Seychelles is one of the smallest and most picturesque states among those that are open to Russian tourists today. There are direct flights from Moscow to the largest island of the archipelago, Mahe, and you will spend about nine hours on the way. To visit the country, you will need a PCR test in English (done no later than 72 hours before departure) and insurance with Covid coverage, as well as a travel permit. You don’t even need a visa! We’ll tell you what to do in this corner of paradise below.
Mae
Here is the capital of Seychelles – Victoria. Only 25,000 people live in the city (a third of the population of the entire archipelago). In Victoria All travelers flying to the Seychelles are doomed to visit, because only here there is an international airport – one in the whole country (as well as the only university, museum, Hindu temple and traffic light). From here you can go to any of the islands you are interested in by ferry, boat, yacht, helicopter or plane.
What to do on Mahe
Many people think that there is nothing to do here, but if you have a couple of transit days, it’s time to refute such a misconception. For example, going for a long walk through the Royal Garden(also called the Spice Garden). Here you can see how popular spices grow in nature: cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, chili, cocoa, vanilla. Avocados, bananas, lemons, pineapples and other fruits also grow in the park. The Royal Garden was founded in the 18th century: curiously, for the last two centuries it has been owned by representatives of the same family.
Afterwards, go to the reefless wild beach Anse Intendance: this is a secluded lagoon where there is everything that makes it worth going to the Seychelles – snow-white sand, the clearest blue waters of the Indian Ocean and palm thickets. You can swim here only in calm weather, but during strong waves this place attracts surfers. But even if you can’t swim, stay to watch the sunset and drink a cocktail made from local rum (the only infrastructure on this beach is a cocktail bar).
The island of Mahe is home to the beautiful Saint Anne Marine National Park, a popular destination for divers and yachtsmen. The best way to explore it is by water: be sure to swim to the wild Baie-Ternet beach with thickets of mangrove trees, and go snorkeling and scuba diving to the sunken British tanker Ennerdale. In the early 1970s, it hit a rock and sank to the bottom: today it is favored by huge conger eels, stingrays, lionfish and barracudas. Another attraction of the park is the Trompez Rocks, which rises to the surface of the water from a depth of 20 meters. Here divers can admire tuna, sharks and musketeer fish.
Those who prefer “land” activities are attracted by Morne National Park. This is an ideal place for hiking through the hills and mountains of volcanic origin, covered with tropical trees and relict bushes. There are 12 routes of varying difficulty along the Morne, suitable for both hiking professionals and families with children. The territory contains the highest mountain of the island – Morne Blanc. You can climb to the top and enjoy panoramic views of the neighboring islands – La Digue and Praslin.
Mahe is also home to the popular restaurant Marie Antoinette, famous for having on the menu the most eccentric local dish – bat curry. True, in light of recent world events, those wishing to try it have decreased significantly.
Where to stay
In the Oceanic View apartment with sea views;
In the intimate boutique hotel Hilltop;
In the five-star Constance Ephelia hotel in the lagoon of the Port Launay marine reserve;
In the stylish villas of the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa with personal pools.
Praslin
This is the second largest among the Seychelles islands, which nevertheless can be explored on foot, because its dimensions are only 11 by 4 km. In the southern part of Praslin there is a national park of the same name, famous for its rain forest: they say its appearance does not change, and today this forest of relict plants looks the same as it did millions of years ago. You should go for walks here, but the park will especially be loved by tourists interested in botany: six species of endemic palm trees grow here and black parrots live.
Another Praslin National Park, Vallée de Mai, will interest tourists with a huge array of a rare type of palm tree – coco de mer. Their nut has a peculiar shape and looks like a woman’s buttocks, which did not stop it from becoming a real symbol of the country and showing off on the coat of arms of the Seychelles. It is believed that it was here that the government of the country managed to preserve the pristine grove of this plant.
