Useful tips for your stay in the Seychelles: |
| Weather
facts... It's always warm in the Seychelles, making the islands a year-round destination. The seasons are defined by the trade winds, which blow from the northwest from October to April, bringing warm, sometimes wet weather. From May to September the southeast trades bring in cooler, drier but also windier weather. The turnaround periods (March through April and October through November) are normally calm with little wind. January is the wettest month, when mountainous Mahé and Silhouette get the most rainfall. However, 70 % of rain comes down between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and in average, the sunshine hours are always > 5 hours, even in January. July and August are the driest months. The annual temperature range fluctuates between 24°C (75°F) and 31°C (88°F) and the humidity hovers at 80% year round. So for diving and snorkelling, April/Mai/June and September/October/November are perfect with visibility at 30+ meters. It's not bad at all the rest of the year except mayby June, when rough seas reign on the exposed SE-sides of the islands.  |
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| Getting
there... airlines serving the Seychelles include Qatar, Emirates, Air Seychelles, Air France, Thomas Cook/Condor, Air Mauritius, Air Austral and Kenya Airways. |
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Getting from island to island...  a) With the Cat-Cocos-SpeedFerry: it runs between Mahé and Praslin (with onward connections to La Digue). The trip takes only 45-60 minutes. Between Praslin and La Digue there is a ferry which crosses in 15-30 mins. Timetables here. b) By plane or helicopter: Mahé - Praslin costs 90 € o/w by plane and although the hop with a Twin Otter or Short360 lasts only about 15 mins., you may end up spending hours at the airport, if you are unlucky. Most of the time, they are roughly on time, though. A chopper ride costs 240 € o/w between Mahé and La Digue. c) With the freight boat (15 €). It runs Monday thru Friday once daily on the route Mahé - Praslin - La Digue in 3-4 hours (leaving Mahé around noon, and La Digue about 5 a.m.). Not recommended when the sea is rough and no prebookings possible. We are happy to book the flights or ferries for you, for a marginal fee. The freight boat however cannot be booked in advance. Not by us or any other agency. Sorry. |
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On the islands ... ... on Mahé you are well advised to rent a car, due to both traffic and size of the island. Alternatively, those with more time and less money take a taxi or the local bus. Please note that on Mahé and Praslin, busses don't take you if you carry more than a daypack! We offer good, reliable rental cars at unbeatable prices (see below). ... on Praslin a car is a fairly good idea as well. Alternatively, take a taxi or the local bus. ... on La Digue you are best off by renting a bicyle. There are hardly any cars and the island is small enough to discover all the beautiful spots and beaches this way. |
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| Bicycles... can be rented directly at most guesthouses on La Digue. Alternatively, try "Tati's" (turning right when coming from the jetty). Please check the bikes immediately, especially regarding brakes and gear shifting functionality. Very few have lights at all, so it's a good idea to have a torch (flashlight) with you. |
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| Rental
cars... are advisable on Mahé, as there is lots and lots to see and do on that island. Please note that vehicles drive on the left side of the road and insurance is obligatory (available directly when you pick up the car). Bring your national driving license. Petrol costs roughly 20 Rupees/litre (December 2008). We can provide you with very well maintained cars (Hyundai Atos), at an excellent price: 39 € per day, including insurance! Minimum rental period is 4 days. For long-term rents we can make even better offers. On Mahé there are petrol stations at: Victoria (Capital) 05:30 am – 11.00pm dailyRental cars on Praslin are more expensive: we have cars for 45 € per day, including insurance. Minimum rental period is 4 days. Warning: Do NOT park your car under coconut trees!! |
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| Taxis... ... are less expensive than in Europe or the US. Count on 10-15 Euros from the airport to the ferry terminal, for example. From the airport to Beau Vallon you'll pay about 25 €. |
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| Busses... are a dirt cheap but time consuming way of getting around. A ticket costs 3 Rupies, regardless of the distance you travel. If you change busses, you have to pay again.  On frequently traveled routes on Mahe, there is a bus every 15 or 30 minutes. After 7 p.m. there are hardly any buses running and if you think you can hop on a bus with a suitcase, think again! No bus driver will take you from the airport to Victoria, for example, if you carry more than a daypack. For a map of bus routes on Mahe click here. On Praslin, things are about the same as on Mahé, but busses ply less frequently. |
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| Water... ... is normally safe to drink from the tap but chlorinated. So it doesn't taste all that good. Bottled water is a much better alternative. Tip: see "shopping"! During the dry summer months, especially in August and September, water restrictions are not uncommon, mostly on Praslin and La Digue. That means, the water supply is off, usually from 12 noon to 4 pm and 10 pm to 6 am. Please use water sparingly, don't waste it. You're on an island, after all. Thank you! |
