal for sailing.
The periods of calm between the trades produce fairly warm and wind-free conditions throughout April and also in October. Conditions for swimming, snorkeling and especially diving are superb during April/May and October/November when the water temperature sometimes reaches 29ºC and visibility is often 30 meters plus.
The ‘SUBIOS Underwater Festival’, showcases Seychelles’ extraordinary underwater world through a series of film shows, talks and competitions, while the 'Festival Kreol' (a week-long celebration of Creole heritage and traditions) is held in March and October respectively of each year.
The Seychelles Sailing Cup, an international sailing event, is held in January and the International Fishing Competition in March. Further local fishing competitions are held throughout the year.
The table below summarizes the best times to visit Seychelles for different types of activities.
Activity Period
Bird-watching April (breeding season)
May-Sept-Nesting of the Sooty Terns
October-Migration
Diving March – May / September – November
Fishing October – April
Hiking/Walks & Trails May – September
Sailing Year-round
Snorkeling Year-round
Surfing/Windsurfing May – September
Climate
Seychelles is blessed with almost perfect year round weather with temperatures ranging between 75 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit. December to March is generally hot and humid, and May to September is drier and cooler. The period between the trades (March/April/May and October/November), is normally calm and relatively windless.
Communications
Cable & Wireless and Airtel operate competing GSM networks, with full International roaming agreements with most countries. Payphones are available in most districts on the Inner Islands. Internet service providers, Internet cafés, postal and courier services are located in central Victoria with postal services and Internet cafés also available on Praslin and La Digue.
Credit cards
MasterCard/Access and Visa Cards are widely accepted in Seychelles.
American Express and Diners Club to a lesser extent.
Currency
The local currency is the Seychelles Rupee (Sr) made up of 100 cents. Notes come in denominations of Sr10.00, Sr25.00, Sr50.00 and Sr100.00. Coins vary from Sr5.00 downwards. Seychelles accepts all major currencies. Traveller’s checks are accepted at all banks.
Drinking Water
Tap water on Mahé and Praslin is safe and drinkable. However, when visiting the other islands it is advisable to drink bottled spring water.
Entry Formalities
There are no visa requirements to enter the Seychelles. Documents required for immigration clearance:
• A valid passport
• Return or onward ticket
• Proof of accommodation
• Sufficient funds for the duration of your stay
Presentation of the above documents will grant you a Visitor’s Permit issued upon arrival by the Seychelles Department of Immigration. The Visitor’s Permit is valid for a maximum of one month, extended stay available upon application to the Department of Immigration.
Foreign exchange regulations
Visitors must, by law, pay for all their excursions, board and lodging and all other services provided by hotels, guesthouses or self-catering establishments in major international currency notes, or by credit card. Other services payable in foreign exchange include:
• car hire
• diving
• boat charter, ferry or air transportation
• excursions
• entrance fees (reserves, marine parks, etc)
Exchanging foreign currency into Seychelles rupees must ONLY be done at banks, authorized money dealers at the Seychelles International Airport or with the hotel cashier. Be warned. It is a criminal offence to change money with any person or business other than those authorized and mentioned above.
If you require Rupees, it is advisable to exchange only what you need on a daily basis. To re-exchange Seychelles Rupees into foreign currency on your departure, you MUST produce the official receipt from your initial authorized dealer to the bank. Your money will not be re-converted into foreign currency
without this receipt!
Greetings
The handshake is the common form of greeting, often accompanied by ‘Ki dir’ (kid-zee) conveying the meaning of “How are you doing?”
Health matters
Seychelles enjoys a healthy climate with none of the tropical diseases found on the African continent. A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age who come from or who have passed through a partly or wholly infected area within the preceding 6 days. The continents considered as infected areas are South America and Africa (excluding South Africa). There is NO risk of contracting malaria or yellow fever in Seychelles. Health clinics exist on the islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and there are dispensaries on each
of the islands offering accommodation.
Hours of business
Office hours are between 0800 and 1600. Many shops outside the Capital remain open until 1900.
Language
Seychelles has three official languages – English, French and Creole.
Religion
Over 90% of Seychelles’ population are Roman Catholic, with Anglican and other Protestant churches on Mahé, Praslin and la Digue existing in harmony alongside small Muslim, Hindu and Baha’i communities.
Safety & Valuables
Seychelles is a safe destination but it is advisable to be cautious. To avoid attracting unwelcome attention, you are advised not to flaunt large sums of money or other high value items. Rather make use of your room or the hotel safes.
Shopping
Shops are open 09h00 to 16h00 during weekdays and from 08h00 to12h00 on Saturdays. Most shops in Victoria are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Tax and Tipping
Restaurant and hotel bills include a tax of 7%. Tipping is not expected but will be warmly accepted if you have received exceptional service.
Time difference
Seychelles is 4 hours ahead of GMT, 3 hours ahead of British summer time and 2 hours ahead of European summer time.
TV, radio and newspapers
Local TV is broadcast in Creole, French and English with the recent addition of “TV 5 Afrique” which is broadcast in French only on a 24 hr basis. The music radio station “Paradise FM” broadcasts primarily in English to Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette and the Inner Islands. The “Seychelles Nation” is a morning newspaper that appears Mon-Sat and is available in English, French and Creole. A new publication, “Isola Bella”, appears monthly. Political party publications – “Regar”, “The People” and “Seychelles New Weekly” – are published weekly
and are available in a selection of retail outlets.
|
