Category: Seychelles

  • Things to Do in Seychelles

    There are many top things to do in Seychelles. Amazing Seychelles is as close to heaven on earth as you can get. Paradise beaches, palm coves and underwater wonders of colorful fish – this is what dreams are made of.

    There are more than 100 islands to choose from, so beautiful beaches are not the attraction of a visit to the Seychelles with many things to do in Seychelles.

    Among the top things to do in Seychelles include a walk through lush national parks, taste spicy local cuisine and learn about the history of the Indian Ocean – the perfect combination of exploration and relaxation.

    Here are our favorite things to do in Seychelles.

    Top Things to Do in Seychelles

    1. Hike through Morne National Park

    Topping the list of things to do in Seychelles is hiking in Morne National park. Hike the lush trails of Morne National Park on the main island of Mahé.

    Things to Do in Seychelles

    From coastal mangroves to towering peaks, this natural wonder is covered in jungle and feels like another world.

    It’s the perfect way to spend a free day at the beach, just enjoying the beauty of the island and learning a little about the endemic plant and bird species.

    There are so many beautiful walks here. The Morne Blanc trails are a steady ascent through misty forests and wild jungle to the summit of Morne Blanc, with spectacular sea views.

    The forests are full of jackfruit and fluttering sunbirds, as well as the world’s smallest frog – although they may be too small to find, you are sure to hear their loud chirping calls.

     2. Diving into the turquoise water

    With its perfect location in the Indian Ocean, Seychelles offers some of the best diving in the world. One of those things to do in Seychelles that you cannot miss is to dive in La Digue.

    On the sandy beaches of La Digue, you’ll find an underwater world of color, from kaleidoscopic reef fish to snappers and unicorns.

    Things to Do in Seychelles

    If you’re lucky, you might even spot a shark, this being one of the best things to do in Seychelles. One of the best spots is L’ilot, a small island off the northern tip of Mahe.

    It is so small that you can swim around it in one dive. Its waters are full of wild animals – in the warm waters you could see turtles and even whale sharks.

    There are four wrecks to dive around Mahe and Brissare Rocks and lots of stingrays and nurse sharks.

    If you’re a more experienced diver looking for things to do in Seychelles, the Southern Mariana Islands off the coast of Praslin is the place for you – it’s a deep dive, but the topography is incredible.

    You’ll find jagged peaks and rock formations, as well as plenty of sharks.

    3. Visit the outer atolls of the Seychelles

    The main islands of Seychelles are known as the Granite Islands and are famous for the huge round rocks found in the jungle and along the coast. However, Seychelles has many atolls, especially in the outer islands.

    A tour to Cosmoledo Atoll cant mis in the list of top things to do in Seychelles .The remote Cosmoledo Atoll is closer to Madagascar than the main Seychelles.

    Cosmoledo is a pristine and untouched ecosystem with vast sand flats, beautiful islands of various shapes and sizes, and a stunning lagoon.

    Things to Do in Seychelles

    Live like a lost person on this remote island – Eco Camp has 8 cabins with luxurious furniture and comfortable beds – and explore the clear waters around.

    Known as the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean”, you can swim with rays and sailfish and many other beautiful creatures. Other attractions include Alphonse Island, Astove Atoll and Aldabra Atoll.

    4. Explore the small capital city of Victoria

    Explore the small capital city of Victoria on the main island of Mahe. This small town was first established as the seat of the British colonial government and consists of three areas – English River, Saint Louis and Mont Fleur.

    Things to Do in Seychelles

    Apart from tourism, Seychelles’ main exports are vanilla, coconuts and fish, and the town is full of small businesses and friendly locals. A visit of the city is a must in your things to do in Seychelles bucket list.

    Visit the lush botanical gardens full of exotic and tropical plants, as well as many reptiles and amphibians that live in pools lined with lilies.

    Browse the colorful fruit and vegetables at Selwyn Clarke Market before heading down the road to admire a beautiful Hindu temple – the only one in the Seychelles.

    5. Exit La Digue

    Also in the top of your things to do in Seychelles list should be the car – free island of La Digue. The small island of La Digue is a car-free paradise.

    When you arrive, you feel the pace of everyday life slow down – the most important thing is white sand, turquoise water and picking ripe passion fruit for breakfast.

    There is no airport on this small island – you have to get there by catamaran opposite Praslin. This is not the kind of island with a bucket list of sights.

    On Seychelles holiday in Praslin, you will want to spend time wandering the beaches, meeting the locals and trying Creole street food, or diving into the sea to snorkel among the colorful fish.

    Cycling around the island the air is sweet vanilla – our favorite beach is Anse Source d’Argent. This boulder-strewn beach is stunningly beautiful – the perfect place to enjoy a late afternoon drink on the sand and watch the sunset.

