What to visit on the island of Mahe Seychelles. Brief history and culture of the Seychelles. Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

If you, like me, think that the Seychelles is something wildly touristic, crowded, expensive and devoid of primitiveness, then I hasten to disappoint and upset, but at the same time please with deserted beaches and incredible flora and fauna, which we will talk about in the following four reports: Mahe, and.

Flying to the Seychelles and staying on the capital island of Mahe is not the best best idea, when there is such beauty around and plane tickets to this beauty do not cost so much, and you can get there by ferry even cheaper.

So, on the island of Mahe - the largest of the Seychelles islands, there is an international airport and cruise port , receiving almost the bulk of tourists. It's definitely worth staying on Mahe for a few days, but not weeks, since you definitely need to take the time to explore the nearby (and, if time permits, not so close) islands.

Briefly about the main thing:

languages ​​– French and English;

currency - rupee, but euros and dollars are accepted for payment (except for small shops, communication shops, etc.); I do not recommend paying with cards, as interest is applied for payment and the write-off rate is quite extortionate;

• all beaches are public , you cannot be asked to vacate your seat under a palm tree, even if there is a Hilton nearby;
• driving on the left;

right means left, and up means down;

the state conducts policy artificial maintenance high prices to visit the islands, stating that if the tourist is not willing to pay 200 euros per night in a hotel, he has nothing to do in the Seychelles, but we will tell you how to visit this country inexpensively;

grows here a coconut of a very bizarre and provocative shape(coco de mer) – you won’t miss it;

Here there are no chain catering establishments or coffee shops: McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, etc. etc., but there is a huge variety of fruits.

Below is the map. Don't pay attention to the stars - these are my notes that helped me a lot on the trip. On this trip we will arrive on the island of Mahe, from there we will travel by plane to the island of Praslin, from there by ferry to La Digue and back to Praslin, and on a separate day from Praslin to Curieuse Island by ferry.

And today we Let's talk about the island of Mahe and its beaches, and also take a quick look at the capital Victoria, one of the smallest capitals in the world, which can easily be walked around in half an hour.

How to navigate the beaches? You can take a bus, you can take a taxi, but the fastest and most convenient way is to rent a car. Although buses run on schedule, they are rare and take a long time, and taxis, although they run quickly, are very expensive. The car should be booked in advance and you will have to take a little risk by taking a franchise, since they do not rent a car with full insurance. Your accidents are your risk. However, if you drive quietly and on your own side, there will be no problems; no one deliberately scratches cars in parking lots.

On the island of Mahe we have a snorkeling tour was planned on a pre-booked car at Sixt. We were surprised that we received a response to our reservation that we would receive a confirmation within 48 hours, but after the specified time nothing arrived. Hoping for the best, we went to Mahe airport, where we planned to take the car.

The easiest way take a taxi from the pier to the airport, but you'll have to pay 30-40 euros. The second option is to go to the bus stop, which is located very close to the port (smiling port employees will explain everything) or go directly to the bus station indicated on google maps in the tiny town of Victoria as Bus Station.

Buses run on schedule, indicated on each route. We also downloaded the schedule from http://www.sptc.sc. We waited for bus number 6 for about 10 minutes and drove for half an hour to the airport along a regular road with stops. There is also express number 5, which we took in the evening from the airport three days later.

Important: buses run until 19-19.30, So we jumped for joy when we were transferred from the flight from Praslin half an hour early and caught the last bus to Victoria, saving at least 30 euros.

The bus can be tracked using maps. We used offline maps maps.me, since we could not buy an Internet SIM card in the city - Monday 26.12 coincided with a public holiday and all stores were closed. The bus stop is located a little behind the airport, so as soon as you see a small one-story building on the left side and a couple of airplanes in the background, press the exit button. For accuracy, you can ask locals or the driver to check you in French. If you do not speak French, I advise you to prepare yourself a small phrasebook with important expressions in advance. Despite two state languages, they use English with less enthusiasm.

Having arrived at the airport and showing the reserve message, we were sad to discover that our reserve was not there, and not a single rental company had any free cars. The Sixt representative slowly called someone, trying to solve our problem, but he was not very interested. Time flew by at cosmic speed, Wireless & Cable communication salon at the airport showed no signs of life. Taxi drivers demanded 200 euros for a trip to the tourist beach of Beau Vallon.

Out of despair, it was decided to offer to fellow representative Sixtus for 100 euros to be our driver all day and take us wherever we say. He was very happy and said to wait for him for an hour while he went to the city to get the car; he said, “I’ll hand over the management of the office to a friend.”

Seychellois people, although good-natured, are wildly leisurely and optional. We waited for him for almost 2 hours, and he arrived with the words “I am a very busy man.” Fortunately for us, at the same moment another Sixt representative arrived in a company uniform and offered us a car that he had just picked up from the city for half the cost of the reserve.

At 12.30 we left the airport safely and went to Fairyland beach (1), marked by me as a snorkeling point. Along the way, we tried in vain to find shops that were open and selling SIM cards. Luck smiled upon us just before we reached the beach, but again, slow sellers took almost half an hour to issue a SIM card.

We took 300 MB Internet, which doubled on the occasion of the promotion. These 600 MB were enough for us for 4 days: we sent huge quantities of photos and videos to our relatives, used Google maps, downloaded Instagram and watched the video feed on Facebook, and on the last day we made about half an hour of calls on Skype and Facetime. We were surprised by such bottomless Internet from W&C for 7 euros and very upset by Orange in Madagascar, which ate us a gigabyte with Edge without downloading video.

Let's go back to the beaches. Our trip to the Seychelles took place at the end of December and this largely determined our perception of the islands, in particular the beaches on the island of Mahe. The eastern part of the island (western part of the northern hemisphere) greeted us with quiet lagoons, excellent snorkeling and almost deserted beaches, but the western part welcomed us with waves, wind and open ocean. Unfortunately, we were not able to explore even half of the beaches during our stay on Mahe - firstly, we got the car late, and secondly, one day is certainly not enough if you not only drive and explore the beaches, but also spend time on them.

(1) Beach at Point au Sel(Fairyland)(you can follow the numbering on the map of the island). A very calm and deserted lagoon with a slightly greenish tint to the sea and hanging palm trees. Very picturesque, close to the Crown Beach hotels and several villas, hanging palm trees, granite boulders on which crabs bask.

Second beach – Anse Royale (2). And here they are traditional Seychelles species: White sand, turquoise blue water and palm trees. The water changes color depending on which side you look from and how the sun hits.

Convenient entry into the sea without corals with white sand and a little in the depths of grass with a variety of fish and hedgehogs. We saw that decorated fish that bit me in Mauritius, only 2 times larger.

The beach cannot be called quiet - there are a lot of vacationers, nevertheless no bars, sun loungers or umbrellas, which adds points to it for “primitiveness”. Car parking among trees, or on the road near shops. Don't forget about left-hand traffic. We drive quietly and calmly, no one is in a hurry here, 40 km/h is just right.

