Here are our Top 10 Things to Do when visiting the Seychelles.

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1.  Rock climb and zipline:

Both of these activities are located at Constance Ephelia – make a reservation with SMAC Adventures.  Our SMAC Adventure guides were fantastic!

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2.  Scuba dive and discover the local marine life.

We dove the waters of North Island with a hawksbill turtle – unforgettable!

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3.  Island Hop

Spend a day on La Digue where you can cycle around the island, and walk/hike the famous rock beaches.

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4.  Tour Victoria (capitol of the largest island of Mahé)

Stroll through the botanical gardens, tea plantation, and visit the local market to experience the sights and sounds of people buying local produce, vanilla, spices, and more!

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5.  Enjoy the sun & watch every sunrise and sunset.

Go on a sunset cruise, or watch the sun rise and set from your hotel villa or private beach.  Picnic on a catamaran, or go horseback riding on the beach or on island trails.  Interact with the locals along the shore, watch local fishermen come in with their catch of the day.

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6.  Drive the islands

Go to the high points for magnificent views.  Petit Amour offers spectacular views of Silhouette Island, or hike to the highest point of the Seychelles on Mahé at Morne Seychellois National Park for panoramic views.

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7.  Snorkel at Sainte Anne Resort

Visit nearby Moyenne Island where you can hike around the island.

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8.  Check in for a tropical massage

MAIA, Four Seasons, Constance and Banyan Tree are a treat!

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9.  Enjoy the delicious Seychellois food

Dine at the local Creole restaurants, enjoy the tropical fruit and refreshing drinks.

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10.  And be sure to visit Praslin

Praslin the (2nd largest island), and walk through the Seychelles “Garden of Eden”, the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO-designated nature reserve.  You’ll walk under giant palms, and learn about the indigenous Coco de Mer, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see a Black Parrot!

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How to Get Around?

Cat Cocos:  We took a fun trip between islands, and “Cruised Through Paradise”.  Cat Cocos offers two large catamarans to quickly get to islands nearby – only a 1 hour ride from Mahé to Praslin, or 15 mins ride from Praslin to La Digue.  Check their site for the schedule and details on how to book a reservation.

Creole Travel Services (CTS):   CTS provided us with professional, on-time, smooth transfers and a private tour of Praslin.  We had a fantastic CTS guide for the tour of beautiful Vallée de Mai.  CTS is ready to help with your holiday planning throughout the Seychelles islands making your dreams a reality.

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Masons:  Mason’s provided us with transfer services on Mahe, and offered us a guided island tour on La Digue.  Their company has been offering visitors with unique holiday experiences for 35 years, and provides excellent 24/7 service tailored to share the best of the Seychelles.  If you need assistance planning your trip, Mason’s can help with flights, transfers, activities, hotels, car rentals, etc.

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Zil Air:  Ready to island hop?  Book with Zil Air – they provide premium luxury helicopter services in the Seychelles.  We arrived to the VIP first class lounge with free wi-fi, received cold towels, refreshments, and then we were escorted to the helicopter for a comfortable air-conditioned flight with an experienced and friendly Captain who flew us to our luxury island resort on North Island.  We saw unforgettable panoramas and arrived to our island within 20 minutes.  Zil Air flies throughout the Seychelles Archipelago, with access to 21 licensed helipads and 7 landing strips.

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How to Get to the Seychelles?

Air SeychellesWe had a fantastic experience flying Air Seychelles and received Creole welcomes and excellent service.  ‘Fly the Creole Spirit’ with Air Seychelles, the national airlines of the Republic of Seychelles since 1978.  Air Seychelles flies to Mauritius, Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, and will be introducing new routes soon.  They now are a Four Star airline rated by Skytrax.

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After a short 5 hour flight on Air Seychelles from Johannesburg to Mahé, we found paradise in the Indian Ocean, the ultimate tropical escape, just off the east coast of Africa.

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By Patricia Stone, travel writer and consultant

Acknowledgments:  we would like to thank Air Seychelles, Zil Air, North Island, Banyan Tree, Constance Ephelia, Constance Lemuria, St. Anne, Petit Amour, Four Seasons, MAIA, Cat Cocos & Creole Travel Services, Mason’s Travel for hosting us throughout our trip.

All opinions are our own.

Basic Questions: 

Where are the Seychelles?  The Republic of Seychelles is situated at 4 degrees south of the equator in the Indian Ocean and is made up of 115 granite and coral islands.

Where is the International Airport?  Located on Mahé is the largest island, and the capitol is Victoria.

What is the Time Zone?  +4 hours GMT

What is the Currency?  Seychelles Rupee (SCR)

What is the Temperature?  Located near the equator, the Seychelles enjoys a year round tropical climate with day and night temperatures between 26C/79F & 32C/90F.

Resources:

Seychelles Office of Tourism

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