    6. Taste local Creole street food

    As an island nation, Seychelles is famous for its seafood – think coconut crab curry, smoked fish salad and grilled prawns. If you really want to experience this country, one of the top things to do in Seychelles is to taste their food, which here is Creole street food.

    Everything is delicious, from pork curry and roasted red snapper to bananas with coconut milk, washed down with Seybrew beer.  The most famous local dish is ladoba, a mixture of plantains, breadfruit and cassava.

    Things to Do in Seychelles

    It can be sweet or savory – the sweet version is made with coconut milk, nutmeg, vanilla and sugar, while the savory version is made with salted fish. The food here also has a lot of Indian influence – you’ll always find a street stall selling parathas and dhals.

    7. Meet the giant tortoises

    Meeting the giant tortoises is among the top things to do in Seychelles. Majestic and wild giant tortoises can be found in Aldabra Atoll, which David Attenborough called one of the wonders of the world.

    Things to Do in Seychelles

    Centuries ago, giant tortoises were found on many islands in the Indian Ocean, but passing ships eventually drove each one to extinction.

    By 1997, there were only a few thousand Aldabra tortoises left in the Seychelles, at which point conservation efforts redoubled and the country worked hard to increase its numbers.

    Now you can find about 100,000, mostly on Aldabra Atoll, about 700 miles southwest of Mahe. If you can’t travel that far, they can be found in nature reserves on other islands.

    8. Sunbathe on rocky beaches

    If you are looking for the best things to do in Seychelles, then sun bathing should not miss. Seychelles is world famous for its spectacular beaches – and rightly so. Anse Lazio, with sugar sand and turquoise water, is located on the island of Praslin.

    Relax on this perfect beach, swim in the boiling water or snorkel with turtles in the open sea. Calm waves make it ideal for swimming with children.

    Anse Marron in La Digue is another favorite, the boulders above the beach create natural tide pools perfect for swimming and relaxing on this wild beach. It is only accessible on foot, which makes it even more exclusive.

    If you’re visiting during turtle nesting season, you can’t beat Anse Intendance, right next to Mahe’s Banyan Tree, where daily beach patrols protect nesting turtles.

    9. Live in a luxury hotel

    If Seychelles is famous for anything, it is luxurious and beautiful hotels. There is plenty to choose from on the main islands of Mahe and Praslin, including Raffles Seychelles.

    Here you can dine on the beach under the stars, and the Maia Hotel, which overlooks the sea and has individual villas.

    There are also many private islands where there is only one exclusive hotel or guesthouse to choose from. Stroll the empty beaches of North Island, relax in your own private pool on Fregate Island, or dive with manta rays in the waters off Alphonse Island.

    It will cost you an arm and a leg, but it’s worth every penny, you get to spoil yourself with one of the best things to do in Seychelles.

  • Best Time to Visit Seychelles

    As you are planning your safari in Africa to Seychelles, the biggest question is when is the best time to visit Seychelles?

    The Seychelles archipelago, located in the southern hemisphere, is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and has an exceptional climate.

    Seychelles is an archipelago of more than 100 islands in the Indian Ocean. The area is famous for its white sandy beaches, azure waters and green landscape.

    Being close to the equator, it is not surprising that Seychelles has a warm, tropical climate with  distinct wet and dry seasons. The best time to visit Seychelles is during the summer because of the warm weather and occasional heavy rains.

    Temperatures are around 26°C with a maximum of 28°C, perfect for lounging by the pool or a relaxing day at the beach. The trade winds over the Indian Ocean can make it easy to underestimate the sun’s power.

    Remember to use sunscreen products during the day, especially between 12:00 and 15:00 when the temperature is at its highest. The Indian Ocean is mild most of the year with an average temperature of 26 °C.

    Annual rainfall is 2900mm, meaning you’ll need to pack a raincoat no matter when you decide to visit. The rains are usually quick and short, but if you want to avoid the worst of the rain, the best time to go to Seychelles is in August.

    It is one of the driest months of the year, with only 100 mm of rain and plenty of sunshine.

    One of the main factor that will determine the best time to visit Seychelles is climate. Seychelles has two main seasons: rainy and cool.

    Depending on the location of a particular island in the archipelago, these seasons are not exactly the same, because the distance between the islands below the equator and those closer to Madagascar is more than 620 miles.

    Generally, summer in Seychelles lasts all year round. The average temperature is close to 30 °C, while the water temperature is quite similar, on average between 26 °C and 30 °C.

    With three main islands, Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, the best time to visit Seychelles is all year round as the climate is ideal for exploring at any time of the year.  The two most important seasons in Seychelles.

     Although Seychelles has a pleasant tropical climate all year round and the best time to visit Seychelles is throughout the year, it is located in the cyclone zone, so there are significant differences between the two seasons, especially in terms of wind.