(3) The next beach we visited is Anse Forbans (3). Again, a calm lagoon, white sand, a couple of locals barbecuing and palm trees.

The beach is divided into two with a passage through the stones: one with a hotel and a vacationer, and the second with blissful silence and a paradise for snorkelers. There is a coral entrance here, so you won’t see tourists lying down here, plus it’s quite shallow.

However, this does not prevent stingrays and squids from pleasing the snorkeler’s eye, and blue urchins from hiding among the rocks. Snorkeling on Anse Forbans is available! And he is extraordinary!

From a tailed stingray flying past It’s breathtaking, you see how his body develops along light waves and how it rushes from one stone to another pinkish squid. Schools of fish swim by. The only thing missing is small sharks and snorkeling would be on par with the islands in Malaysia.

There are a variety of crabs on the rocks, small fish swim along the shore, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see fancy birds, like this Gray Heron, for example.

One can only marvel at the extraordinary abilities of her neck.

We left this wonderful place and headed towards Grand Police Bay (4) and its two beaches ( Petite PoliceAndAnse Bazarca), marked on maps of the island, which you can pick up both at the port and at the airport, as “Place to see”. Swimming on the beach is prohibited due to waves larger than a man, but the place is beautiful.

On this day, the entire western side (eastern in the southern hemisphere) was very turbulent: wind, waves and a minimum of vacationers, except for the beach Anse Intendance (5), which you will have to go down to on foot.

Beach Takamaka(6) twin brother to the beaches of Grand Police Bay: the same views, the same waves, only more people.

We rise higher to the side Baie Lazare(7) . Waves and wind - snorkeling is out of the question.

Anse Soleil (8). Same picture. Beautiful, but not swimmable.

On this note, we decided to finish exploring the beaches, buy some drinks and head to the port through the mountains along the serpentines. I didn’t really want to cross the island in an unfamiliar area, with right-hand drive and left-hand drive in the dark, although it was already getting dark.

The next morning we flew to the island of Praslin, but in the morning we still crossed the island and stopped at the so-called “beautiful beach of Seychelles” . The road to Beau Valon took 20 minutes and passed along the serpentines of the upper part of the island.

Beau Vallon beach was not at all impressive, apparently because the day was windy and cold, the waves crashed against the shore, and it began to rain. Although the beauty was no different from those we saw on other beaches on the western part of the island. In general, the rainy season in the Seychelles is a very unpleasant time of year that you should beware of. All diving centers on Mahe Island are located in this area.

And we will conclude today’s review with the capital of Seychelles - the city of Victoria, which we visited on the last day of our stay, when our arms and legs could not get to the diving center.

Victoria is a very tiny capital and you don't need a car to explore it. Central Market is located near the bus station.

Here you can buy fruits at ridiculous prices, natural Coconut oil, as well as various tinctures for rubbing and taking orally for all diseases - the sellers will be happy to tell you how to use it and share the secrets of their grandmothers.

At the market exit local residents organize mini-concerts.

A small Buddhist pagoda was built opposite the market.

In the evening, Victoria was brightly illuminated with garlands and rain showers in honor of Christmas and New Year.

In fact, I would not recommend setting aside special time to visit the capital, unless you have a short connection or risk being late, or generally need to take a couple of hours of time. The Seychelles is beautiful not because of its cities, but because of its nature and beaches.

Is it possible to travel to the Seychelles cheaply? Quite! You can reduce living expenses by choosing a vacation rental apartment instead of a hotel, some of the nuances of which I will discuss in the next review, instead of taking a taxi, take buses or a rented car, eat in a cafe with an average price tag or in a cafe with takeaway food.

What you can’t save on and what is expensive: air tickets (if you buy close to the departure date), ferries, taxis (bargaining is useless, “we are a country with a high standard of living and income”), including water tickets. But more on all this later.

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Mahe (French Mahé) is one of the islands of the Seychelles archipelago.

Located in the Indian Ocean, it belongs to the state of Seychelles.

The largest of the islands of the Seychelles archipelago. The dimensions of the island are 25 by 8 km. The area of ​​Mahe Island is 155 square meters. km. By the way, the total area of ​​the island is 16 times less than the area of ​​Moscow and 9 times less than the area St. Petersburg. The most high point on the island of Mahe, which reaches 905 m above sea level - Mount Morne.

The capital of the state is located on the island, Trading port and an international airport.

There are also many museums and an orchid garden, which are also definitely worth a visit. And for those who love to dance, all hotels constantly hold night discos, where you can hear both local folklore, electronically processed, and compositions by the world's leading DJs. After you have thoroughly danced, you should definitely visit the local casino, located right at the Barbarons Beach Hotel. It's very nice and cozy here. The staff is polite and positive. The visitors are quiet and cultured. All in all, this is not a perfect casino!

In addition to visiting the capital of Seychelles, the city of Victoria, you can fully enjoy the nature of the island. By the way, there are 68 beaches on Mahe, the most popular of which are: Carana Beach, Anse Nord, Beau Vallon (the most civilized beach, with perfect fine sand and a three-kilometer bay), Anse Royale and Grand Anse. And it may happen that, while walking around the Island, you accidentally discover completely wild beach, on which there is absolutely no one. Here you can calmly retire, hiding from prying eyes. True, some beaches are completely unsuitable for swimming, because there is a lot of algae and an unbearable smell. This is not the negligence of the state, which cannot maintain cleanliness (everything here is at the highest level), but on the contrary, care. Because in this way the unique ecosystem, nature and animal world.

On beaches suitable for swimming (mostly all tourists go to Beau Vallon), all types of “water” activities are available. This is the rental of catamarans and jet skis. At the diving center you can rent a mask and fins for diving. Go water skiing and windsurfing (for this we recommend going to Grand Anse or Anse Nord - there are excellent high waves).

But, if you value beauty and nature more than noisy seaside recreation, then it’s better to go to Anse Intendance beach, a five-hundred-meter arc of which is bordered by coconut palms.

You can enjoy relaxing snorkeling on the beaches of Anse Forbans and Anse Royale, protected by coral reefs.

After you have bathed and dried off, be sure to go for a walk (most importantly, take all measures to protect yourself from the scorching sun). You can conquer Mount Morne (907m). Along the way you will see many ancient plants, which, as locals say, have been growing here since the very foundation of the World. By the way, there is some truth in this, because you will not find such plant species as in the Seychelles anywhere on Earth. Due to the long isolation, absolutely outlandish trees grow here. The most interesting of which is the “sea nut” Coco de Mer. But there will be a separate article about it.

There is also a Botanical Garden on Mahe, spread over six hectares, in which about 200 species of local plants grow. Here you can relax in the shade of the majestic Palms and think about the Eternal.

