Seychelles

Understand

The Seychelles' tourism industry offers a wide range of activities for visitors, including snorkeling, diving, fishing, hiking, and island-hopping. The country is home to several stunning natural attractions, such as the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the iconic coco de mer palm tree. Seychelles also boasts several national parks and marine reserves, such as the Sainte Anne Marine National Park and the Curieuse Marine National Park, which offer opportunities to see a variety of marine life and unique bird species. In the 1970s, the Seychelles was the place to "see and be seen" among the world's elite, and many famous celebrities of the time holidayed there. While mention of the Seychelles may still evoke an image of a prohibitively expensive private island getaway (and that may be true depending on which islands you visit), the islands are becoming more and more affordable. Prices however remain high compared to similar beachy, tropical destinations like the Canary Islands, the Philippines, Sri Lanka or Zanzibar.

History

Maldivian and Arab traders were the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles. The first European to sight the islands was Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama who passed through the Amirantes in 1502 and named them after himself (Islands of the Admiral); later Portuguese expeditions mapped some of the islands. The first Europeans to land on the Seychelles were the crew of a British ship, the Ascension, but the islands were not claimed until French sailors on the Le Cerf visted the islands. Le Cerf's commander, Nicholas Morphey, laid a Stone of Possession on Mahé, officially claiming the islands for France. During the French Revolutionary Wars, minor sea skirmishes occurred around the Seychelles between Britain and France, but France retained possession. In 1770, the first enslaved Africans were brought to the islands on the French ship Thélémaque. In 1794, British forces landed on the Seychelles as

Getting there

Visas are not required, though all foreigners must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months, and must have proof of accommodation bookings before arrival (these may be checked). All foreign travelers must apply for an Electronic Border Travel permit to enter the Seychelles. An initial entry permit is granted for 1 month but can be extended for up to 12 months, 3 months at a time.

By plane

Seychelles International Airport (SEZ IATA). The only international gateway to the Seychelles near the national capital, Victoria. Air Seychelles is the country's flag carrier and flies from Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Paris, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Mauritius and Antananarivo. International service is also available from Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Nairobi (Kenya Airways), Dubai (Emirates), Abu Dhabi (Etihad), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Doha (Qatar Airways), and regular charter services from Frankfurt (Condor) and Zurich (Edelweiss)

By boat The strict controls imposed on cruising yachts in the early 1990s have been gradually lifted and rules and regulations are no longer so complicated. However, some restrictions remain in force, mostly for the sake of environmental protection as most of the islands are surrounded by coral reefs near the surface.

Getting around

By plane Air Seychelles operates multiple daily flights between Mahe and Praslin. Over two dozen flights vary in frequency from 15-minute to 2-hour intervals, depending on time of day. Air Seychelles also operates once daily or several times per week between Mahe and the islands of Bird, Denis, Fregate, Desroches and Alphonse. Assumption Island and Coetivy can be reached by air charter.

By helicopter Zil Air provides charter helicopter flights to/from most of the inner and outer Seychelles Islands. It is the only scenic flight operator in the Seychelles. Scenic flights can be booked to cover the main islands of Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and the surrounding smaller islands of (among others) Cousine, Félicité, Grande Seour, Curieuse and Bird Island.

By boat

Cat Cocos operates catamaran ferries that provide several daily crossings between Mahe and Praslin and a daily crossing extension to La Digue. The sailing normally takes one hour. Non-residents should budget between SCR1,300 and SCR1,820 per person (February 2021) for a one way ticket from Mahe to Praslin. Tickets can be purchased from the Cat Cocos office, opposite the pier, on the same day before travel subject to availability. Similarly, Inter Island Ferry operate a route between Praslin and La Digue with 8 daily departures taking 15 min to cross. Tickets cost around €15 for an adult single (July 2013). The schedule usually allows for onward connections to Mahe with Cat Cocos at Praslin harbour. It is also possible to take small boats from Mahe direct to La Digue, although departures can be unreliable, there is limited wet weather cover and the journey takes about 3 hours (but that's cheaper than an Indian Ocean Island cruise!) Online booking with live seat availability and e-ticketing are possible for Cat Cocos and Inter Island Ferry.

By car Driving in Seychelles is on the left side of the road. The roads on Mahé are low-traffic, mountainous, and narrow, so caution is advised. That said, renting a car

See

Visit the beaches. Many of the beaches are seemingly untouched by human influence and are refreshingly uncrowded. They offer clear blue skies and a tranquility you will rarely find. A hike along the coastline from Beau Vallon to Anse Major will take about 1.5-2 hours and your reward will be a small deserted beach that's fit for a king. The scenery along the hike is breath-taking. Not all beaches are suitable for swimming depending on the time of year, due to the seasonal winds. Do not ignore warning signs indicating that a beach is hazardous for swimming, no matter how appealing the waters may look. Vallée de Mai is a national park and World Heritage Site, home to amazing flora and fauna, including the world's largest seed: the coco de mer. Entrance fee: Free for residents, 315 rupees for foreigners (Sep 2010). Aldabra Atoll: The world's largest coral atoll that stretches about 22 mi (35 km) east to west and encloses a huge tidal lagoon. Aldabra is the original home of the giant land tortoise, and tiger sharks and manta rays can also often be seen here. Cousin Island is owned by BirdLife International. This non-profit purchased the whole island in 1968 to protect the endangered Seychelles warbler Victoria, the capital on Mahe Island, has several good museums including the Natural History Museum, where you can hold the famed coco-de-mer, and the National Museum of History with good photo displays and a video presentation.

Do

Water sports: The warm Indian Ocean waters make Seychelles the perfect place for water enthusiasts. Explore on the board of a yacht, power boat, catamaran or sailboat. Windsurfing is also popular and the best time for this activity is usually around May and Octo