Plan a trip to the Seychelles – Adventure Travel Guide
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The Seychelles Islands are a tropical paradise, with white sand meeting turquoise waters and granite boulders. Get off the beaten path and adventure into the lush jungle and explore untouched beaches, or relax under the sun while sipping a cocktail, it’s up to you. In this travel guide I’ll be giving you all the information you need to know for an incredible trip to the Seychelles. This includes the best time to visit, the best activities and places to stay, how to get around and other general information you need to know.
Good to know
Currency
Seychellois rupee (SCR)
Language
Creole, French and English
Plug Type
Type G
Time Zone
GMT+4
What to see and do in the Seychelles
Located off the east coast of Africa, the Seychelles is made up of 115 islands that is home to UNESCO nature reserves, countless beaches and diverse wildlife. Mahe is the main and largest island in the archipelago, followed by Praslin and La Digue. Mahe is the only island with an international airport, and will be the one you fly into. You can then catch a domestic flight to Praslin or take the ferry which stops at Praslin and La Digue. La Digue is much smaller and only takes a few hours to cycle around!
Anse Source d'Argent
Mahe is the capital and the largest island in the archipelago, followed by Praslin and La Digue. Mahe is the only island with an international airport, and will be the one you fly into. You can then catch a domestic flight to Praslin or take the ferry which goes to Praslin and La Digue. La Digue is much smaller than Mahe and Praslin and only takes a few hours to cycle around! La Digue is officially the 4th biggest island, but the 3rd most populated, and visited.
The best way to see the Seychelles is to go island hopping between the three main islands, and spend a couple nights on each. Each island is known for different activities and they all have a different vibe, so to get a good experience of the Seychelles I’d recommend visiting all three.
``Paddling through Paradise``
The Seychelles has a diverse landscape, from lush green mountains to crystal clear water, making it the perfect destination for outdoor activities, such as Scuba diving, snorkeling, boat trips, helicopter rides, hiking, kayaking and other water-sports.
Starting on Mahe Island, you should spend a couple of nights here in order to fully explore what the island has to offer, and take part in some activities like hiking, Zip Lining and exploring the town and markets. As Mahe is the biggest, it does have the most options for activities and things to see. You can get boat tours to neighboring Islands, such as Moyenne Island, where you can see the Giant Land Tortoise, and swim in crystal clear water. We took a boat tour which included snorkeling and a BBQ on Moyenne Island with live entertainment! It was a great way to see some local music and learn about the history of the islands.
Then I’d recommend getting the ferry or flying to Praslin Island. We flew on the way there, and the turquoise water and pristine beaches looked incredible from the window. Praslin is known for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. If you’re after a quiet and relaxing holiday, Praslin might be the best island for you.
After spending a few days relaxing on Praslin Island, take the 15 minute ferry to La Digue. La Digue feels very different to the other islands, as it’s much smaller and more relaxed. In fact, nearly everyone rides bicycles around the island as only commercial vehicles are allowed. Most resorts and guest houses have bikes that you can take out free of charge. La Digue is where the famous Anse Source d’Argent beach is, otherwise known as the most photographed beach in the world, and it’s easy to see why! We spent our time cycling around the island and exploring the pristine beaches.
Mahé in the Mountains
At the end of your trip, you will have to fly or get the ferry back to Mahe, so you can catch your international flight. This is a great chance to spend another day or two on Mahe and explore some more of the Seychelles.
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When is the best time of year to visit the seychelles
The Seychelles has a tropical climate and is consistently between 24-32°C all year round. The hottest months are from November to April, with April being the warmest. This is also the rainy season, with November to January bringing more rain than other months.
The ‘coldest’ months are from May to October, where the weather is relatively dry and not too humid, reaching the peak in July / August with temperatures averaging 27°C. These are the best months for outdoor activities like hiking and water sports.
Low tourism season is from November to January, so this is the best time to get cheaper accommodation, flights and activities. We visited in July, and found the weather perfect as it wasn’t too humid for doing outdoor activities but it was still warm and sunny, with a few tropical downpours.
how expensive is the seychelles?
As the Seychelles is a popular luxury holiday destination it means there are a lot of expensive hotels and restaurants. However, it’s still very possible to visit the Seychelles on a budget, it just comes with a bit more planning and depends on the season. If you’re looking for the best deals to get cheaper flights and accommodation, always book in the low season.
