The Seychelles

Crystal-clear water, white-sand beaches and perfect temperatures year round – the Seychelles is at the top of almost every traveller’s bucket list. And rightly so! This island paradise caters to families, scuba divers and water sports enthusiasts alike.

From Mahé to paradise! On arrival at Seychelles International Airport in Mahé, onward travel is by sailing boat - to the gorgeous little islands in the Indian Ocean for a holiday of pure relaxation. Graced with year-round sunshine and temperatures almost consistently at 30 degrees Celsius, the best time to travel to this heavenly part of the world is any time!

A magnificent island with magnificent beaches

Some of the Seychelles islands are still uninhabited, such as Cousin Island: the former coconut plantation is, today, a nature preserve with many rare animal and plant species. La Digue is very different: it is the smallest of the three main inhabited islands and home to the most popular beaches of the Seychelles. The beach at Anse Source d’Argent with its fascinating natural rock formations in the dazzling white sand provides a postcard-perfect setting. The beach of Anse Lazio, on the island of Praslin, is similarly popular and features equally picture-perfect attributes.

Thanks to a plethora of coral reefs and colourful fish, snorkelers and scuba divers soon discover a passion for the Seychelles. Boasting a wealth of coral reefs and fish in every imaginable hue, the Sainte Anne Marine National Park is a particularly coveted snorkelling spot. A case in point is the marine life in the Sunset Rocks to the north-west that hosts rare species such as crayfish, scorpion fish and octopus.

Capital on a small scale

Anyone eager for a little more action, or a brief change from all the fabulous nature, is encouraged to visit Victoria. Having said that, with just 25,000 inhabitants and just two sets of traffic lights, the island capital exudes a rather laid-back vibe. The town’s most impressive edifice is the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, built in 1992 for the 5000 Hindus on the island of Mahé. The temple features a colourful and richly adorned roof, and is an eye-catcher for any photographer. By the way, the currency of the Seychelles is the rupee. It is worth paying with the local currency as, although euros and dollars are accepted in many places, visitors using foreign currencies often end up paying higher prices.