Sublime East African archipelago
The Seychelles takes you to a tropical paradise of pristine white sand beaches, turquoise waters, lush rainforest and colourful coral reefs. Enjoy picture postcard scenery perfect for families, couples and adventurers. Families will enjoy discovering the stunning wildlife in this exotic archipelago of islands, in particular the Aldabra giant tortoises, dolphins and sunbirds. For adventurers, escapades trekking through the verdant rainforest await, in addition to diving in an impressive underwater world adorned with rainbow reefs. Choose from soaking up the sunshine or visiting some of the 115 islands showcasing a stunning array of flora and fauna.
Mahe is the largest island, home to the capital Victoria, which effortlessly captures the history and culture of the Seychelles. Visit the 18th Century Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market featuring fresh coconut and pineapple, and be sure not to miss the tropical greenhouses of the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens. Mahe is also a superb base for exploring the rest of the beautiful and unique islands.
Luxury holidays in the Seychelles offer a wealth of upmarket amenities within the authentic and protected national parks of these beautiful islands. Neighbouring Praslin is home to a jungle national park surrounded by ribbons of golden beaches and rustic villages, while Silhouette Island is a must see for headland viewpoints, wildlife friendly rainforests and designer hotels.
Mahé might be tucked away from the world geographically – it’s over 1,500 kilometres from the east coast of Africa – but this little island’s arts, culture and activities scene is alive and well.
Most holidaymakers bound for the Seychelles head straight to Praslin – a north-easterly island with a dot-and-dash coastline of sandy beaches and first-growth rainforest.
Silhouette Island is one of the closest islands to Mahé. It lives up to its name, ducking off the radar with just one hotel, a mountain and a halo of bright white beaches.
Direct flights from the UK to the Seychelles take approximately 10 hours. You can also choose to fly via the Middle East.
The Seychelles keeps a steady temperature all year round, with the mercury usually hovering between 24°C and 32°C. April marks the end of the rainy season, warming up in time for May – the sunniest month of the year. July is the coolest month, with temperatures dropping down to a comfortable 24°C. November is the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so the temperatures rise and the number of rainy days slowly start to increase.
The Seychelles is completely visa-free. Officials will just hand you a visitor’s permit when you go through customs. Just make sure you have your passport, details of where you’re staying and proof of onward travel (i.e. details of your flights back home).
A 5-10% service tax is added to bills in most hotels, restaurants and bars. Feel free to increase this if the service exceeds your expectations.
English and French are the two most commonly spoken tongues, but Seychelles Creole is the official language.
Make sure your childhood vaccines are up to date. The NHS also recommends getting immunisations for hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid. You could also consider hepatitis B. Speak to your GP for more information.
The official currency of the Seychelles is the Seychelles rupee (SCR). Occasionally, hotels might accept US dollars.
