Portray of the Destination
Seychelles archipelago is a paradise where nature can be found shinning its brightness. All its islands (more than a hundred of them) are fantastic places, which amaze with their calm environment, their vegetation, their white sand and their wonderful coral reefs. The main, biggest island is Mahé, which is rich in palm woods, full of orchids. Its capital is Victoria, a small, lovely town ideal to alternate days on the beach with some urban environment.

Here, tourists spend most of their time enjoying the sunshine and the waters, but also some water sports, as well as fishing and playing golf. No doubt the greatest attraction here is diving. Seychelles has one of the most variegated underwater landscapes in the world, with a fascinating and colorful flora, and amazingly shaped and colored species of fish. Some of the most interesting places are the Trois Fréres Path, which connects Morne Seychellois National Park with the peak of the most important mountain in Victoria; the Reserve, an interesting reserve full of palms, exotic plants and indigenous fauna, and La Passe, a dazzling path ideal to visit cycling. And, of course, the rest of the islands, among them: Praslin, La Digue, Félicité, Frégate, Aldabra, Desroches and Silhouette.

We would like to thank the Seychelles Islands Tourism Board for the information provided.
Visit: www.aspureasitgets.com

Geography
Seychelles’ 115 islands lie between 1.500 kilometers (932 mi) from the East coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean. The three central islands ―Mahé, Praslin and La Digue― are granitic, and the rest of them are a group of coral atolls. Unlike other similar formations, this territory is not volcanic. According to official researches, the islands are the peaks of a giant underwater plateau which fell off the edge of India about 60 million years ago. The land is constituted by huge areas of sand, an area of plateaus and mountains, and a good deal of woods with varied flora and fauna.

Climate
Equatorial and very humid. The majority of rains fall by the beginning of the year. The mean annual temperature is 28º C (82.4º F) and the average humidity is of 75%.

When to go
Seychelles is a great destination to rest any time of the year. Choosing the season to travel there, then, will depend on the visitors’ preference. Between May and October, with the beginning and the end of the trade winds, it is ideal for the ones who like windsurfing and sailing. For diving, the best season is between March and November. From December to August the islands receive the highest number of tourists, so that is why it is advisable to book your accommodation and air transportation in advance.

History
Discovered by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1502, although maybe the Arabs knew them at that time, the Seychelles Islands were the reason behind the dispute between France and Great Britain since the mid 16th Century. At that time, France had already sent settlers and slaves from the Island of Mauritius and started growing sugar cane, coffee and corn. The armed confrontation between both nations ended by 1794 when Britain took charge and the French were expelled; this situation was made officially effective after the parties signed the Treaty of Paris, in 1814. Thus, Seychelles started to be governed as part of the Island of Mauritius up to 1903, when it became a British crown colony.

In 1976, independence was granted and the authorities decided that tourism would be the main source of income. Even though there have been very difficult moments regarding political life since then, nowadays its constitution ―written in 1993― guarantees plurality of political parties.

Traditions
One of the main events of Seychelles’s tradition is the Creole Festival, established to spread all the aspects of the country’s culture. This celebration, which lasts one week, is carried out every year by the end of October and includes gastronomic delights and several fashion, musical, theatrical and dance shows.

Some other traditions are related to African customs and rituals, such as the Sombre Moutia, the typical dance of the country. In social meetings, it is very common to play some music to liven up the gathering.

Seychelles’ folklore combines Indian, Chinese, European and Arab musical elements. Accordions, banjos, and violins are mixed with domestic instruments such as the makalapo (a string instrument); the bom; the zez, which is a kind of zither, and various African drums.

Gastronomy
Fish is the main source in their gastronomy. In Seychelles, you can try shark, shellfish, barracuda, opah, octopus, squids, red snapper, parrotfish, king mackerel, tuna and grouper, all served with several salads and spice, or rice prepared in different ways.

Among the typical dishes, you will find the carri coco, a soft meat or fish curry with coconut cream, and the tektek, a fish cooked in an onion, garlic, ginger and parsley soup. You will also find several sweet sauces served with the menus and some other that are really spicy.

Wines are imported and expensive, but the local beers are really good. After lunch or dinner, the citronelle is a must, an herb tea prepared with an aromatic plant called andropogon.

Currency
Seychelles Rupee. Divided into 100 cents. You will find 10, 25, 50 and 100 rupee notes, and 1, 5, 10 and 25 cent, and 1 and 5 rupee coins. You can exchange money at banks and at the main hotels.

Currency Exchange
1 Seychelles Rupee (SCR) = 0.15 Euros (EUR), 1 Seychelles Rupee (SCR) = 0.10 Pound sterling (GBP)

Prices
Seychelles is an exclusive destination, so that is why it is not cheap. The accommodation prices are set by the government, but they are high, as well as all the other services. Between December and August, hotels raise the fees.

