In the evolution of its society, Seychelles has remained faithful to its multi-ethnic roots. For over two centuries, the islands have remained a melting pot of different races, traditions and religions from the four corners of the earth.
Inspired by its grand diversity of cultural influences, ethnic diversity with racial harmony remain the mainstays of today’s vibrant yet tranquil Creole nation for which harmony is a way of life.
The Seychelles is home to no less than two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the legendary Vallée de Mai on Praslin where the wondrously shaped Coco-de-mer nut grows high on ancient palms and the fabled Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atoll, first seen by early Arab seafarers of the 9th century A.D.
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There is no yellow fever in Seychelles and as a precaution, a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age who come from or who have passed through a partly or wholly infected area within the preceding 6 days.
There is NO risk of contracting malaria in Seychelles given that the anopheles mosquito does not exist in Seychelles.
Health clinics exist on the islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and there are dispensaries on each of the islands offering accommodation. There are also private health and dental clinics on Mahé, Praslin and only one private health clinic on La Digue. Hotels have the contact information of these private practitioners, should their in-house resident guests need medical assistance.
Below are important telephone numbers for any health matters:
Seychelles Hospital: (00248) 4 38 80 00
Emergency toll-free number for accident and emergency unit: (00248) 151
For additional health information visit the Ministry of Health’s website: http://www.health.gov.sc/
Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures.
Check the latest country-specific information and advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website or from NHS (Scotland) on the fitfortravel website. Useful information and advice about healthcare abroad is also available on the NHS Choices website.
Two opposing trade winds generally govern the weather pattern: the north-westerly trades blow from October to March when wind speeds average from 8 to 12 knots; and the brisker south-easterly trades blow from May to September with winds of between 10 to 20 knots, bringing the cooler and windier conditions ideal for sailing.
The periods of calm between the trades produce fairly warm and wind-free conditions throughout April and also in October. Conditions for swimming, snorkelling and especially diving are superb during April/May and October/November when the water temperature sometimes reaches 29ºC and visibility is often 30 metres plus.
The SUBIOS Underwater Festival’, showcases Seychelles’ extraordinary underwater world through a series of film shows, talks and competitions, while the ‘Festival Kreol’ (a week-long celebration of Creole heritage and traditions) is held in October of each year.
The Seychelles Sailing Cup, an international sailing event, is held in January and the International Fishing Competition in November. Further local fishing competitions are held throughout the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| ++ | ++ | ++ | +++ | +++ | +++ | ++ | ++ | +++ | +++ | +++ | ++ |
+++ the best time to visit
++ good time to visit
+ good time with some rain expected
The table below summarises the best times to visit Seychelles for different types of activities.
| Activity | Period |
| Birdwatching | April (breeding season), May – September (nesting of Sooty Terns) October (migration) |
| Diving | March – May / September – November |
| Fishing | October – April |
| Hiking/Walks & Trails | May – September |
| Sailing | Year-round |
| Snorkelling | Year-round |
| Surfing/Windsurfing | May – September |
It is generally cooler when the north-west trade winds blow during the months of November to March. The sea is generally calm and the weather warm and humid, with average winds of 15 – 22 kilometres per hour.
A larger amount of the annual rainfall falls during the months of December to February compared to other months. The average number of rainy days (days with 1 millimetre or more rainfall) in December, January and February are 18, 17 and 11 days respectively. It is also fairly cloudy at times during those months and therefore less sunshine. The weather is hottest from December to April, and the humidity is high – often 80% or higher.
The months of May to October bring drier, cooler weather, and livelier seas – particularly on south-eastern coasts – and winds of 19 -37 kilometres per hour are common. During this period is better to stay on the west coast of the island. Dry spells of two weeks or more are fairly common.
November marks the start of the northwest trade winds, so it’s better to stay on the east side of the islands.
Average temperature:
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
| °F | 81 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 81 | 81 |
Rainfall average :
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| mm | 290 | 250 | 190 | 170 | 150 | 140 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 160 | 170 | 270 |
| Days | 23 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 21 |
There are direct flights from the UK to the Seychelles with British Airways. You will fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) which takes approximately 20 hours. British Airways provides the only direct flights to Seychelles from London to the island of Mahé.
Seychelles is also reachable by indirect flights from many reputable airlines, including Emirates, Qatar, Etihad and Kenya Airways.
Are you based outside Europe? There are many interconnecting flights worldwide; we will help you to find the best one. There are also possibilities to stopover somewhere nice for a few days and make your holiday even more interesting.
Seychelles is a popular destination, and every day multiple flights land at Seychelles International Airport on Mahé. It is the only international airport in the Seychelles, and is your gateway to the rest of the Seychelles islands as well as to the resorts and beaches of Mahé itself.
Most of the larger Seychelles islands can be reached by an onward flight from Seychelles International, including Praslin Island, the second-largest island of the archipelago. Praslin is famed for its beaches and for the flora and fauna of Vallée de Mai, and the 20-minute connecting flight takes you over a glistening stretch of the Indian Ocean. Seychelles International is not a 24-hour airport, so if your international flight arrives late you may have to stay on Mahé overnight before catching your onward flight.
Air Seychelles airline flies scheduled or charter flights between the different islands. The scheduled service is between the islands of Mahé and Praslin with approximately 20 flights in each direction every day. It is a 15 minute ride and currently there is a 20 kg luggage limit with one euro per kilo for excess baggage. There are also flights to Alphonse, Denis, Bird, Desroches, North Islands and Fregate by charter which can usually be booked directly at your hotel.
There are efficient and regular ferry services between Mahé, La Digue and Praslin. To visit the other islands, a charter boat is required. From Mahé to Praslin there is the Cat Cocos catamaran that makes two or three return trips every day. The boat departs from Victoria, and the trip takes about 50 minutes. Including check-in time for a flight, the boat trip takes about the same time as the flight and is much cheaper. There is an air conditioned lounge and children under twelve travel for half fare.
From Praslin to La Digue there is a schooner service that currently has about seven departure times between 7 am and 5:15 pm or 5:45 pm on Sunday. From La Digue the current departure times are from 7:30 am to 5:45 pm and 6:15 pm on Sunday. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes.
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