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| Shopping... On Mahé there are some big supermarkets around Victoria. Otherwise, small shops (mostly owned by Indians) will cater for your needs. On Praslin, only small shops exist: in Baie St. Anne, Grande Anse and Anse Volbert. On La Digue there are small shops in the La Passe area and then there's the big "Grégoire's" Supermarket. Here you'll find everything from TV-sets to New Zealand Cheese. Wine is rather expensive in the Seychelles. Those of you who like a decent glass with their fish dinner but have to keep the dough together should consider bringing a bottle or two with them. Beer however is brewed locally and available as Seybrew, Eku and Guinness. Tastes very good and the only drawback is that it comes in too small bottles (280ml) The bottle goes for 12-20 Rupees, in some restaurants 25 SCR or more. Fruit juices and bottles water you'll find in most shops. Our special tip: at Cash & Carry-"Warehouses" you can get beer and mineral water in six-packs much cheaper than in regular shops. The warehouse on La Digue is 50m north of the harbour. You don't have to have a membership card, everybody can buy and gets a bill with their name printed on it as a souvenir :-) Another good address for buying bulk drinking water is the STC Supermarket a few meters north of the clocktower. Much cheaper here than in the Beau Vallon area. Locally brewed beer is a real highlight. There are 3 brands (Seybrew, Eku, Guinness), all of them good in taste but they come in too small bottles (280ml) ;-) It costs between 20 and 25 Rupies, in restaurants from 40 SCR. Bottle deposit is 2 SCR in shops.  |
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| Food... consists - in good old creole tradition - of the staples fresh fish and rice, with various vegetables as side dishes. Special wishes are gladly taken care of by owners of small guesthouses, if you ask nicely. Also to mention: the "Coco Lautier" restaurant at La Digue's Grande Anse beach serves a yummy creole buffet. (Closed in the evenings) There is an all-you-can-eat-buffet at the "Boat House" on Mahé's Beau Vallon beach. Opens at 19:30 hrs. Also very good are the "Marie Antoinette" and "Le Rendez-vous" in Victoria. "Le Reduit" near Batista's in the south of Mahé serves excellent food at fair prices. The pizzeria "Baobab" at Beau Vallon serves good italian food at very rasonable prices. Even better is "Sam's Pizzeria", a few metres south of the clocktower in Victoria. On Praslin, try the restaurant at "Le Laurier" (buffet style), or "Villas de Mer" on Grande Anse. Near the harbour, the "Organibar" serves excellent take-aways and is also a good place for dinner: open daily 8a.m. - 11 p.m., ph. 232111. |
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| Money
... You'll find banks on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. With credit and debit cards you can only get local currency (Seychelles Rupees, SCR) at any ATM. The exchange rate stands at around 23 SCR (Seychellen-Rupees) to the Euro or 16 SCR to the US$ (December 2008). Where credit cards are accepted (only in upmarket restaurants and hotels, not in family-run guesthouses), VISA and Mastercard are the best choice. UPDATE DECEMBER 2008: There is no black market any more! The Seychelles Rupee is now freely convertible. Many guesthouses still demand payment in Euros or US$, some do accept Seychelles Rupees now. Restaurant bills can always be paid in Rupees. The conversion rate is often a bit lower than what you get at the banks. So compare the sums and pay either in SCR or forex. The inflation rate has skyrocketed lately with prices for petrol, gas, electricity shooting up 67 % during 2008. Tourists have hardly noticed, as they are getting more Rupees for their forex these days (Rupee depreciation). Locals however are looking at the rising prices with despair. |
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| Which
currency to bring? Both US$ and Euros are accepted. The latter is preferred. So if you live in a country where the Euro reigns, bring those. If the dollar is your currency, stick to it. Many establishments refuse Pound Sterling, as the owners prefer to work only in US dollars or in Euros. |
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| Entry
requirements... At entry you'll get a free tourist visa on the spot. This is true for ALL passport holders, there are no restrictions whatsoever. To get your visa, you will need a valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of departure. Furthermore you'll need an onward/return ticket and an accommodation voucher (camping is strictly prohibited!). We do issue such vouchers. |
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| Customs
Allowance Free import of 2 litres of spirits plus 2 litres of wine, 400 cigarettes and 200ml of perfume or eau de toilette. Import of guns, drugs and pornographic material are strictly prohibited. Expensive electronic goods should be declared at entry. |
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| Electric
current... In the Seychelles you'll get 230 volts from the usually british-type 3-pin power outlets. It's a good idea to bring an adapter if you plan to charge batteries or use your own appliances.  
