Tips for first-time visitors to Seychelles

Seychelles is a beach destination that every one of us would love to travel to during our vacations. And if you get the chance to, make sure you take it- but know the basic guidelines first!

image via Max Pixel

Take a smartphone with you

Since most of the houses and shops at Seychelles do not have addresses, finding where you should need to go to can be a little difficult. So, you need Google Maps and to support Maps, you need a smartphone. A local sim card can be bought from shops, and you may arrange a data plan too.
But, since almost all Seychelles beach resort has wireless internet connections, you don’t really have to worry about internet usage when at the resorts.

You don’t need to worry about accommodation

Most of the places you can choose for accommodation are a stone’s throw from the beach and you’ll love it. There are plenty of good hotels and resorts such as Avani Barbarons Seychelles Resort at which you can enjoy your vacations to the fullest.

You can always use busses

Taking a Bus will always be the cheapest and easiest method to get around in Seychelles. Yes, the roads can be jammed with traffic sometimes, but using public transportation saves you money – big time.

Know where you can shop at

Make sure you take home something as memories when you go back from Seychelles, ending your beautiful vacation. Victoria’s City Center is one option that you can try out for a perfect shopping experience.

Which Seychelles Island You Must Visit and Why

The archipelago of Seychelles will not leave you disappointed. Here are three islands and some information on them to help make it easier for you to decide!

Praslin

Praslin has a contrast of atmosphere on either end, therefore, if you’re looking for a laid back and calm time then you must stay on the west side. However, if you’re looking for more of a lively atmosphere with plenty of restaurants and bars, then you must stay in the east. If you’re interested in nature, then you must visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Praslin National Park.

Mahe

During your stay at any resort in Seychelles, the likes of Avani Barbarons Seychelles Resort when in Mahe, you’ll undoubtedly get a feel of the local life of Seychelles. Make sure you visit Victoria, the capital, to buy your own fresh produce and goods. The best thing to do in Mahe is to chill by the beach and take in the gorgeous waters.

Hansueli Krapf (User:Simisa), Seychelles 019, CC BY-SA 2.5

La Digue

A small and chilled out island, La Digue is home to a number of pristine beaches. The roads on the island are perfect for strolls and cycling. Due to the number of private beaches dotting the island, you’ll easily find some private time for yourself!

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Diving in Mahé, Seychelles

The island of Mahé, in Seychelles, is famous for its stunning beaches. It also happens to be a top diving site known for its beautiful coral reefs and shipwrecks teeming with marine life.

The Best Time to Dive

While it is possible to dive all year round, the quality and visibility levels at the sites may vary. The months of April /May/ October and March are considered to have the best conditions suitable to do so. Many a hotel in Mahé the likes of Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino organize reputable diving expeditions on request.

Marine Life

Seychelles boasts of a very rich marine life. Mostly due to extremely strict conservation rules. At almost all the dive sites a diverse variety of fish, colorful corals, turtles and reef sharks can be found. The islands are also famous for its underwater granite formations whose crevices are home to lesser-known sea creatures.

Marine Conservation

Seychelles take conservation quite seriously and has many strict regulations in place to preserve its marine life. There are a total of 6 national parks spread across Mahé in addition to several islands which are managed by conservation organizations.

Climate

The region is blessed with a lovely balmy tropical temperature, attracting tourist from all over the globe wanting to enjoy a blissful holiday, the water temperatures range from 26° from June to August while warming towards the latter months.

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Morne Seychellois National Park

Lush, green landscapes home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, natural unspoiled beaches, and clear, turquoise blue water as far as the eye can see; the Republic of Seychelles has some of the most beautiful natural sights the region has to offer. So it’s not surprising that these tropical islands are a dream destination for couples, on the lookout for a comfortable and luxury hotel in Seychelles, which offers tranquil accommodation near the crystal-blue shoreline of Mahe, such as the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino.

Doubtless, the beaches are a main attraction for many, but not far from the coast, are forests and mountainous landscapes, just waiting to be explored. The Morne Seychellois National Park is the perfect example; situated on the highest point of the archipelagos, on the island of Mahe. The Morne Seychellois National Park is the largest of its kind in Seychelles, and covers over 20 percent of Mahe Island.

