With stunning flora, impressive peaks and crystal clear waters, take a trip to the Seychelles, an archipelago with over 100 islands to explore. Snorkeling, kayaking, and tours appeal to the more adventurous, while Creole food and gorgeous beaches provide just the right amount of rest and relaxation. So escape the stressful everyday life with a perfect Seychelles holiday to relax and experience unforgettable moments. For this reason, in this article we have put together useful information about the popular holiday destination for you.
Highlights of your Seychelles vacation
So when you book a holiday to Seychelles, you will visit a very diverse place. It is an oasis with rare flora and fauna as wellfantastic natural areawith beaches and colorful Creole cuisine. The idyllic surroundings of this island state in the Indian Ocean can be described as a world away from everyday life. To help you choose the best time and get the most out of your trip, here are some tips on Seychelles holiday activities, attractions and much more. The pirates who once made the islands their hideout have long since left. However, they have left behind legends of buried treasure waiting to be discovered by diligent explorers. However, most visitors realize shortly after arriving that they don't have to do much digging - the treasures are all around them.
With aconstant climate, which rarely falls outside the 24 to 34 degree range, Seychelles holiday weather promises glorious sunshine all year round. Of course, as in any tropical paradise, there can be rainy seasons during a Seychelles vacation. For this reason, if you want to leave your umbrella at home, you should avoid the months of January and February. So you can consider a Seychelles vacation in November to have a good vacation time. While there is no bad time to visit the islands, you need to plan your trip around what you want to see and experience.
Tips for your exotic trip
The Seychelles are particularly fond of traveling and have a highly developed infrastructure that...natural attractions of the islandssupplemented. This destination may be expensive, but the quality is exceptionally high. Crime rates are low and visitors who make a significant contribution to the economy are welcome everywhere. Divers and honeymooners, nature lovers and hedonists, foodies and sports enthusiasts, gamblers and sailors - everyone comes here and finds it almost perfect. The islands lie four degrees south of the equator and cover around 400,000 square kilometers of the Indian Ocean. They are endowed with natural beauty, ancient wonders and magnificent man-made attractions.
Much of the archipelago's charm lies in its eventful history. Both French and British colonialists have prevailed here over the centuries. Immigration from both sides of the Indian Ocean has thus contributed to the eclectic mix of the population. The commonly used word “paradise” crops up in descriptions, and for good reason. There are no serious natural hazards, no malaria or disease and the islands are outside the cyclone and hurricane zone. A good standard of living means there is little crime, and careful control of tourist development has kept accommodation at a reasonable level and banned unsightly high-rise buildings.
Sights on the islands
So you can go on your Seychelles vacation whenever you want. The beaches compare with the best in the world. Of all the beaches, Anse Lazio on the island of Praslin deserves special mention. But the Anse Source D'Argent on La Digue Island is also worth exploring. A trip is also not complete without a visit to the Vallée de Mai nature reserve on the island of Praslin. This park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The exceptionally beautiful flora and fauna of this nature reserve attracts thousands of visitors to this place, as Vallée de Mai is the only place in the world where you can find the rare Coco de Mer palm. This produces the largest coconut in the world. The place is also home to some rare birds like the bulbul bird, fruit pigeon and black parrot.
The island of Aldabra, in the outer part of the archipelago, has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a large population of giant tortoises has made the area a major tourist attraction. However, travelers interested in indoor attractions should visit the Natural History Museum and the National History Museum.
Seychelles holiday Mahe island
The island country gained its independence in 1976. With its 115 islands, Mahé is probably the most famous of them. The capital of Seychelles, Victoria, is also located there, as is a third of the country's total population. Mahé is also an economic center and is located in the Indian Ocean, 1000 miles from the east coast of Africa. The island of Mahé has a lot to offer when it comes to good food and drink. Tourists love to relax on the white sandy beaches or look down on the dense rainforests of some hilly areas. The highest point in the country is the Morne Seychellois.
Ideas for activities
Although it may be tempting to just do a shuttle between hotel bed, brunch, beach and bar, nowhere is nature as magnificent as in the Seychelles. There are a wealth of activities that you can enjoy on your Seychelles holiday with children or as a couple. If you want to dive on your Seychelles vacation, it can be a truly amazing experience. The reefs surrounding many of the islands are home to more than 300 species of fish and more than 100 types of coral. This is a diving Valhalla with visibility of more than 30 meters and water temperatures of up to 28°C.
The diving schools on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Desroches are aimed at both beginners and advanced divers. You can also sail to the best diving spots from the coast. Experienced divers must definitely visit the corals in the limestone plateau, which is decorated with mysterious caves and canyons. The underwater landscape in front of Alphonse is similarly magnificent. The El Nino effect is being felt in the Seychelles as some hard corals are bleached. However, the soft corals are already growing back, especially around the reefs of the Inner Islands.
Mountains and sea – hiking or snorkeling
Hikers get their money's worth on Mahé, La Digue and Praslin. Numerous well-marked hiking trails lead inland. The three-hour hike between Anse Royale and Anse à la Mouche, which takes in Mahé's southern hills and includes an optional detour into a small, palm-fringed valley, is one of the most popular. A range of guided walks are also available, where locals delve into the islands' flora, fauna and local lore, providing a wonderful insight into the archipelago's hidden delights.