When finding restaurants and cafes, I’d recommend looking on websites such as tripadvisor.com, as you can find a list of the cheapest restaurants in the area. The Seychelles also has a lot of street food vendors, which are much cheaper than restaurants and are a great way to try some amazing local food.
We used our Wise international bank account and debit card to spend and withdraw cash at the true exchange rate, it’s such an easy way to save time and money when you travel and you can sign up for free here.
is the seychelles safe to visit
Yes, the Seychelles is a very safe destination for tourists. There are small amounts of non-violent crimes such as break ins and robberies, but generally these can be avoided with standard safety precautions such as locking doors and windows.
Make sure you’re covered with travel insurance – it’s a small investment that could make a big difference if something goes wrong!
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where to stay in the seychelles
resorts
Resorts are the most common option for international travelers, mostly because resorts have everything tourists need ranging from restaurants and tour options to airport transfers and beach access. This is the easy option for traveling to the Seychelles, as you can choose to be full board so you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the resort.
Paradise Sun Hotel
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Paradise Sun Hotel
We stayed at the Paradise Sun Hotel in Praslin, in a beach bungalow that was a few steps away from the beach. This resort also had a restaurant on the beach front, which was so relaxing! The food options also change every night with a different theme, such as Creole, or roast night. This is very common in all of the resorts and hotels.
guest houses
Guest Houses often give you a more unique and personal way to experience the Seychelles, as you’ll be staying in a locals home or guest house, and often having meals there. The locals will be there to ensure you enjoy your stay and help you decide what to do on the island.
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CocoLux Luxury Apartments
We stayed in the Cocolux Luxury Apartments on La Digue Island, which was a fully equipped apartment, with a pool right outside. We even had free access to bikes which we rode around the island.
apartment style
Sables d'Or Luxury Apartments
Staying in holiday rentals / airbnb’s is a great option if you like going out for meals, cooking at home and planning your own activities and tours. This way you get a more homestyle stay, and can reduce the money you spend by shopping for food and cooking for yourself. We stayed in two of these style apartments, and they had everything you could need!
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Eden Island Luxury Apartments
Eden Island Luxury Apartments are one of the most luxurious and unique places to stay. Situated on the Man-Made Eden Island, you get access to a private beach, only accessible to the people who live on Eden Island. We had our own private buggy to drive around the island, and beautiful views of the harbor from our balcony. There’s also the Eden Plaza, which has a mix of restaurants, shops, spas and a gym.
Sables d’Or Luxury Apartments
Sables D’or Luxury Apartments are beautifully designed and a couple steps away from Beau Vallon Beach. We loved staying here as we had everything we could need, and the space was great for relaxing. It was close to cafes and restaurants, and most importantly, the beach.
how to get to and around the Seychelles
Praslin Airport
Plane
As I mentioned earlier, Mahe is the only island with an international airport, so this will be the airport you fly into. Once you’ve landed in Mahe, you can either fly or get the ferry to Praslin, which is the only other island with an airport. Air Seychelles is the airline that runs between the islands, with flights leaving nearly every hour and a journey time of 20 minutes. Taking the plane is an experience in itself, and you’ll get incredible views of both islands and the turquoise waters.
Find the cheapest flights
Ferry
The most popular way to travel to Praslin and La Digue is to get the Cat Cocos fast ferry. The ferry departs three times a day and takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Praslin and 1 hour 45 to reach La Digue. The ferry’s do get booked up so it’s best to book in advance.
Rentals
The best way to get around Mahe and Praslin is with a rental car, and the best way to get around La Digue is by bicycle or walking. The best way to get around La Digue is by bicycle or walking, as the island is much smaller and has a lack of vehicles. You can rent bikes for €5 – €10 per day, and some offer deals when you book for 4 days or more.
Public Transport
The cheapest option to get around is to use public transport. Mahe and Praslin have a public bus that runs from early morning to the evening, and costs 7 SCR (Roughly £0.46 / $0.53). Although, be aware that you’re not allowed luggage on the bus, and you’ll need 25 SCR or less, as bigger notes are not accepted. You can also get taxis on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue (although limited on La Digue).
