Seychelles map. Seychelles, description and photos, resorts and beaches of Seychelles

The Seychelles Islands are a stunningly beautiful archipelago, a real lost paradise in the waters of the Indian Ocean. Amazing beauty landscapes, fine white sand, the ocean, unique flora and, of course, the “signature” palm trees of the archipelago - all these are the Seychelles.

Location of Seychelles

The exotic archipelago stretches across East Africa on an area of 455 square kilometers. In such a small area there are 115 islands, but only 30 of them are inhabited by people. The islands are located 1,600 kilometers from the continent of Africa, and almost 1,000 kilometers north of the notorious Madagascar. The capital of the island is the most Big City Victoria (Mahe Island).

Seychelles International Airport (Aоport International de Seychelles - Pointe Larue) with three terminals is located 10 kilometers southeast of the capital. The islands are home to approximately 90,000 people.

Seychelles is a former French and British colony.

. Some of the islands of the archipelago are composed of granite rocks, some are coral atolls, which are very dry and hot, and the vegetation is represented only coconut trees.

Holidays in Seychelles

The wonderful Seychelles archipelago is undoubtedly an almost ideal place for an unforgettable and truly heavenly holiday, as they say, the most natural “bounty”. A tropical fairy tale is separated from the ideal in the classical sense by one “almost” - the price. The cost of a vacation will cost the price of a good car. But the coin has two sides, so such a vacation will be unforgettable in all respects. Moreover, a visa is not needed to travel to “paradise” if the stay is less than 30 days.

The route to the Seychelles, as is already obvious, is not close, and is about 7000 kilometers. Travel time ranges from 13 to 15 hours. All flights are connecting with transfers, usually in Paris (“Air France”), in Doha (“ Qatar Airways"), in Dubai ("Emirates"). There is no time difference with Moscow.

The most popular “tourist” islands are the main Mahe, Praslin, La Digue. Also interesting are the islands of Saint Anne, Desroches, Cerf, Silhouette, Frigate, Denise.

The Seychelles were named after the French minister of finance (XVII-XVIII centuries) - Moreau de Sechelles.

The names of cities, islands, establishments are found in French and English languages, which is a kind of reminder of the colonial past of the archipelago.

The most popular entertainment for tourists is rightfully considered diving and Boat trip. It is also recommended to visit National Parks, for example, Morne Seychelles. The island has been isolated for a long time, so there are quite a lot of endemic flora and fauna found here.

The islands are very popular not only among the very wealthy, but also among newlyweds. Exotic weddings on the islands are gaining more and more popularity, and in this segment the Seychelles compete with the Maldives and Mauritius.

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One of the most beautiful islands Caribbean Sea are rightfully the Seychelles Islands. They are rich a huge amount various birds, and large trees grow there, which only reach 2 meters in diameter. Seychelles centenarians live here - large turtles whose weight is approximately 250 kg. But the main miracle of the island is the sea coconut.

A holiday in the Seychelles is truly unforgettable. The official symbol of the USA is the nut, which weighs 20 kilograms and grows only on these islands. Despite the great popularity of the resort, this place is great for privacy. There is crystal clear water and untouched nature.

Seychelles beaches rank first as world-class beaches. Tourists can enjoy a fascinating mountain hike or hiking in a tropical paradise forest. There are also large bazaars that open at night.

Coral reefs, underwater encounters with huge blue sharks and other fish are the dream of any diver. Seychellois love to welcome families with children. Many hotels are equipped with the most necessary things for children: children's rooms, playgrounds, children's menus. There are also nannies.

For newlyweds, there are rooms for the first wedding night, luxury rooms with floating flowers in the pool. You can relax in the Seychelles at any time of the year: the air temperature here is about 30 degrees. From May to September the climate is least humid. The rains begin from December to February, at this time the humidity is high, but the temperature still does not drop below 20 degrees.

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Travel packages and tours

about country

Seychelles - amazing world, full of bright colors and spicy aromas, enchanting sounds of unusual music and the sound of the surf, ancient legends and amazing stories about pirate treasures.

Seychelles is a unique corner, lost in the vast expanses of the ocean, which many often call “Paradise on Earth” or “Eden”. Seychelles has many amazingly beautiful islands, each of them is interesting in its own way. The most popular among travelers are, and.

Holidays in the Seychelles mean countless beaches with silver-white sand, which are rightfully considered one of the best in the world, exotic nature, the like of which cannot be found anywhere else on the planet, as well as local kitchen and great service. The Seychelles attracts travelers from all over the world and leaves unforgettable impressions.