Today I am opening a new and long-awaited column about the Seychelles - a truly heavenly place on Earth and a tropical resort located off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles is one of the most prestigious destinations beach tourism, a place that will be appreciated not only by sunbathers, but also by fans of active recreation. The unique beauty of the Seychelles resorts attracts tourists from all over the world and travelers from Russia who are happy to spend their long-awaited vacation in the Seychelles. So I’ll share everything I know about these incomparable islands: what kind of country the Seychelles is, where it is located, do you need a visa to visit, what language do they speak there, what kind of money is used, how long does it take to fly there and what are the prices? for air tickets, when is the best time to go there and what islands and hotels are in the Seychelles. In general, my article is about how best to prepare for a trip to the Seychelles and what is worth seeing there to make your holiday in the Seychelles memorable for a long time.

I will begin my story, of course, with a definition and brief description Seychelles, where they are located on the world map and what a vacation there is like.

Seychelles- This Island state(its full name is the Republic of Seychelles), located below the equator in the southern hemisphere in East Africa, in the western waters Indian Ocean, with a population of about 90 thousand people and a territory of only 455 km 2. According to the form of government, the country of Seychelles is a presidential republic, which gained independence from Great Britain on June 29, 1976. The flag of Seychelles has 5 colors radiating from the lower left corner and was adopted on June 18, 1996.

basic information

Judging by where the Seychelles Islands are located on the map - a little south of the equator, about 1600 km east of the African mainland, their belonging to Africa can be called very conditional, especially considering the unique fauna of these islands. However, geographically the Seychelles is located closest to Africa, next to another famous island- Madagascar.

Seychelles on the map

Capital of Seychelles is the city of Victoria, the largest city in this country. It is located on the largest island of the Seychelles archipelago - Mahe (its area is 142 km 2). Seychelles International Airport is also located there, the runway of which is only 3 meters above sea level.

The territory of the Seychelles is formed by islands rising 4-8 meters above the ocean, which in the Seychelles are of two types: granite and coral. It is very easy to distinguish between them: people live and relax on granite (inhabited) ones, but coral ones, similar to, are mostly uninhabited and can only be visited as part of excursions.

Do you want to know how many islands there are in the Seychelles? Compared to other island states, there are not so many, only 115 islands. However, only 33 of them are inhabited. Moreover, most tourists relax in the best hotels, such as Four Seasons And Hilton Seychelles on the largest Seychelles islands - Mahe, Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette - or on small and private islands with exclusive hotels - North, Fregate, Felicite, Denis and a number of other resorts.

The flora and fauna of the Seychelles includes a large percentage of endemics - birds, reptiles and plants that are found only on this archipelago of islands and nowhere else in the world. Seychelles palm trees grow here, the fruit of which weighs up to 20 kg and is considered the largest in the world. flora. And also live rare species birds - Seychelles small black parrot and bulbul nightingale.

Here is an interesting overview video about Seychelles:

It is important to know: detailed background information about Seychelles, look at Wikipedia, and I will continue to share with you practical information about this country and holidays in it.

I would compare the Seychelles with Hawaii: there are also several large islands, each unique in its own way. Therefore, when preparing trips to Seychelles the most important thing is to choose the right island on which you will relax. If we compare it with the Maldives, then everything will be completely different, because it is not so important (in essence they are almost all the same) how to decide whether you want to relax.

Here are three of the best hotels in Seychelles:

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles 5* - a real paradise lagoon and stunning views of the ocean. The hotel is conveniently located in the southwest of Mahe island in a separate cove of Petite Anse. From the airport it can be reached in just half an hour. Accommodation in spacious villas with expensive interiors and a swimming pool. It features two restaurants serving Creole and international cuisine, a hillside spa with panoramic views and the best yoga center in the Seychelles. Price per room – from $1000 per day. Book Four Seasons 5*

Raffles Seychelles 5*— a relatively new hotel with a magnificent design of rooms, excellent sandy beach Takamaka has no stones and an incredible level of staff. This truly fabulous place is located on the island of Praslin. It offers romantic and family villas and apartments with superb interiors and a private pool, yoga room and children's club. For the convenience of guests, there are as many as 3 restaurants on site, which often host themed evenings. An ideal holiday destination in the Seychelles. They speak Russian at the hotel and have a Russian manager. Price per room – from $1100 per day. Book Raffles Hotel 5*

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa 5* is the only hotel on Silhouette Island. He's in the top best hotels in the Seychelles and is the wildest, which will especially appeal to nature and ocean lovers. The well-groomed hotel grounds are suitable for romantic and family vacation or a retreat in comfortable solitude. Everything is blooming all around, as if in paradise, and birds are singing, and the convenient beach is well suited for children. Among the staff there are very competent Russian-speaking people, not everyone will tell you about the island - a real nature reserve with a pure atmosphere and beautiful landscape. Complete relaxation is guaranteed! Price per room – from $450 per day. Book Hilton 5* hotel

Seychelles on the map

Legend on the map:

• Burgundy color - airports and ferry piers of Seychelles;
• Blue color - islands in the Seychelles;
• Yellow color - the most famous beaches of Seychelles;
• Green color - Seychelles national parks.

Holidays in Seychelles

So, I told you the basic information about the Seychelles, and now let’s talk about what the Seychelles is like the best place for a beach and romantic holiday. It is no secret that the Seychelles constantly compete with the Maldives in these two prestigious categories, and tourists choose where it is better to relax - in the Seychelles or in the Maldives. And at the same time, the Seychelles is slightly ahead of its competitor as the best wedding destination for a vacation and honeymoon. general impressions and price for two.

If you don't know what the language is in Seychelles, then keep in mind that there are three official language- Seychellois Creole, French and English. All residents speak mainly Creole, which is a variety of French. However, the staff in Seychelles hotels and the majority of those employed in the tourism sector speak English, because tourism accounts for about 30% of the country's GDP.

Why go to Seychelles

• Romantic getaway and wedding. If you want to have a wedding there with Seychelles flavor and live music, have Honeymoon in luxurious surroundings, renew your vows on a family anniversary, spend a relaxing and expensive holiday on the beach with your loved one and get a lot done at the same time beautiful photos. In general, every category of romantic getaway is available in the Seychelles;
• Vacation with children . Families with children also love holidays in the Seychelles. Many hotels have children's clubs where your child will be engaged in interesting games with other little travelers, and will also be able to explore the Seychelles in an educational way with experienced mentors;
• Go diving. Since the Seychelles has many coral islands and rich underwater life, the diving here is as five-star as in the Maldives. In addition, do not forget that everything in the Seychelles is unique: there are fish, birds and animals that are not found anywhere else on Earth. It is for this reason that experienced and novice divers come to the Seychelles and go scuba diving in one of the best places on the planet for this;
• Trekking in nature and leisure . This category works best for me. I don't like to just relax on the beach and do nothing. At least for a long time. And I definitely need to go somewhere, see the beauty of the world around me, climb higher on the mountain. So, the Seychelles are just ideal in this regard: you come and relax for a couple of days on the beach, and then you can go trekking into the jungle, visit tea plantations, study the local flora and fauna, and visit small towns and villages. And when he was tired of exploring the world, he returned to the beach again. Moreover, the beaches here are truly heavenly!
• Beach holiday. And finally, if you’re just tired of everything and want to have a great rest on secluded beaches and swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and you’ve already been to the Maldives, then why not visit the Seychelles this time?

