Seychelles
The plane still had to be de-iced. The hint of Siberia that covered much of central and southern Europe last winter was too persistent. But just eight hours and 35 minutes later, when we landed at nine in the morning, all that was literally water under the bridge. With "30 degrees, slightly cloudy, perfect vacation weather", the captain of the Austrian plane releases the cold-weary passengers into the endless summer of the Seychelles. After just a few minutes in the cab, the first cliché bay: Anse Royale. Granite rocks, turquoise water, salty air. The first scent of a longing destination that promises the wanderlust-stricken nothing less than a Garden of Eden - a paradise with pristine, dramatic nature and clean sea - a tingling romantic hotspot. It soon becomes clear: the fantasy, or rather the wishful thinking, can easily keep up with reality! In principle, the former French and English colony is a large village in "splendid isolation", 1,600 kilometers east of Kenya. Just under 95,000 inhabitants, 455 km2, 115 islands, most of which are uninhabited and not as flat as the Maldives. The granite islands ("inner islands") around the green, mountainous main island of Mahé with the international airport and the capital Victoria as well as its "satellites" Praslin and La Digue are considered the economic and cultural center of the republic with the majority of hotels, villas, vacation apartments, guesthouses and world-class beaches. The flat coral "outer islands", on the other hand, are virtually untouched. Their most dazzling pearl: the Aldabra Atoll.
Playground for honeymooners, Hollywood stars and families
This enchanting spot in the Indian Ocean is not only perfect for honeymooners, luxury travelers and show business A-listers, but also for families with the necessary change. With its lush flora and fauna, children are given a hands-on and exotic natural history lesson. Whether it's boat trips to see giant tortoises, tracking down the smallest frog on the planet, spotting rare bird species, adventures on enchanted root trails or splashing, snorkeling and paddling in the lukewarm waters of blue lagoons - the stars are aligned so that the smartphone loses its fascination, at least temporarily. The Vallée de Mai on the second largest Seychelles island, Praslin, has UNESCO World Heritage status and is home to the unique coco de mer palm. Apart from Praslin, its giant nuts, which can weigh up to 30 kg, only grow on the neighboring island of Curieuse. A rare lightweight also has its habitat in the thicket of the valley: the brown-black small Vasa parrot.
Sustainable eco-resorts with Barefoot Luxury
Where once scorched earth was left behind by one-sided coconut palm cultivation, today sustainable and meticulous efforts are being made to restore the intact original state. The two private luxury resort islands of Frégate and Félicité are a laudable example of this. They have set themselves the task of bringing back the plants and animals originally native to their soil and removing non-endemic species. Jemma Borocz, Marketing Communications Manager of Six Senses on Félicité: "This means that the island is becoming even greener - nowadays the opposite is usually the case". Edouard Grosmangin, who was responsible for the opening of the Six Senses and is now General Manager of Raffles Praslin, is also optimistic about the future: "The Seychelles has the cleanest air and enough fish - in Mauritius, that is already difficult." In addition to the seemingly intact environment, he also appreciates the political stability - something that another major competitor, the Maldives, can only dream of. Grosmangin's French colleague Lionel Ferrari, who runs the luxury resort MAIA on Mahé, has another pro-Seychelles argument up his sleeve: "Safety. As a family man, this plays a major role for me. "The service culture has only just managed to turn the corner in recent years. Ferrari remembers: "When I came here, you had to wait a hell of a long time in any restaurant before anyone even noticed you and asked for your order after another 10 minutes. And then it turned out that most of the things on the menu didn't even exist."
The great variety of transfers: bus 1 euro, helicopter 1,000
There are no major gaps in terms of infrastructure and transportation. Island hopping is made easy by reliable ferry connections, airplanes and helicopters, which are as omnipresent here as flying foxes at dusk. Hardly any five-star hotel can do without a helipad. If you don't want to treat yourself to an expensive cab and have time and leisure, the public buses on Mahé are a good option. They are always an adventure and a wonderful opportunity to soak up the authentic local color. If you live in the south, you should take the bus up to the north, with the famous long Beau Vallon beach as a possible final destination. An ideal starting point is the "Anse Boileau" stop, located on the edge of a sleepy little village with a church, school, police station, mini market and soccer pitch. Coconuts and discarded soccer boots rot behind a gate. The journey on the ancient Indian bus, which quickly fills up with the multi-ethnic locals, the Seychellois, is a hit. The chauffeur thrashes his blue, heavily groaning "Tata", which of course has no air conditioning, like Lewis Hamilton at speed through the botany. In this context, a note in the vehicle reads in a particularly original way: "How am I driving?" The telephone number is written next to it. On the other hand, you only have to fork out a paltry euro for the unforgettable ride up and down with one change in Victoria. A cheaper and more authentic sightseeing bargain is hard to find in the luxury destination of the Seychelles.