Holidays in the Seychelles are ideal for both romantics and those who are keen extreme species sports. Here nature itself has created ideal conditions for surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, spearfishing, water skiing or canoeing and much more.

Nature and geography

The Seychelles Islands are located in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, 1,500 km east of Kenya. Seychelles is located between the fourth and fifth degrees south of the equator.

The country is an isolated archipelago of incredible beauty, consisting of 115 islands. Approximately 35 of them form the "Inner Island Group" and have a granitic structure. As a rule, these are islands with many mountains and hills and a narrow coastal strip; the remaining islands are coral atolls. The largest of them, Aldabra, is also a national park, which is under the auspices of UNESCO.

Seychelles is one of the smallest countries, its area is only 455.3 square meters. km. The largest islands are Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.

The capital of the Seychelles is the city of Victoria, located on the island of Mahe.

Time in Seychelles. The time difference with Moscow is 1 hour per winter period, V summer period there is no time difference.

Seychelles is a republic, its status is enshrined in the Constitution of June 18, 1993, since then this day has been celebrated as a national holiday. The islands were first noticed by Arab sailors 1000 years ago, but not only were they attracted by the convenient location of the archipelago - Phoenicians also often appeared here and Indonesians. Almost 500 years ago, the islands were discovered by the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama. The Seychelles was both a British and French colony. On June 29, 1976, the Seychelles declared independence and became a republic.

Customs regulations. Arrivals in the Seychelles are allowed to carry 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, 2 liters of alcohol, 125 ml of perfume or 250 ml eau de toilette and other goods worth no more than 3,000 Seychellois rupees (US$ 550). It is prohibited to import flammable materials, weapons, including those for spearfishing, narcotic substances and medications without a prescription. A special permit is required to import pets. It is prohibited to transport vegetables, fruits, plants, meat and meat products, and canned food. Installed export bans coconuts, shells, corals, turtle products.

Currency of the Seychelles. 1 rupee contains 100 cents. 5 rupees is equal to 1USD. There are banknotes in denominations of 10, 25, 50 and 100 rupees, coins in denominations of 1 and 5 rupees, as well as 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents. You can also sometimes find silver and gold coins in circulation. Credit cards Visa and American Express are accepted almost everywhere, except in very small settlements.

Currency exchange. Currency can be exchanged at hotels or local banks. A maximum of 1,000 rupees, or $200, can be taken out of the country; there are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency. It is recommended to bring American dollars or traveler's checks in this currency, since rupees cannot be used by tourists to pay for rent, excursions, or in restaurants. It is recommended to exchange a small amount of money immediately upon arrival at Victoria Airport, located on the island of Mahe.

Banks in Seychelles open from 8.30 to 14.30 from Monday to Friday, on Saturday from 8.30 to 11.00.

Tips for tourists

Holidays.
January 1 – New Year
Holy Friday - no fixed date
Easter – no fixed date
May 1 – Labor Day
June 5 – Liberation Day
June 18 – National Day
June 29 – Independence Day
November 1 – All Saints Day
December 25 – Christmas

Also in April, an annual festival dedicated to water world Seychelles.
In September, a water regatta takes place on the island of La Digue.
The Creole Festival is celebrated in October.
An annual fishing competition is held in November.

The shops. For those wishing to purchase souvenirs, we can recommend some wonderful products self made sea shells and pearls, wicker baskets, paintings by local artists, including batik painting, mats, beautiful wood or bamboo carvings and, of course, quintessence Seychelles souvenirs– coco del mer. Local tea, of which there are a great variety on the islands, can also be purchased as a souvenir. It must be borne in mind that products made from tortoise shells will necessarily be confiscated at customs. the best place for shopping in the Seychelles is located in Victoria. Here you can wander the streets and do some shopping. There are also several shops on Praslin, but there are not so many on the other islands. Large hotels usually have boutiques. Shops are open during the week and on Saturday mornings.

Tips, as a rule, range from 5% to 10% and are already included in the cost of service.

Transport in Seychelles. The islands have an international airport (in Victoria), several seaports and several local airports. Between the islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue you can travel by river buses or high-speed catamarans. Travelers should note that flights between Mahe and Praslin are frequently canceled due to technical issues. Very convenient to inspect local beauties and sights from a helicopter or private plane, however, renting one is expensive, but renting a bicycle or car is available to everyone, especially since this is the most successful way to get around the island. You can also travel by taxi, the parking lot of which is located on Albert Street in Victoria and operates around the clock.

