The Seychelles are a group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean that lie off the coast of East Africa, northeast of Madagascar.
The Outer Seychelles are corralline and mostly uninhabited. The vast majority of the Seychelles' population lives on the Inner Seychelles islands, home to the bulk of the country's resorts.
These are:
* Mah (Sainte Anne Island, Cerf Island, Marnelle Island)
* Praslin (Curieuse Island, Aride Island, Cousin Islands)
* La Digue (Flcite Island, The Sisters, Marie Anne Island)
* Silhouette Island (North Island)
* Inner Corallines (Denis Island, Bird Island)
Highlights
- Many of the beaches are untouched by man's influence and are refreshingly uncrowded.
- Vallee 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.
- Aldabra Atoll is the world's largest coral atoll that stretches about 22 miles east to west and encloses a huge tidal lagoon.
- The warm Indian Ocean waters make Seychelles the perfect place for the water enthusiasts. Explore on board a yacht, power boat, catamaran or sailboat. Windsurfing is also popular and the best time for this activity is usually around May then in October, at the start and end of the trade winds.
- Scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing are also extremely popular and can be done almost anywhere in Seychelles.
- Bike rentals and walking tours are great ways to sightsee and since distances are relatively short and the scenery is beautiful, walking is probably the best way to see the smaller islands
- Bird watching is also popular and the islands are home to many of the worlds most treasured and rare species of animals.
- Seychelles also has numerous markets, art galleries and shops, colonial Creole-style plantation houses, and the main island of Mah has six museums, a botanical garden, and several national monuments.
Accommodation
Find accommodation in the Seychelles by means of the interactive map.
Visa
No visa is required for all nationalities, though all foreigners must have a passport valid for at least 6 months, and must have proof of accommodation bookings before arrival. An initial entry permit is granted for 1 month but can be extended for a maximum of 3 months at a time up to a maximum of 1 year in total.
Getting there
The only international gateway to the Seychelles is Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) near Victoria. Air Seychelles flies to Johannesburg and Mauritius.
Climate
Seychelles is hot and humid, with an average yearly temperature of 29C, and average sea temperature rarely dropping below 27C. However, the heat is usually mitigated by refreshing sea breezes, especially by the beaches.
The cooler season in Seychelles is during the southeast monsoon season (May to September) and the warmer season is during the northwest monsoon (November to March). April and October are "changeover months" between the two monsoons, when the wind is variable.
The northwest monsoon season tends to be warmer with more rain, while the southeast monsoon season is usually drier and cooler.
Money
The islands' currency is the Seychelles rupee (SCR). ATMs usually have the best conversion rates, however, airports and banks also conveniently exchange money.
Tipping
Most service providers already include a service charge of 5% - 10%. Tipping is not obligatory in the Seychelles, however, any extra change is greatly appreciated.