The main beach of the island is named Côte d’Or, or Anse Volbert, and it attracts fans of water sports: surfing, kitesurfing, water skiing, kayaking. There is also a diving center with equipment rental and a swimming pool for training dives. They rarely swim here: most of the year, algae interfere with this. But swimming lovers will still be lucky to stop at Praslin, where there are wonderful beaches Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette(belongs to the Anse Constance Lemuria hotel, must be booked by phone) and Anse Marie Louise with a stunning natural pool that fills at high tide. The beaches of Praslin are distinguished by the rich blue color of the water, which is explained by the almost complete absence of coral reefs around the island.
Where to stay
At the Palm Beach Hotel in a colonial style building overlooking the Indian Ocean;
At the luxurious Coco de Mer Hotel and Black Parrot Suites with its own pier and private beach.& nbsp;
La Digue
It’s worth coming here if you are tired of countless activities and just want to soak up the coast of incredible beauty, because this is where the leaders of all kinds of beach ratings are located. Thus, Anse Source d’Argent is the best in the world according to National Geographic magazine. Next to it there is a bungalow, which became the location for the filming of the popular erotic film of the 1970s, “Goodbye Emmanuelle,” and a vanilla plantation, which will also be interesting to visit. Anse-Marronalmost as beautiful, but a little more difficult to access (and, as a result, almost deserted, which will appeal to lovers of “wild” swimming).
And here is Grand Anse was recognized as the world’s best beach by CNN in 2013, but few people decide to swim here because of the high waves: this place is chosen by surfers. By the way, the entire Seychelles coastline is open and free for tourists, even if it is located on the territory of prestigious hotels: this rule is enshrined in the legislation of the islands.
Guests to La Digue can also admire the giant century-old tortoises – their colonies live in the park-reserve Union Estate. The excursions are conducted on horseback, which is an unusual experience. The park is located on land that two centuries ago belonged to the aristocratic Hossen family. Today, all that remains of their estates is a wooden colonial-style house with a roof made of palm leaves: this building now belongs to the former president of the state, France-Albert Rene.
Where to stay
At the four-star Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie Resort and Spa with authentic villas, a picturesque swimming pool and outdoor baths on the terraces;
La Digue Island Lodge with its own diving center on Anse Reunion Beach.
Silhouette
This is An island-reserve, lovers of snorkeling (underwater observations with a mask) and fishing come here. Here you can catch and cook with your own hands (or ask a chef from the restaurant) any sea creatures: lobsters, shrimp, crabs and a variety of fish.
At the same time, people come to Silhouette for its pristine nature: although the island is the third largest, it is almost untouched by civilization. They say that it was possible to “preserve” the tropical paradise here thanks to the inaccessible granite rocks on the shore; for a long time after colonization, they simply could not approach it.
Where to stay
In the only hotel – Hilton Seyshelles Labriz Resort & SPA, whose guest houses are lost in the jungle.
Kuzin
This tiny granite island (area only 30 hectares) is private property. But the owners willingly receive guests: they have created a reserve of exotic birds on Kuzino (about 300 thousand birds live here). This is also where Indo-Pacific hawksbill turtles lay their eggs. On Kuzina, tourists can communicate with the oldest inhabitant of the Seychelles – George the tortoise, who is already more than 160 years old, which, however, does not stop him from begging guests for treats.
Kuzina is home to one of the best spa centers in the Seychelles – Beach House. The procedures here use natural cosmetics made from local ingredients.
Where to stay
This is the most expensive island of Seychelles. There is only one hotel here – luxury villas Cousine Island Seychelles.
Aldabra Atoll
Four large and many small coral islands are far from civilization. Aldabra has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is almost untouched by people: huge colonies of giant Seychelles land tortoises live here (according to the most conservative estimates, there are about 150,000 of them here!).
In addition to turtles, there are endemic animals, such as the last surviving flightless bird in the Indian Ocean, the white-throated rail. And also a colony of frigatebirds and dugongs.
There is not a single hotel on Aldabra: you can only get here with an organized group on a yacht. During the excursion, visitors are instructed to behave as carefully as possible so as not to interfere with the smooth flow of life of aboriginal animals and not harm the environment.
*Prices valid at time of publication
