What sets Seychelles apart from so many other beach & honeymoon holiday destinations is its wide variety of islands - each with its own geography and history.

The most popular islands are Mahe Island, Praslin Island, Cousine Island, Denis Island, Fregate Island and Ste. Anne.

The Republic of Seychelles comprises 115 islands occupying a land area of 455 square kilometers and stretch like an array of jewels across 1.4million square kilometers in the Indian Ocean! Only a few of the islands are inhabited.

The granite islands of the Seychelles archipelago cluster around the main island of Mahé, home to the international airport and the capital, Victoria, and its satellites Praslin and La Digue.

Mahé is 27 kilometers long and 12 kilometers wide and is mountainous.

Many of the beaches are untouched by man's influence and are refreshingly uncrowded. Vallee de Mai is a world heritage site and home to the world's largest seed: the coco der mer.

Seychelles is home to many species of birds, fish (about 800 species) and other marine life, together with a rich, unique flora.

Seychelles is a refuge for sun seekers, honeymooners and nature lovers.

The Seychelles islands enjoy a pleasant tropical climate year round. The temperature seldom drops below 24 degrees or rises above 33 degrees centigrade. Globally changing climate conditions, however, make it difficult to predict exact weather patterns.

There are two main seasons – Northwest and Southeast trade winds with two short inter-trade wind periods.
Southeast trade wind: May to October
• Relatively dry and cool
• Strong wind mainly from the southeast
• Normally moderate to rough seas
• Cloudy at times, though rainfall normally sparse, light and for short periods

Pre-Northwest trade winds: November
• Relatively warm
• Wind shifts from SE to NW generally light and variable
• Frequent short showers late morning and afternoon

Northwest trade wind (rainy season): December to March
• Relatively warm and wet, especially in December and January
• Wind mainly from the Northwest
• Rainfall often heavy
• Few thunderstorms may develop

Pre-southeast trade wind: April
• Calm and hot
• Wind shifts from NW to SE, generally light and variable
• Frequent short showers late morning and afternoon.

Seychelles is situated outside the cyclonic belts.

In Seychelles it is safe to swim year round. However it depends on the trade winds as stated above. During the South-east trade winds the north of Mahe normally benefits from the calm seas, the southern part of Mahe then becomes windy and the sea is not as calm. During the North-west trade winds the sea is calmer in the south on Mahe and not that calm in the northern part of the island.

The best times to visit Seychelles for different types of activities:
Bird-watching: April (breeding season), May - September (nesting of Sooty Terns) October (migration)
Diving: March – May / September - November
Fishing: October - April
Hiking/Walks & Trails: May - September
Sailing: Year-round
Snorkeling: Year-round However there is seaweed on Praslin’s North and north-west coast between May and September
Surfing/Windsurfing: May - September

 

It is possible to dive all year round but the quality of dive sites varies depending on prevailing winds. In general the best conditions for diving occur during the transaction periods from February till May and from September till November. The water temperature is29°C and visibility extends beyond 30 meters. From November till January the trade winds blow from the north‐west but conditions remain comparable to those periods of calm with the exception of a greater movement of the turbidity of surface waters. From June to September strong winds blow from south‐west ( especially August), visibility is reduced and the water cools down to 25°C and a wetsuit of 3mm is recommended in this season.

There are PADI diving centres at the following hotels and places:
Mahe
• Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay:  Underwater Dive Seychelles
• Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay: Dive Seychelles
• Le Meridiens Barbarons: Angel Fish Dive Centre
• Beau Vallon: Big blue Diver
• Opera House Restaurant, Anse La Mouche: Dive Resort Seychelles

Praslin
• Lemuria Resort:  Boat House
• Paradise Sun Hotel:  Whitetip divers
• Berjaya Praslin Beach: Octopus Diving Centre
• Dream yacht:  Bleu Marine

La Digue
• La Digue Island Lodge:  Azura Dive Centre

Other islands
• Desroches island Resort:  Desroches Dive centre
• Denis Island Lodge:  Denis Dive Centre
• Fregate island lodge:  Fregate Dive Centre
• Labriz Silhouette: Eco Centre silhouette
• North island Resort:  Activity Centre
• St Anne Resort:  St Anne Dive Centre

 

There are no visa requirements to enter the Seychelles and you will need the following documents for immigration clearance:
• Passport valid on the date of entry and exit
• Return or onward ticket
• Proof of accommodation
• Sufficient funds for the duration of stay

Presentation of all the above documents will grant you a visitor’s permit that will be issued upon arrival by the Seychelles department of immigration.

Accommodation
Seychelles boast a wide range of accommodation facilities ranging from self-catering, guest houses, hotels both large and small and 5-star luxury establishments. Hotels offer a variety of rooms from standard to beachfront villas and presidential suites/villas.

 

Have a look at some of our Seychelles holiday packages

The Seychelles islands are divided into 2 groups - the Inner Islands and the Outer Islands.

The tall granite Inner Islands cluster and the low-lying coralline cays, atolls and reef islands of the Outer Islands.

There are 43 Inner Islands - 41 granitic and 2 coralline and a total of 72 coralline Outer Islands.

Inner Islands (with accommodation) include:
Mahe Island, Praslin Island, La Digue Island, Cousine Island, Denis Island, Fregate Island, Ste. Anne

Outer Islands (with accommodation) include:
There are only 2 that currently offer accommodation, namely Alphonse Island and Desroches Island.

No matter which Seychelles Island you choose, this is paradise...

Some of Seychelles attractions: