The 155 tropical islands of the Seychelles are said to be closest to paradise we can get today. With its superb palm-fringed beaches and crystal-clear waters, lush tropical forests, coral reefs, atolls and ancient granitic rocks, Seychelles is an excellent destination for secluded beach holidays and honeymoons. The most popular activities in Seychelles include diving, surfing, trekking, birdwatching and sports fishing.
Tropical paradise islands located in Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa and northeast of Madagascar, Seychelles are an archipelago of 42 granitic islands and over 100 low coral islands. It is world famous for its unique lush nature that is well preserved on the islands. The local Seychellois people are a mix of many ethnicities, bound together with a colourful culture and relaxed island life. No wonder Seychelles has become a popular holiday destination especially for wealthier Europeans.
Diverse activities. There are numerous exceptional places for snorkeling and diving in Seychelles, and the islands are renowned as one of the top diving destinations in the world. The islands of Mahé and Praslin have golf courses, as well as tennis and squash courts and horseback riding opportunities. Bicycling and walking are great ways to see the islands, and trekking in Seychelles is highly rewarding, especially on the hilly granitic islands of Mahé, Praslin and Silhouette. Birdwatching in Seychelles is also excellent, with a large number of unique endemic species and large seabird colonies.
Mahé, the main island of Seychelles hosts the international airport, the capital city and 90% of the population. It also has great beaches, coral reefs and forested mountain areas, as well as colonial plantation houses, museums, art galleries and a botanical garden. The capital city Victoria is one of the smallest capitals in the world, containing a popular market, a clock tower, colonial buildings and a Natural History Museum. The outlying Sainte Anne Marine National Park is a popular place for snorkeling, and Beau Vallon in Mahé is the most popular beach in Seychelles. Morne Seychellois National Park in the inland mountains of Mahé is popular for trekking and birdwatching.
Praslin, the second largest island has beautiful beaches, stylish hotels and forest-clad hills in the interior. The magical World Heritage –listed reserve of Vallée de Mai in the heart of Praslin has a natural palm forest with famous coco de mer palms that have the largest seeds in the world, as well as rare bird species. Anse Lazio in the north of Praslin is voted among the best beaches in the world, with soft white sand, turquoise water, granite boulders and a reef around the beach that is great for snorkeling.
Smaller islands. Near Praslin, the smaller protected islands of Curieuse, Cousin and Cousine are good places for day trips. Cousin Island has a large seabird colony and Curieuse has giant turtles. The island of La Digue, accessible by ferry from Praslin, is a picturesque place with good tourist facilities as well as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, the iconic L'Anse Source D'Argent. The islands of Silhouette, Fregate and North are all homes to exclusive luxury resorts and outstanding natural beauty, and the coral island in the south of Seychelles are great places for diving and sport fishing. Aldabra, the world's largest raised coral atoll, is a protected World Heritage Site and home to a lagoon excellent for diving, as well as great numbers of birds and giant tortoises. You need to get a permit to visit in Aldabra from the Seychelles Island Foundation.
Tropical paradise islands located in Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa and northeast of Madagascar, Seychelles are an archipelago of 42 granitic islands and over 100 low coral islands. It is world famous for its unique lush nature that is well preserved on the islands. The local Seychellois people are a mix of many ethnicities, bound together with a colourful culture and relaxed island life. No wonder Seychelles has become a popular holiday destination especially for wealthier Europeans.
Sights and activities in Seychelles: beaches, diving, fishing, water sports and wildlife
Seychelles has a great deal of things to do from swimming and diving to trekking and fishing, but it is also a great place to just relax and enjoy the lovely tropical scenery and the warmth. Local beaches are no doubt among the best in the world – secluded, uncrowded and simply amazingly beautiful. Water sports are very popular in the Seychelles, including sailing, surfing, kayaking and windsurfing, that is at its best around May and October. Sport fishing in Seychelles is popular and charter boats are available on most islands.Diverse activities. There are numerous exceptional places for snorkeling and diving in Seychelles, and the islands are renowned as one of the top diving destinations in the world. The islands of Mahé and Praslin have golf courses, as well as tennis and squash courts and horseback riding opportunities. Bicycling and walking are great ways to see the islands, and trekking in Seychelles is highly rewarding, especially on the hilly granitic islands of Mahé, Praslin and Silhouette. Birdwatching in Seychelles is also excellent, with a large number of unique endemic species and large seabird colonies.