Tour to the Seychelles or a trip on your own?

There are two simple ways, how to relax in Seychelles:

• Buy a ready-made tour to the Seychelles;
• Organize your own vacation.

Both are expensive. But going to the Seychelles, nevertheless, is the best gift you can give. Unlike the Maldives, where today there is a large selection of hedgehogs, in the Seychelles budget holiday still underdeveloped. Yes and direct flight there is no flight from Moscow to the Seychelles yet, even the ubiquitous one does not fly there. So you will have to get there with a transfer, but it will be much more exotic and interesting, won’t it?

• So, if you prefer to entrust your vacation to trusted travel companies and pay more for it, you can familiarize yourself with their offers and look at tours to the Seychelles for the dates you are interested in on the website.
• And if you are like me, solo traveler, then you just need to buy inexpensive air tickets (on the Aviasales website), book hotels that suit you on Booking and check out online. That's all you need to go to the Seychelles yourself!

Map of Seychelles (from seychellesbookings.com)

Direct flights to the Seychelles from Russia have not yet been opened. Therefore, the best way to fly to the Seychelles from Moscow is to buy tickets with a transfer in one of Arab countries, for example, in the UAE or Turkey. Tourists also often choose a flight from Moscow to Seychelles with a short connection in Europe (usually via Serbia).

How long is the flight to Seychelles? It all depends on the choice of airline and the number of transfers. If you take inexpensive tickets Moscow - Seychelles at a price of 500-600 dollars, then the travel time will be from 18 to 24 hours. But air tickets to the Seychelles from Russia with a short connection in Dubai will cost more, $600-800 per person, and the entire flight will take only 13 hours.

It is important to know: If you want to fly to the Seychelles, keep in mind that the time difference with Moscow is only +1 hour, which is not so much. Remember to set your watch forward after landing in Seychelles so that it shows exact time in the Seychelles.

Upon arrival in the Seychelles, you arrive on the island of Mahe, in the center of which the Seychelles International Airport is located. Then tourists need to think about transfer to the hotel:

• Vacationers on the island of Mahe can simply order a transfer: anywhere on the island can be reached in 30-40 minutes by bus from the hotel.
• To Praslin Island You can fly from Mahe using domestic airlines - Air Seychelles or take a ferry. Many expensive five star hotels organize private transfer by helicopter from the airport directly to the hotel - it usually costs from $600.
• You can get to La Digue island by ferry from Mahe; the journey takes about 3 hours. Or use a combined method: first get to Praslin (by plane or ferry), and then take a ferry to La Digue (it takes only 20 minutes). This is convenient if you choose both islands for your vacation and live on each of them in turn.
• To Silhouette Island tourists are brought exclusively by helicopter, since there are only two hotels there, one of which, Hilton, organizes this transfer.

To get to other private islands, like Providence, where Seychelles House 2 is filmed, hotel guests usually book a helicopter transfer. But some of them, for example, Fregate Island, can be reached by ferry. This is due to the fact that the Frigate is an important tourist destination and is interesting to many travelers from a historical point of view.

As I said, to have a great holiday in the Seychelles, first you need to choose an island, and then a hotel and a beach on it. For the most curious travelers, I recommend visiting all three main islands, especially if the number of days on your vacation allows it.

So how are they different? islands in Seychelles?

• Mahe- this is the central and most big Island in the Seychelles, where the international airport and the capital Victoria are located. The city of Victoria itself is a small copy of London (after all, the Seychelles used to be an English colony) and at the same time competes with for the title of the smallest capital in the world. There are amazing beaches along the shores of Mahe, there are a lot of them - about 70 in total! Despite the fact that Mahe is a busy island, its western part is very quiet, and this is where the most prestigious and expensive hotels are located. Also on Mahe there is nature reserve — national park Seychelles Morne (Morne Seychellois National Park), in the middle of which is the most high mountain in the Seychelles - Morne Blance (height 907 meters) and the jungle around. Among other things, Mahe also has tea plantations - a heritage of the British. Almost an ideal island for relaxation - both beach and active, right?
• Praslin — beautiful island, which is unique for its unusual palm trees, for which a national park was even organized here. It’s not for nothing that Seychelles was called a leader among honeymoon trips, because the coconuts of local palm trees look like a heart! So Praslin is the island of love in the Seychelles. The beaches here are as beautiful as those on the island of Mahe, but on Praslin they are quieter. At the same time, in small towns can be found and nightlife- bars and discos. Divers also come to Praslin who dream of exploring the underwater world in local waters. So if you also dream of diving, be sure to include Praslin Island in your Seychelles itinerary.
• La Digue- This is the smallest among the granite islands, and at the same time it has the largest rocks. If we continue to compare the islands, and call Mahe an island-city, and Praslin a small town, then La Digue is undoubtedly a village. At the same time, the village is cozy and fantastically beautiful. This is a way to get away from everything and everyone, live among tropical beauty, relax on snow-white beaches and relax in silence. It also has its own attractions, such as Eagle's Nest Mountain and Union Estate Park. It was also on the island of La Digue that the iconic film “Goodbye Emmanuel” was once filmed, and there you can even see the preserved house of the planter from this movie. By the way, it will be important for budget travelers to know that on the island of La Digue hotel prices are significantly lower compared to other Seychelles islands, both the most expensive room categories and simpler accommodation.
• Silhouette- This wild island in the Seychelles. Yes, after a village, you can call an island with only two hotels in the middle of the jungle wild. So if even the village atmosphere is too crowded, welcome to Silhouette, where there are very few people.

Sand and beautiful beaches in Seychelles

All beaches in Seychelles sandy and located in small coves (you will immediately notice their names in French - anse, which means bay). That is, if the name contains the words Anse, it means a bay, and therefore a beach. Another feature of the beaches in the Seychelles is that they are all municipal. That is, everyone can come and relax, even if you are staying in a five-star hotel.

Tourists who come to the Seychelles inexpensively are quite happy with this arrangement. Since sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach are free, you can book a cheaper hotel on the second line, and go to the beach of expensive hotels and not deny yourself anything.

Helpful advice: What to do if you want to relax on a beach where there are few people? There is a solution - choose a hotel away from settlements, then there will be no one to come to the beach except tourists.