The topography of the islands is suitable for climbing, although the sport is not yet very advanced, so climbers must bring their own equipment. On Praslin the most interesting climbs are behind Anse Lanzio and at Pointe Ste Marie. On La Digue there are some challenging rocks at Anse Source d'Argent and the cliffs at Pointe Jacques are fantastic. For those who are annoyed by the strenuous activities, many hotels in the Seychelles offer wellness programs with extensive offerings. These offer a variety of massages, peelings and similar treatments that are said to be good for the mind and soul, as well as your body.
Snorkeling
For those not yet ready to put on air tanks and weight belts, snorkeling offers a very acceptable alternative, even for children. A mask, fins and a T-shirt to protect against sunburn make up the necessary equipment. There is a lot of underwater entertainment almost everywhere in the Seychelles, but some attractions are particularly recommended. Anse Royale on Mahé is enclosed behind a reef that keeps out the larger fish, but there are plenty of smaller ones in the shallows. The corals in Sainte Anne National Marine Park are truly amazing, ranging from white to purple and in a variety of sizes.
Manta rays and hammerhead sharks have been spotted on Sunset Beach on Mahé. Strong currents flow from Anse Kerlan to Praslin, perhaps attracting the true academies of fish. The lone loggerhead sea turtle, found on St. Pierre Island in the Curieuse National Marine Park, has also become a tourist attraction. Other water sports such as windsurfing, dinghy sailing, water skiing and paragliding are popular in the major resorts and beaches, where equipment can be rented by the hour. Some hotels do not charge additional fees for use. The combination of calm water and steady wind makes for an idyllic break on or above the ocean waves.
Plan your Seychelles vacation individually
Below you will find some general information about traveling to the Seychelles, as well as some frequently asked questions about the region. You can find information about special travel guides for the individual main islands in our individual travel tips. In fact, three official languages are spoken in Seychelles: Creole, English and French. Depending on the time of year and the corresponding wind direction, the beaches on Mahe and Praslin can often be covered in seaweed, sometimes making swimming almost impossible. However, a beach free of algae is never far away, and many hotels offer a free shuttle service to beaches that are not affected by this natural phenomenon.
Other useful information
Topless sunbathing is tolerated on many, but not all, beaches, and nudism is generally not acceptable. There is low crime on the islands. However, when it comes to your personal Seychelles vacation safety and that of your belongings, it is still advisable to take some routine precautions. Therefore, always lock the door to your hotel room or your Seychelles holiday guesthouse, even when you are there. Do not leave any bags orValuables left unattended on the beachlie down and only take what you really need for the day. It is also not advisable to hike alone on deserted beaches or swim in the water alone.
You should avoid exchanging foreign currency with anyone approaching you in a public place. These are likely to be involved in illicit transactions, possibly involving counterfeit currency. Also, don’t be afraid to go on your Seychelles vacation5 star hotel with wellnessto visit if you haven't booked there. Most are happy to offer their services to non-guests. Although it is often referred to as a honeymoon destination, there is no reason not to opt for a family vacation with young children. Many of the larger hotels and resorts offer children's programs, giving parents the opportunity to relax while their little ones are entertained with lots of games and activities.
Health precautions
It is currently not necessary to have any vaccinations before a holiday in Seychelles. Unless you come from a yellow fever area within 6 days of your arrival or have already experienced this disease. However, typhoid, tetanus, polio and hepatitis A are recommended by several health authorities.Sun creams with a high sun protection factorare also recommended.
Although there is currently no malaria, mosquitoes are common. For this reason, it is also strongly recommended to use repellents and dress appropriately at sunrise or sunset. For non-air-conditioned rooms, it is also a good idea to sleep under a mosquito net. Always check with your doctor for the latest recommendations before you travel, otherwise your Seychelles vacation could become dangerous.
Pack your suitcase
If you need to make a packing list, we can recommend some equally important things. Since Seychelles is always warm and often quite humid, “less is more” is probably the best answer. Light cotton clothing, as well as T-shirts, shorts and light dresses, are best suited for this. Don't forget your swimsuit either. For example, when you step out of your Seychelles vacation bungalow, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, as well as plenty of sun protection, can be very important. An insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes and sand flies is also highly recommended. However, sandals and open-toed shoes are fine. If you plan to hike in the mountains, you should bring a light pair of hiking boots. Water shoes or another type of waterproof sandal are ideal for exploring the coast.
Don't forget to bring a good camera and extra memory cards as this is one of the most photogenic landscapes in the world. Photography equipment is also available on the islands, but it's best to bring your own. A flashlight can be useful, especially if your accommodation is outside the main holiday resorts. Even if you're not an avid bird watcher, a pair of small binoculars may give you a better look at the exotic and rare birdlife. You're probably also wondering whether the flight time might be too long. This takes approximately 9 hours from Frankfurt. For this reason, you should plan the best time to travel to Seychelles well in advance. All departure taxes should already be included in your airline ticket. If in doubt, simply contact your travel agent or airline.
