Seychelles

Sandy beaches with granite massifs, the clear waters of the Indian Ocean with its colorful underwater fauna, land turtles and the "sinful" Coco de mer await you here. Several villas surrounded by palm trees will satisfy your high demands for privacy and escape from modern civilization. Not for nothing is the archipelago likened to the beauty of the Gardens of Eden. 

The islands (especially the so-called inner islands) are still partly covered by dense tropical forest. Because of their remoteness from the mainland, they are home to many animals and plants that live only here and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Seychelles are said to be a museum of natural history and a sanctuary for some of the rarest flora and fauna on earth. For example, Aldabra Atoll is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises (150-180,000 individuals) and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Another unique symbol of the country is the Lodoicea Seychelles palm with its giant fruit weighing around 20kg. The Seychelles government has made great efforts to preserve the local nature; 42% of the country is covered by national parks and nature reserves.

The Republic of Seychelles, or Seychelles for short, is located south of the equator on 115 small islands, scattered in several groups over an area of about 1100 by 800km in the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar. There are two kinds of islands: the Seychelles Islands proper or Inner Islands (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Silhoutte, etc.), situated in the north-east of the country. They are made up of massive granite rocks. The rest of the archipelago, collectively referred to as the Outer Islands, are flat coral atolls (Amiranty, Coetivy, Providence, Farquar and Aldabra). There are 33 inhabited islands, with 4/5 of the population concentrated on the largest island, Mahé, where the capital Victoria is located. Seychelles enjoy a relatively stable tropical climate with average daily temperatures between 24 and 30 °C and abundant rainfall (average annual totals are around 3000mm). The hottest months are March to April, while the relatively cooler time of the year is summer from July to August. Due to its proximity to the equator, the Seychelles are outside the usual range of tropical storms.

In 1976, an airport was built on the island of Mahé, opening the Seychelles archipelago to tourists. There is no need to worry about feeling overcrowded here – due to government regulation tourism is controlled and no building can be taller than a palm tree. With almost zero crime, this is one of the safest countries in the world.

In the capital Victoria you will find the Clock Tower, which is a smaller version of England's Big Ben, except that there are streetlights attached to this tower. There is a fish market, and the main pride of the capital is the botanical garden, where you will be left breathless by the beauty of the orchids.

Traditional cuisine offers Creole dishes with a touch of France, the spiciness of the Orient, and the exoticism of Indian food. Thanks to the abundance of fish, they are served as fresh as possible. The side dish is usually rice. The specialty is the Red Snapper, which is a red predatory fish.

There are many beautiful places to explore in the Seychelles. However, here are some places that you should definitely not miss.

Praslin Island

The second largest island, Praslin, is an hour and a half by boat or 15 minutes by plane from Mahe. The main unique feature of this island is the famous Vallé de Mai, which is a UNESCO protected area. In this valley you will be able to see over 7,000 coconut palms, including the unique Coco de Mer, whose fruit resembles a woman's lap. Because of this, many people think it has high aphrodisiac effects. However, what makes this palm unique is that it cannot be grown anywhere else in the world because it needs very specific conditions. Therefore, this palm can only be seen on Praslin and on two other islands in the Seychelles.

You can also see the famous beaches of Anse Lazio and Anse Gerogette, which are among the top 10 best beaches in the world.

The island of La Digue

From Praslin, it's a short walk to the fourth largest island of the Seychelles. This island will offer you a Seychelles turtle reserve at Anse Union beach. It is also possible to visit a coconut processing factory. After lunch and swimming, the boat departs back to Mahe Island.

St. Anne Marine

A visit to the national marine reserve is combined with snorkeling. Underwater it will feel like an otherworldly paradise.

Le Jardin Du Roy

The "Royal Garden" is located in the southern part of the island of Mahe. The property is 35ha in size and lies quite high in the hills about two kilometres from the coast. In the open spaces one can find practically every kind of spice that has been cultivated in Seychelles, numerous fruits or ornamental plants.

SCUBA diving

This activity is offered by all hotels. You will be able to choose to dive off the island of Mahe or take advantage of one of the diving trips on offer.

Horse riding and swimming in the sea

Offer rides on purebred Arabian horses. Beginner lessons and introductory rides are available. For advanced riders, there are also beach rides and a trip to the waterfalls.

Yachting

The above-mentioned places can be visited while sailing on your yacht or catamaran and enjoy undisturbed moments away from the tourists.

Company tour / sailing on a sailboat or catamaran between the Seychelles islands

FOUR SEASONS *****

The hotel is 18km from the airport and offers villas with garden or ocean views. The hotel has two restaurants, two bars, a pool, pool bar, library, fitness center, beauty salon, boutique, 24-hour reception, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing.

HOTEL KEMPINSKY *****

Located on the southeast coast of the island, the hotel's rooms and suites are spread out over a kilometer of white sandy beach. For hotel guests there is free windsurfing, sailing, canoes, pedalos and all other non-motorized water sports, water polo, table tennis, volleyball, badminton, sauna and tennis courts.

NORTHOLME HILTON HOTEL *****

The hotel is built on a rocky outcrop and hillside in a very romantic setting. The hotel has a swimming pool, restaurant, reception, souvenir shop, spa, library, business center, bar, animation programs, 24-hour service, umbrellas and sun loungers. Darts, billiards and fitness facilities are available directly at the hotel. The hotel also offers snorkeling, diving and fishing.

SUNSET BEACH ****

Located in the north-west of the island, the hotel is sumptuously set in nature on a cliff below which is a fabulous white sand beach lined with a grove of coconut palms and the clear, azure blue waters of the ocean. The hotel offers a stylish restaurant, bar, small gym, board games and a freshwater pool. The hotel only accepts children over 10 years of age.

The best way to reach the Seychelles archipelago is by plane. There are two options to choose from.

With one transfer Prague – Dubai – Mahé 12 hours

With two transfers Prague – Frankfurt – Addis Ababa – Mahé 17 hours

As for when to visit the Seychelles, there is no direct time zone when it is best to visit. Temperatures here are between 24-32°C throughout the year. There is a windier period between October and March when it does rain, but it is usually a five-minute affair. It is perhaps only in January and February, when the monsoon rains come, that it is not just a sunny holiday. From May to September, the humidity is at its lowest here, which otherwise exceeds 70%.