Many beaches in the Seychelles are without waves, as the bays are surrounded by breakwaters and special fortifications. One of these beaches is the most popular and party place Beau Vallon Beach, which is located near the capital of Victoria. This means that the Seychelles is ready for the arrival of families with children and those tourists who are not very good swimmers. But also places with good waves There are also surfing and diving spots - especially on the islands of Denis, Felicite, Alphonse and Silhouette.

Intendance Beach - the most beautiful in the Seychelles

Which beach to choose in Seychelles?

Do you need insurance in Seychelles?

Insurance in Seychelles will be necessary, especially if you plan to study active species sports And for everyone else who just wants to relax on the beach, just in case, it’s better to take care of their health and not leave it to chance. I also recommend purchasing health insurance if you are going on vacation with children.

Compared to the total cost of a holiday in the Seychelles, insurance is not at all expensive. However, if you need to use medicine in the Seychelles, it will greatly help in saving on medical care costs.

Don’t forget, Seychelles is Africa after all! But at the same time, you do not need to do any special vaccinations before the trip.

Visa to Seychelles

For tourists visa to Seychelles not required if the period of stay in the Seychelles does not exceed 30 days (as well as).

So if you are flying for two or three weeks, feel free to take your international passport and tickets, and at Pointe Larue International Airport (Mahe Island) upon arrival you will be given an entry stamp and - welcome to the Seychelles! All you have to do is go through customs.

By the way, before your flight, read the list of what you cannot bring to the Seychelles and what you cannot take out, as well as how much cash you can bring and take with you to the Seychelles.

Currency in Seychelles and what money to take with you

Official currency in Seychelles is the Seychelles Rupee (SCR). There are 100 cents in 1 rupee. Banknotes in denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 rupees and coins of 1 and 5 rupees, as well as cents - 1, 5, 10 and 25 are in use.

Despite the fact that prices in the Seychelles are indicated in rupees, in the Seychelles you can officially pay with other money - American dollars and euros, which are used here on a par with the rupee. So you can take both dollars and euros with you to the Seychelles, but cash rubles must first be exchanged for foreign currency.

• The exchange rate of the Seychelles rupee to the dollar is quite stable and does not change significantly. It averages 14 rupees per 1 US dollar. 1 rupee = 4 rubles, 1 euro = 16.5 rupees.
• It is not difficult to exchange dollars for local currency. This can be done at the airport, in many ways. exchange offices in the city, bank branches or directly at your hotel.
• It is important to know that the reverse exchange of money - from rupees to dollars or euros - is possible only if you have the original currency exchange receipt. So don't throw it away unless you plan to leave with Rs. Moreover, it is generally prohibited to export more than 2 thousand rupees per person from the country.
• In hotels and restaurants it is better to pay for services by bank card. And in transport, small shops and cafes, cash is preferred - local rupees, dollars or euros.
• Tipping in Seychelles is usually 10% and is already included in the bill. Unlike and, all taxes that must be paid for accommodation are usually already immediately included in the prices shown in the hotel booking system. That is, this is the final price and there is no need to calculate anything additional and estimate how much more you will have to add.

When is the best time to fly to Seychelles - weather and seasons for holidays

Climate in Seychelles- tropical, but very soft. Temperatures fluctuate slightly between months throughout the year. We can say that the weather in the Seychelles is approximately the same all year round: average temperature the air during the day is +26..29°C, and the water temperature is +25..28°C. There are no strong winds, and rains occur much more often in winter than in summer.

Seasons in Seychelles not as pronounced as in Maldives. This is not to say that there is a time when you shouldn’t even think about flying to the Seychelles. You just need to keep in mind that during the winter period from December to February there is more rainfall. Moreover, the rainiest month in the Seychelles is January, and in December and February there is also quite a lot of rainfall. Therefore, it is better not to travel to the Seychelles in winter. Although you can take a risk if you are not a big fan of going into the jungle or going on excursions to see nature. It rains in the mountainous regions of Mahe and Silhouette islands. In this, the Seychelles are similar to Hawaii. It may rain in the mountains, but the sun is on the beach. The rest of the year - spring, summer and autumn - the Seychelles is a great holiday!

Conventionally, the seasons in the Seychelles are usually divided into two:

• hot from December to May, with rain from December to February;
• cool - from June to November, when the air temperature is quite pleasant and there is little rain.

Thus, When is the best time to fly to Seychelles?? That's right, summer! But it is also possible in spring and autumn.

You may ask, but how? new year holidays, and is it really not worth going to the Seychelles in winter? You can take a chance and try to go, because the weather in the Seychelles at this time is generally not bad, but if you still want to guarantee yourself a 100% sunny vacation on the beach, then it is better to choose from December to March.

Transport and car rental in Seychelles

The Seychelles is an island nation, but it is developed enough to cleverly arrange transport links between its islands.

There are several ways to travel between the Seychelles using different transport:

• With Air Seychelles, you can fly between the two largest islands in the Seychelles - Mahe and Praslin. In addition, this company connects Seychelles with other islands and countries in the Indian Ocean - Madagascar and Mauritius, as well as mainland Africa - Tanzania, Kenya and others.
• Public ferries They also go between the islands, and this type of transport is the cheapest in the Seychelles. In just an hour you can get from Mahe to Praslin. It will take another twenty minutes to swim between Praslin and La Digue. And in two hours you can get from Mahe to Fregate.
• Helicopter is the most convenient way to get not only to private islands or Silhouette, but also right on the territory of the most prestigious hotels on all islands, including Mahe, there are equipped helipads.

Ground transportation on the islands:

• Mahe and Praslin also have good local transport. There are clear and convenient ground transport routes with the opportunity to buy ticket for the whole day for only 5 rupees (about 40 US cents). Buses run from early morning until the evening. There are also minibuses (minibuses) that connect Mahe International Airport with the capital Victoria.
• A taxi in the Seychelles is also a great way to get to your hotel, go to the store or visit attractions, and it’s very inexpensive. Taxi pays according to the meter. Landing (or rather the first kilometer) costs 15 rupees, and then another 5 rupees are added for each subsequent one. For example, during the day you can get from the airport to the capital for only 75 rupees (at night it will be more expensive).

Car rent- this is the most convenient way to see the island of Mahe or Praslin on your own. If you are planning to see nature or go to the mountains, then it is better to immediately take a four-wheel drive vehicle and be an experienced driver. Road traffic in the Seychelles, drive on the left, and the roads in the mountains are narrow and in some places look like serpentines.

• To rent a car in the Seychelles, you will need an international driving license (IDP), and your driving experience must be more than 3 years.
• There are not many gas stations in the Seychelles: only 6 gas stations on the island of Mahe and 2 more on Praslin. It is better to know their location in advance so as not to be left without gasoline when you rent a car in the Seychelles.
• It is also worth remembering that the maximum permissible speed in the Seychelles is 65 km/h, and in the city it is generally only 45 km/h.