Dense tropical jungles, winding mangroves and the country’s highest peak, Morne Seychellois, are located within the park, and can be accessed along several hiking trails for either half-day or full-day excursions. While there are plenty of marked trails, the best way to experience the park is on a guided tour, where an expert will take you around the park and show you all the best spots. However, if you prefer to do it alone, there are also some easy routes you can try on your own. Several of the trails start from the nearby town of Danzil, and go up into the park, providing dramatic views of the island’s coast.
You can also take the park trails to Baie Ternay and Port Launay, the national marine parks. A haven for snorkellers and divers, the marine parks are home to eye-popping vistas and an array of marine life. If you head further north, you’ll find the Anse Major beach, a great place to chill and watch a sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Hiking in the Seychelles

Seychelles is renowned for its natural beauty and is a major tourist attraction. Swimming, diving, snorkeling and hiking are very popular leisure activities and the conditions in Seychelles are very conducive to indulge the.
As a holiday destination, Seychelles is par excellence and beach resorts in Seychelles are a plenty, and most like theAVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa come equipped with pristine stretches of beach and access to nearby private
Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are the main tourist islands tourist islands and have great walks and hiking trails. The best time for hiking in the Seychelles is June-September.

Mahé has a number of great hiking trails. Anse Major is along the rocky northwestern coastline of Mahé and leads to the beach of the same name. This trail is not too difficult and the beauty of the Anse Major beach makes the hike worthwhile. Cassedent is a trail that leads to a wide granite mountain top with fantastic 360 degree views . This is fairly long and is an ascending/descending trail through screwpines,a palm marsh and endemic trees. The trail ends at a natural waterfall. Dans Gallas is a trail with panoramic views and the top of the trail offers a glorious view covering Beau Vallon Bay ,North Mahé ,the eastern coast down to the airport with the Victoria area right down below.

Glacis Noire is on Praslin Island and this trail leads to a hilltop overlooking the East coast of Praslin Island and also offers a great view La Digue and the surrounding smaller islands. This trail has many plants endemic to the Seychelles including the famed Coco de Mer . Vallée de Mai is one of Seychelles UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is thought to be the original Garden of Eden by some. Approximately, 6000 Coco de Mer trees flourish here.

On the island of La Digue a hike through Bellevue will unravel the beauties of the island and the more energetic hikers should make it up to the tip of Nid Aigle. Another worthwhile area to hike or ramble through is the Union Estate Park.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve: the Rumoured Garden of Eden

Nestled in the centre of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is home to not only a national treasure but a natural park of global significance. Found on the island of Praslin in Seychelles, the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve is one of pristine beauty and national importance and its significance is celebrated by UNESCO naming it a World Heritage Site in 1983.

UNESCO recognizes locations worldwide which they believe house universal value and has up to date recognized nearly a thousand such locations as World Heritage Sites. Such locations are often of intrinsic value that is immeasurable and worth protecting and preserving for future generations. The Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve located in Seychelles too is one such site that is of importance not only to the country of Seychelles, but the rest of the world as well. It derives its value from a Coco de Mer palm forest, a type of palm tree which is endemic to the region. The seeds of the Coco de Mer tree are the largest in the plant kingdom and even its leaves are often a stunning 14 metres long. What makes this forest of palm trees so unique is that it appears to have been preserved since pre historic times and the added belief that the Vallée de Mai was actually the Garden of Eden found in religious scripture.

In addition, the forest is also believed to be home to a number of endemic mammals, birds and reptiles. For an instance, the extremely rare Seychelles Black Parrot is said to reside in this valley. Other birds such as the bulbul, the blue pigeon, the sunbird as well as reptiles such as the endemic chameleon, bronze and green geckos and blind snake are said to reside in the valley as well.

The lush greenery from the palm forest coupled with the diverse wildlife brings to life one of the most attractive of forests in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, a holiday in a Seychelles hotel would provide you with the opportunity to be surrounded by nature. If you wish to visit this World Heritage Site as well, you should arrange for accommodation at a Praslin hotel. In this regard, one need not look any further than the Raffles Praslin Seychelles a mere 15 minutes away by air from the capital of the country.