Seychelles is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa. Often compared with the Maldives because of its stunning beaches and turquoise waters, Seychelles is considered one of the more upmarket beach destinations in the world. In this post, I will share our experience of visiting Seychelles along with some practical information and tips.
Prologue
Seychelles was never high on my travel wishlist. Tanu was at home for her college holidays and we had about a week available for a trip.
June is usually not an easy month for travel. It is peak holiday season in many Western countries, and several destinations are either too hot or receive heavy rainfall. While searching for suitable options, Seychelles came up on my radar. The weather looked pleasant and relatively dry, and IndiGo had direct flights from Mumbai. The airfare looked reasonable, though not exactly cheap. After some thought, I went ahead and booked it.
This was just before the Middle East conflict escalated. Out of curiosity, I checked the fares again a week before our departure and noticed that ticket prices had already increased by almost 25%.
About Seychelles
Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. It lies northeast of Madagascar and east of mainland Africa. The country was ruled by both the French and the British before gaining independence in 1976.
Today, Seychelles has one of the highest GDPs per capita in Africa and is one of the continent’s premier tourist destinations. An interesting fact is that the islands were uninhabited before European settlement, which means that everyone in Seychelles traces their roots to migrants from different parts of the world.
The country’s population is a mix of African, European and Asian ancestry, giving it a unique cultural identity.
Visa
Seychelles requires all travellers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arrival. While it is not technically a visa, it works in a similar way. I have made a post on that here.
Getting There
We travelled on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Mahé. IndiGo currently operates direct flights four times a week. Air Seychelles previously operated flights to Mumbai, but that service appears to have been discontinued.
The journey was uneventful in the best possible way. All our flights departed and arrived on time, landed safely, and our luggage arrived promptly at the baggage belt. It was a typical IndiGo experience with nothing special to report.
Our Itinerary
The three main islands visited by most tourists are Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
Mahé is the largest island and home to Seychelles International Airport and the capital city, Victoria. While staying on all three islands would be ideal, it would also increase both cost and logistics.
We decided to stay only in Mahé and make a day trip to Praslin and La Digue. It was a long day, but it worked out well and saved us the hassle of changing accommodation.
We had six days in Seychelles. Apart from the day trip to Praslin and La Digue, we spent our time exploring beaches, going on hikes and simply relaxing.
Hikes We Did
- Anse Major Trail
- Copolia Trail
Beaches We Visited
- Anse Royale
- Beau Vallon
- Anse Major
- Petite Anse (inside Four Seasons Resort)
- Anse Intendance
- Anse Lazio, Praslin – often ranked among the best beaches in the world
- Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue – one of the most photographed beaches in the world
We also spent a few hours exploring Victoria, the capital city of Seychelles.
Getting Around Mahé
We rented a car for the entire duration of our stay. For a short trip like ours, it was the most convenient and practical option.
Car rentals are extremely common in Seychelles and most tourists rent a vehicle. There are many local rental agencies. After some research, I booked a Suzuki Swift automatic from Doffay Car Rental. Overall, it was a decent experience.
The car came with an AMT transmission. Having previously driven CVT and DSG vehicles, I found the AMT less refined. The smoothness that I was used to was missing, especially during gear changes.
Mahé is a mountainous island with narrow and winding roads. Except for the stretch between the airport and Victoria, most roads are single carriageways. Despite that, driving in Seychelles was enjoyable. The roads are generally in good condition and traffic is light.
Tip
Although Mahé looks small on the map, travelling between the east and west coasts often involves crossing steep hills. When selecting accommodation, consider where most of your planned activities are located. Staying on the wrong side of the island can mean a lot of extra driving.
Accommodation
Seychelles is known for its luxury resorts, but those were well beyond our budget.
Fortunately, there are plenty of apartments, guesthouses and homestays available at more reasonable prices. We booked a two-bedroom apartment with a fully equipped kitchen and a balcony overlooking the ocean. It was a wonderful place to stay.
Having a kitchen helped us save a significant amount of money. We prepared our own breakfast and dinner instead of eating out every day.
Food
Since we had an apartment with a kitchen, we cooked most of our breakfasts and dinners. We usually ate lunch outside while sightseeing.
Vegetarian food options are somewhat limited. Indian and Italian restaurants turned out to be the safest choices for us.
Like almost everything else in Seychelles, food is expensive. Prices are broadly comparable to what you would expect in many European tourist destinations.
Mobile Network
I used an Airtel International Roaming pack and it worked without any issues throughout the trip.
One word of caution for Jio users: Seychelles is one of the few countries where Jio’s international data roaming does not currently work, so verify the latest status before travelling.
Currency and Payments
Seychelles uses the Seychellois Rupee (SCR).
I did not exchange money at the airport because the exchange rates were not attractive. Instead, I exchanged a small amount at a local bank near our apartment as a backup.
Card payments are accepted almost everywhere. In fact, some establishments accept only cards. During our trip, the only place that required cash was a parking facility at the upmarket Eden Plaza!!
Because of this, you do not need to carry a large amount of local currency.
Cost
Seychelles is an expensive destination. There is no getting around that fact.
You can reduce costs by:
- Booking flights well in advance
- Staying in apartments or homestays instead of resorts
- Cooking some of your own meals
- Renting a car and exploring independently
Even after taking these measures, Seychelles is still likely to cost more than nearby destinations such as Mauritius.
Final Thoughts
Seychelles surprised us. What started as a destination chosen mainly because of weather and flight availability turned out to be a very enjoyable trip.
The beaches are undoubtedly the highlight, but the islands also offer scenic hikes, beautiful drives and a relaxed atmosphere. Staying in Mahé and taking a day trip to Praslin and La Digue worked well for our six-day itinerary and helped keep costs under control.
If you are looking for a beach destination with crystal-clear water, dramatic granite boulders and postcard-perfect scenery, Seychelles is definitely worth considering.
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