Bicycle rental will be most useful on La Digue Island. But on other islands you can also try to travel by bike, if you have experience and desire.

Diving, surfing - what to do in Seychelles

- this is interesting not only for those who already master this skill, but also for beginners who just want to try scuba diving. The Indian Ocean is very a nice place for scuba diving. In addition, near the Seychelles there are various unique fish and giant Aldabra turtles.

• Visibility in the water near the Seychelles is up to 30 meters;
• The best time for diving in the Seychelles is from September to October and April to May.

The best places for snorkeling are along the coast of the islands (the boat ride takes about 10-40 minutes). Don't miss the UNESCO-protected Aldabra Island and the site of the English tanker Ennerdale Rocks, where turtles and a variety of deep-sea fish now live. Other recommended dive spots are Mammel Island and Tropheus Rocks.

Surfing It is also popular in the Seychelles, especially on the islands of Mahe and Praslin.

Where to surf in Seychelles:

• On the island of Mahe, the best beaches are Grand Anse, Beau Vallon and Anse Bougueville. In the west of the island the waves are more unpredictable, while in the east they are calmer;
• On the island of Praslin, Anse Lazio beach is ideal;
• On the island of Silhouette - Anse Lascar.

Beaches in the Seychelles for surfing by skill level:

• Beaches for beginners in surfing: Beau Vallon and Carana (Mahe);
• Beaches only for pros: Anse Bougainville, Anse Royale, Barbaron and Misfit Bay (Mahe);
• Beaches for people of all skill levels: Anse Goulette (La Digue), Bel Ombre and Anse Intendance (Mahe).

Brief history and culture of Seychelles

History of the Seychelles closely related to European discoveries. There is practically no information left about the time that existed before the Europeans first landed in the Seychelles. Except that the Arab pirates used some islands (Silhouette, Frigate) for their base. Also, the Malays from Borneo could replenish their supplies of water and provisions in the Seychelles on their way to Madagascar.

But as for the written history of the Seychelles, it begins from the moment when the great navigator Vasco da Gama sailed past them at the very beginning of the 16th century (in 1502) on his way to India. For some time these were no man's lands, but the British first declared their territory of the Seychelles when, following in the footsteps of Vasco da Gama more than a century later (in 1609), they sailed to India and were caught in a storm. Seeing the land, the British landed in the Seychelles and immediately decided that this piece of paradise was now in the possession of the English crown. However, since resort islands were not in fashion then, it was not entirely clear how these lands in the middle of the ocean could be useful. And the British left them alone, but first they described them in detail.

Then, a little more than a century later, the French became interested in the islands and founded the first settlements there. They arrived in the Seychelles in 1756, looked around, and decided that, together with Mauritius, the Seychelles would make an excellent base for them (Mauritius is a source of sugar cane). Then they brought people here from Madagascar and East Africa, turning them into slaves. The name Seychelles did not appear immediately. The Seychelles Islands began to be called this way in the second half of the 18th century in honor of the French Minister of Finance, Jean Moreau de Sechelles.

During the wars with Napoleon, which took place not only on land, but also at sea (many remember Nelson’s victory), battles also took place in the distant Indian Ocean. In 1794, Britain drove the French out of the Seychelles and began cultivating huge coconut palm plantations there with the help of slaves.

In 1814, the Seychelles became a colony of England under the Treaty of Paris. Life became better under the British. At least in the sense that in 1835 they finally abolished slavery. But at the same time, they began to encourage the import of hired workers - Arabs and Indians. It was necessary to work, and someone also had to conduct trade.

The independence of the Seychelles was declared quite late (compared to India), only in 1976, when the Seychelles became a Republic ruled by a president.

Interesting facts about Seychelles:

The history of the Seychelles is quite short compared to world history. Nevertheless, a tangle of events has formed an unusual historical cocktail here.

• Despite the fact that most of the time the islands were owned by the British, the name of the country itself and all its objects is French.
• The brought slaves mastered French culture. Now it is called Creole - that is, African and French, born from mixed marriages and a common household. Now here the language is Creole, that is, it seems to be similar to French, but not quite, the cuisine is Creole, the religion is Creole: all are Catholics, but with their own African flavor.
• The fact that the British brought Arabs and Indians did not greatly affect the situation. Hindus, Arabs and other peoples in the Seychelles are in the minority. Their culture is officially recognized, but does not greatly influence general position cases, the absolute majority are still Creoles.

Attractions in Seychelles

The main attraction of the Seychelles is their fantastic nature, which is definitely worth watching. Since most tourists come here for beach holiday, then picturesque beaches on the islands for them - this is the best thing in the Seychelles. In general, the beaches here are also important attractions, and they are all different - rocky or sandy, with white or pink sand, with calm seas or high waves suitable for surfing. In general, if you have time and desire, you can personally visit many Seychelles beaches and see their unique diversity.

In the meantime, I will briefly tell you about the most interesting sights of the Seychelles:

• Source d'Argent is the most photographed beach in the Seychelles. To be more precise, this is the most photographed beach in the whole world! It is located on the island of La Digue and is famous for its granite boulders. You've probably seen this photo on the Internet. It was precisely because of this photo that I learned about the Seychelles and wanted to go there.
• Aldabra Island is one of the most famous outer Seychelles islands, which is located in a UNESCO protected region. It does not consist of granite, but coral, and is located geographically closer to Africa, next to the Comoros. The peculiarity of this island, in addition to its extraordinary lagoon where divers come to dive, is that Seychelles giant turtles live there - unique marine inhabitants. All in all, it's worth paying a pretty penny to see them in natural environment habitats and get to know them.
• Bird Island, which is a half-hour flight from Mahe, is especially popular from May to September. From the name it is immediately clear that this island is the habitat of birds, black terns. In the summer (winter for the Southern Hemisphere) there are so many of them that you can become deaf from their conversations.
• Curious Island, which is part national park in the Seychelles, has also become home to giant tortoises. But, as far as I understand, they were transported there from Aldabra.
• Cousin Island near Praslin is home to some endangered animals. The Seychelles is a unique place, and the animals here are endemic. And some of them, unfortunately, are on the verge of extinction.
• Vallee de Mai is another Seychelles national park on the island of Praslin where you can admire sea palms and their coco de mer nuts. I love all palm trees very much and always find time to visit them unique places, like the California Palm Garden in Joshua Tree Park. I’ll definitely set aside an hour or two for sea palms in the Seychelles.
• Victoria- this is the most Big City and the capital of Seychelles. Compared to world capitals, this town is quite small, but here you can see in detail how the British settled on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, far from rainy London.

Here's what else you can do in the Seychelles, besides sightseeing:

• Diving
• Surfing
• Fishing
• Island tours
• Trekking on Mahe and Silhouette. Why not?
• Beaching is undoubtedly the most important point of the vacation program
• Getting to know the local cuisine.