Robinson would have loved to be stranded here: In the Seychelles, lush nature and high-priced luxury form a symbiosis that benefits the islands and their visitors alike.
Highlights
Connoisseur special tip:
Helicopter Seychelles operates scheduled flights to La Digue and Praslin. The shuttle flight from Mahé to La Digue saves the detour by boat via Praslin. The helicopter also flies to all the other inhabited islands of the Inner Islands (e.g. Fragté and North Island), but you have to charter it and then it gets really expensive! A sightseeing flight over the islands is definitely a unique experience, and not just as a transfer.
www.helicopterseychelles.com
Location
Repuplic of Seychelles
Area
459 km2, ca. 115 Inseln
Population
89.173
Language
Seselwa, English, French
Arrival
It couldn't be more convenient: Austrian (from Vienna), Condor (from Frankfurt) and Edelweiss Air (from Zurich) jet non-stop to Mahé. Other options: Flights via Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar or Ethiopia. No visa is required to enter the Seychelles. A valid passport, a fixed hotel booking and a valid return ticket are sufficient.
Capital city
Victoria
Religion
Catholic
Weather
Due to its proximity to the equator, it is between 24 and 32 degrees all year round, hot and humid between December and March, drier and a little cooler from May to September. The remaining months are quite windless. The water temperature is always between 27 and 29 degrees. There are no classic rainy seasons on the islands, but short downpours are possible at any time. The Seychelles are located outside the cyclone belt.
Tropical climate. Southeast monsoon from May to October with temperatures around 27 °C and humidity of 75 %. From November to January/February, northwest monsoon with frequent heavy rainfall. At this time of year, oppressive heat and humidity occur again. It is the equivalent of a midsummer's day in Germany at any time of year. The sun shines between 6 and 8 hours a day. The sea is usually more turbulent between May and October. The main wind direction changes twice a year. The wind usually comes from the northwest between November and March, with a force of 2 to 5 Beaufort (mostly onshore). From April/May to October, the monsoon winds come mainly from the south-east, the sun shines longer and the humidity is lower.
Best time to travel
May to October. The rain cloud zone then lies north of the equator, while the dry, friendly south-east monsoon with slightly less rain blows in the Seychelles.
Climate
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperature | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
| Min. Temperature | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Rainy days | 15 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Water Temperature | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
Time difference (to MEZ)
MEZ: +3 Stunden,
Currency
Seychelles rupee (SCR), 1 SCR = 100 cents, 1 EUR = 11.7919 SCR
Visa
Entry and residence conditions
For a vacation stay in the Seychelles, a visitor's permit is sufficient, which every visitor receives free of charge and without visa formalities upon entry, provided there are no serious reasons to refuse entry and the visitor
> is the holder of a passport valid until the end of the planned stay or another official travel document issued by a recognized state (including temporary passports, aliens' passports, etc.) and
> can provide proof of accommodation for the first 3 nights,
> has a valid ticket for the return or onward journey and
> can prove that he/she has sufficient funds to finance the planned stay.
For children: The child's ID card is also recognized without a photograph. The entry of a child in the passport of a parent is also sufficient for entry.
The visit permit is valid for the duration of the stay, but for no longer than one month. Within this period, the period of validity can be extended to three months. Further extensions of a maximum of three months each are possible up to a total duration (calculated from the date of entry) of one year. All extensions must be applied for within the validity period. Within the first three months, the extension is free of charge; a fee of SR 1,000.00 must be paid for all subsequent extensions.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required for entry from Europe to the Seychelles. A hepatitis A vaccination and typhoid vaccination are recommended. Further information at the Tropical Institute. Information without guarantee.
Food Seychelles - Our restaurant tips
The melting pot is also evident in the culinary world: Creole cuisine incorporates the sophistication of French cuisine, the exoticism of Indian dishes and the strong aromas of the Orient. When these influences meet the freshest seafood from the Indian Ocean, the foundation is laid for a palate tickler. Fish and octopus in all its varieties are among the locals' favorite dishes, as are delicious curries with coconut milk and rice. Luxury hotels tend to cater to "international" tastes, but authentic "Creole dishes" reign supreme in casual beach bistros, restaurants and snack bars. Our recommendations:
CHez Jules Beach bar with cult character cult character and fantastic seafood as well as great cocktails on La Digue.
