Overview
When it comes to vacation and leisure locations, Seychelles is right there at the top of the list. Stunningly beautiful and majestic beyond words, Seychelles is an archipelago (island group) nation perched right in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Made up of 115 islands, you have enough spots to choose from for your next vacation.
Not far from Seychelles are other beautiful destinations like Mauritius, Comoros, Reunion, Mayotte, and Madagascar. Tourists are always fascinated to know that Seychelles has the lowest population of all countries in Africa.
Mother Nature was strangely generous with Seychelles, a mythical utopia whose islands lie dispersed across the Indian Ocean.
Heartstopping beaches are the central attraction, and what beaches. Beautiful strips of sand lapped by waters and lined by lush hills, palm trees, and Dali-esque stones. Let’s explore Seychelles today in our travel guide.
How to Reach Seychelles
Even though it is located in the middle of the ocean, reaching Seychelles is as easy as it can be. Visitors have the option of going by air, road, or by sea.
Reaching Seychelles by Air
There are two main airports in Seychelles, and these are the Seychelles International Airport and the Praslin Island Airport. The former is the number one airport for tourists and international travelers. It is situated in Victoria’s capital city, where it also doubles as the hub for the country’s official flag carrier, Air Seychelles. This airport is popular and is patronized by major airlines like Emirates, British Airways, Turkish Airways, Kenya Airways, etc. You can reach Seychelles by air from practically anywhere on the planet.
Getting Around Seychelles by Road
Seychelles is an archipelago, but there is a road network of about 400 km that connects the various islands. So if you arrive on one island, you can hire a car and go sightseeing by road on multiple islands. In the capital, there are also several places where you can rent bicycles.
Exploring Seychelles by Sea
In the capital city of Victoria is a principal seaport. Ferry brands like Inter-Island and Cat Cocos operate frequent ferries between Praslin Island and Mahe, the largest island in the group. There are also ferries going to tiny islands, but you should arrange all these ahead of time not to get disappointed.
Top Attractions in Seychelles
Whenever you are in Seychelles, there is never a shortage of where to visit. The following are places you must visit when you are in this archipelago nation:
Anse Intendance, Mahe
This is one of the most gorgeous beaches, and it is compact and isolated, so it is a secret spot for surfers. Even though swimming there is not always comfortable, it is perfect for beach combing, sunbathing, and photography. With palms and turtle nests lining the fine shores, you will have a fantastic day every time you visit Anse Intendance.
How To reach: from the police station at Quatre Bornes, take the around 2 km road that leads down to Anse Intendance.
Baie Lazare
This pristine beach is named in the honour of Lazare Picault, an 18th-century explorer from France who was sent by the government to explore the islands. In this village, you can check out the historic Baie Lazare Church. While in this church, you can gaze all over the beaches and beyond the tranquil oceans; the view is mesmerising. There are also other beaches like Petite Anse and Anse Soleil.
La Digue Island
The beaches in La Digue are a marvel. The coastline, one covering the bay after another, is filled with marvellous beaches. The hilly interior is cloaked with tall trees, tangled jungle, and wild hiking trails. Yet, despite being just a 20-minute ferry journey from Praslin, the vast bulk of it is untouched by development. You don’t have to look beyond Anse Marron – it’s one of the most stunning beaches on the planet and is accessible only by foot. Even where infrastructure exists – around the sluggish tropical port in La Réunion and La Passe – everything is so laid-back that traveling feels like a step back in time.
La Digue is a major spot for those who love nature and see how traditional life is in Seychelles. Here, oxcarts and bicycles are what you will use to move around with incredible white-sand beaches and timeless rock outcrops made from granite on your sides. The beaches here have been ranked as some of the most attractive in the world.
Vallée de Mai
Beautiful World Heritage-listed Vallée de Mai is one of only two sites globally where the precious Coco de Mer palm grows (the other being nearby Curieuse Island). It’s also a birding paradise: watch for the endemic Seychelles bulbul, the charming blue pigeon, the Seychelles warbler, and the black parrot, of which there are between 520 and 900 left in the wild. It’s a real part of Eden.
Three hiking trails (plus several connecting minor sub trails) lead through this ancient, emerald-tinged woods, which remained untouched until the mid-1900s. The shortest is about 900 meters, and the longest is 2200 meters, and all of them are marked and easy-going which is the best option for families. As you stroll amid the wild, the atmosphere is eerie, with the stupendous leaves of the coco de mer soaring 30m to a blue canopy of huge fronds. Signs indicate some of the other trees to look out for (more than 50 different indigenous trees and plants), including several screw pines and latanier palms. This is also home to the giant bronze gecko and 14 endemic reptile and amphibian species.
What to Eat in Seychelles
Now let us talk about what you need to fill your belly with. Like other island nations, many of the dishes in Seychelles are based on seafood. So, get ready to sample many delicacies made in a wide range of seafood including fish and shellfish – usually followed with rice with lots of curries.
Fish meals in Seychelles are made in different ways. They can be salted, grilled, covered in banana leaves, smoked, steamed, and baked, and you will be spoilt for choices. Other delicacies include breadfruit, kordonnyen fish, and mangoes. Many tourists try out the saffron rice, chicken curry with coconut milk, fish curry, shark chutney (it is made from shark then cooked using juice and lots of spices), and plenty of vegetables. Seychelles is paradise if you are a lover of good and exotic food.
Things to do in Seychelles
- Sing and dance with the local Seychellois people: (They are some of the most friendly and hospitable people.)
- Visit the Morne Seychellois National Park: (Avoid snake bites by wearing long boots if you are visiting by foot.)
- Try out local drinks at the Beau Vallon Beach.
- Cruise around the Aldabra Atoll.
- Relax all day on the coral beaches.
- Sample the herbal essences of this island nation.
- Experience the spas and pamper yourself all the way. (Book well in advance. The Spas are one of the best in the world)
- Trek around one of the smaller islands. (Easy Treks, really good for a nice family time).