Holidays

Seychelles is a Catholic country. Therefore, the main holidays here are also Catholic, and their celebration is not much different from the usual European holidays.

Generally, holidays in Seychelles can be divided into two types:

1. Religious
2. Related to the independence of the Seychelles Republic from Great Britain (all of them occur in June).

Here are the days declared public holidays (national holidays) in the Seychelles:

• New Year(January 1-2)
• Good Friday
• Easter
• Labor Day (May 1)
• Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (June 3)
• Liberation Day (June 5)
• national day(June 18) is the main holiday in Seychelles.
• Independence Day (June 29)
• Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15)
• All Saints' Day (November 1)
• Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (December 8)
• Christmas (December 25)

Cuisine and restaurants

The cuisine in the Seychelles is special - Creole. What does it mean? Creole cuisine in the Seychelles took its island location and traditions as a basis, added European culinary delights (mostly French) on top and mixed it all with Indian spices. The result is an original tropical mix that all tourists should definitely try.

The basis of Creole cuisine is, of course, seafood. Rice, curry and coconuts are also constantly used. What do you think is the most common dish in Seychelles? Of course, rice with fish. Not just, but with spices and coconut sauce.

And since quite a lot of fish are caught in the Seychelles, then fish dishes here too in abundance. Anyone who loves seafood will not get bored in the Seychelles either - octopus, crabs, lobsters and so on. Moreover, when expensive hotels There are always European or other Asian restaurants. So it’s impossible to stay without pizza and sushi.

As for inexpensive food, the Indians always come to the rescue. If you want something local and colorful, you can always go to an Indian restaurant or buy food right on the street. It's inexpensive and adds interesting variety to your diet.

As for drinks, locals like different types of fermented coconuts, sugar cane, and mint infusions. And of course, they bring in wines - French and South African.

Tours to Seychelles and prices

Trip to Seychelles tour– this is a rather expensive pleasure, but almost every tourist can go there. The price of the tour depends on the cost of the flight, the luxury of the hotel and the distance of the island from the airport (transfer fee), as well as on your special preferences. Since there are practically no experienced tour operators in the Seychelles, it will take a very long time to book a trip to the Seychelles with them. It is much more convenient to organize your trip yourself, especially since it is not at all difficult. In this case Seychelles tour for two will cost much less since you will not pay a large commission to the travel agent.

Tour price to Seychelles strongly depends on the season (in summer from June to August - high season and the highest prices, and even on New Year’s it can be very expensive), as well as on your ability to save and desire to understand the features of a holiday in the Seychelles before starting your trip. Because you can immediately book the most expensive hotel and quickly spend all the money in a few days on expensive entertainment, as in the Heads and Tails Seychelles program. But it would be much more rational to calculate in advance the approximate budget of the tour to the Seychelles, taking into account your own wishes, choose good hotel on the beach or in nature, plan a cultural program and sightseeing to see as much as possible.

As an example, I will provide information about Seychelles price for two- airfare and double rooms in hotels, if you book a room yourself on the website Booking.com:

But how much do ready-made tours to the Seychelles cost with a flight from Moscow - the price for two, taking into account fuel surcharges and all surcharges (without meals, only breakfast or all inclusive):

Types of tours to the Seychelles	Price for two
Tour to Seychelles (7 nights) – 3* hotel on Mahe island without meals	160 thousand rubles
Tour to Seychelles (7 nights) – 3* hotel on Mahe island, breakfast included	180 thousand rubles
Tour to Seychelles (7 nights) - 4* hotel on Praslin island, 2 meals a day	360 thousand rubles
Tour to Seychelles (10 nights) – 4* hotel on Praslin island, all inclusive	500 thousand rubles
Tour to Seychelles (7 nights) - 5* hotel on Praslin island, breakfast only	650 thousand rubles
Tour to Seychelles (7 nights) – 5* hotel on Mahe island, all inclusive	1 million rubles
Tour to Seychelles (10 nights) – 5* hotel on Praslin island, all inclusive	1.4 million rubles.

What else you need to know about the Seychelles

The best hotels in the Seychelles, where Russians most often go, are the following:

• On the island of Mahe - Kempinski Seychelles 5* and also Savoy Seychelles 5*
• On the island of Praslin - Raffles Seychelles 5*
• On the island of La Digue – Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort & Spa 4*
• On Silhouette Island - Hilton Seychelles 5*

In general, Russians are not often found in the Seychelles, but some rich people here have their own villa, registered in a Seychelles offshore. A few years ago, when local authorities did not disclose information about company owners, many preferred to buy property in the Seychelles in order to optimize the payment of their taxes. However, now that all data has become open, keeping money in the Seychelles has ceased to be as profitable as it was before.

Offering a private beach, Domaine Desaubin Luxury Villas is located on Mahe Island. It offers open pool, garden and terrace. Stunning villa with wonderful owners, real paradise on the ground. In the Seychelles you will not find a better option; no expensive chain hotel can compare with the hospitality and kindness of the owners, the stunning tropical garden and the beauty of the villa itself. The villa is in a wonderful quiet place on the ocean shore surrounded by a garden of orchids, tropical flowers and fruit trees (a real Garden of Eden). The villa is spacious, with a great room with panoramic ocean views, a fantastic terrace (with dining area and sun loungers), a bathroom, an outdoor rain shower and a small kitchen (the kitchen has everything you need: microwave, stove, refrigerator, dishes, etc.). etc.), very comfortable bed and excellent wi-fi. Upon check-in at the villa, a pleasant compliment awaited us - a large basket of fruit, and the owners greeted us with cool coconuts and warm smiles. They clean very cleanly, almost sterile, and place fresh flowers in the villa every day. The beach is exactly three steps from the villa, the waves are quite strong, but swimming is possible, there is white sand all around, birdsong and coconut palms, in the evenings there are simply fantastic sunsets (we always met them on a sun lounger with a glass of wine). There is also a great swimming pool. Anse Intendance, the best beach on Mahe, is 5 minutes away. The hosts anticipate any desire: they will always reserve a table in a restaurant, treat you to fruit, and help you with any question. One day we were even invited to release newborn sea turtles into the ocean ( unforgettable experience that cannot be described in words). If you need to rent a car (and I definitely recommend renting a car on Mahe, because the island is fantastic and you definitely need to go around it), then the owners will also help with this issue. Large Seychelles turtles and peacocks live on the territory, there are many places where you can relax (hammocks, sun loungers, benches, swings). Not far from the villa there are many supermarkets with a varied selection of products, along the way locals sell fruit. Ideal place for the perfect vacation!

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Average price/night: RUB 8,417.

