Holidays in Seychelles

Understanding Seychelles

The Seychelles were disputed between France and Great Britain during the age of colonialism, with Britain ending up in control in 1814 after the Napoleonic Wars The islands achieved independence in 1976, however free elections did not occur until 1993 The politics of this island group remain in something of a state of flux, although this should not bother the tourist seeking a relaxing beach vacation

Talking in Seychelles

Languages spoken in the Seychelles are Seychellois Creole, English and French With the smallest ability in French you'll be able to get around just fine, and a little effort, even a couple of basic polite words, will go a long way to get a smile from the very friendly and helpful locals

What to do in Seychelles

Visit the beaches Many of the beaches are untouched by man's influence and are refreshingly uncrowded They offer clear blue skies and a tranquility you will rarely find A hike along the coastline from Beau Vallon to Anse Major will take about 15-2 hours and your reward will be a small deserted beach that's fit for a king The scenery along the hike is breath-taking

Vallee de Mai is a national park and world heritage site, home to amazing flora and fauna, including the world's largest seed: the coco de mer

Aldabra Atoll: The world's largest coral atoll that stretches about 22 miles east to west and encloses a huge tidal lagoon Aldabra is the original home of the giant land tortoise and tiger sharks and manta rays can also often be seen here

Watersports: The warm Indian Ocean waters make Seychelles the perfect place for the water enthusiasts Explore on the board of a yacht, power boat, catamaran or sailboat Windsurfing is also popular and the best time for this activity is usually around May and October, at the start and end of the trade winds

Scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing are also extremely popular and can be done almost anywhere in Seychelles Baie Ternay is superb and easily acccessible by glass bottom boat tour from Beau Vallon beach - leave yourself an empty day and walk the beach for a 'last minute' booking - great deals can be bartered

Land Sports: Golf, tennis, squash, badminton, horseback riding, biking and hiking are some of the recreational activities available on the Seychelles Islands Bike rentals and walking tours are great ways to sightsee and since distances are relatively short and the scenery is beautiful, walking is probably the best way to see the islands Bird watching is also popular and the islands are home to many of the worlds most treasured and rare species of animals The best place to do so is Cousin Island which although only 1 km 06 miles in diameter, is home to more than 300,000 birds

Nightlife: Do not miss most popular Nightclub "Lovenut" in the center of Victoria, 100meters walk from central Taxi station

Seychelles also has numerous markets, art galleries and shops, colonial Creole-style plantation houses, and the main island of Mahé has six museums, a botanical garden, and several national monuments The market downtown Victoria has a good selection of local produce, and spices for sale that are all grown locally and 100% authentic

Buying stuff in Seychelles

The islands' currency is the Seychelles rupee SCR ATM machines usually have the best conversion rates, however, airports and banks also conveniently exchange money

Trading in foreign currency, long illegal, was legalized in November 2008, with the rupee trading at around 20 rupees to the euro This has also wiped out the previously wide-spread black market, which offered up to twice the official rate The Euro buys you 15 Rupees on 8 Oct 2009

Shopping

The best place for shopping is Victoria, the capital, and more specifically the market at the city center, Seychelles Buy and Sell 12 There are also a few outlets on the island, Praslin, but few shopping areas on the other islands Larger hotels have boutiques but shopping in Seychelles is not one of the major attractions

While visiting, be sure to buy the classic and traditional Seychelles souvenir, the coco-de-mer, or the 'nut of the sea,' a nut from trees native to the islands in the Seychelles - but this requires an export licence Other locally made souvenirs, although not as unique, can be purchased like sea shell and pearl jewelery, textiles, and straw hats, in addition to needlework & crochet, paintings by local artists, and woodwork

Tipping

Most service providers already include a service charge of 5% - 10% Tipping is not obligatory in the Seychelles, however, any extra change is greatly appreciated

Food and eating in Seychelles

Seychellois cuisine has been greatly influenced by the islands' rich cultures Creole cooking, varied seafood dishes, coconuts and curries are the most popular The main product of the country, fish, is cooked in a variety of ways Especially the red snapper is very tasty and well known to visitors

Cheapest food: Collect coconuts on the beach and learn how to open their terrible cover not the shell, that's easy; they have a thick cover of natural fibres; to open it: hit the coconut very strongly many times on the edges, sooner or later the fibres break up

Drinking in Seychelles

Seychelles offers a fantastic nightlife scene that caters to tourists The active nightlife is mostly located around the larger hotels and in addition to theatres, cinemas and discos, there are numerous fun and trendy restaurants

If you enjoy a good beer you must try the local Seybrew beer, it tastes similar to a light Bavarian style beer and is a must to get you through those balmy days You can save yourself a packet buying the beer from stores on the side of the road like the locals do rather than from hotels A dark Takamaka Rum on the beach under the stars is the best way to end a day on the Seychelles

Accommodation in Seychelles

The Seychelles are not tolerant of backpackers turning up at the airport without accommodation booked Most accommodations are relatively expensive and some islands have only one hotel In fact, some of the islands aren't even permanently inhabited and accommodation can be found on fewer than 10 Your best bet for a budget bed is renting an apartment or bungalow, which can be rented at very reasonable rates Also keep in mind that hotel prices greatly increase and accommodation can be hard to find during the peak seasons from December to January and July to August Holidays such as Easter can also get very busy

Most resorts can be found on the main islands of Mahe and Praslin A few very high end ones, like the North Island, have their own private islands

Working in Seychelles

Working and doing business in the Seychelles can be difficult due to the the humidity and heat Forget about wearing a suit or anything resembling one; rather, opt for a light cotton shirt and pants The atmosphere in the Seychelles is relaxed and it can take a lot of effort to achieve very little

Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the economy In fact, about 15 percent of the work force is directly employed in tourism, and employment in banking, transportation, construction, and other activities is closely tied to the tourist industry

Cities in Seychelles