Scuba Diving
Whatever your diving ability, you’re sure to find a dive site to suit you. Many of our featured hotels have their own qualified dive centres. The best diving conditions are between March and May and between October and November. Divers can expect to see an array of fish species, including Angel Fish, Butterfly Fish and Sweepers in the shallow inshore reefs. Soft corals and gorgonian fan corals can be seen at dive sites such as the Canyon, while larger fish, such as Giant Groupers and Ribbon-tailed Stingrays, can be found at more remote sites. The Inner islands are home to the spectacular Whale Shark, with peak viewing times in August and October.
Spas
For many, a spa treatment is a vital ingredient for the perfect holiday; soothing, calming, healing and relaxing. Recognising this, resorts and even tiny island boutique hotels, all feature a large pleasuredome or bijou spa. Treatments can range in duration from short 30-minute and hourly therapies, to all-day rituals, many incorporating the healing properties of plants, flowers and the ocean into the products used.
Golf
Constance Lemuria golf course overlooks not one, but three glorious beaches and a stunning expanse of the Indian Ocean. An 18-hole par-70 championship course, it presents a challenge to amateurs and professionals alike. The first twelve holes are at a low level, but from the thirteenth hole, the course ascends to higher levels and offers magnificent ocean views. Hotel guests enjoy complimentary green fees, whilst equipment hire, lessons and club cars (required due to the course’s terrain) are all available for hire.
Vallee de Mai National Park
The Seychelles is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atoll, and Praslin’s Vallée de Mai, a primeval palm forest once believed to be the original site of the Garden of Eden and home to a collection of rare plants that flourish nowhere else on Earth. Walk through the amazing palm forest and discover the endemic coco-de-mer (sea coconut) – these trees are the bearers of the largest nut in the world, often referred to as ‘love nuts’ or the ‘double coconut’ due to their appearance. The forest is also home to the Black Parrot, the national bird of the Seychelles, which owes its existence to the palm forest.
Victoria
Victoria might be one of the smallest capital cities in the world, but it has plenty to offer visitors. Head over to the Natural History Museum for a complete account of the islands’ past; stroll through the Victoria Botanical Gardens, where amongst the spice and fruit trees you’ll find a population of Giant Tortoises, Fruit Bat colonies and an orchid house. The outdoor market is a colourful display of shops and stalls selling local herbs and spices, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as souvenirs. Visit the market in the early morning to watch fishmongers display an incredible variety of seafood.
Travel Planning
Our Travel Consultants can advise on, arrange and pre-book many things to enhance your holiday. This includes everything from spa reservations and dinner reservations, to a range of special experiences available in our featured resorts that you may not know about.
Activity Calendar
Whilst the Seychelles boast year-round sunshine and a temperate climate there are certain times of the year that are better suited to some of the activities available:
Snorkelling – good all year round.
Diving – good all year, but visibility is better between April and October.
Surfing & Windsurfing – best between May and September.
Sailing – good all year round.
Fishing – best between October and April.
Bird-watching – best around April/May for the breeding season and September/October for migration.
Walking & Hiking – best from May to September.
Turtles – October to February (with peak viewing in December) to watch turtles laying eggs and from mid January to April (with peak viewing in February/March) to watch the hatchlings emerge from their eggs and make their precarious way to the ocean.
Flight Information
Via Dubai with Emirates from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Via Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways from London Heathrow and Manchester.
Via Doha with Qatar Airways from London Heathrow and Manchester.
Flight Time
From London Heathrow to Dubai and Abu Dhabi: 7 hours. London Heathrow to Doha: 6 hours, 45 minutes.
Onward connecting flights from Dubai to Mahé: 4 hours, 40 minutes.
From Abu Dhabi to Mahé: 4 hours, 30 minutes.
From Doha to Mahé: 4 hours, 55 minutes.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance.
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations i.e, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.