9.9 Excellent 26 reviews

Mahe

Villa Lima is located in the Au Cap Beach area of ​​Mahe. The windows offer sea views. It"s a brand new apartment, very well equipped. The view from the balcony is just amazing! I could have sit there and just enjoyed the view the whole day. There are some shops just down the hill. The owner Agnelle lives nearby and is very helpful, gave us precise directions to the apartment and Tips for excursions, beaches etc. We were lucky, as the apartment was free the next day we could check out late in the evening, and enjoyed the whole "extra" day. It is not negative, but the price for this amazing view is the very step road, that"s why we recommend a rental car.

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Average price/night: RUB 5,755.

9.8 Excellent 6 reviews

Mahe

Bois Joli is located on Mahe Island. It offers villas with a private pool, terrace and sea views. It features an outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi. Very modern,spacious,clean and comfortable villa,is much better than it appears in photos.Very well equipped kitchen with everything you need for cooking.The owner Judith was very kind and helpful,she welcomed us and took time to explain everything we needed know about the villa.Breakfast was very nice and tastefully served.Great place surrounded by nature,but I strongly recommend renting a car. A beautiful villa surrounded by nature, very modern and perfectly clean, the kitchen is fully equipped with everything necessary for cooking. I really liked the breakfast that was prepared by the hostess, everything was delicious and served beautifully and aesthetically. In reality the villa is much better than in the photo, very high-quality plumbing, everything is thought out to the smallest detail. I strongly recommend renting a car, because without transport it is almost impossible to stay there.

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Average price/night: RUB 8,633.

9.6 Excellent 42 reviews

Mahe

Casa De Bella is located on Mahe Island. It features a garden and free Wi-Fi. The windows overlook the garden. Guests staying at the apartments have access to a fully equipped kitchen.

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Average price/night: RUB 5,036.

9.1 Excellent 13 reviews

Mahe

Dar & Douce Apartments is located in Anse aux Pins Beach on Mahe Island. It features barbecue facilities, a garden and a terrace. It features air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

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Average price/night: RUB 7,194.

9.6 Excellent 15 reviews

Chello's Villa

Mahe

Featuring a hot tub, Villa Chello is located on Mahe Island. This beachfront house offers free Wi-Fi. I liked absolutely everything! The owner is an incredible person. I have never seen such hospitality anywhere in the Seychelles! Resolve absolutely any issue! For an additional fee, he prepared incredible dinners for us in the evenings! You can walk to the store in 5 minutes (go right (immediately after the sports ground you need to cross the road and you are there). A huge house with three bedrooms, a living room, several bathrooms, two kitchens, a veranda, a balcony on the second floor. The house has everything you need! I regretted that I booked this house for only 2 nights. I advise you to stay here for a few nights, because the place is fantastic! Thank you again for the unforgettable atmosphere throughout all 3 days!

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9.6 Excellent 38 reviews

Grand Anse (Near Mahe)

Family apartment complex Precious Residence C with free Wi-Fi and air conditioning is located on Grand Anse Beach, 1.5 km from the National Biodiversity Centre. I liked everything very much, the owners are very nice people, they will help tell you where to go, they gave you an electronic bus schedule, it’s convenient to move around and very cheap. They invited me to their house for dinner in the evening and treated me to dinner and wine. The rooms are spacious, there is a kitchen, everything you need to cook, including a multicooker, and everything is working. They clean every day and there is a towel for the beach. I advise)

Mahe Island - surrounded by greenery snow-white beaches attract beach lovers from all over the world. But the island of Mahe is not only rich in beaches; you can have a wonderful holiday here.

Mahe Seychelles, Mahe island, get to Mahe

Mahe Island is the largest island of the Republic of Seychelles. Here is the international airport and the capital of the Seychelles - Victoria. international Airport Pointe Larue is located just 9 kilometers from Victoria. There are several options to get to the island, but you still can’t do it without a transfer. Most a budget option- is to fly through Qatar with a connection at Doha airport with Qatar Airways. On such a flight, the connection lasts from 1.5 to 3.5 hours. The most popular option Russian tourists- is to fly through the Emirates with Emirates Airlines with a connection in. On such a flight, the connection is about three hours, but on the way back you need to spend the night in Dubai. There is also the option of connections in Europe. IN largest airports Europe needs to connect with Air Seychelles, but this is far from the most economical option.

Mahe Island. Victoria

A little bit of history

The first visitors to Mahe Island were the British in 1609. The next to arrive on the island were the French in 1742, who dominated the island until 1814. Mahe then became part of a British colony, and remained so until 1976, until the independence of the Seychelles. Mahe received its name in honor of the French governor Bertrand Francois Mahe, who founded the military port of Louis here, which later became the capital of Victoria. Today Mahe is the main tourist, economic and shopping mall countries. It is from Mahe that you can get to any island in the Seychelles.

Beaches on Mahe

Of course, when going on vacation to the island of Mahe, you should take into account the fact that this is a place for a beach holiday. There are 68 beaches on the island. Here you will find lively beaches with bars, cafes, restaurants, discos and shops. The beaches have a well-developed tourist infrastructure - tourists are offered to rent equipment for diving, snorkeling, surfing and windsurfing, water skiing, excursions on sea boats and yachts.

The largest and most popular beach is Beau Vallon. Life on this beach does not stop for a minute. This beach is well protected coral reef from high waves. The beach is located just three kilometers from Victoria. Northern part Anse Intendense beach is nudist, and Anse Royale beach is ideal for snorkeling. Almost all hotels on the island have open access beaches not only for guests, but also for everyone. If you want privacy, then you should go to the beaches of Anse Soleli or Anse Petit Polis, which can only be reached by jeep. In addition, buses run to all beaches on the island, so it won’t be difficult for you to choose a beach to your liking.

Attractions Mahe

You shouldn’t devote your entire vacation only to the ocean, sand and sun; be sure to see the island. Take an adventurous walk to the top of the Morne, which is located in the heart of the National natural park Morn. Its height reaches 905 meters, and from its top you can see amazing landscape shores of the island. Or to the Royal Garden "Le Jardin du Rau", which is located just two kilometers from Anse Royale beach. Here you can enjoy a fine collection of spices, a planter's house that houses a museum, or dine overlooking the ocean.

Victoria Seychelles

Of course, we shouldn’t forget about the capital of the Seychelles – Victoria. By the way, this is the smallest capital in the world, there are only two streets, at the intersection of which stands the London Big Ben in miniature. The main attractions of the city are the Museum of Natural History, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a tiny Historical Museum. Look into Botanical Garden Mont Fleury and the Orchid Garden, which has existed on the island for over 100 years. Here you will find amazing exotic plants, majestic trees and magnificent meadows. The total area of ​​the garden is more than 6 hectares.

Visit the artisan village, where you can buy souvenirs from local artisans, coconut products, and also have a snack in a restaurant. And if you drive a couple of minutes from the village, you can get to the Creole Institute, which is located in a unique colonial building. Another interesting place on the island is a National Marine Sanctuary. This reserve is famous for its tiger shark sightings. During their appearance, they lazily eat plankton right on the surface.