The Ultimate Travel Guide to the Seychelles Islands
I have travelled a lot in my life and visited many places but there is one that is in my heart ….. Seychelles Islands.
I went there for the first time in 2010 and I keep going there year after year, each year!!! There is something magical about these islands, they are the eppitomy of perfect beauty, the garden of Eden. It feels a bit like being in a Jurassic park world, where the reign of nature is absolute and incomparable.
General Knowledge & Tips
Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands whose capital, Victoria, lies 1,500 Km (932 miles) from the coast of mainland Africa. The majority of the islands are uninhabited and many of them are nature reserves. Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are the three biggest islands.
The climate is quite humid in Seychelles and classified as tropical rain forest. The temperature does not vary much through the year. The coolest months are July, August and September when southeast trade winds prevail. The hot months are from December to March, due to the northwest monsoon, and these months coincide with the rainy season. Rainy season does not mean that it rains all day; it is mainly a combination of rain and sun with high humidity and warm temperature. It is nice anyway especially if you spend some time relaxing on a terrace, having a drink and listening to the rain. April and October are two months of wind-free conditions perfect for swimming, snorkelling and diving as the visibility of the water is often 30 metres and more. Moreover, the islands lie outside the cyclone belt making Seychelles a perfect destination all year round.
The current population of Seychelles is 95,174, making these islands rank 201 in the list of countries by population. The largest ethnic groups were those of African, French, Indian and Chinese descent.
Seychelles creole, French and English are the official languages of the Seychelles. Creole is the widely spoken language in the Islands but English and French are commonly used in everyday life.
The main religion in the Seychelles is Roman Catholicism, with 82% of the population belonging to this religion. Other religions are Anglican Christian, Hinduism and Islam.
Air Seychelles is the islands airline company that connect Mahé to many destinations all around the world hhttps://www.airseychelles.com The International airport is in Mahé, only 8 Km far from the capital, Victoria. There are direct flights from the main capitals of Europe ( BA started a new direct route that connect London to Mahé) to Mahé International airport as well as many convenient connections with the Middle East.
The easiest way to travel around the islands is by boat. Cat Cocos, is the ferry operator that connect the three main islands (Mahé, Praslin and La Digue) with high speed catamarans. They cover the distance in 1 hour between Mahé and Praslin and a bit more between Mahé and La Digue. I suggest you to check the timetable if you are planning to go to La Digue from Mahé as, at specific times, you could find a direct catamaran between the two islands – the alternative is via Praslin.
However, if you land in Mahé and your destination is Praslin, it could be worth booking a flight. The domestic departure is literally at the side of the International airport so it takes 5 minutes to walk there. And, if you have a bit time before the flight, you could also stop at the cafe in front of the domestic flight entrance to get a coffee, a drink or a bite to eat. Air Seychelles provide the transfer between the two islands at a very reasonable price (especially if booked in advance). This is a convenient option because, doing so, you don’t need to take a bus or cab to go to the ferry boat departure. However, keep in mind that, if you don’t like flying, probably this is not the best option as they use very small turboprop airplanes (around 15 seats). The positive thing is that the flight is very short, around 15/20 minutes.
Bus is the cheapest way to travel around the island. If you don’t want to wait for the bus (there is no timetable and buses are not so frequent), I suggest to hire a car, especially in Mahé. The price for the car is pretty much the same whatever company you are using – 40 euro – and the car can be rented at the airport. Praslin is smaller and is easier to visit by bus. La Digue is car-free and the best way to go around the island is by bicycle (hired at La Passe harbour). Take care when driving, especially in Mahé. The main island is mountainous, the roads are very narrow winding and in some places there are no safety barriers. Taxies are of a good standard but fares are quite expensive. Most of the taxies have taxi meters but if you get one that hasn’t, try to agree a fare in advance.
In general, Seychelles are famous for being an exclusive luxury destination. From my personal experience, I can assure you that, if you plan your trip well in advance and follow some simple tips, you won’t have to break the bank. There are many super luxury 5 star hotels – and I will speak about them later – but the islands also have plenty of small bed & breakfast and self-catering villas. These provide travellers with good options at a fair price and give them the chance to live the real Seychellois life.
Coconut water
The Seychelles cuisine is quite unique and a fusion of African, French, Chinese and Indian flavours. The base is fish and rice. Being surrounded by the water, Seychelles has a wide variety of fish such as snapper, seabass, king mackerel, lobster and many more. Fish can be grilled, baked and often cooked in a curry or coconut milk curry. Also chicken and pork are used, again, for curry. They also have the sweetest small bananas I have ever tried (fried are delicious) coconut water and coconut fruit (they use it to bake some sort of coconut bread/cake) and a good variety of tropical fruits such as mangoes, papayas, avocados, apples, etc. You can buy fruit at the supermarket, market and in the little shacks near the beach where they also cut it for you as a salad or blend it as a fruit juice. I honestly suggest you to try the experience. The last thing to mention is the fruit bat curry, a typical local dish prepared with the meat of the fruit bats. These big bats are quite common in the Seychelles islands. It is very easy to see them flying from tree to tree during the day. It seems that it is not so easy to cook bats but their meat is very tasty even thought quite bony.
Coco de Mer
The Seychelles are a natural habitat for some of the rarest plants and animal species. These islands are the place where giant turtles live in captivity, grazing on fresh lettuce leaves and fruit and feel safe enough to lay their eggs during the day. Other species include the black parrot in Praslin, the giant palm spider and palm frog in Silhouette and the Seychelles paradise flightcatcher in La Digue. You will also find the most beautiful jungle at the Vallees de Mai Nature Reserve in Praslin home of the famous Coco de Mer, a rare species of palm tree native to the Seychelles with a quite bizarre and characteristic shape.
The Seychelles currency is the Rupees (SCR) and is most widely used in the island. Euros and Dollars are also accepted in all the shops but the exchange rate is not good so it is better to go to an ATM machine (there are quite a few on the main islands) to change money. The exchange rate offered from your bank is for sure better than the one they will offer you. Barclays, Bank of Seychelles and Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) are the major banks in Seychelles. Their offices are based in Victoria, Mahé with a couple of smaller branches in Praslin.
Seychelles Islands are described as a nature paradise detached from the real world but technology has touched the island 🙂 . All the biggest hotels and Air b&b have a wi-fi connection. Airtel and Cable Wireless are the main telephone provider, if you need to buy a Sim card. Electricity is like in UK, 200/240 volts British three-pin socket type so, if you are coming from another country, it is good to remember to bring an adaptor.
Seychelles are relatively safe islands. However, crime levels are risings and there has been an increase in robberies, burglaries and thefts against residents and tourists. Just be mindful and adopt the same measures and common sense you would use in whatever other part of the world.
And let’s the travel begins……….
