The 155 tropical islands belonging to the Seychelles are said to be closest to paradise we can get today. With their superb palm-fringed beaches and crystal-clear waters, lush tropical forests, coral reefs, remote atolls, and ancient granitic rocks, Seychelles are an excellent destination for secluded beach holidays and honeymoons. The most popular holiday activities in Seychelles include diving, surfing, trekking, birdwatching and sports fishing.
Tropical paradise islands located in Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa northeast of Madagascar, Seychelles are an archipelago of 42 granitic islands and over 100 low coral islands. They are world famous for their unique lush nature that is well preserved on the islands. The local Seychellois people are a mix of many ethnicities bound together with a colorful culture and relaxed island life. No wonder the Seychelles have 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 their international airport, capital city and 90% of their 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 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 is the most popular beach in Seychelles. Morne Seychellois National Park in the mountains of Mahé is popular for trekking and birding.
Praslin island is home to beautiful beaches, stylish hotels, and forest-clad hills in its 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 small protected islands of Curieuse, Cousin, and Cousine are good places for day trips. Cousin Island hosts 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 all offer exclusive luxury resorts and outstanding natural beauty, and the coral islands 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 northeast of Madagascar, Seychelles are an archipelago of 42 granitic islands and over 100 low coral islands. They are world famous for their unique lush nature that is well preserved on the islands. The local Seychellois people are a mix of many ethnicities bound together with a colorful culture and relaxed island life. No wonder the Seychelles have become a popular holiday destination especially for wealthier Europeans.
Sights and activities in Seychelles: beaches, diving, fishing, water sports & wildlife
Seychelles have a great deal of things to do from swimming and diving to trekking and fishing, but they are also a great place to just relax and enjoy the lovely tropical scenery and warmth. Local beaches are no doubt among the best in the world – secluded, quiet, 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 their international airport, capital city and 90% of their 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 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 is the most popular beach in Seychelles. Morne Seychellois National Park in the mountains of Mahé is popular for trekking and birding.
Praslin island is home to beautiful beaches, stylish hotels, and forest-clad hills in its 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 small protected islands of Curieuse, Cousin, and Cousine are good places for day trips. Cousin Island hosts 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 all offer exclusive luxury resorts and outstanding natural beauty, and the coral islands 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 enjoy 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 has a bit cooler and drier weather, whereas the northwest monsoon season from October to April is hotter and more rainy. The islands receive 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 best done by air. The international airport of Seychelles is on Mahé, receiving flights to Seychelles from 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.
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 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 and boats can also be rented. Most of the smaller islands are small enough to walk around.
Luxury services. There is a nice variety of hotels in Seychelles ranging from small guesthouses to luxury resorts and intimate small island getaways, plus some larger hotels on the two main islands, Mahé and Praslin. However, do not expect to find hostels, campsites or other cheap accommodation on Seychelles. The islands are not a budget destination. The local tourist board regulates the prices and monitors the standard of all local accommodations. You can find many restaurants on Seychelles from the main islands, and most of the local hotels have their own restaurants. Self-catering villas are also available. Seychelles offers some nightlife, mostly located around the larger hotels. There are small casinos, cinemas, and discos on Mahé and Praslin.
Safety. The Seychelles are a safe country to travel to with low crime rates. However, as the islands are still relatively poor, 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
The Seychelles were 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 their plantations. 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, the Seychelles are 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, but fortunately, loss of lives was minimal.