Car rental. If you want to take a car, you must have a driver's license (Russian license is also valid) and you must be at least 22 years old. Driving in the Seychelles is on the left, like in Britain, the quality of the roads is not bad. The maximum driving speed in the city is 45 km/h, outside settlements– 65 km/h. The cost of 1 liter of gasoline is just over a dollar; there are six gas stations on Mahe Island and two on Praslin. The gas station in Victoria is open from 5am to 11pm.

Electricity - 240 volts, 50 Hz

Postal services. Telephone services. Internet. Central building The post office is located in Victoria and is open from 8.00 to 16.00 from Monday to Friday, on Saturday from 8.00 to noon. You can send letters directly from the hotel. You can also use the telephone in most hotels. The country code is 248. There are several internet cafes on Mahe and at least one on Praslin.

Medical service. The climate in the Seychelles is very healthy and there are no known tropical diseases common in, for example, Kenya or. There is a small risk of contracting hepatitis A, so vaccination is recommended before travel.

As for the local water, in general it is quite suitable for drinking, but it is better to use either boiled or bottled water. It is preferable to eat in cafes or restaurants, since the variety of cuisine allows you to choose dishes to suit every taste. A lot of food is sold from stalls, but it is better to refrain from eating it.

The central hospital is located in Victoria on Mahe Island (tel. 224400). Doctors speak English and/or French. There are also other clinics, including private ones, on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Medical care is free and provided by the state.

Emergency phone number Seychelles - 999.

Since the climate on the islands is tropical, which means quite humid and hot, recommended to wear light clothes made from natural materials, for women - light dresses, shorts or pareos during the day and long skirts in the evening, for men - shorts and a T-shirt. The most suitable shoes are flip flops or sandals. Swimming suits are only worn on the beach.

The Seychelles has excellent conditions for sports lovers. Here you can surf, windsurf, paragliding, sailing and water skiing, canoeing or hang gliding. On their own, or using the services of an experienced instructor, those interested can engage in spearfishing and fishing. However, it would not be entirely correct to say that the Seychelles are ideal only for aquatic species sports.

Mahe has an excellent golf course just south of international airport in Victoria. The golf course on Praslin Island is considered one of the best in the world. Most hotels have tennis courts. On the islands there is also the opportunity to engage in horse riding.

Hiking tours of various difficulty levels on the islands of Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and some others are popular, giving travelers great opportunity explore their beauty and get acquainted with the local exotic flora and fauna. As a rule, information about them can be obtained from hotels.

Many hotels on the islands have cinemas and discos, and barbecues with folk songs and dances are often held there. It is interesting to watch or take part in local entertainment, listen to music unusual for Europeans called “kamtolet”, which is a mixture of waltz, polka and quadrille, see how they dance “mautia”, an African dance to the sounds of drums and tom-toms, or an equally famous dance "now."

Victoria is home to cinemas and theaters, which often feature theater productions in English, French and Creole. There are casinos in downtown Victoria, as well as the Beau Vallon Bay Hotel and the Plantation Club. Praslin is also home to the magnificent Casino des Iles.

The Seychelles are 115 islands of unimaginable beauty, located in Indian Ocean, in the east of Africa. This is a place of absolute peace, solitude and measured life. This is an idyll. This is probably why the Seychelles - favorite place newlyweds from all over the world who come here for their Honeymoon. If you don’t yet know where the Seychelles Islands are on the world map, you can take a look at them below.

The Seychelles archipelago is located outside the cyclone zone, so it is always quiet and peaceful and there are only 2 climates: dry and wet. The Seychellois are perhaps the most leisurely people; they are not in a hurry, but relax and relax against the backdrop of lush thickets of hibiscus, ginger and coconut palms.

Mahe Island and Victoria

Islands discovered famous navigator Vasca da Gama, when he walked along the Great Silk Road to India in 1502 through the Cape Good Hope. Mahe is one of the three most big islands Seychelles (27 km long and 12 wide). Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, is located on the island of Mahe, and was formerly called Port Royal. The capital began to be called Victoria when the Seychelles came under the control of England - and so it remained Victoria forever. Although the small town is the smallest capital on Earth (population 25 thousand), construction there has long been prohibited: in an effort to limit the boundaries of the city, the state takes care of its ecology.

Main attractions of the capital:

local history museum;
St Paul's Cathedral;
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception;
Indian temple;
arts and crafts center;
Botanical Garden Mont Fleuri (near the city, in the valley).

The cultural life of Mahe is concentrated south of the capital, on east coast. It is interesting to visit the Creole Institute, which studies Creole culture and language. Seychelles is the only country where Creole is recognized as the official language. If you visit the archipelago in October, at the end of the month you can see the annual Creole festival with national dances, fashion shows and exhibitions.