    Best Time to Visit Seychelles by Seasons

    Rainy Season in Seychelles

    The first season is in October-April. The wind is quite strong from the northwest, but temperatures are hottest when the mercury rises above 30°C.

    It is called the rainy season because the air is very humid. December and January are the rainiest months with temperatures ranging from 27°C to 31°C.

    In the capital, Victoria, average maximum temperatures in December and January are 29 °C (as in the rest of the year), but rainfall is very high, with 13 inches in December and more than 15 inches in January.

    The proportion of rainy days is usually half that, with an average of 15 days in December and January, while August has only seven rainy days.

    Cool Season in Seychelles

    Between April and October, Seychelles has a cool season, also known as the dry season. The wind blows from the southeast and is much stronger than the wind during the rainy season.

    While these storms can be good for windsurfers, the temperatures also drop. In July and August, the average temperature drops to 28 °C.

    The while the average minimum temperature also drops by one degree to 25 °C in July, August and September, compared to an average temperature of 26 °C in February and June.

    The transition months between the cool and rainy season (October-November and especially April-May) are the best time to visit Seychelles. The temperatures are good, there is little precipitation and the wind is moderate.

    Seychelles experiences visible climatic disturbances such as heavy rains and floods followed by very severe droughts. The dry season now lasts longer, although the rains are more intense.

    The best time to visit Seychelles is April-May or October-November as these are the least windy months of the year. Those two periods of the year fall between the two trade winds that hit the island every year.

    The northwest trade wind blows from November to March and the southeast wind from May to September.

    Located just below the equator, Seychelles has warm and perfect beach weather all year round. For those looking to have a Seychelles beach holiday then the best time to visit Seychelles is all year round.

    The hottest months are from December to April and the rainiest are January and February, although there are usually short tropical showers before the sun comes out again.

    Monthly Guide to Determine the Best Time to Visit Seychelles:

    Visiting Seychelles from January to March

    January is considered the best time to visit Seychelles to beat the European winter with high daytime temperatures. The weather is not only hot in the first month of the year, but also very humid, with afternoon rains cooling things down.

    The question of when to go to the Seychelles often arises from the seasonal trade winds that wash seaweed onto the shores of some islands.

    The best time to visit Seychelles to Fregate, Denis, Praslin and Mahé (private islands of Seychelles) is in February. Here you can eat Creole food, see black parrots and enjoy perfect sea conditions for snorkeling and  diving – but with short showers in the afternoon.

    In March the trade winds end, there is much less precipitation and the temperature is higher than in January and February. This is the best time to visit Seychelles for diving and snorkeling as the conditions are pristine this month with underwater visibility of a whopping 30 meters!

    One of the highlights of March is the annual hatching season – you can witness them in the wild in the ocean.

    Travel to Seychelles from April to June

    April is one of the hottest seasons with little wind and rain and is one of the best time to visit Seychelles. It is in fact among the most popular months to travel to Seychelles resorts for a deserving Seychelles holiday.

    Diving and snorkeling conditions are excellent. The warmer temperatures mean your time is best spent lazing in the shade of a palm tree, enjoying the calm waters and hiking in the lush forest.

    April is followed by May, the climate is warm but slightly less humid. In May, the south-east trade wind blows and the west coast of the island is worth a visit.

    June in Seychelles also offers visitors excellent weather with comfortable temperatures during the day and evenings. The wind is slightly stronger than in the drier May. This makes it the best time to visit Seychelles as it’s a good time to walk the many scenic paths while exploring these majestic islands.

    It is also the best time of year to visit Seychelles for kayaking, sailing and surfing to take advantage of the windiest weather – and we can tell you where to go in Seychelles.

    Visiting Seychelles from July to September

    July is the coldest month and is one of the best time to visit Seychelles, especially if you want to avoid the heat at the beginning of the year and enjoy excellent surfing conditions.

    August is another southeast trading month for the islands with cool conditions similar to July. This month is the best time to visit Seychelles for hiking enthusiasts – the many trails and untouched areas of the islands demand to be explored.

    There is little rain in September and the temperature is slightly warmer before the rainy season begins. September is the best time to visit Seychelles is to sunbathe or swim in the turquoise sea water.

    En route to Seychelles from October to December

    In October, the weather is pleasant, but the rainy season is just around the corner, and this month is a window of time between southeast and northwest winds.

    November is the official start of summer in Seychelles and the temperature starts to rise. Now is the rainy season and the northwesterly trade winds are starting, so it is best to stay on the eastern side of the islands.

    If you want a quieter and less crowded island vacation, November is the best time to go to the Seychelles.

    December is a much busier month in the islands due to the holiday season, despite the trade winds and rain.