The Seychelles is called a beautiful archipelago in the Indian Ocean, which consists of 115 small islands, similar to paradise. Only 30 of them are inhabited, but each of them is beautiful: there are white sand beaches near hotels or away from civilization.
The tourist season in the Seychelles lasts all year round, and travelers from all over the world come here to swim in the warm ocean and sunbathe (and have a cup of coffee). The Seychelles is especially popular among newlyweds who fly on a honeymoon - it is always quiet and calm here, no one bothers to enjoy nature.
Travelers call the only drawback of the Seychelles resorts - these are high prices. To enjoy nature, go fishing or diving, yachting or surfing on the islands, you will have to fork out. Therefore, rest here is available only for wealthy people.
The main resorts of Seychelles
The capital of the Seychelles is the city of Victoria, located on the island of Mahe. In fact, Victoria is the only city on all 115 islands, and it is inhabited by about 25 thousand people. Also, the city serves as the port of the republic. The architecture of the colonial era has been preserved here, and all the sights in the form of tiny copies of Big Ben and St. Paul's Cathedral are in the center, near Market Street. Along the coast are the best hotels of the republic, and more budget options are further from the ocean.
Mahe is the largest island of the archipelago: its area is 155 sq. km. Mahe offers guests about 70 different beaches. If a tourist wants lively beaches, he should go to the largest – Beau Vallon. Lovers of secluded recreation are better off going beyond the west of the island, the beaches of which are almost always empty.
Travelers can buy a ticket for an excursion to the city center, to tea plantations or to the village of artisans who provide the islands with dishes and other things.
Connoisseurs of exotic fruits go to the island of Praslin - a place where giant coconuts grow, which in their shape resemble human hearts.
Eagle's Nest Mountain, Union Estate Park, granite cliffs are locations behind which it is worth getting to the island of La Digue. Here, in the 70s of the last century, the shooting of a series of films "Emmanuel" took place.
In the Seychelles, you can find hotel islands: Desroches, Silhouette, Deniz, Frigate, Cerf, St. Anne's Island: most of them belong to hotels, and access to the beaches is available only to guests.
Climate in the archipelago
Seychelles delight guests with a mild tropical climate all year round - the temperature here almost does not change either in winter or in summer. The average temperature on the islands does not exceed plus 28 degrees Celsius. From December to May, almost all annual precipitation falls in the republic, and in June-November monsoon winds blow on the islands. Rains are heavy, but do not last long, rarely their duration exceeds 1 day.
How to get to Seychelles
Travelers recommend purchasing health insurance before traveling, as tropical diseases can take you by surprise. Tourists can bring any amount of foreign currency into and out of the country, but local rupees can be exported only in the amount of up to 2,000 units (about 10 thousand rubles). A traveler will not be allowed on the territory of the republic, in whose luggage there are weapons, vegetables, plants, birds, drugs, tea, meat and fruits. Corals, heart-shaped coconuts, shells, as well as turtle shells cannot be exported from the country.
On the territory of the Republic of Seychelles there are several airports, but they have one international one - Pointe Laroux. It is located a couple of kilometers from Victoria, and the cheapest way to it can be reached from Moscow, but you will have to make as many as 2 transfers. The docking will have to take place in Belgrade and Abu Dhabi, and a one-way ticket costs 800-850 dollars. This way will take the traveler a little more than a day. For $ 1600, you can shorten the path and make only one transfer in Istanbul - then the journey will take 14 hours.
How to travel around the islands
The fastest way to travel around the 115 islands is to fly on the planes of the local airline - Air Seychelles. Flights last only 15-20 minutes, but you will have to pay for them for 3-4 thousand rupees. It is also possible to buy helicopter excursions between the islands, where the cost of a VIP ticket will be 3500 rupees.
For those who do not want to spend 15-20 thousand rubles for a one-way flight of 30 kilometers, there is a network of ferries that connects everything, even the most remote islands. The ticket can be purchased directly on board the schooner or ferry, paying only 900 rubles.
There is also a bus network in the archipelago, and it works smoothly. On the larger islands, buses run regularly, and the ticket price for the whole day is 12 rupees.
Bicycle and car rental
As with any resort location, travelers can rent a vehicle to make it easier for them to travel and have an experience. To rent a car, you must have an international license and driving experience of at least 3 years, and the driver of the car must be older than 22 years. Tourists rarely rent a car, because it is difficult to drive in the Seychelles: car traffic here is left-handed, many roads pass through mountains and hills. The quality of roads is low, so inexperienced drivers are at great risk of losing control when getting behind the wheel. If you do not want to explore the archipelago from the bus window, you can order a taxi.
If the driver is confident in his skills, it is best to take jeeps for trips. In the city, you can not drive faster than 45 kilometers per hour, and outside it the maximum speed is 65 kilometers. In addition, the large wheels of the jeep will allow you to drive more comfortably on broken roads and climb hills.
Every last Saturday of the month, islanders living on Mahe gather in the centre of Victoria to spend their salaries. By the standards of the Seychelles, such events are considered truly massive, so hundreds of people will walk on the roads and sidewalks. On weekends, it will not be possible to find parking in the city center, so the driver will have to leave the transport a couple of kilometers from the right place.
If tourists do not want to be nervous and experience difficulties from using cars, they are advised to rent ordinary bicycles on which you can safely explore the whole island.