Botanical Garden

The main exhibit is considered to be Lodoicea - the famous Seychelles palm tree with huge fruits in the shape of appetizing female thighs. This is coco de mer - a sea coconut weighing more than 20 kg, shaped like a human heart. In the "May Valley" national park Seychelles has 7,000 sea coconut palms. The tree reaches a height of 30 meters and lives for several hundred years! The fruits with a very hard and thick shell take 10 years to ripen; in ancient times, ships from Europe were specially equipped for them. The fruit is expensive, about $100, and can only be exported outside the country with a special permit.

Tourists also visit with interest the Black Pearl farm, whose main activity is pearl mining.

Located near Victoria, Intendanse Bay is famous for its wonderful coral sand beaches, modern hotels with excellent service, trendy restaurants, bars and discos.

Praslin: coconut island

Praslin is only considered the second largest island of the archipelago, but in fact it is tiny: you can walk around it in an hour. However, many tourists come here, since Praslin is the location of famous Seychelles beaches Cote d'Or and Anse Lazio. In addition, this is where lovers of solitude stop to rest: at their service wild beaches Anse Georgette and Anse Consolacion.

A natural attraction of Praslin is the coco de mer - a sea coconut weighing more than 20 kg, shaped like a human heart. May Valley, Seychelles National Park, is home to 7,000 sea coconut palms. Tourists also visit with interest the Black Pearl farm, whose main activity is pearl mining.

There are three diving centers on Praslin - Octopus, Bleu Marine and Whitetip Divers, offering dives near coral reefs around the islands of the entire archipelago.

Not far from Praslin there is Curieuse Island, where it is very interesting to visit a marine reserve and a giant tortoise farm on an excursion.

Silhouette: complete privacy

Silhouette Island is one of the top three large islands Seychelles archipelago. Snow-white beaches, the blue of the ocean, dense coastal thickets, flowers, birds - this is the world that will be the environment for every tourist who comes here to spend their vacation here. Accommodation is possible in the only hotel on the island, Silhuette Island Lodge 5*. Resort guests can be guaranteed to receive luxury holiday in solitude in the lap of tropical nature.

La Digue: pink beaches

The beautiful tiny island of La Digue is also one of the most “tourist” Seychelles islands. The ringing silence, the pink beaches of Grand Anse, Petit Anse and Anse Coco, Union Estate Park - these are all the advantages of La Digue, but it is precisely for this peaceful tranquility on the ocean that tourists from all over the world love this island.

Popular dive sites in La Digue, including Channel Rock, White Bank, Grand Ser, West Sister Rock, Ave Maria, Coral Garden, allow exotic lovers to swim in the labyrinths of coral atolls and admire the underwater inhabitants to their heart's content (large barracuda, gray shark, etc.).

Denise: exciting diving

An islet two kilometers long, Deniz is extremely popular among diving fans. All conditions for deep-sea diving are created here, opening up a completely different world to tourists. All divers especially like to watch sea turtles, as well as deep sea fishing. The local Denis Island Lodge 4* hotel provides accommodation for tourists with any budget, since resort guests are provided with bungalows of different categories.

Sainte-Anne: honeymoon island

The considerable territory of the island of Sainte-Anne allows you to competently organize areas of complete privacy, which is why newlyweds and couples in love come here so willingly. Villas and chalets of different price levels increase the opportunities for those wishing to relax in comfortable conditions without serious damage to their wallets. There is also a hotel on the island that is deservedly recognized as the best on the archipelago - this is the Sainte Anne Resort, and although accommodation there is very expensive, the hotel is never empty. In addition to romantic young people, many divers of all ages vacation on Sainte-Anne: they are attracted by rare species of fish and incredibly beautiful corals in the coastal waters.

Sainte Anne Island

Island hotels

An attractive feature of the Seychelles is the presence of islands on which only one luxury hotel is built. Comfortable service relieves tourists from all everyday worries, and they completely surrender to a serene holiday, literally dissolving in nature and experiencing boundless delight from merging with the outside world.

One of these islands is Berd. It is perfect for those who are looking for isolation from the outside world at least for a while and plan to live on the shore of a turquoise lagoon, in the palm thickets. On Berd there is only the Bird Island Lodge 4* hotel with staff, and no one else. The feeling of solitude is supported by the absence of all signs of civilization - televisions, the Internet, telephones (even air conditioners).

If you also dream of relaxing on the ocean coast, forgetting about everything in the world and enjoying freedom, buy a tour to the Seychelles! Give yourself a gift bright world tropical nature.

