Seychelles Travel Guide

A beautiful group of over 100 tropical islands in the western Indian Ocean is Seychelles. It is an absolute tropical paradise with its coral-white beaches and crystal clear water, with its innumerable shades of blue and green. Being only 1000 miles from the African coast, the rhythms, colors and flavors of Africa make the islands an enticing tourist spot. Other characteristics of the islands are the steep green hills, the gigantic boulders and a startling array of birds and plants.

The largest island in Seychelles is Mahe, Victoria is capital of Mahe. Which is only five miles wide and 17 miles long. Most of the population is concentrated in Mahe, and the other islands are Praslin and La Digue, but they are thinly populated. Most of the inhabitants of Seychelles are a mix of various ethnic groups that settled in the country.

You must plan your trip to the Seychelles according to what you want to do. If you are interested in windsurfing and sailing, then May and October are the best months to choose. For divers the best time is March to May or September to November, as the weather is normally calm and windless. The peak seasons for tourists are generally December to January and July to August. There is heavy rainfall in January and during the months of December to March; there could be some cyclonic, windy and grey weather.

Air Seychelles is the national carrier and the international airport is based in Victoria on Mahe. From the American continent there are no direct flights, but from Europe, Africa and Mauritius you can fly directly to the islands. Once you are there, the best way to move around is by car. Several international rental-car companies have branches in Seychelles. It is also possible to move around by taxis, which can be hired for half or full-day tours. Most of the taxi-drivers are excellent guides. Traveling by bus is cheap and is convenient for getting to and from hotels and sometimes sightseeing. But they run only till 6 p.m. with limited services.

There are several official languages in Seychelles. They are English, French and Creole. The local currency is the rupee, and banks, hotels and exchange bureaus exchange currency. Major credit cards are widely accepted in tourist establishments, but may not be accepted in village stores.

You can book your hotel in Seychelles online to save yourself time and money. Several discounts are available and there is a full range of accommodation available. You can get self-catering apartments to 5-star hotels. There are strict regulations from the government that no new buildings can be higher than the surrounding palm trees, and hence you can enjoy all the big-city levels of comfort and convenience, but the setting is traditional and typical of the Seychelles.

So come to Seychelles, and make your holiday the most memorable one!