Be sure to book in advance!
T +248 4 23 42 87
Del Place Upscale restaurant with local and international cuisine at Port Glaud on Mahé.
facebook.com/delplacerestaurant
Piroge Beautiful restaurant with very good cuisine, bar and live entertainment on Praslin. Also very popular with the locals at weekends.
www.piroguelodge.com
Seychellois cuisine is down-to-earth and dominated by rice and fish dishes, but it also offers surprises
For what is cooked, fried and baked in Seychellois
pots and pans, fried and baked in Seychelles, the term
"Creole cuisine" is, strictly speaking, not precise enough. So it is better to speak
Seychellois cuisine, which - inspired by the ethnic diversity of the
the ethnic diversity of the people living here - cannot deny certain borrowings.
cannot be denied.
Each population group has brought elements of its own
culinary art. This is why you will find Asian, Indian and
African dishes as well as European ones. The latter are mostly
remnants of the colonial era. Seychellois cooks rarely use strong spices
spices such as turmeric, cloves, cinnamon, ginger,
garlic, mint, chilli peppers, cardamom and nutmeg to create harmonious
harmonious combinations.
Seychelles nightlife - entertainment in paradise
If you would like to get to know the nightlife of the Seychelles better, this is
in the major tourist areas of the islands of Mahé and Praslin. However
However, you cannot expect big city standards here like in Europe.
as in Europe. Until tourism arrived on the islands, the
Seychellois took their religious holidays very seriously. It was only tourism in the
the past two decades brought nightlife and the custom of turning night into day.
night into day. Hotel facilities with various entertainment
entertainment programs, but there are also a few public discos and clubs.
few public discos and clubs. The rule here is: "No shorts! On Mahé
there are two casinos where vacationers can try their luck.
Sights Seychelles - Not a vacation paradise for nothing
THE MOST KNOWN ISLANDS
MAHÉ The largest island with 150 km2 and 72,000 inhabitants. 25,000 of them live in Victoria. The capital is one of the smallest in the world and is not really a must-see, a quickie is enough. Main attractions: A mini Big Ben from 1903 to celebrate the independence of Mauritius as well as a colorful Hindu temple and the botanical garden. The highest point: Morne Seychellois (903 m). If you want to hike up, you need seven hours - and a good level of fitness as well as a guide!
PRASLIN (37.5 km2, 8,600 inhabitants) In addition to the dream beaches, the Vallée de Mai National Park with the remains of a prehistoric forest stands out as the top attraction on the second largest island. Tip: the more compact alternative "Fond Ferdinand" has even more trees and also offers the famous Coco de Mer. The ascent is only permitted with a guide, but access is possible all year round (except on December 25 and January 1).
LA DIGUE (10 km2, 2,800 inhabitants) It is no longer possible to cycle as undisturbed as it used to be in this hideaway just six kilometers from Praslin. -In addition to the nostalgic ox carts used as public transport, cars are now increasingly setting the rhythm of this charming little gem. However, the almost kitschy Anse Source d'Argent, with granite blocks as if carved by a divine hand and sandy areas that are partially swallowed up at high tide, makes up for any idyllic crashes. If you show up before 10 a.m., you'll have the beach beauty all to yourself.
Other dream islands to visit or reside on The "bird islands" Bird, Cousin and Aride as well as Frégate, Félicité, Denis, Desroches, Silhouette, Aldabra and North (eleven villas in royal seclusion, Kate and William honeymooned here).
THE BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
On Mahé: Anse Intendance, Anse Takamaka, Port Launay, Beau Vallon (the only Seychelles beach where motorized water sports are allowed)
On Praslin: Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette
On La Digue: Anse Source d'Argent In principle, all beaches are public. At certain times, swimming is only possible to a limited extent due to currents or giant waves. Divers and snorkelers will be impressed between November and March - the underwater visibility is particularly good.
The Seychelles are not the vacation paradise par excellence for nothing. Not only the
beauty of the islands, the sea and the radiant sun attract countless tourists
countless tourists here every year. The archipelago offers a colorful variety of
variety of sights, evenly distributed between the respective islands.
islands.
not rely on mass tourism, but try with all their might to make this
to reserve this paradise for the better-heeled public. On
all the islands you can visit, there are numerous places of interest. The botanical garden in
Victoria on Mahé is a real crowd-puller. The upper part of the
park is largely left in its natural state, with a small restaurant. The
Botanical Garden is home to at least one specimen of all the botanical rarities
rarities of the Seychelles.
Hotels