Mahé, the main island of Seychelles hosts the international airport, the capital city and 90% of the population. It also has great beaches, coral reefs and forested mountain areas, as well as colonial plantation houses, museums, art galleries and a botanical garden. The capital city Victoria is one of the smallest capitals in the world, containing a popular market, a clock tower, colonial buildings and a Natural History Museum. The outlying Sainte Anne Marine National Park is a popular place for snorkeling, and Beau Vallon in Mahé is the most popular beach in Seychelles. Morne Seychellois National Park in the inland mountains of Mahé is popular for trekking and birdwatching.
Praslin, the second largest island has beautiful beaches, stylish hotels and forest-clad hills in the interior. The magical World Heritage –listed reserve of Vallée de Mai in the heart of Praslin has a natural palm forest with famous coco de mer palms that have the largest seeds in the world, as well as rare bird species. Anse Lazio in the north of Praslin is voted among the best beaches in the world, with soft white sand, turquoise water, granite boulders and a reef around the beach that is great for snorkeling.
Smaller islands. Near Praslin, the smaller protected islands of Curieuse, Cousin and Cousine are good places for day trips. Cousin Island has a large seabird colony and Curieuse has giant turtles. The island of La Digue, accessible by ferry from Praslin, is a picturesque place with good tourist facilities as well as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, the iconic L'Anse Source D'Argent. The islands of Silhouette, Fregate and North are all homes to exclusive luxury resorts and outstanding natural beauty, and the coral island in the south of Seychelles are great places for diving and sport fishing. Aldabra, the world's largest raised coral atoll, is a protected World Heritage Site and home to a lagoon excellent for diving, as well as great numbers of birds and giant tortoises. You need to get a permit to visit in Aldabra from the Seychelles Island Foundation.
Seychelles travel information and practical tips
Seychelles has a warm and humid tropical climate with refreshing sea breezes. The seasons are defined by the trade winds.
Photo: Gabriele, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 3.0)
The southeast monsoon season from late May to September is generally a bit cooler and drier, whereas the northwest monsoon season from October to April is hotter and more rainy. There is some rain during both seasons, especially in higher altitudes, but it tends to come in short bursts. January is the rainiest month in Seychelles, whereas July and August are the driest. Seychelles is located outside the cyclone belt in Indian Ocean, so severe storms are rare.
Traveling to Seychelles is done predominantly by air. Seychelles has one international airport on Mahé island, receiving flights to Seychelles from some European, African and Asian cities. Cruise ships visit the harbor of the capital Victoria, and you can also sail to Seychelles by your own yacht. There are regular domestic flights between the main islands of the Seychelles, as well as helicopter services and charter flights to many other islands. There are also ferries between the three main islands. Boats can also be chartered.
Local transport by buses are available on the main islands of Mahé and Praslin, and car rental in Seychelles is also available on those islands. Taxis can be found on the main islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, and can also be hired for a day. On La Digue, there are also ox carts to transport people and their luggage. Bicycles can also be rented, mainly on Praslin and La Digue. Most of the smaller islands are small enough to walk around.
Luxury services. There is a nice variety of hotels in Seychelles, from small guesthouses to luxury resorts and intimate small island getaways and some larger hotels on the two main islands, Mahé and Praslin. However, do not expect to find hostels, campsites or other cheap accommodation in Seychelles. It is not a budget destination, and the local tourist board regulates the prices and monitors the standard of all local accommodations. You can find many restaurants in Seychelles from the main islands, and most of the local hotels have their own restaurants. Self-catering villas are also available. Seychelles offers also some nightlife, mostly located around the larger hotels. There are casinos, cinemas and discos on the two largest islands.
Safety. Seychelles is a safe country to travel with low crime rates. However, as it is still a relatively poor country, theft and hassling do occur sometimes. It is best to take precautions by avoiding walking around in backstreet areas and some beaches during the night, and not leaving your belongings unattended. Most Seychellois have good knowledge of both English and French languages.
Short history of Seychelles
Seychelles has been uninhabited until the 17th century. The French claimed the islands in the late 18th century and brought the first permanent settlers, as well as slaves to work in the plantations they started. Great Britain took Seychelles from the French in 1814 after the Napoleonic Wars, but French language and culture remained.Seychelles gained independence in 1976, after which tourism development started on the islands. A coup in 1977 brought a socialist rule in Seychelles, and was followed by decades of political turmoil and attempted coups. Free elections were restored in 1993. Today, Seychelles is the wealthiest country in Africa and a luxury tourism destination that has promoted ecotourism and tax haven policies. The Indian Ocean tsunami hit Seychelles in 2004, making a lot of damage, but fortunately, loss of lives was minimal.
