Travel Guides: All Countries / Africa / Seychelles
 |  | Destination Guide : Seychelles |
|
| | | Sapphire seas |  | Why go on holiday to the Seychelles?
The Seychelles are the embodiment of that idyll you see in your mind on dreary days, sitting at work and dreaming of a tropical island getaway.
The only surprise is that the real thing is more even more stunning than you'd imagined. Dazzling beaches, exotic birds, flowers and marine life, giant turtles, spectacular sunsets.
The pace of life is slow; it's no nightlife hotspot, but the Seychelles make a perfect place to relax.
How much does it cost?
Paradise doesn't come cheap. Flights are most likely to start in the £400-£500 range.
Hotels are regulated by the Ministry of Tourism and are of a consistently high standard, but also charge consistently high prices. Don't expect to find a mid-range room for less than £70-£100 a night.
A better deal is to take an all-inclusive package trip from the UK. Seven nights in a three-star resort hotel costs £1,100-£1,500.
When should I go?
With temperatures a constant 75-88F (24-32C), the Seychelles are a year-round destination. Plan your trip around what you plan to do.
Windsurfing and sailing are best around May and October, while the waters are good for diving from March-May and September-November. It's busiest during the Christmas and summer holidays, and hotels hike up their prices.
The Festival Kreol is held every year at the end of October, a week-long explosion of Creole cuisine, fashion, art, music and dance. Artists from around the world descend on the island. It's a good time to party and pick up Creole handicrafts.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Head to the beach |  | What should I do when I'm there?
Most visitors head straight to the beach, and there are certainly lots to choose from.
The Beau Vallon on Mahe is perhaps the most popular - the sand is good, clean and relatively free of rocks, there are swimming platforms, watersports facilities and snack bars.
The best beach on Praslin is Anse Lazio in the far north, with its glorious white, soft sand and lively waves. La Digue's beaches remain largely unspoilt, with magical deserted stretches at Anse Source d'Argent, Anse Gaulettes and Grand Anse.
The most popular attractions?
Victoria, on the island of Mahe, is one of the smallest cities in the world. Visit the giant tortoises in the lush Botanical Gardens and get a glimpse of island history at the Natural History Museum.
Round Island was once a leper colony; the chapel is now an excellent restaurant and is one of the best places to order Creole food.
Lovingly preserved with native plants and animals, complete with stories of ghosts and buried treasure, the island of Moyenne is the most popular for day trips.
Where can I do a jungle walk?
Cousin Island has been a nature reserve since 1968 and is home to several endangered species. It's an amazing experience to walk through thick forest with exotic birds flittering and twittering all around.
You can only visit the island on a tour. Vallee de Mai, the prehistoric forest on Praslin, has a huge concentration of Coco de Mer palms and is listed as a world heritage site.
What about the remoter islands?
Visitors to Silhouette Island describe it as mystical and eerie, though that shouldn't prevent you from enjoying the great snorkelling. Anse Victoria on Fregate Island is considered one of the best beaches in the Seychelles.
Bird Island is a true coral island: flat, covered in palms and ringed by a white coral beach. Turtles breed here and it's heaven for birdwatchers.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Fruit bat, anyone? | | Where's good for nightlife?
Most evening entertainment is found in the resort hotels, though the locals hang out in a few bar-discos on Mahe and Praslin. These islands also have a couple of casinos, and there's one cinema in Victoria, on Mahe.
Traditional sega dance displays are held at most of the large hotels at least once a week.
There are roving camtole bands who play the local music - a blend of the Indian, European, Chinese, African and Arabic cultures that have influenced the Seychellois.
What's the food like?
The Seychelles are the best of all the Indian Ocean islands for Creole cuisine. Fish and rice are staples and the variety of seafood is huge. Shark, squid, red snapper and parrotfish are all common.
Two delicacies served in some restaurants are fruit bat and turtle - although the latter is not encouraged as the green turtle is endangered.
What should I buy?
Stamps are something of a tradition here and you'll be able to find a variety of colourful new issues that seem to commemorate everything.
The famous Coco de Mer nut, regarded as an erotic symbol, is something many tourists want to take home as a souvenir. The best place to buy one is at the Coco de Mer Souvenir Boutique in Praslin, sold unpolished and with the requisite export permit.
What is there for children to do?
With giant tortoises to pet and colourful birds to chase, endless sunny days spent wandering along jungle paths or paddling in the ocean, the Seychelles is as enchanting for children as it is for their parents.
Choose a large resort hotel with a watersports and activities programme, and the babysitting will be taken care of as well.
Tourist office
Seychelles Tourism Office, Aviareps House, Gatwick Road, Crawley, W. Sussex, RH10 9RB. Tel: 01293 596648.
|
|
|
|
|
| | Available rental properties in Seychelles |
|
|
|
|
