Seychelles, An Island Paradise
Seychelles is a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The country comprises 115 islands scattered across 1,400,000 sq km. of ocean. It offers some of the most amazing beaches where soft, white sands meet crystal-clear seas creating a small slice of paradise. Come with us through this article to learn more about these amazing islands, what you can get up to, how to get there and where best to stay, helping to make Seychelles a holiday destination to put on your list.
How to get to Seychelles
The international airport for Seychelles is on the largest island, Mahe. Currently, there are no direct flights from the UK to Seychelles. A stop is required usually in either Dubai or Doha, you can get these flights from a number of UK airports including London Heathrow, Manchester & Birmingham.
La Digue - Image courtesy of Torsten Dickmann - Tourism Seychelles
Best time to go to Seychelles
The best time to visit Seychelles is April, May, October or November. This ensures you miss the trade winds that blow through twice a year, whilst the winds don’t carry massive speeds they can cause build-ups of seaweed on beaches, so if you’re looking for a pristine beach, best to visit during the months mentioned above. The hottest and driest time is in June, July and August and this is when the islands are the busiest. Being just 7 degrees south of the equator you can be assured of warm temperatures all year around though. Temperatures average in the late 20s and early 30s all year. The wettest months are December, January and February but you can expect the occasional short rainfall at all times of the year due to its tropical location.
Nature Trails - Image courtesy of Nadine Shah - Tourism Seychelles
What to do in Seychelles
Seychelles offers so many beautiful beaches that we could be here all day listing them for you. Visiting some of the small islands will offer more quiet and peaceful beaches where you can feel as if you have the island to yourself. However, you can’t go wrong with the beaches on the three largest islands Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. There are some of the famous beaches on these islands where large rocks sit amongst the soft, white sands creating a truly beautiful spectacle. Examples of such beaches are Anse Georgette on Praslin and Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue.
Anse Source d'Argent - Image courtesy of Michel Denousse - Tourism Seychelles
Water sports are a very popular activity in Seychelles, the islands are a paradise for lovers of the ocean and many people come to dive and see the marine life. Alongside diving and snorkelling, which are excellent there, you can also go on boat and yacht trips whether for a casual sail around the islands or make a day of it with local fishermen. There are many dive sites with lots to explore, see shipwrecks, granite swim throughs and 800 different marine species including rays, octopi and turtles.
Scuba Diving in the Seychelles - Image courtesy of Chris Mason Parker - Tourism Seychelles
Seychelles is a nature lover's paradise, whether that is in the sea or on land, the country boasts a great biodiversity that can be seen easily. There are lots of nature trails and marine reserves for visitors to explore across the islands with some having more than others. With every island easily discoverable by either foot or car you’ll have plenty to see. What you want to do and where you stay are closely linked and you should see how well both match in together before deciding.
Waterfall in Vallee De Mai forest - Image courtesy of Torsten Dickmann - Tourism Seychelles
Despite only being inhabited since the 18th century, Seychelles has a rich culture. It is a blend of African, French, British, Indian and Chinese influences which makes for a wonderful variety of food, colonial buildings, music and much more. The people are very friendly and speak English, and you should try to soak in some of the local culture whilst you are there.
Moutia on beach, La Digue - Image courtesy of Michel Denousse - Tourism Seychelles
Where to stay
As we mentioned earlier, it is important to link what you want to do with the accommodation you choose. Hotels can also provide a range of activities and experiences for you to do. Location is also an important factor to think about with hotels. In every destination that we feature at Wintasun we have ‘Chosen Ones’. These are hotels that come highly recommended either from our own experience or from feedback from customers. For Seychelles these are Coco De Mer & Black Parrot Suites, Raffles Seychelles and Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa. All three are gorgeous luxury properties, set on beaches and with amazing restaurants and much more. Find out more about these on their own dedicated pages by clicking on the hotel name.
Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa
We don’t just feature three properties in Seychelles though and we work with hundreds of suppliers to find you the best accommodation to make your holiday special. Other popular and excellent hotels to check out are Constance Lemuria, Eden Bleu Hotel and Acajou Beach Resort.
We hope that we have opened your eyes to what Seychelles has to offer and why you should consider it for your next relaxing long haul getaway. To find out more about holidays to Seychelles visit our page or call us on 01157843388. If you’re wanting to book, call us, email enquiries@ct4ntravel.co.uk or fill in our contact form with what you’re looking for and we’ll be more than happy to help you out. Don't forget to follow us on social media to find out the next Destination of the Week and find out about our other destinations here at Wintasun. If you've been to Seychelles, where was your favourite place? What was the best thing you did, or do you think we missed anything? Let us know in the comments or on social media, just click the buttons below which take you to our social pages.