Useful Info

Official name
Republic of Seychelles
Country
Seychelles Islands
Time Zone
+ 4 GMT
Official Language
English and French
Surface area
453 square kilometers (175 sq. mi)
Population
81,000 inhabitants
Political Regime
Republic
Public holidays
April: Holy Week. June: Corpus Christi. June 28th: Independence day. August 15th: Assumption. December 8th: Immaculate Conception.
Religion
Although it was ruled by the English for so long, the majority of its inhabitants is Catholic, and strictly respects their dogma. The rest of the people, the Anglicans, do the same with their beliefs. Both religions have their own space and they live with absolute peace and tolerance. But at the same time, there are several beliefs in supernatural powers and in the old magic of the spirits. Even though witchcraft was declared illegal in 1958, many witch doctors still practice their treatments and curses, and supply potions for love, for fortune and for revenge.
Religion
90% Catholic; 10% Protestant
Arrival / Departure
By air: Air Seychelles offers daily flights among the main islands. It also covers close destinations of code-share with Air Austral and Air Mauritius. Some of the airlines that flight to Seychelles are British Airways, Kenya Airways and Aeroflot. You will also find charter flights from several European cities.

By sea: You can reach Seychelles by cruisers of different companies.

Safety
Seychelles is a very safe country. That is why there is not any special advice.
Visa
You don’t need a visa to go to Seychelles. You just need to have your accommodation booked and enough money for your stay. All visitors must pay an airport tax of around 8 EUR.
Clothing
Due to the constant heat and the high humidity, you will need cotton wear, comfortable footwear, hats or caps, sunglasses and sunscreens.
Electricity
240 volts, 50 Hz. Used jacks: tri-polar.
Radio and Television
The most popular radio stations are Paradise FM, RF1 Afrique and BBC World Service. Local television is Seychelles Broadcasting Corp.’s property.
Telephone
Seychelles country code is 248. From any place in the world, you have to dial 00 before the code. The service is highly efficient but also very expensive. Payphones work with phone cards, available at several shops. Bear in mind that prices are 100% surcharged at hotels. On the most isolated islands, there is no telephone service.
Police
28-8000
Ambulance
38-8000
Fire Brigade
28-8000
Tourist health care services
38-8000
Newspapers and Magazines
There are several local newspapers, most of them published in English. The main ones are Seychelles News and Seychelles Nation.
Postal Service
The Central Post Office is located in Victoria. Opening times: from 8 am to 4 pm, from Monday to Friday, and on Saturday from 8 am to 12 am.
Health Care Services
In Seychelles there is not any contagious disease, such as malaria, cholera or yellow fever.

Airport
There are 14 small airports. The main airport is Point Laruet, located 10 km (6 mi) South from the city of Victoria, on Mahé Island. Tel: (248) 38-4000.
Public Transport
There are planes, helicopters and ferries to travel from one island to the other. In Victoria, Praslin and La Digue, if necessary, you can travel by taxi, whose fares are fixed by the government. In Mahé, besides, there is an efficient bus service, which is smaller in Praslin.
Railway
 
Bus
The bus service operates throughout Mahé and Praslin. It is practical and cheap, but you have to adapt to the people’s schedule. Most lines are available between 5.30 am and 7.00 pm. The fares depend on the distance you travel. On Sunday, the service is limited.
Car
In Seychelles, people drive on the left side. At the outskirts of the islands, some roads are dangerous, and that is why you should rent cars that are prepared to face the difficult conditions of some roads. You have to be over 21 in order to drive and you also need an updated license. Speed limit is 45km/h (28mph) in the city and 65 km/h (40 mph) in the rest of the territory. Generally gas stations are closed by dusk, so it’s advisable to acquire gas during the day.
Car Rentals
Avis: Mahé Airport, Anse Des Genets, Victoria, Tel: (248) 37-3045.
Avis Victoria: Victoria House Building, Tel: (248) 22-4511.
Besides, the rest of the main worldwide rent-a-car companies have offices at Victoria’s airport.
Ship
The main port is the one in Victoria. Vessels that travel form island to island are sailing or motor ships. The duration of the trips depends on the kind of ship, but they do not exceed a three-hour trip. You can also rent fishing boats, yachts or motorboats. In order to hire these services, you have to contact the Marine Charter Association, in the New Port of Mahé.
Taking pictures
 
See climate
www.worldweaher.org
Currency converter
www.xe.com/ucc
A dinner
Between 12 and 22 EUR.
A coffee
3 EUR