The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 stunning tropical islands which lie just south of the equator and a mere 1000 miles from the east coast of Africa. The islands are geographically remote and endlessly fascinating, being made up of dramatic mountainous masterpieces and flat coral sand banks – all which differ from one another in scale, history and nature.
This is a destination of pristine beaches, stunning rock formations and rare and indigenous flora and fauna. The Seychelles is one of the most remote, unspoilt and unique places anywhere and this is why the Seychelles has remained one of the most desirable, evocative and expensive destinations in the world – let your Robinson Crusoe fantasies run wild. The birdlife here is particularly special and birders will find 15 endemic species between the inner islands, several which are also critically endangered.
Mahe is the archipelago’s principle island and in many ways the most beautiful. It is home to some great beaches, misty mountains, the capital Victoria, which is the world’s smallest capital city, the international airport and a whole range of places to stay. Surrounding Mahe are infinite coral reefs including the Sainte Anne Marine Park, making Mahe not only a convenient place to stay, but also particularly good for snorkelling or diving. A stay on Mahe is a must if island hopping.
Praslin is just a 15 minute flight away from Mahe. It is home to the UNESCO recognised Vallee de Mai National Park famous for its coco de mer palms, and a roll call of some of the country’s most famous beaches – Anse Lazio is regularly voted the best in the world – plus is just striking distance from La Digue, and tiny conservation islands like Cousin and Cousine. Praslin is a great place to base yourself for a longer stay, or as part of an island hopping holiday.
La Digue is best experienced as a day trip from Praslin, but you could spend a couple of days here. It is home to the impossibly beautiful Source d’Argent beach.
Even though the Seychelles may appear to be a beach bum’s paradise, there is so much to see and do here. On the water you can of course, snorkel, dive, sail, try big game fishing, but on land there are miles of walking trails to explore too, not to mention exploring the islands by road or bicycle. For this reason you could easily fill a fortnight or more island hopping or have plenty to do on one of the main islands for a week.
Places to stay in the Seychelles range from simple self-catering chalets, to mass market tourist resorts, to some of the most expensive luxury retreats in the world. There really is something to suit everyone and we know the places which will offer the best quality and value for money. This is very important as accommodation here can often be double the price of equivalent hotels on say Zanzibar.
Some of our favourite boutique hotels include Cerf Island Resort, Black Parrot Suites and Banyan Tree.
For a luxury honeymoon or time with the family, we would recommend a luxury resort like Constance Ephelia or Constance Lemuria.
Our favourite island resorts include Denis Island, Bird Island and North Island.. All are ideal for a few days total escape in small rustic lodges.
The weather in the Seychelles is hot year round. You can expect the temperature to stay between 25-30 Degrees and only short bursts of rain, usually later on in the afternoon. Cooling trade winds moderate the heat between May and October, then again from December to March.
We are currently developing this section of our website but already have close working relationships with many of the hotels to be able to offer consistent Safari&Beach value.