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| Telephone... Since 1998 the Seychelles have GSM-mobile networks provided by Cable&Wireless and Airtel. Please ask your cellphone provider whether you can use one of the Seychelle's networks with your mobile phone. |
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Internet... in Victoria there are a few internet café options near the clocktower (Coconet) and opposite the SMB supermarket. At the "Doubleclick" you may plug in your own notebook. On La Digue there are internet cafés near the La Passe jetty. Mobile Internet: (GPRS/EDGE by Airtel) costs 8 SCR per MB. Configuration: APN=airtelgprs.com No user name, no password. Use any prepaid Airtel-SIM-card with your modem or bluetooth phone. Cable & Wireless offers a configuration which is being sent directly to your mobile. Details at http://cwsc.wdsglobal.com/seychelles/phonefirst |
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| Radio... On 92.6, 93.6 and 100.9 FM Paradise FM sends an english music program; on 103.9 they take over RFI Afrique. On AM 1368 you can hear the local creole program, with news in English, French and Creol. BBC sends via 106.2 FM. SHORTWAVE: BBC World Service on 15310 kHz. |
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| The
famous beach "Anse Source d'Argent" on La Digue... is a true money printing machine for the owners of the plantation that lies on the way to that beautiful beach. If you pay the hefty 4 € entrance fee you can visit the plantation, complete with old creole cemetery, copra mill, vanilla plantation, giant tortoises, ship yard and - of course - lots of coconut trees. You can get to that magnificent beach for free if you walk along the beach: shortly before the entrance to the plantation you'll find a helicopter landing pad. Go down to the beach there and turn left. It takes about 20 mins. to get to the best part of Anse Source d'Argent beach. |
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| Diving
and Snorkelling... Diving: We have set up a special site for "Diving in the Seychelles" here. Snorkelling: On La Digue snorkelling is especially good on Anse Sévère and Anse Gaulettes. At the latter we encountered a group of up to a dozen (!) eagle rays every time. But watch out for the dangerous current there. Lots and lots of colorful fish! At Anse Sévère it's probably a good idea to walk to the north end of the beach if the tide is low. Go in there (amidst the granite boulders) and snorkel back along the reef edge to the south. Sea turtles (usually caretta caretta) can be seen quite often everywhere in the Seychelles. Sometimes you'll encounter a curious animal, but they are pretty shy most of the time. Grande Anse, Petit Anse and Anse Cocos on La Digue are very beautiful, but unsuitable for snorkelling: rather big waves most of the time. Watch out: every year people drown here, because of the strong currents! It is advised to bring your own snorkelling equipment. Rental gear is expensiv, often worn out and not very hygienic. BTW: Avoid the spots where dried sea grass lies on the beach: sand flies lay their eggs there. Don't scratch the itchy skin, although it's easier said than done: scratching often leads to infections. Use insect repellent. |
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| National
parks and reserves ... On La Digue you can find the endemic Seychelles-Paradise-Flycatcher(Terpsiphone corvina) at the "Veuve Reserve", but also in other parts of the island. Well worth a visit! On Praslin a day at the world heritage site "Vallée de Mai" is an absolute must for nature lovers. On Mahé there are many beautiful walks around the "Morne Seychellois" National Park. You'll find a few walks described here. Daytrips to Cousin and Curieuse are very recommended (see "Islands"), as are snorkelling trips to Cocos Island and St. Pierre. |
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| Ferry
connections between the islands: We can provide you with all inter-island tickets (against a small booking fee), if you book your accomodation with us! If you prefer doing it yourself, reservations are not a bad idea, especially on weekends.  a) MAHÉ - PRASLIN - MAHÉ with "Cat Cocos" fast ferry  
 There are 2 or 3 connections daily, departure times are very punctual. We charge only 46 € o/w for adults, children (2-12 years old) pay half of that. Download the general Cat Cocos schedule here. There is also a special schedule for January 2009. b)
PRASLIN - LA DIGUE - PRASLIN: Praslin -> La Digue:For adults the price for a o/w ticket is 12 €, return 20 €. Children 2-12 years old pay half that amount. We will gladly book this ferry for you, with a nominal surcharge of only 2 € per adult. c)
MAHÉ - LA DIGUE FREIGHT SHIP: Although we always try our very best to keep this website up-to-date, we cannot accept responsibility for the correctness of any information here. |
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