Travelling to Seychelles: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

The Seychelles, a breathtaking archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is a dream destination for travellers seeking pristine beaches, lush landscapes and unique wildlife. For me, this is one of those places to visit as a true once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Although, I must admit, once is not enough. If you’re travelling to Seychelles for the first time, there’s a fair amount worth knowing before you go, so let’s get into it.

Before embarking on your journey, it’s essential to be well prepared. This guide covers everything you need to know to plan your trip properly: the best way to get around, how to think about flights, and the practical details that make the difference between a smooth trip and a stressful one. If you’re ready to plan the itinerary itself, head over to my 10 days in Seychelles guide for a full island-by-island breakdown of what to see and do.

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How to move around Seychelles

The best way to see Seychelles is by car. The islands are spread out enough, and the best beaches are often far enough from each other, that relying on taxis alone will limit what you can comfortably do in a day.

On Praslin specifically, I’d recommend Angel Tours (contact Christian directly). It was genuinely one of the smoothest, easiest car hire experiences we’ve had anywhere in our travels, and their prices were lower than other options we looked at.

Public buses do run in Seychelles, though service and rules around them can vary, so a car or taxi remains the most reliable way to get around if you want full flexibility over your days.

For island hopping between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, you have the choice of ferry or domestic flight between the larger islands, with ferries being the only option across to La Digue. I’ve covered this in more detail in my 10 days in Seychelles itinerary, including current routes and what to expect.

A few practical things to know before you go

No visa required — Seychelles doesn’t require a visa for most nationalities to enter, which simplifies planning considerably compared to some other long-haul destinations.

Currency — the Seychellois rupee is the local currency, though cards are widely accepted and US dollars or euros are sometimes preferred by smaller vendors. It’s worth having some local currency on hand regardless.

Accommodation choice is genuinely easy — Seychelles offers everything from cosy guesthouses to high-end luxury resorts, and one of the real pleasures of planning a trip here is that almost no matter where you stay, you’re close to a beautiful beach. I’ve covered our specific hotel recommendations in detail in the [10 days in Seychelles guide].

Plan for cost and distance — this isn’t a destination you add on casually to another trip. Flights are limited and not cheap, and getting between islands adds further cost on top of accommodation that sits mostly in the mid-range to luxury bracket. It rewards proper planning and a realistic budget far more than spontaneity.

Flying to Seychelles

We flew with Qatar Airways, which was the most convenient option for us. Qatar Airways gave us a small travel pack, which felt very of-the-moment at the time we flew, though that kind of pandemic-era amenity has obviously since disappeared from most airlines.

Seychelles International Airport on Mahé is the main gateway, and most visitors will land there regardless of their final island destination, before connecting onward by domestic flight or ferry to Praslin or La Digue.

Choosing where to stay

We stayed in a few different hotels on the three islands. These are our favourites and a few recommendations that we would choose another time:

Dhevatara Beach Hotel (Praslin)– we stayed in this hotel 4 nights and it was an amazing experience. It’s specifically designed for couples and kids are not allowed, so tranquillity is for granted. Besides, it has access to the beach- it’s not the best one in Mahe, but a plus if you want to for a sunset swim near the hotel.

Chateau de Feuilles– (Praslin)-this hotel was our last in Seychelles. It’s located on the south end of Praslin on top of a hill with an incredible sea view. It doesn’t have direct access to the beach, but it was our favourite hotel. It’s a complex of small villas with a few pools, a hidden jacuzzi on the very top, and lots of space to explore and relax in peace. The staff working there is the loveliest and the most attentive but at the same time respect your privacy. I don’t remember when last time I felt so spoiled in a hotel. They grow most of their own food, they even have hens roaming around for fresh eggs for your breakfast.

Villas de Jardin– (Mahe)– a beautiful complex of small villas set on a hill overlooking the sea. We got a very comfortable apartment with an outdoor (and indoor) shower, amazing terrace and all the facilities that you might need even for cooking, which during pandemic this was a great choice.

Constance Ephelia -(Mahe)– This hotel is a more luxurious option in Mahe. It’s a beautiful place with a beach.

Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie– (La Digue)- this hotel is for you if you want to have rest and relax at its finest. It offers spa treatments and it is very well located (but La Digue is a very small island, most places are well located). While we loved the hotel, we could not make the reservations, but would love to stay there another time.

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