Seychelles is a state (Republic of Seychelles) located in the Indian Ocean, in our hemisphere a little short of the equator. Africa is more than 1.5 thousand km from Seychelles. But to be precise, the Republic of Seychelles is not only the Seychelles, it is five groups of islands
Seychelles

Mahe, Pralen, La Digue, Silhouette, Avian, Denis, Felicite, Frigate

Amirant Islands

Dirosh, Alphonse,

Farquhar Group,

Aldabara group

Platte and Coetivie Islands

Some of the islands are atolls - that is, they are of coral-volcanic origin, but the main islands are granite. There are no other islands like this in the entire ocean.
Therefore, legends and tales connect the Seychelles with Lemuria - a continent that existed at the time of the birth of humanity on earth.

Seychelles is poorly suited for Agriculture, but because of their rare beauty they are simply created for tourism. The Seychelles has stunning flora and fauna, which have preserved unique specimens due to the isolation of the islands.

The specialty of Seychelles is the fruits of huge coke palms, coco de mer, the fruit of this palm weighs 20 kg and is considered the largest fruit in the world.

This fruit, with its unique appearance, has been placed on entry stamps to the Seychelles for a long time. But then, unfortunately, the stamp was changed.

Voodoo magic

The Seychelles Islands were discovered by Vasco de Gama in 1502.
Like all well-located islands, the Seychelles occupy a strategic position between Africa and India, and served as a pirate base in the Middle Ages. The islands had no permanent inhabitants until almost the mid-18th century. At this time, the French began to populate it, and spice plantations appeared on the island - cinnamon, vanilla. Slaves were imported from Africa and Madagascar to work on the plantations. At the end of the 18th century, the Seychelles were captured by the British and after slavery was abolished in 1835, Indians, as well as the Chinese from Mauritius, began to come to the island. Therefore, the national composition is very diverse - these are Creoles (descendants of Africans and French), Africans, Indians, Chinese, French, and English.

This diversity of national composition also leads to the fact that, despite the predominant influence of Catholicism, there are many religions in the Seychelles. Among them is the mysterious religion of voodoo.

Voodoo is the oldest primitive religion of African peoples.

In the Seychelles they wear voodoo amulets - gris-gris. Gris-gris are for good luck, for protection from evil, for attracting money. And although there is very little information about black sorcerers in official sources, most Seychellois believe in the power of gris-gris, and often turn to sorcerers. They are called bon de bois (forest good-natured). There are beliefs that with the help of gris-gris you can bewitch a loved one, sink a boat in the ocean, or become invisible. Modern sorcerers are not so bloodthirsty and are mainly concerned with organizing their personal lives. But before, ritual murders were even carried out in the Seychelles.

Now the life of the Seychellois has changed a lot, but, nevertheless, modern civilization has not been able to completely displace ancient beliefs.

You do not need a visa to enter Seychelles, see details

Lost heaven or where are the Seychelles on the world map

Holidays on the islands have always attracted more attention than holidays at sea. Still, when you say “I’m vacationing on an island,” it sounds prouder and more presentable. Especially if these are world-famous islands such as the Seychelles. On the world map they are located in the Indian Ocean. There are 115 islands in total, but people live on only thirty-three of them. Let's see what kind of place this is, is it convenient to relax here, and what countries are nearby or there is only one ocean around.

World map with Seychelles

And so, as we have already written, the Seychelles are located in the Indian Ocean. Contrary to popular belief, the Seychelles is located in South Africa, and have nothing to do with South-East Asia. The African continent is approximately 1600 kilometers away. The closest to the Seychelles is Madagascar, another island state.

Geography and some features

All islands are divided into two types: coral and granite. The granite group of islands includes 42 islands. Most people live on these islands. They also live on corals, but not more than 10% of the population.
Forests grow on granite islands. They mainly consist of palm trees, but ferns are also found.
The peculiarity of the coral islands is that they have a height of up to 8 meters above sea level. That is, almost flat and without mountains. Since there is a continuous plain here, moisture from the rains is not retained and little grows on such islands.

Weather and climate

Up to 2,250 millimeters of precipitation can fall in the Seychelles in a year. The driest months are summer. And the monsoon season runs from December to March.
The average temperature remains almost unchanged throughout the year. This is thanks to the equator, which is very close. Whether in the summer or at any other time of the year, during the day it’s about +27, and at night around +22 degrees Celsius.
The beach season is possible all year round, but during the rainy season it is problematic to relax here.

According to the latest data, the permanent population of the islands is about 88 thousand people.
Life expectancy is more than 74 years.
The state receives its main income from tourism. About 70% of the currency comes from tourism.
The main export product is fish. It is caught here and sold fresh or frozen.
There is only one airport on the islands. He accepts international flights. Domestic flights not here.

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