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SEYCHELLES

- Seychelles - 


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Home to the frequently voted most beautiful beach in the world, the Seychelles is what most people will automatically picture when dreaming of a secluded paradisiac island. As the chosen location for movies such as Castaway and Robinson Crusoe, it is easy to see why this island nation has become a quintessential honeymoon destination - it is truly gorgeous.

And yet, the Seychelles is so much more than just a collection of beautiful white sandy beaches. The nation is comprised of 115 islands, of varying sizes and characteristics, some rocky and mountainous, others lush with dense forested areas, and others still are exotic with palm trees overlooking dreamy beaches and low-lying coral reefs. 

Larger than the one-resort islands of the Maldives, the Seychelles islands offer more possibilities to explore and attract a wider public. While honeymooners have many romantic locations to choose from, many hotels will also delight families with the breadth of experiences on offer.

Most tourist infrastructure is concentrated on 4 islands. Mahé, as the largest island, is the one everyone will arrive on by plane. While many people are tempted to head to a smaller, more intimate island immediately, the best way to visit the Seychelles in our opinion is to combine at least 2 islands, and we at The Travel Cafe strongly recommend spending 2-3 days on Mahé before moving on.

Not only does it have beaches and resorts that are as spectacular as its smaller neighbours, Mahé is also the place to be if you wish to sample some of the local culture, the delicious Creole cuisine or hike one of the many trails in the Morne Seychellois National Park.

Don’t miss out on a day-tour of the island, which will have you exploring charming villages with gingerbread-style cottages where local vendors sell freshly picked starfruits, mangoes or pineapples. Finish your tour with a rum tasting at the Takamaka Rum Distillery, famous for their spiced rum recipe, made using sugar cane grown only on Mahé.


Prasin, the second largest island in the Seychelles, is located an hour's boat ride from Mahé. Praslin has a distinctly more laid-back vibe and has its own plethora of activities on offer. It is home to the beautiful Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, one of only two places on Earth where you can see the rare coco de mer palm grow naturally. It's also a favourite amongst birders, who come to catch a glimpse of the endemic Seychelles bulbul, the blue pigeon or the elusive black parrot. As with all Seychelles islands, Prasin has its fair share of stunning beaches, and it’s also the starting point for visiting the small uninhabited Curieuse Island, just across the water, which is home to a population of giant Aladabra tortoises.


Another popular island is La Digue. This sleepy is (for now!) undeveloped, and there are only a handful of hotels. The common theme here is barefoot luxury. It takes an hour to walk across the island, stopping frequently at beautiful secluded beaches, including Anse Source d'Argent beach, voted repeatedly the most beautiful beach in the world.

 

Last but not least, the mountainous Silhouette island, raw and untouched, completes the inhabited set of larger main islands. With only one village and one resort, this is as far from civilization as you can get, and a popular choice amongst honeymooners.


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- Best time to visit the Seychelles -

Best time to go to The Serengeti

Thanks to its equatorial location, the Seychelles does not experience much variation in temperatures, which usually vary between 25°C in winter and 30°C (86°F) in summer. As with most African destinations, you can expect a dry and a rainy season. 


Winter (June to September) will typically be the dry season, while summer (December to March) is the rainy season, when you may expect quick and heavy showers, which dissipate quickly. The Seychelles gets an unusual amount of wind, however, with the northwest trade winds blowing from November to March and the southeast winds very noticeable from May to September. These winds will cause the sand to fly and may at times impact your enjoyment of the beach.


With this in mind, a The Travel Cafe our absolute favourite time to visit the Seychelles are the months of April, May, October and November (between the two windy periods). Of course, if you cannot pick these months, we will happily work with you to picking a hotel, island or resort which is wind-free during your travel dates, in order to help you to the perfect beach holiday.
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