Seychelles Travel Guide

Browse the Seychelles Photo Gallery

Top Things to See

Aldabra
On Aldabra, the world's largest atoll, and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, see the giant land tortoises (150,000 tortoises in total, reputedly five times more than on the Galapagos Islands). The atoll consists of 13 islands which make up about one-third of the Seychelles' land mass. Some tortoises have been exported to Curieuse, now a reserve for giant tortoises.

Frégate
In Frégate, the most easterly and isolated of the granitic islands, look for the almost extinct magpie robin.

La Digue
In La Digue, just over three hours by schooner from Mahé or 30 minutes from Praslin, see the black paradise flycatcher, a beautiful little bird endemic to the Seychelles. See old plantation houses, such as Château Saint-Cloud, as well as a vanilla plantation, copra factories and superb beaches.

Mahé
Tour Mahé island taking in the market, the Botanical Gardens (with coco-de-mer, giant tortoises and orchids), and a replica of London's Vauxhall Bridge Tower Clock in Victoria, before setting off around the island to visit colonial-style mansions in graceful decline and plantations of cinnamon and vanilla.

National Museum
Discover fine displays depicting the history of spice cultivation in the National Museum in Victoria, which celebrates Seychellois history, folklore and music.

Praslin
On Praslin, the second-largest island, head for the famous Vallée de Mai, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which contains the double-nutted coco-de-mer palm.

Thérèse
Discover the rock-pools and tortoise colony of Thérèse, accessible from Port Glaud by a five-minute boat trip.

Top Things to Do

Beaches
For sunny, sandy days, find beaches galore. Relax on Mahé's numerous powdery white sands (there are almost 70 beaches on Mahé alone) while enjoying its lush vegetation, rising through plantations of coconut palms and cinnamon, to forested peaks that afford unparalleled views of neighboring islands.

Birdwathing
Photograph rare species at the nature reserve of Cousin. The brush warbler, the Seychelles toc-toc and the fairy tern all nest here. The best time to visit is April or May, when 1.25 million birds nest on the island. All visits must be made as part of an organized tour. On Bird island, see the millions of sooty terns that migrate here to breed between May and October; in Aride, the most northerly of the granitic islands, see vast colonies of seabirds from October to the end of April.

Fishing
Go deep-sea fishing in Denis, where Marlin may be caught from October to December. The minimum stay is three days. The location of Bird island, at the edge of the Seychelles continental shelf (the sea floor drops rapidly to 2,000m/5,000ft), also makes it a favored destination for fishermen. The best spots for salt-water fly fishing are Alphonse and Desroches islands.

Take a boat ride
Hire a power boat, cabin cruiser or yacht to explore the islands at your own pace.
To see many species of coral and fish, board a glass-bottomed boat from Victoria to nearby St Anne Marine National Park, which encloses the islands of St Anne, Beacon (classified as a nature reserve), Cerf (renowned for Creole food), Long (closed to the public), Round (reputed for its tuna steaks) and Moyenne (privately owned, but open to visiting tourists).

Underwater snaps
The clear water of the Seychelles makes conditions perfect for underwater photography. The coastal waters are a haven for 101 species of coral and over 920 species of fish. The annual SUBIOS underwater festival is held in the Seychelles over a three-week period in November, and attracts underwater experts from all over the world.

Watersports
Go waterskiing, windsurfing and sailing in Desroches, the largest of the Amirantes archipelago. The diving is particularly good: there are sea cliffs, tunnels and caves - and, of course, multitudes of fish of many different species. Visibility is best from September to May. Take to the water in the St Anne National Marine Park, a favorite for snorkeling, which encompasses six islands off the coast of Mahé.