Seychelles Tours & Vacations
Check out the world’s top-rated beaches and you’ll find the Seychelles making the cut time and time again.
It’s no secret the Seychelles is the ultimate paradise, but you can still find a piece of island nirvana away from the crowds. Take island hopping to the next level by cruising between the white sandy coastlines, sampling Creole cuisine, and dropping anchor in the perfect spot to plunge into crystal-clear waters. The Seychelles is described as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, with its diverse marine habitats. On our Seychelles tours, you can meet an old giant tortoise; snorkel along coral reefs surrounded by tropical fish, and hike through mangrove forests to see rare (unusually-shaped) coconut trees while spotting species of squawking parrots above.
Seychelles at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Victoria
POPULATION
107,660
CURRENCY
Seychelles Rupee (SCR)
LANGUAGE
The official languages are Seychelles Creole, French, and English.
TIME ZONE
(GMT+04:00) Victoria
CALLING CODE
+248
ELECTRICITY
Type D (Old British 3-pin) 220V, 50Hz AC
Learn more about Seychelles
Culture and history
It’s hard to believe Seychelles were uninhabited for centuries, except for the odd ship stopping in, as the islands were found by explorers traversing ancient trade routes in the Indian Ocean. One of the first known records of the archipelago was by Arab traders in 851 AD. The land remained without a permanent settlement for centuries until the French, having already established colonies on Mauritius and Reunion, made claim to Seychelles in 1756, ruling for nearly 50 years before the British took over during the Napoleonic Wars. The nation gained independence at the start of the twentieth century. Due to its intermingled history, you’ll find a harmonious diversity throughout Seychelles with the population largely being of African, French, Indian, and Chinese descent. Catholicism is the most widely followed religion (80 percent of the population), followed by Islam, Hinduism, and a mix of local beliefs. Although the nation has a more recent history of British colonization, Creole influences still strongly exist today – through the arts, the food, and the language.
Eating and drinking
The Seychelles hold a tantalizing fusion of cuisines, mirroring the diverse cultural influences found throughout the islands. Not surprisingly, seafood is a major staple in local dishes, and you’ll find super fresh local ingredients like barracuda, tuna, or octopus blended with a variety of spices. Rice, coconut milk, and curry are the foundation flavors across most of the seafood, vegetarian, and various meat dishes you’ll find on offer. An abundance of tropical fruit is grown locally on the islands with the most common being papaya, mangoes, bananas, and the versatile breadfruit – also found in many Seychellois meals.
Must-try dishes of the Seychelles
1. Caris masala
A typical spiced curry served with a combination of seafood or vegetables – with a mixture of cumin, fenugreek, cloves, saffron, coriander, and mustard seeds.
2. Fruit bat curry
Yep, that’s right. It’s a traditional meal that still holds a place at some of the longstanding restaurant establishments around the islands.
3. Shark chutney
A typical dish found in the Seychelles – made with boiled shark meat that has been finely mashed and mixed with onion, pepper, salt, and turmeric, with fresh lime juice squeezed over the top.
4. Banana in coconut milk
A large ripe banana cooked in coconut milk and sugar – absolutely delicious. This is a popular local dessert and a must-try in the Seychelles.
Geography and environment
You can find 115 islands in the archipelago of Seychelles, located about 2,300 kilometers (1,430 miles) east of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean – part of the African continent. The three main islands attracting visitor numbers are Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue. Seychelles holds a spectacularly diverse number of tropical plants, standouts being the carnivorous pitcher plant and rare species of palm known as coco de mar or ‘the sea coconut’. There are two types of islands – granitic and coralline – the latter located in the outer islands and made largely of, as the name suggests, coral reefs. The landscape is lush and full of tropical plants throughout the archipelago, with frangipanis found flowering along the white sandy coast and wild orchids lining the winding rivers deep inside the rainforest. Bird lovers are prepared: Seychelle warblers, magpie robins, species of heron, and egrets, among many other species, call the Seychelles home. You can also find giant tortoises older than a century and marine national parks harboring whale sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of tropical fish species.
Shopping
Seychelles is bursting with traditional souvenirs and handicrafts, with batik clothing, woven baskets, painted fabrics, and all kinds of colorful jewelry found mostly in bustling markets. Go to Sir Selwyn Clarke market in the center of Victoria for quirky souvenirs and to see locals shopping for fresh produce. For the biggest selection of wares in Seychelles, head to the main island of Mahe where you’ll find art galleries, handmade arts and crafts, locally sourced body products, and ceramic pottery. Bargaining is not part of the culture of Seychelles, and prices are generally fixed. However, if you feel the price is high for an item in the market you can try to slightly negotiate.
Festivals and events
Semaine de la Francophonie
Taking place on the island of Mahe every year in March, this week-long festival celebrates the past and existing influences of French culture in the Seychelles. Featuring art exhibitions, French music, and a tasty array of French-inspired cuisine.
Carnaval International de Victoria (October)
This is by far the biggest party the Seychelles has on offer. Held over three days with parades, live music, costumes, and everything else that brings together a hip-shaking carnival!
Seychelles Ocean Festival (December)
A festival dedicated to all things underwater, this event involves photography competitions, guest speakers, events, and showcasing diving and snorkeling spots throughout the Seychelles.
Creole Festival (October)
Celebrating Creole culture in the Seychelles is an important part of recognizing the nation’s history and heritage. As part of the event, a traditional Seychellois wedding is held, with funky exhibitions and performances.
The Feast of the Assumption of Mary (15 August)
A significant day of recognition throughout the islands with a dedicated public holiday held every year on 15 August. Locals travel to the main festival held on the island of La Digue, involving a church mass and parade through the streets.
Further reading
Title | Author |
Voices | Glynn Burridge |
A Gecko Blew Up My Toaster: An English Family In Seychelles | Martin Varley |
Wild Justice | Wilbur Smith |
Stranded in Seychelles: Teachers in Paradise | Bev Spicer |
Seychelles travel FAQs
Travelers do not require a visa to enter Seychelles. However, you must hold an onward ticket, have confirmed accommodation, and have sufficient funds for the duration of your stay. Entry requirements for Seychelles can change at any time, so it's important that you check the Seychelles government website or your nearest Seychelles consulate for the latest visa information specific to your nationality. You can also find further visa information in the Essential Trip Information section of your chosen itinerary.
Tipping is up to the individual when traveling in Seychelles. In restaurants, a service charge of between five to ten percent is often added to the bill so you will not be expected to leave an additional tip. If you receive excellent service, a little generosity can go a long way considering the low wages of those working in the hospitality industry.
Many hotels and some restaurants and cafes offer Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi hotspots are found in some public areas in the capital of Victoria, Beau Vallon and Anse Royale on the main island.
There is cell reception on Mahe, Praslin, La Digue, North Island, Fregate Island, and Silhouette Island. Many foreign mobile services have coverage in the Seychelles, but roaming fees are high. You can purchase a local sim card for the network providers Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS) or Air.
Western-style flushable toilets are available on adventure cruises. You will also find flushable toilets in hotels and restaurants throughout the Seychelles. Public toilets are difficult to find outside the main beaches of Victoria.
Drinking tap water isn't recommended in the Seychelles. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found – some places you stay may have drinking water available.
The euro is the standard currency onboard adventure cruises. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all accepted for settling your ship board account. It is wise to travel with sufficient cash (in local currency) to pay for shopping on the island and for incidentals such as shipboard items, airport taxes and taxis.
Major credit cards are usually accepted by large hotels and western-style restaurants throughout the Seychelles. Ensure you have adequate cash to cover purchases where credit is unavailable.
ATM facilities exist at major banks in Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue but will dispense Seychelles Rupees only. Foreign currency can be changed at banks or authorized bureau de change only. It is a criminal offense to change money with unauthorized persons. Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the Seychelles.
For LGBTQIA+ travelers visiting the Seychelles, there’s little to worry about but some discretion is advised with open displays of affection as there is no openly gay or lesbian scene in the country.
For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or Smartraveller before you travel.
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Eden Reforestation Projects
Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe.
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World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.
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Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance
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